[Sidenote: Value of the land.] Map|Names of Places.| County. | Number of Miles From | +--+----------------+----------+-------------+------------+ 3|Bedford[A] bo|Bedford |St. Albans 30|Oxford 55| 22|Bedford to|Lancaster |Newton 7|Leigh 2| 16|Bedhampton pa|Hants |Havant 1|Fareham 9| 36|Bedingfield pa|Suffolk |Eye 4|Debenham 4| 27|Bedingham pa|Norfolk |Bungay 4|Harleston 7| 16|Bedlam pa|Gloucester|Cheltenham 2|Gloucester 7| +---+---------------+----------+-------------+------------+ |Dist.| Map|Names of Places.| Number of Miles From |Lond.|Population. +--+----------------+------------------------+-----+------+ 3|Bedford[A] bo|Cambridge 30| 51| 6959| 22|Bedford to|Bolton 7| 199| 3087| 16|Bedhampton pa|Chichester 10| 66| 537| 36|Bedingfield pa|Framlingham 9| 87| 332| 27|Bedingham pa|Norwich 10| 106| 380| 16|Bedlam pa|Tewkesbury 7| 96| | +--+----------------+------------------------+-----+------+ [A] BEDFORD. This is an ancient corporation, the earliest charter of which is dated in 1160. It is governed by a mayor, recorder, aldermen, two chamberlains, and thirteen common councilmen. Whoever may have been a mayor is always afterwards reputed as an alderman. The mayor and bailiffs are chosen annually out of the freemen. As early as the year 1295, it sent two members to parliament. The Duke of Bedford takes his title from this town, which first gave title of duke to the victorious prince John Plantagenet, Regent of France, during the minority of his nephew, Henry VI. as it did in the reign of Edward IV. first to John Nevil, Marquis of Montacute, and then to the king's third son, George Plantagenet; but he dying an infant, the title lay vacant till Henry VII. created his uncle, Jasper Tudor, Duke of Bedford, who also died without issue; and thus far the title was enjoyed by the first possessor only of each family. But King Edward VI. making John, Lord Russel, Earl of Bedford, the dignity has ever since been in that illustrious house, with an advancement of it to the title of Duke, by King William III. The history of the noble family of Russell is curious and interesting. They appear to have originated in Dorsetshire, and owe their greatness to an accident on that coast. In the reign of Henry VII., Philip, Archduke of Austria, being bound for Spain, the heiress of which kingdom he had married, was obliged by a storm to put on shore at Weymouth, where he was received by Sir Thomas Frenchard, of Wolverton, Knt., who, till he could inform the court of the event, sent for his neighbour Mr. John Russell, then lately returned from his travels, to entertain his illustrious guests. The Archduke was so pleased with his conversation,