and may not unaptly be compared to a
shoulder of mutton--it is full one mile and a half in length, and a mile
and quarter broad. It contains thirty four churches and a number of
chapels and meeting houses, besides the cathedral; it has five bridges
over the river; it was formerly nearly surrounded with a wall, planted
with forty two towers and had twelve gates, the former is dilapidated the
latter, within a few years have been taken down.

The original foundation of Norwich is not easily asertained; however, it
is certain, that the Romans, presently after their establishment in
Britain, either erected fortresses near the British towns, or invited the
natives to assemble round the Roman military stations; and most of our
cities and chief towns occupy the site of such stations, or are in their
immediate vicinity, which makes it probable, that Norwich orginated in
the decay of (_Venta Icenorum_) Castor, and which the following old
distich commemorates.

"Castor was a city when Norwich was none,
"And Norwich was built of Castor stone.

Camden says, he had no where met with the name of Norwich previous to the
Danish invasion; on the origin of the name, various opinions have been
formed; however, there is very little doubt that it received its name
from the Saxons, their word _Northwic_, signifying a northern station,
castle, or town, and the word occurs on the Saxon coins of various
reigns. Blomfield mentions several of these--one in the time of Alfred
the Great, about the year 872; another in the early part of the reign of
Athelstan about the year 925, and several others; besides three coins
minted here of Ethelred, called the _Unready_, of which it seems, some
are yet extant; and from which it appears, that Norwich was a place of
note before the Danes were in possession of Britain.

The Saxons immediately took advantage of the Romans leaving Britain, to
pour in their own troops, under pretence of protecting the natives; but
they soon threw off the mask, and erecting fortresses to defend what they
had seized, they shortly became possessed of the whole Island. At this
period 'tis probable the former Castle of Norwich was first founded.
Vulgar chronology makes it as old as Julius Caesar; but its gothic
structure belied such conjecture--the elevated spot on which this castle
stood, commanding a prospect over a large space of country, pointed it
out as a proper place to fix an advanced post.

Uffa is considered