\VEYMOUTH, a seaport and burgh town of England, in Dorsetshire, long celebrated as a fash ionable watering place, is situated near the mouth of the little river `Vey, and communicates, by means of a handsome stone bridge, with Melcombe Regis. The streets are chiefly built on the sea shore. The most fashionable are Gloucester row, Chesterfield place, York buildings, Charlotte row, Clarence Lnildings, St. Alban's row, Bellevue and the Esplanade. The church is a low edifice con sisting of three aisles, ornamented with a fine altar piece and the last supper, executed and presented by Sir James Thornhill to the 'town. To the east of the church there are some buildings, the re mains of a Dominician Priory. The chapel of the Priory is now used as a malt house. The Quakers and the Independents have meeting houses in the town. A handsome set of assembly rooms were erected in 1772. This building, which compre hends a hotel and other appendages, is 600 feet long, and 250 wide, and cost X6000. The royal assembly room is lofty and spacious. The theatre is neat and elegant. The principal library, which is nearly in the centre of the Esplanade, is hand somely fitted up. There is on the quay a con
venient salt water bath. The trade of Weymouth is small, being chiefly to Newfoundland and the Mediterranean. Shipbuilding is carried on to some extent. There are barracks for cavalry in the vicinity; and the harbour is defended by a handsome battery of 21 small guns, and by the new fort, the north fort, and the dock fort, each mounted with 3 heavy guns. The Esplanade is the favourite promenade. It is about half a mile long and 30 feet wide. The bay, containing the public bathing place, makes a semicircular sweep of nearly two miles, and is protected from winds by the surrounding hills. About a mile from the town are the ruins of Sandisfort castle, situated on a lofty cliff.
Melcombe-Regis has a good market-place and town hall. It was incorporated as a borough with Weymouth by Elizabeth. They send two members to parliament who are elected by 200 voters.
The population of the two places in 1821, was 1090 houses, 1471 families, 8 do. engaged in agri culture, and 870 in trade. Total population 6622. See the Beauties of England and 'Vales, vol. iv. p. 351, Sr.c.