SHAFTESBURY, or SHASTON, a borough and mar ket town of England, in the county of Dorset, is agreeably situated on a very high hill, which com mands extensive views in Dorsetshire, Somersetshire. and Wiltshire. The principal streets are built on the roads from 1Vincanton, Warminster, Salisbury, Bland ford, and Sherbourne, forming as it were a star. The houses are generally built of stone quarried on the neighbouring eminences; but they have a poor ap pearance, and the streets are narrow and irregular. The most important public buildings are four churches, St. Peter's, Holy Trinity, St. James', and St. Rumbold; St. Peter's, distinguished by the ele gance of its proportions, as well as by its ornaments, is defaced by modern alterations. Part of the high embattled wall which enclosed the park and the abbey church still remains. The town-hall is a handsome building supported on five arches. There are also here three meeting•houses for Presbyterians, Metho dists, and Quakers. The water which supplies the town is brought from the adjoining parish of Gilling ham on horses' backs. They have therefore in seve
ral houses vast reservoirs for holding rain water. Lately, however, very good water has been obtained at the depth of 126 feet.
The charitable establishments here are a free school, alms-houses for 16 women and 10 men, and other three of great antiquity converted into a poors' house.
The only manufacture in Shaftesbury is that of silk buttons, which gives employment to about 1200 persons.
The government of the town is vested in a corpc ration, composed of a mayor, recorder, 12 aldermen, a bailiff, and common councilmen. It sends to parlia ment two members, elected by about 300 voters pay ing scot and lot.
The eminence to the west of the town, called Castle Green, is supposed to have been the site of a castle. A small mount on the brow of this hill has been re garded as a Roman work. Many Roman coins have been found in the town. Population in 1821, 583 houses, 634 families, 388 in trade, and 2903 inhabi tants.