|is another, where a building is erected on 14 pillars of cast |iron, being a crane, a curious piece of mechanism for loading and |unloading ships; from which, to the mouth of the river Frome, the |quay is called _The Gibb_. | |The Avon being joined by the Frome, passes on by the Hot-well |through the rocks of St. Vincent, in a winding course of about |eight miles, and discharges itself into the Bristol Channel; on |the banks are several dock yards, and the merchants’ floating dock |is extremely large. | |The cathedral church, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was founded |in the reign of King Stephen, in 1140; it is 175 feet long; the |tower is 130 feet high, square, and ornamented with four |pinnacles: the church, though not large, has many gothic beauties |within, and a good organ; it is adorned with painted windows, and |several handsome monuments, particularly that of Mrs. Draper, the |celebrated Eliza of Sterne. Behind the church is a cloister, in |which are the entrances to the library and bishop’s palace. To the |west of the church is a most beautiful gothic gateway, ornamented |with statues. | |Bristol contains 17 parish churches, and five chapels. The church |of St. Mark, opposite the cathedral, was formerly collegiate: now |it is the mayor’s chapel. All the churches are neat, beautifully |decorated, and most of them have many handsome monuments: that of |St. Mary’s, Redcliff, is one of the finest in the kingdom, |containing two beautiful monumental statues of its founder, |William Canninge, who had been five times mayor of the city; in |one appearing habited as a magistrate, and in the other as a |priest, he having in his latter days taken holy orders: there is |also another of Sir William Penn, father of the famous Quaker. |Here are also many hospitals and charitable institutions. | |On College Green is a stately high cross, with the statues of |several kings round it. | |There are 13 city companies, several of whom have elegant halls, |particularly the Merchant’s Hall, in Princes Street, a capacious |stone structure, enclosed by an iron pallisade, with a very |curious front. The Cooper’s Hall, in King Street, has a superb |front, with four Corinthian columns. There are also several |handsome squares: Queen Square has a spacious walk, shaded with |trees; in the centre is a fine equestrian statue of William the |Third, by Rysbrack. | |The government of the city is administered by a mayor, 12 |aldermen, all justices of the peace, two sheriffs, 28 common |council, town clerk, and deputy town clerk, chamberlain, |vice-chamberlain, under-sheriff, &c. besides a city marshal, and |other inferior officers. | |A mile below the city, close by the river, is the Hot-well, the