Wakefield, Yorkshire, is a market-town in the West Riding, and of considerable antiquity. It is situated eleven miles from Ferrybridge and Halifax, twenty-four from York, and one hundred and eighty-nine from London. Though this town is no corporation, yet it is said there are more people in it than in York city. The town and manor, which is large, were parcel of the ancient possessions of the Warrens, earls of Warren and Surrey. The lordship of this manor is now the property of his grace the Duke of Leeds, whose steward holds a manor-court at the town-hall every three weeks, for the determination of causes under value of five pounds; and a half-yearly court, which falls under the denomination of a court-leet.

There are nine streets in this town, three of which are large and commodious, centering near the parish-church, Allhallows, an ancient, lofty, and extensive, Gothic structure, consisting of three aisles, a large commodious area, and, at the west end, are sittings for about three hundred Sunday and other charity scholars; there is also an excellent organ. Here is a fine peal of bells, and the spire is the highest in the county. The time when this church was built is uncertain; but in August, 1329, Godfrey Plantagenet confirmed to the monks of Lewes in Sussex the pension of sixty shillings out of it, which had previously been given to them by William earl Warren. In November, 1348, the church, being become the property of the king, was appropriated by William archbishop of York to the dean and college of the royal chapel of St. Stephen, in the palace of Westminster, reserving to himself and successors, out of the fruits thereof, the annual sum of twenty shillings, and to his dean and chapter ten shillings. Prior to the 2^nd of January, 1349, the church had been governed by a rector secular; but then the said William archbishop of York ordained, at Rippon, that it should be governed by a perpetual vicar, (having the cure of souls,) presentable by the said dean and college, who should have for his portion the fruits of the church, except the great-tithes, which are now the property of Peregrine Wentworth, Esq. Of Tolston-lodge, in this county, in right of his lady. In 1724, the south side of the church was wholly rebuilt; and the greatest part of the north side, together with the east end, have been rebuilt within these few years. On the outside of the east end there has likewise been a very elegant vestry-room erected.

The market-place is not large, but has been made considerably more convenient by the removal of the corn-market, which is toll-free, into a more open part of Westgate, a street adjacent thereto. Here is an elegant cross, being an open colonnade of the Doric order, supporting a dome, with an ascent of an open circular pair of stairs, leading to a large room, which receives its light from a lantern at the top. In this chamber most of the town business is transacted. The market-day is on Friday; besides which there is a considerable show of wool on Thursday: here are four fairs, viz. The 4^th and 5^th of July, and the 11^th and 12^th of November. The first and third are for horses and horned cattle, and are very considerable, the fourth is for the hiring of servants; the other is merely a toy fair. Besides these, there is every Wednesday fortnight a fair for horned cattle and sheep, which is not inferior to any in the kingdom except Smithfield, as it supplies the butchers of almost all this riding, and the borders of Lancashire.

Here are annual horse-races about the middle of September, which continue three days. The course is two miles, situate on Wakefield Outwood, about two miles from the town, where an is elegant stand for the accommodation of gentlemen, and a great number of booths for the company. The town is also furnished with a very elegant theatre, in Westgate, under the management of Tate Wilkinson, Esq. Of York, which is played in nearly all the month of September; here are also concerts in the winter.

This town, in Camden's time, was famous for its woollen-manufactory, which has been in a thriving condition ever since. The introduction of stuff-making, as tammies, wildbores, and camblets, with the improvement of the woollen branch, have amazingly increased the population of the town and neighbourhood. The woollen goods are usually vended at Leeds and Huddersfield markets. The stuffs are exposed to sale in an elegant hall, erected about fifteen years ago, by subscription. It is two stories high, extending in length about seventy yards, in breadth about ten. Through the middle, in each story, is a row of repositories, in all about two hundred, facing each way, properly labelled, to that the stand of any manufacturer may be readily found. The commencement of the market is announced by the hall-keeper, (who has a neat house for his residence,) by the ringing of a bell, suspended in an elegant cupola on the top of the hall for that purpose.

The river Calder, (over which there is a fine bridge of nine large arches, on which, by late improvements, two stage waggons may meet and pass, besides a foot-path on each side,) takes its rise near Burnley, in Lancashire; whence, passing over the moors between that county and Yorkshire, Sowerby, Halifax, Elland, Dewsbury, Horbury, and Wakefield, it falls into the river Aire at Castleford, where it loses its name. In 10 and 11 of William and Mary, an act passed for making the rivers Aire and Calder navigable from Weeland to Leeds and Wakefield; and, by an act of 14 Geo. III. The said navigation was extended from Haddlesey to the Ouse at Selby, forming thereby an easier and shorter communication between those towns and the city of York. The improvements under this act amounted to seventy thousand pounds. The said navigation has been extended (by virtue of an act of 31 Geo. III.) to Sowerby-bridge, in the parish of Halifax; an extent of near twenty-four miles. The trade of these navigations is immense, considerably larger than any other in the kingdom. By it the cities of York and Lincoln, the port of Hull, towns of Gainsborough, Louth, Barton, and other places lying upon, and situate near, the banks of the rivers Ouse, Trent, and Humber, are principally supplied (from these parts) with coal of the first quality. The commercial parts of the West Riding of Yorkshire and Lancashire are fully accommodated with excellent modes of conveyance by these navigations, to which the riches and prosperity of them may, in a great measure, be attributed.

Here is a free grammar-school, founded and endowed by Queen Elizabeth; but much enlarged by additional benefactions from private persons, inhabitants of the town and parish. The school is a noble and spacious building, calculated for the health and convenience of the students; erected by Thomas Saville and sons, ancestors of the present Earl of Mexborough. There are several exhibitions appropriated to this school, for the maintenance of students in the universities of Cambridge, and of very considerable value; and some smaller ones for the students of University College in Oxford. There are likewise two scholarships for young members of Clare-hall, in Cambridge. This school has a valuable library for the use of the scholars, consisting of books in all languages, ancient and modern, and kept in good order by a librarian, appointed by the master for that purpose.

Here is also a charity-school founded for the instruction and clothing of a hundred and six poor boys and girls of the town. Seventy of these are under the immediate care of a master, who has a good house adjoining the school for his residence, and a salary of upwards of forty pounds per annum. The remainder of the children are under the care of another person, who has about sixteen pounds a year for instructing them.

The charitable donations to this town amount in all to about one thousand pounds per annum, and are under the direction of fourteen trustees, called governors. They are appropriated to the maintenance of several exhibitions in both universities, as mentioned above; to binding out poor boys to variety of trades with premiums, particularly the woollen and stuff manufactories; to the support of old and infirm widowers and widows, who have houses also to reside in; and to any other charitable purpose which the governors may think proper.

Lady Camden established a weekly lecture here, appropriating about eighty pounds per annum to the maintenance of the lecturer.

The quarter sessions of the peace for the West Riding are holden here, in the second week in January. Here is also the West Riding house of correction, which has lately been very much enlarged by additional wings, and converting the governor's house into a prison. This and the new wings are distributed into solitary cells. The centre is appropriated to the reception of prisoners for small crimes, and the distribution of the allowances. It is walled round. The governor's present house is a noble structure, standing in the south front of the prison. Every fortnight, on the market-day, private sessions are holden here by the justices of peace in the neighbourhood.

The bankers here are Messrs. Ingram, Kennit, and Ingram; draw on Down, Thornton, and Free, London.

Here are three very elegant chapels belonging to dissenters, viz. Presbyterian, Calvinistic, and Methodist, denominations, well supported.

About fourteen years ago a widow lady (Mrs. Newstead) bequeathed the sum of one thousand pounds towards the support of a minister who should officiate at a new church when built; and also the ground for the same. But, the property being litigated, the matter has lain dormant till within these few years, when the whole of her property was purchased by Messrs. Maude and Lee, who, concurring with some other disinterested inhabitants, have procured an act of parliament for fulfilling the will of the donor, and for enlarging the town by the addition of several new streets. The first stone of the new church was laid by the Rev. Henry Zouch, of Sandall, amidst the applauses of an amazing concourse of people. And it is presumed, from the encouragement it has already met with, that the work will be speedily executed.

The post-office is in Westgate, which opens at eight in the morning; shuts at three quarters past four for Ferrybridge post, and at ten for the others.

The principal inns are the Strafford's Arms, in the Market-place; at which stop the mail-coach in the evening in its way from Leeds to London; and the post-coach in the morning: both these coaches set out from the Old King's Arms, Leeds, to the Bull and Mouth inn, London. Stop here also the post waggons on their way, every day, from Leeds to London.- The White Hart inn, in Westgate, at which stops the Eclipse coach every day from Leeds to London.

Thomas Hadfield's waggons set out from hence every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and arrive at Blossoms inn, Lawrence-lane, London, in four days; and return the way of Alconbury-hill, Stamford, Grantham, Newark and Doncaster.- Thomas Ormarod's waggons set out from the Bull inn here, every Monday and Thurday, to Norwich, and arrive at the Star inn, Haymarket, in ten days; return the same day by way of Cambridge, Alconbury-hill, Newark, and Doncaster.-Stephen Westerman's waggon sets out every morning to Leeds, and inns at the Cross Keys, Brig-gate.

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