The principal, and almost only article of manufacture in Leicester, is that of Stockings, which has been an established and staple commodity here for above two centuries.

"It has diffused with a bountiful hand amongst the inhabitants, riches and population. In this branch of commerce, Leicester has no competitor of consequence but Nottingham. These places together form one grand machine; whose movement, at this time (1792), is smooth and rapid, and furnishing employment for 20,000 people." These consist of the various persons respectively belonging to the hosiers, stockingmakers, wool-combers, dyers, frame-smiths, comb-makers, winders, sizers, seamers, spinners, hobbiners, sinker-makers, stocking-needlemakers, &c. &c. In Leicester there were, according to Mr. Throsby's statement, "upwards of seventy manufacturers, called hosiers, who, it is computed, employ 3000 frames; i. e. including the wrought goods they individually purchase." About 6000 persons, Mr. T. conjectures, are directly or indirectly employed at Leicester in some branch of "this great business." A few historical particulars respecting this useful manufacture, it is presumed, will neither be irrelevant nor uninteresting. The first machine, by which stockings were made, is said to have been invented by the Rev. W. Lee, of Calverton, Nottinghamshire, in the year 1590. This was exhibited before Queen Elizabeth, but as neither the bigotted queen, nor any of her subjects, thought proper to patronize and encourage the invention, Mr. Lee carried it to France, and was on the eve of establishing himself and his manufactory at Rouen, under a grant from the French king, when the latter was murdered. This frustrated Mr. Lee's plans, who, dying soon afterwards in Paris, some of his workmen returned to England, and settled in this county. In the year 1680 there was only one stocking-maker in Leicester, who, taking two or more ap prentices, thus disseminated the secrets of his trade, and laid the foundation of a business which has proved highly beneficial to the tradesman and to the community. Deering, in his History of Nottingham,

* Throsby's History, &c, of Leicester, p. 401.

Nottingham, states, that the first pair of worsted knit stockings was made by Wm. Rider, a London apprentice, in the year 1564, and was presented by him to the earl of Pembroke. Prior to this period it was customary for the kings and nobility to wear clothhose. Henry the Eighth always wore cloth hose, except by chance a pair of silk stockings was brought over from Spain, where silk abounded. His son, Edward the Sixth, was presented with a pair of Spanish long silk stockings, by his merchant, Sir Thomas Gresham, and this present was then taken much notice of. Hence it appears that the invention of knitting stockings originated in Spain; but some contend that it was first used by William Rider. Howell relates*, that queen Elizabeth, in the third year of her reign, 1561, was presented with a pair of black silk kuit stockings +, by her sill-woman, Mrs. Montague, and after that time she never wore cloth hose again. The process of weaving stockings was not much used till the middle and latter end of the seventeenth century. In the year 1640, a stocking-frame was introduced, and employed at Hinckley, in this county, where the business has been ever since carried on by some of the family of Iliffe, who introduced it. At the time the frames were first employed in Leicester, they encountered much opposition, for the knitters, like the shearmen, &c. among the woollen manufacturers, feared that machinery would deprive them of the means of livelihood. The first weavers were therefore obliged to set their frames up in cellars, and other secret places: nor was this precaution adopted without very cogent reasons; for Mr. Throsby records, that "the manufacturers of stockings in Leicester, and the villages adjacent, hearing some unfavourable reports respecting a stocking-frame which had been made by an ingenious mechanic, assembled on Monday, March 15th, 1773, for the purpose of destroying it; it being supposed so to expedite their business, that it might occasion A a 2 numbers

* History of the World, Vol. II. p. 222.

↑ This name appears to have been first given to such coverings for the legs, as were knit, to distinguish it from the hose, and hosen, made of cloth.

numbers of them to be unemployed. But although the report was groundless, they dared even to force themselves into the 'Change, where it had been lodged by order of the mayor, took it thence, and carried it in triumph round the town*." Even so late as November 1787, the common people were not reconciled to machinery, for a mob assembled on the 30th of that month, to destroy a spinning machine, and having searched many houses without finding it, they broke into Mr. Wetstone's house in the night, and destroyed his furniture, stock in trade, trading utensils, &c.

This town and its vicinity, with Nottingham and its neighbourhood, are the principal places in England for the manufacture of stockings; and the latter is most noted for silk and the finer sort of goods, whilst the former is chiefly devoted to the coarser articles, of which a very large quantity is annually made. The trade at present is very flourishing, and in the "Walk through Leicester," it is stated “that 15,000 dozen per week,” of stockings are made on an average.

In St. Mary's church, and in that of All Saints, are two curious ancient fonts +.

Among the natives of this town, who obtained literary eminence, was Dr. RICHARD FARMER, who was born in 1735, and distinguished himself by his masterly "Essay on the Learning of Shakespeare." This point had previously excited much disputation among theatrical critics, but the doctor's arguments very satis factorily decided the question. Besides the above essay, he only published a few miscellaneous papers and poems, and collected some materials towards the history of his native town and county, which he gave to Mr. Nichols, for the use of his comprehensive topographical work. Dr. Farmer died in 1797.

* Throsby's History, &c. p. 167.

+ Engraved in Nichols's History.

MOUNTSORELL

MOUNTSORELL,

Mountsorrel, or Mount Soarhill,

Is a small market town on the great turnpike road from Leicester to Derby, at the distance of seven miles from the former. The name of this town presents a very odd compound of three words, one of which becomes tautological: Mount-Soar-Hill, i. e. a place distinguished by a Mount or Hill on the banks of the Soar. The natural features of this place are singularly romantic. Immediately on the western side of the town, is the termination of a ridge of high hills, which extend hence, through the midst of Charnwood forest, into Derbyshire, &c. The extremity here is lofty and steep, presenting a variegated face of grass and rock; and the highest point, almost overhanging the town, is called Castle-hill, where was formerly a fortress, which Mr. Nichols conjectures was built by Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester. It is mentioned as early as the reign of king Stephen, when amicable articles of agreement were made and signed between Ranulph de Gernoniis, Earl of Chester (great nephew of the founder), and Robert Bossu, Earl of Leicester, who was at that time one of the king's foremost champions. This agreement specifies that each of these noblemen had large possessions, joining together at this place; and assigns the castle of Mountsorel, to the Earl of Leicester and his heirs, on condition that Ranulph and his family should be received in a friendly way within the borough, bailiwick, and castle, whenever they chose. This curious document is printed in Nichols's History of Leicestershire, Vol. I. p. 26. The castle continued in the possession of Robert Bossu till 1167, and then devolved to his son Robert Blanchmains, who, rebelling against Henry the Second, was dispossessed of this, and his other castles, &c. At the great council held in Northampton, 1175, he was restored to the royal favour, and had all his other possessions returned; but the king retained this as his own, and different governors were appointed to hold it, in that and some succeeding reigns. Saer de Queney was invested

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invested with its government by king John, in 1215, and he occupied it with a strong garrison, not for his own monarch, but for Lewis the French king, whom the barons had invited to their assistance. This garrison committed great depredations on the neighbourhood; but these free-booters were at length opposed and conquered, by a party of royalists from Nottingham castle. The castle of Mountsorell, however, was not subdued, and Henry the Third commanded the garrison of Nottingham to besiege and demolish it. This was attempted without success. The French party and barons were afterwards conquered, and this castle was ́possessed by king Henry the Third, who appointed Ranulph Blon→ deville, Earl of Chester, its governor. It was now razed to the ground, as a nest of the Devil, and a den of thieves and robbers, and was never again repaired*.”

Edward the First, in 1292, granted to Nicholas de Segrave, sen. and his heirs, a weekly market, and a yearly fair, for eight days: also liberty of free-warren, in all their demesne lands of Overton, Segrave, Sileby, and Dithesworth, in this county. In 1781 an act of parliament was obtained, for " dividing, allotting, and inclosing, within the manor, lordship, and liberties of Mountsorell, part whereof lies in the parish of Rothley, and the other part in the parish of Barrow upon Soar, several open fields and commonable grounds, containing about 300 acres, and a certain commonable place called Mountsorrel Hills." In this act, Sir John Danvers, Bart. is described as lord of the manor of Mountsorell, also as impropriator of all the tythes of corn, grain, and hay, and all the great and rectorial tythes arising from the said fields and commonable grounds. The town is in the two parishes of Barrowon-Soar, and Rothley, and the vicars of each, with the patrons and proprietors, are allotted their proportionate shares of lands and tythes, in the ground which was then to be inclosed.

"Mount-sorel-hill, is a rock of reddish granite, with pieces whereof the streets are paved. They are commonly called Charley-forest

Nichols's History of Leicestershire, Vol. III. p. 86,