Divisions for Ecclesiastical, Legal, and Parliamentary Parposes.— Somersetshire (except Bedminster, which is in the diocese of Bristol) constitutes the diocese of Bath and Wells, aud is divided lute the archdeaconries of Bath, Wells, and Taunton. The county is in the western circuit. The spring assizes are held at Taunton; the summer assizes at Bridgewater and Wells alternately. The quarter sessions are held at Wells, Bridgewater, Taunton, and Bath. County courts are held in Ambridge, Bath, Bridgewater, Bristol, Chard, Clutton, Crewkerne, Langport, Taunton, Wellington, Wells, Weston-super-Mare, Wincanton, and Yeovil. There are a county jail at Ileheeter, a county jail and house of correction at Wilton near Taunton, and a county house of correction at Shepton Mallet. There are a city jail at Bath, a borough jail at Bridgewater, and a city and county lock-up house at Wells. The city jail and house of correction of Bristol are at Bedminster in this county. Before the Reform Act Somersetshire returned 16 members to the House of Commons, namely, two for the county, two each for the cities of Bath and Wells, and two each for the boroughs of Taunton, Bridgewater, Minehead, Ilehester, and Mil borne Port. By the Reform and Boundary Acts the county has been formed Into two divisions, each returning two members. Bath, Wells, Taunton, and Bridgewater still return two members each; Ilehester, Milborne Port, and Minehead have been disfranchised; and Frome has been constituted a parliamentary borough to return ono member, so that 13 representatives are now sent by Somerectshire to tho House of Commons. By the Poor-Law Commissioners the county is divided into the unions of Bath, Bedminster, Bridgewater, Chard, Glutton, Dulverton, Frame, Keynsham Langport, Shepton Mallet, Taunton, Wellington, Wells, WIncanton and Yeovil. These unions comprise 490 parishes and townships, with an area of 1,062,972 acres, and a population in 1851 of 461,814.
History and Antiquities.—In the earliest historical period part of this county was probably inhabited by the Belga). The territories of the Medal and Cimbri were separated by the Parret, anciently called Uxella. In the Roman division of the island, Somersetshire was included in the province of Britannia Prima. The Antonine station Aquas Solis (called also Thermo) by Richard) was Bath; the river on which it stands is called Abona by Richard, a name evidently iden tical with Avon. Ad Sabrinam is supposed to have been Portishead, or Portbury, west of Bristol. The Avalonla of Richard was in all probability Glastonbury ; and the towns Ischalis, Uxella, and Ad Aquas are supposed to have stood on or near the sites now occupied by Ilchester, Bridgewater, and Wells respectively. The ancient road, the Fosse-way, enters the county near Bath, and runs south-west by ]lad stoke, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Sheptou Street-on-the-Foase near Shepton Mallet, East and West Lydford, Ilcheeter, and I'etherton Bridge near South l'etherton ; and appears to have quitted the county not far from Chard. A Roman road from the coast runs along tho
crest of the Mendip Hills in the direction of Sorbiodunnm (Old Sarum), crossing the Fosse-way at right angles. Roman antiquities have been found in considerable abundance at Bath, Ilcheater, Yeovil, and other places. At South Cadbury, between Wincanton and is a remarkable camp commonly called Cadbury Castle, of irregularform, according to the shape of the hill on which it stands, with an inner and higher fort or przetorium. It is partly hewn in the solid rock, partly formed with a rampart of loose stones, and is defended by ditches. Various Roman antiquities, especially coins, and pavements, and other remains of buildiuge, have been dug up in the inclosure, which is about 30 acres in area. Another camp, three miles in circuit, of irregular form, on Hamden Hill, is supposed to have been llomau. The vellum is almoet entire ; tho north-western part, the most dif ficult of access, is separated from the rest by an intrenchment. There are other Roman camps near Wiveliscombe, Milvertou, Brompton Regis, near Dul vertou, at Stringston, between Bridgewater and Watchet, at between Bristol and Clevedon, and at a third Cadbury, between Bristol and Weston-super-Mare, on Brent Kuoll, a lofty enslateses rising out of the Cats between the 3Iendip and Polflen hills, and at Long Ashton near Bristol, opposite Clifton. Coins In greet abundance have been found In various places.
Besides the Roman camps above-mentioned there are several other angest forts or camps *tattered throughout the county. Doleberry Castle. on Mendip, Is one of the most remarkable. Barrows are numerous, especially on the Mendip Hills, on the Quantock Hills, aud the hilly districts west of these. remarkable iutrenchment called Wtnedyke, is partly in this county. Commencing near Andover in Hatnpabires it crossed the Wiltshire Downs, and entered Somersetshiro near Ilath-llempton ; and turning westward and then north-westward, so as to make a circuit round Bath, It ran along the hills by South Stoke, English Combs., Stanton Prior, Compton Donee, Norton Moire ward, and Long Ashton. to the Bristol Channel at Portiehead. The ancient camps on Beth-Hampton Down, Stantonbury Hill near Stanton Prior, and Mays Knoll near Norton Malrewsrd, are just on the line of Wansdyke. This singular work is of unknown origin and date : it is intersected by a Roman road on Marlborough Downs in such a manner as to show it to be of earlier date than the road, and consequently earlier than the Roman conquest and settlement.
Of what are usually regarded as primeval antiquities, Sornersetshire brit few. The principal is at Stanton Drew, 6 miles S. from :ear the road to Wells It consists of four groups of stones, which formed when complete two circles ; and two other figures, one an ellipse, the other perhaps a rectangle. Some of tho stones are 0 feet high, 22 feet in girth, and 15 tons in weight.