stem were immersed in water, boiling under the greatest variations of pressure which the climate afforded. The interval so found, he subdivided by other observations into degrees, which corresponded to inches of the barometer, and which were so denominated upon the scale.

In the year 1756, the college of Glasgow, upon the death of Dr. Alexander Macfarlane of Jamaica, a great lover of, and proficient in the sciences, received a legacy of a valuable collection of astronomical instruments, which that gentleman had got constructed at London, by the best artists, and had carried out with him to Jamaica, with a view of cultivating astronomy in that island. The college, upon this, soon built an observatory for their reception, which, by medals placed under the foundation, was called by the name of their generous benefactor; and Mr. Wilson was immediately thought of as a proper person for making the astronomical observations. At this juncture his Grace Archibald, Duke of Argyle, procured his Majesty's presentation, nominating him professor of practical astronomy, with an annual salary of fifty pounds; and accordingly, in 1760, he was admitted to this new office.

In 1769, Dr. Wilson made that discovery concerning the solar spots, of which he has treated, in the Philosophical Transactions of London for 1774. Not long after he entered upon this new field, the nature of the solar spots was announced by the Royal Society of Copenhagen as the subject of a prize essay. This induced him to transmit thither a paper written in the Latin language, containing an account of his observations, and of the conclusions drawn from them. In return, he obtained the honourable distinction of a gold medal of near sixteen guineas.

He published in the Philosophical Transactions for 1783, the second paper upon that subject, wherein, upon the authority of many new observations, he obviates objections, and maintains the reality of his discovery with an entire conviction. The amount of it is, That the spots are cavities or depressions in that immensely resplendent substance which invests the body of the sun to a certain depth; that the dark nucleus of the spot is at the bottom of this excavation, which commonly extends downwards to a space equal to the semidiameter of our globe; that the shady or dusky zone which surrounds the nucleus, is nothing but the sloping sides of the excavation reaching from the sun's general surface downwards to the nucleus or bottom.”

In March and April 1786, when he had nearly completed his seventy-second year, it became apparent to his family and friends, that his constitution and strength were fast declining. After a gradual decay, which he bore with the utmost resignation, he expired on the 16th day of October.

WILTON, a borough of England in Wiltshire, is situated between the rivers Nadder and Willey, in a fertile and extensive valley. It consists chiefly of a single street formed by the high road from Salisbury to Hindon, and contains neat but ancient buildings. The church is an ancient Gothic structure, and is the only one out of the 12 which it formerly possess

ed. The other buildings are the town-hall, a methodist and an independent chapel, a free school and the alms-house. Wilton was long celebrated for its cloth and carpet manufactures, but these branches have declined and are replaced by the manufacture of flannels and other woollen fabrics and fancy goods. The first carpet made in England was made at Wilton. At the east end of the town stands Wilton house, the residence of the earls of Pembroke. This is a large pile erected at different times, and in different styles of architecture. It contains an extensive and fine collection of pictures and sculpture. A full description of it will be found in our Article CIVIL ARCHITECTURE. Population of the burgh and parish in 1821, 390 houses, 637 families, 78 do. employed in agriculture, 245 in trade, &c., and total population 2058.

WILTSHIRE, an inland county of England. It is bounded on the north by the county of Gloucester, on the east by Berkshire and Hampshire, on the south by Dorsetshire, and on the west by Somersetshire and Gloucestershire. It is about 54 miles long and 34 broad, and contains 1379 square ́ statute miles, and 882,560 square statute acres. is the 14th county of England in point of size. Its rental and tithe is £810,627 + £88,496, and the annual value of a square mile is £652. It contains 1 city, 29 hundreds, 23 market towns, 304 parishes, and sends 32 members to parliament.

It

The southern and eastern parts of the county consist of a broken mass of chalk hills entering the county from Berkshire, Hampshire and Dorsetshire, and terminating in an irregular range of rugged banks and insulated masses, intersected by deep valleys excavated by the brooks and streams. The north and west portions resemble at a distance an elevated plain, but it consists of a continual series of fertile eminences, rising occasionally into sand knolls, and descending into smoothsided hollows, and sometimes even extensive valleys. This district is divided into Marlborough Downs and Salisbury Plain, the most remarkable plain in England. Between these two divisions there is a tract of rich land, and to the north of these downs the county is well inclosed, abounding in rich pasture, and producing the excellent Wiltshire cheese. Salisbury Plain is uninclosed, and the land, though chiefly in pasture, produces excellent crops of wheat, barley and turnips, when brought under tillage. Vast flocks of sheep are fed on this uncultivated waste, which is said to produce wild burnet and fine grasses, which yield a superior herbage for sheep. Including the whole summer stock, 500,000 sheep are said to be bred here annually. They consisted formerly of the Wiltshire horned sheep, but the South Down are now generally introduced. Sainfoin is cultivated to a great extent, and it is a general practice with farmers to soil their teams upon vetches. The horses are unusually fine, but are kept at an enormous expense. Hogs are reared in great quantities.

The principal rivers of Wiltshire are the Thames, the Lower Avon, and the Kennet, all of which are navigable; the Upper Avon, the Willey, the Nadder, the Bourne, the Stour and the Brue. The

canals are already described in our Article NAVIGATION Inland, Vol. XIV. p. 280.

The

Wiltshire has long been celebrated for its manufactures; those of Salisbury, Wilton Devizes, and Chippenham, have been already mentioned under their respective articles. At Mere and its vicinity a great deal of linen, chiefly dowlas and bed-ticks, is made. Broad cloths, kerseymere and fancy cloths are made at Bradford, Trowbridge, Warminster, Westbury, Melksham and Calne, and in all the adjacent towns, &c. from Chippenham to Heytesbury. Fustians, thicksets, and other cotton goods are made at Albourn, and gloves at Swindon. This county abounds in Roman, Saxon, and Danish antiquities. The most remarkable of these are the monuments of Stonehenge and Avebury. Stonehenge is at present a ruin, and apparently a confused heap of standing and fallen stones. whole consisted of two circular rows of huge stones, and two elliptical rows of circular stones, with horizontal stones lying on the outer circle in a continued order all round, and five imposts or horizontal stones on ten uprights of the third row. The whole are surrounded by a ditch and vallum of earth, which is about 15 feet high and within the ditch. There appear to be three entrances through this vallum, that on the N. E. distinguished by a bank and ditch being called the avenue. The up right stones of the outer circle differ in form and size. Their general height is from 13 to 15 feet, and their circumference about 28 feet. Each impost has two mortises in it, corresponding with two tenons on the tops of the vertical stones. The circumference of this circle is about 300 feet, and the

original number of stones 30, of which 27, are still standing, but there are now only 6 imposts. At the distance of 8 feet 3 inches within this row is the second row, which seems to have consisted of 40 upright stones. The stones are smaller and more irregular than those in the first row; only 8 are standing, but the remains of 8 are lying on the ground. Within these two circles are the two elliptical rows, the outermost of which is the grandest portion of Stonehenge. It was formed by 5 distinct pairs of trilithons, or two large upright stones with a third laid over them as an impost. The largest trilithon, in the centre opposite to the entrance, measured when standing, exclusive of the impost, 21 feet 6 inches high, the one next to it on each side was about 17 feet 2 inches, but the extremes were only 16 feet 3 inches. The inner oval row is supposed to have consisted of 19 uprights. The stones are taller and better shaped than those in the corresponding circle, and incline to a pyramidal form. The most perfect is 7 feet high, 23 inches wide at the base, and 12 inches at top. The altar stone, as it is called, is placed within this oval, forming the centre of the whole. It is 16 feet long, and almost covered by the two side stones of the Great Trilithon. The total number of stones is thus estimated:

Druidical monument.
The prevailing opinion is that Stonehenge is a

The stone temple at Avebury is considered to have been more extensive than Stonehenge. The greater part of the village of Avebury is surrounded Within this enclosure there are some large upright by a deep and wide ditch, and a lofty vallum. stones and others prostrate. At some distance prostrate stones, and half a mile west of the former south of the village are other large upright and are two more upright. Large masses of these broken stones occur in the houses and walls of the markable monument we must refer to our Article village. For a more minute account of this reAVEBURY, Vol. III. p. 93.

is the Wansdyke, a vast earth work which is supThe next piece of antiquity in point of magnitude it is still continuous for 10 or 12 miles, being posed to have intersected the county. In one place tolerably entire throughout the range of hills to the it is visible only in detached spots. This work is south and west of Marlborough; upon other places supposed to have enclosed the towns of the ancient Britons; others ascribe it to the Belgae, and others to the West Saxons.

Burrows and Tumuli abound in the county, and are most numerous round Stonehenge and Avebury. There are here three Roman stations, besides various Roman roads, Roman pavements, Roman encampments, and entrenched earthen works. Coins, urns, fragments of sculpture, shields, daggers and ornaments of British, Roman, Saxon and Norman workmanship have been discovered. besides two members for Salisbury, Chippenham, The county returns two members two parliament, Calne, Cricklade, Downton, Devizes, Heytesbury, Hinden, Great Bedwin, Marlborough, Malmsbury, Ludgershall, Wilton, Wotton-Basset, Westbury and

Old Sarum.

As the population of the other boroughs is not separated from that of the parish, it is impossible to ascertain their relative importance.

The population of the county in 1821 was, houses, 41,782, families, 47,684, do. in agriculture, 24,972, do. in trade, &c. 16,982 total number of inhabitants 222,157. See Davis's View of the Agriculture of Wilts, and the Beauties of England and Wales, vol. xv.

WIMBORNE-MINSTER, the Vindogladia of the Romans, is a market town of England, in Dorsetshire, situated between the rivers Stour and

west.

Allen, each of which is crossed by a bridge. It consists of several irregular streets. The principal ornament is its church, which is built in the form of a cross, with two triangular towers, in which are some old bells with fine tones. It is divided like a cathedral, and is 180 feet long from east to Several royal and noble persons were buried here. The other public buildings are the grammarschool, and three meeting-houses for presbyterians, methodists and anabaptists, and a large poors' house. The trade of the town, which is small, consists in the woollen manufacture and knit stock ings. Population of the town and part of the parish in 1821, houses 259, families 307, do. in trade 118, total number of inhabitants 1387.

WINANDERMERE, See ENGLAND, Vol. VIII.

p. 518.

WINCHESTER, a city of England in Hampshire, and the see of a bishop, is situated on the east declivity of a hill which slopes gradually to the valley of the river Itching. It consists chiefly of one main street, running from E. to W. and intersected with a number of minor streets and lanes. In the middle of the High Street stands the cross, 43 feet high, consisting of three stories, with open arches, niches, pinnacles, &c. The principal building in the city is the cathedral, which exhibits an interesting display of all the varieties of English architecture. The great central tower rests upon four solid piers, and rises 140 feet above the pavement. The most interesting parts of the building are the choir, the magnificently carved screen in stone work; the chauntries of Cardinal Beaufort and Bishop Waynfleet; Bishop Langton's chapel, Bishop Orleton's chapel, and the celebrated font of black marble, covered with sculptures. Many sovereigns and eminent persons have been interred in the cathedral. In the 12th century Bishop Blois collected the remains of the principal of them, and deposited them in six wooden chests, inscribed with their names and epitaphs. St. Lawrence church, near the cross, is considered the mother church of the city, and has a lofty square tower with five bells, but the chief parochial church is that of St. Maurice, which has two aisles. St. Thomas's is an ancient edifice. The other churches are St. Swithin's, St. Peter's, St. John's, with a good tower, and St. Martin's. Beside the churches of the establishment, there are various meeting houses for dissenters, the finest of which is the Roman Catholic chapel, built in 1792. The other public buildings are the town hall, rebuilt in 1713, a neat market house, erected in 1772; and St. John's house, a charitable foundation, in the great hall of which public feasts and assemblies are held. The ancient chapel is now used as a free school. large and commodious county goal has been some years ago erected on the north side of the city, and there is also a bridewell for the city and another for the county. The theatre, which is a handsome edifice, was built in 1785. Winchester college, founded by Bishop Wykeham was completed in 1393. It consists of a warden, 70 scholars, 10

A

secular priests, or perpetual fellows, 3 parish chap. lains, 3 clerks, 16 choristers, and a first and second master. The buildings occupy a considerable space of ground, consisting principally of two courts and a cloister. The first court is entered by a spacious gateway, and the second by a tower gateway. The chapel and hall form the south wing of the quadrangle. The library is in the centre of the cloister, and the hall is in the S. W. corner of the second court. About a mile S. of the town is the hospital of St. Cross, founded by Bishop Blois, for the residence and maintainance of thirteen poor men, and the relief of 100 indigent persons of good character. It was enlarged by Bishop Beaufort; but it now consists only of 10 residents, and 4 outpensioners, with one chaplain and the master. Every traveller who knocks at the lodge and seeks relief, receives bread and beer. The architecture of the building is curious. The building called the king's house, intended by Charles II. as a palace, has been converted into barracks, which hold 3000 men. The ancient episcopal palace of Wolvesey castle still exists in ruins.

An

The trade of Winchester is inconsiderable. ancient woolcombing manufactory still exists, and the silk manufacture has been lately introduced. Its trade is promoted by its vicinity to the sea, with which it has a direct communication by a navigable canal. The population of Winchester city and Soke Liberty, in 1821, was 1219 houses, 1432 families, 918 in trade, and total population 7739. The population of the city alone did not then exceed 5500 inhabitants. See the Beauties of England and Wales, vol. vi. p. 6, &c.

WINCHESTER, a flourishing post-town and seat of justice, Frederick county Virginia, situated on a branch of Opequan creek, 34 miles S. W. from Harper's Ferry, 71 miles N.W. by W. from W.C. and 150 miles N. N. W. from Richmond. N. Lat. 39° 10' and Long. 1° 10' W. from W. C. In June 1826, by an actual census, Winchester of Virginia contained

According to the Winchester Gazette, the village in 1826 contained the above population, 23 attorneys, eight physicians, 35 mercantile stores, three iron stores, two book stores, two printing offices, 12 taverns, four tanneries, one distillery, one pottery, one book-bindery, three silver-smiths, watch repairers and jeweller's shops, one clock and mathematical instrument maker, one rope maker, one tinner, one confectioner, one tobacconist, three brickmakers, one saddle tree maker, one upholsterer, three shoe stores, one wheel maker, two gunsmiths, one white smith, two cabinet maker's shops, with numerous weavers, saddlers, shoemakers, &c. &c.;

seven houses of public worship completed for Presbyterians, Catholics, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists, and Quakers; a law school of eminence under Chancellor Tucker; an incorporated medical school, and an incorporated academy; the latter flourishing, and averaging 50 pupils; two female seminaries, with an average of 30 or 40 pupils each, with numerous private schools, and two banks. Population in 1830, about 4000.

DARBY.

WIND. See METEOROLOGY, Vol. XIII, p. 179184, and PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Vol. XV, p. 587. See also ANEMOMETER.

WINDHAM, southeastern county of Vermont, bounded W. by Bennington, N. by Windsor, E. by Connecticut river separating it from Cheshire County New Hampshire, and S. by Franklin county Massachusetts. Length from south to north 34, width 22, and area 748 square miles. Extending in Lat. from 42° 43′ to 44° 15′ N. and in Long. from 4° 1' to 4° 34' E. from W. C. Similar to Windsor county, the eastern part of Windsor slopes to the S.S.E. towards Connecticut river, and in that direction is chiefly drained by West river and its numerous confluent creeks. The western section is a mountain valley, along which winds southwardly the Moose branch of Deerfield river. More than a moiety of Windham is mountainous; much of the soil is productive, and in 1830 sustained an aggregate population of 28,746, or a distributive population of a fraction above 38 to the square mile.

WINDHAM, northeastern county of Connecticut, bounded by New London S., Tolland W., Worcester county in Massachusetts N., Providence county Rhode Island N.E, and Kent and Washington counties Rhode Island, southeast. Greatest length along Rhode Island line 35 miles, mean breadth 20, and area 700 square miles. Extending in Lat. from 41° 32′ to 42° N. and in Long. from 40 40' to 5° 12′ E. from W. C.

This county is nearly commensurate with the valleys of Quinebaug and Shetucket rivers, or the constituents of Thames river; general slope southwardly. Few, if any, portions of the earth present a more pleasing surface, and few in the United States a more agreeable mixture of natural and artificial scenery. By the census of 1830, this county contained 27,082, inhabitants, or a distributive population of upwards of 38 to the square mile.

Brooklyn, the post-town and seat of justice of Windham, Connecticut, is situated on Blackwell's creek, 14 miles a little E. of N. from Norwich, and 30 miles E. of Hartford. N. Lat. 41° 47', Long. 5° 4' E. of W. C.

DARBY.

the south side of the Thames, which is crossed by a bridge connecting it with Eton. The town is irregular, and consists of a principal street and several of a smaller size. The church is a neat, handsome Gothic building, erected not many years ago, and it has a good organ from St. George's chapel, presented by the late king. The guild-hall is a stately fabric, and supported by columns and arches of Portland stone, and in the area which they form the corn market is held. The free school is a neat building erected in 1706. A small but elegant theatre was built in 1805. Large barracks have been lately built capable of holding 750 infantry and 400 cavalry. The principal ornament of Windsor is its castle, the residence of the sovereigns of England. It owes its origia to William the Conqueror, who erected here a fortified mansion as a hunting seat, and it has been brought to its present state of grandeur by the labours of successive sovereigns. On the declivity of the hill on which the castle stands, there is a terrace 1870 feet long, and faced with a rampart of free stone. Near this walk is a gate into the Parks, which are enclosed by a brick wall, five miles in circuit. The castle consists of two courts, having a large round tower between them, the whole of the buildings covering 12 acres of land, and being defended by batteries and towers. The upper court is a spacious quadrangle, having a round tower on the west, the private apartments of the sovereign on the S. and E., and the state apartments, together with the St. George's hall and the chapel royal on the N. The keep is the residence of the governor. It has the form of an amphitheatre, and is ascended by a flight of steps. It contains the grand room or magazine for arms, ingeniously arranged and containing many pieces of ancient armour. The lower court, which is larger than the upper one, is divided into two parts by St. George's chapel, which is placed in the middle, and is a beautiful specimen of Gothic architecture. The houses of the dean and canon, &c. are on the north side of the court, and those of the poor knights of Windsor on the west side. The royal apartments are on the N. side of the court, and the entrances from the Upper Court, through a handsome vestibule, designed by Mr. James Wyatt. The first room, or the queen's guard chambers, contains many beautiful paintings, and a variety of warlike instruments. The queen's presence chamber contains paintings by the most celebrated masters, and its tapestry, made at Coblentz, was presented to Henry VIII. The ball room contains a large silver table: its tapestry represents the twelve months of the year, and its ceiling represents Charles Second giving freedom to Europe. In the queen's bed chamber, the state bed, erected by order of Queen Charlotte, is said to have cost £14,000. The queen's dressing room, hung with British tapestry, contains the closet in which is deposited the banner of France, annually presented on the 2d of August by the heir of the first Duke of Marlborough. The same closet contains the tea equipage of Queen Anne. The room of beauties contains fourteen portraits of the most celebrated beauties in the reign of Charles the

Second. The king's audience chamber, containing the throne, is enriched with Mr. West's seven historical paintings of events in the reign of Edward III. The king's presence chamber is adorned with several portraits. The king's guard cham ber contains a great collection of warlike instruments fancifully arranged, and also the flag annually sent on the 18th June by the Duke of Wellington, in commemoration of the battle of Waterloo. The king's drawing room contains some beautiful paintings on the ceiling. St. George's hall, which is 108 feet long, is set apart for the illustrious or der of the garter. The ascent to the throne is by five steps of marble. It is superbly decorated with allegorical paintings.

St. George's chapel was made one of the most elegant specimens of the florid Gothic by the munificence of George Third, who spent nearly £20,000 in embellishing it. The roof is elliptical, and is composed of stone, and the whole ceiling is ornamented with heraldic insignia, intermingled with the beautifully emblazoned arms of many sovereigns and knights of the garter. The screen is said to have cost £1500. The stall of the sovereign and those of the knights, exhibit a profusion of rich carving. The painting of the Last Supper, finely executed by West, adorns the altar. Several of the windows of the chapel are superbly painted. St. George's chapel is the burial place of many royal and illustrious persons, Edward IV, Henry VI, Henry VIII, and Charles I. At the east end of the chapel is a neat building erected by Henry VII. as a burial place. It is now the Royal Mausoleum, and contains the remains of George III. and Queen Charlotte, and of the Princess Charlotte and others.

On the south side of Windsor is Windsor Park, which is above 15 miles in circumference, and is stocked with deer. It is entered by a walk three miles long, called the long walk, flanked by double rows of trees. At the entrance to this park stands the Queen's Lodge, the gardens of which are elegant and extensive. Windsor sends two members to parliament, who are chosen by about 400 voters. The population of the borough, including Old Windsor, Windsor Castle, and Lower Court, in 1821, was 917 houses, 961 families, 411 do. in trade, and total number of inhabitants 5698.

WINE is obtained from the fermented juice of the grape; but the term is also applied to signify an agreeable spirituous liquor produced by fermentation from various fruits and vegetables, exclusive of grapes, such as currants, gooseberries, cherries, mulberries, apples, pears, and many others. In this article we shall confine our observations to wine produced from grapes.

The invention of wine is enveloped in great obscurity; and much fabulous tradition on the subject has been handed down to us. But we must refer this invention to very remote times. The first portion of the fruit of the vine, says Dr. Henderson, which had been pressed by accident or design, and allowed to remain a short time undisturbed, would be found to have assumed new and surpriVOL XVIII-PART II.

sing properties; and repeated trials would soon prove the value of the discovery. By degrees, the method would be learned of preserving for constant use the beverage so obtained; and various processes would gradually be resorted to for enhancing its grateful qualities: the knowledge of the art would rapidly spread; and its simplicity would recommend its universal adoption.

This discovery of the latent virtue of the vine, and the invention ofits manufacture into the beverage which forms the subject of this article, have, in different nations, been ascribed to different individuals. The Egyptians gave the honour of it to Osiris, the Latins to Saturn, and the Greeks to Bacchus, while various authors have respectively conferred the distinction on other persons, not certainly so celebrated as the fabulous individuals just named, but not the less likely to merit the honour in question. The investigation is very far from being important; the various persons who have been named as inventors were only, it is probable, the promoters of the manufacture under review. But we have higher authority on this subject than any that has yet been referred to. Whether wine was known before the flood we know not, as the sacred record is silent with regard to it; but we are distinctly informed that "Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard, and he drank of the wine." (Genesis ix. 20.) From the manner in which the subject is here introduced, it is not unlikely that the art of wine-making had been known to the antediluvians; but, however this may be, it is mentioned in almost every page of the sacred volume as quite commonly practised after the flood. "Corn and wine," which commodities seem to have been equally abundant, are mentioned in the Old Testament as expressive of the necessaries and comforts, if not the luxuries, of life.

But though vineyards were cultivated to so great a degree by the Israelites, and the manufacture of wine was so much extended, this beverage seems not to have been so common in other countries. Indeed the quantity produced elsewhere was for a long time very small. Except in Egypt and Greece, wine was seldom allowed either to virgins or matrons, or to young men. In Rome, most severe restrictions were laid on it for the first 200 years of that celebrated city. But about this period, that is 500 years before the Christian era, it began to be manufactured in greater abundance. When in ancient Italy the Romans had carried the cultivation of vineyards to the greatest extent to which they ever reached, their productiveness was incredible, exceeding that of modern vineyards by about a half. The varieties of the vine, known to the ancients, were very numerous, amounting to about fifty, some of which are described with sufficient minuteness to enable us to appreciate the relation in which they stand to our modern vines. Wine, however, was generally designated, not by the species of wine from which it was produced, but generally from the place where it was manufactured; thus we read of Vinum Falernum, Massicum, Alba

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