Dorchester, a borough and market town, and the capital of the county, in the Dorchester division, distant 16 miles S.W. from Blandford, 15 W. from Bridport, 8 N. from Weymouth, 18 E. by S. from Beaminster, and 120 from London, diocese of Salisbury, archdeaconry of Dorset, and deanery of Dorchester. The South-Western and the Great Western lines of railway have each a station here.

The town is governed by a mayor, four aldermen, twelve councilors,, and returns two members to Parliament. It is the place of election for the county, and a polling-place. The assizes are held here, as also the quarter sessions and county court at the County-hall. The town is well supplied with water, lighted with gas, and paved. It is under the management of a local board of health. The town is regular and well-built on the river Frome and Ikening street, and comprises the parishes of St. Peter, Holy Trinity, All Saints, and Fordington. The houses are chiefly modern, built of brick and stone, and comprise three principal streets, vizt., East, West, and South. The south and west side of the town has walks between avenues of fine trees, forming a splendid promenade, commanding a delightful view over the downs and surrounding country. The population, with Fordington, in 1861 was 7,018 and the area in acres 4,160. There are two, markets, the small market on Wednesdays, and the larger one on Saturdays. The fairs are held February 14th,.July .6th, August 6th and October 25th, for horses, sheep and cattle.

Dorchester has, with Fordington, four churches and a chapel. The one dedicated to the Holy Trinity is in High West street, is a plain but commodious structure; the interior is neat; the living is a rectory, with Frome Whitfield annexed, joint annual value £500, with residence, in the gift of the feoffees of the Free school and the Almshouse charities; Rev. James Fisher, M.A., rector, and Thomas Alexander Faulkner, M.A., curate. The church of St. Peter's is a large Gothic edifice; stands in the centre of the town; it has a fine embattled tower, 90 feet high, and 8 bells. The living is a rectory, value £184, with residence; the Rev. E. W. Pears is the rector. The church of All Saints' is a handsome building of stone, with lancet windows, and contains a beautiful painted window in the chancel, with the effigy of the giver, the Bishop of Salisbury. The living is a rectory, value £84, in the patronage of the trustees of the late Rev. Charles Simeon; the. Rev. Evan Davies, rector; the Rev. C. T. Proctor, M.A., curate. Fordington church, which is ½ mile- east of the town, is situated on an eminence; it is an ancient stone edifice dedicated to St. George; it has a high embattled tower with pinnacles and a clock; over the south porch are the effigies of St. George and the Dragon rudely carved in stone. The living is a vicarage, value £225, with residence, in the patronage of the Prebend of Fordington ; the Rev. Henry Moule, MA, vicar, the Rev. Frederick John Morale, curate. Christ Church (a chapelry), half a mile north-west of the town, is a plain structure with one bell; the living is a perpetual curacy, in the gift of the vicar of Fordington. There are chapels for Baptists, Wesleyans, Independents, and Unitarians.

The County Gaol is a fine building on the north side of the town. It was erected on the site of the ancient castle. It contains 140 Cells; likewise reception cells fitted up in the lodge, a house of correction, and a treadmill. The wings of the prison communicate with the centre building in each storey by cast-iron bridges sprung from the several galleries. The executions take place at the top of the lodge, it being in view of all the criminal prisoners. An entrance, with porter's lodge, and six houses for the turnkeys, was erected from the north square.

The Dorset County Hospital, is situated at the south part of the town in . a beautiful and healthy situation, and overlooking a large nursery-ground, was built in 1841. It is in the Tudor style; it furnishes accommodation for a large number of in-door patients.

The Union Workhouse was erected in 1886. It is a stone and brick building situated half a mile south-west of the town. The Union includes 39 parishes.

The Town Hall is a neat building of stone and brick in the Elizabethan style. It was erected in 1848.

At the west end of the town are the cavalry barracks.

The Free Grammar school, founded in 1569, is in South-street; a small Endowed school in Trinity churchyard, for the educating and clothing of boys; also National schools for boys, girls, and infants, and & ' British school for boys.

The charities of the town Consist of three almshouses: Naples's almshouse, in South street was founded by Sir Gerard Napier for the support of ten poor men, who also receive 4s..Gd. a week, and have a piece of ground, which they cultivate; this building is kept in good repair. Whetston's almshouse for four aged men and their wives, who have a sum of 4s. 6d. a week. Chubb's almshouse for nine poor women, who receive 4s. 6d. a week each.

Dorchester is said to have been one of the strongest and most extensive of the Roman stations, under the name of Durnovaria, and some remains of the Roman walls are still to be seen.

About a quarter of a mile south of the town is the celebrated Roman amphitheatre; it is formed of raised mounds of earth enclosing an open space, but the mounds do not entirely enclose the interior space, as there is an opening at the north between their sloping points; the external diameter is about 350 feet, the shortest 340 feet, so that externally it is nearly a circle. In the thickest part of the sides is supposed were the dens for the wild beasts, that they might be let out opposite to each other to meet in the arena. It is computed that 12,000 persons could witness the combats. The last public spectacle here was the burning of Mary Channing in 1705, for poisoning her husband. The neighbourhood abounds with Roman antiquities. Two miles south-west of the town is the famous Maiden Castle, an ancient and extensive Roman camp, encircled by deep entrenchments, and ramparts of four deep. On the top is a table-land of oval shape, covering upwards of 40 acres; the whole space to the foot of the outer entrenchment is 120 acres. It is supposed to be one of the strongest of these fort1fied castles in England.

POUNDBURY, half a mile west of the town, is an encampment, with immense earthworks thrown up, top of which is 20 acres of land. Several stone coffins and other antiquities have been found at times. We may add that the country is traversed with Roman roads north and south of the river, and sites of Roman establishments, as Stinsford, Stafford, Burton, Wrackleford, Stratton, Southover, Bradford, Woodsford.

FORDINGTON is a large parish in the borough.

FROME, Whitfield, and Coker's Frome, or Colliton Row, half a mile north, are hamlets in Holy Trinity parish.

POSTAL REGULATIONS.—Post office, Cornhill. Mr. Charles Parsons, postmaster. Letters are dispatched to London (day mail), 8.40 a.m.; to Yeovil, North of England, North Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Weymouth, Bridport, &o., 12.40 p.m.; Weymouth 3 a.m., also at 10.15 a.m., and 3.30 p.m.; Bath, West of England and South Wales, 5.45 p.m. ; London (night mail) 9.30 p.m.; Yeovil, Bridport and the West, 10 p.m. Delivered from London 7 a.m.; from Weymouth 8.55 a.m. ; North and West of England, North Wales, &c., 11 a.m.; London, Eastern and South pastern counties, 4.20 p.m. Money-orders are issued and paid at this office from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT FOR THE COUNTY. John Floyer, Esq., Stafford house; Henry Gerard Sturt, Esq., More Critchell ; the Hon. W. H. Berkeley Portman, Hurst Bryanston.

FOR THE BOROUGH OF DORCHESTER. B. B. Sheridan, Esq., Frampton Court, and Charles Napier Sturt, Esq.

CORPORATION: Mayor, John Bishop, Esq.

ALDERMEN: George Curme, Esq. John Galpin, Esq. Thomas Coombs, Esq. John Ensor

COUNCILMEN: J. P. Aldridge; George James Andrews; Henry Lock; John Bishop; Matthew Devenish; John Francis Hodges; Robert Hayne; Edward Steele; Thomas Bennett; Alfred Samuel Mason; James Froud; Robert Davis;

COUNTY MAGISTRATES (Dorchester Division). John Floyer, Esq., M.P., West Stafford; R. B. Sheridan, Esq., H.P., Frampton court, Dorchester; Henry Frampton, Esq,, Moreton; Charles Augustus Manning, Esq., Castle Portland; Charles Wriothesley Digby, Esq., Studland, Wareham; Robert Williams, Esq., Bridehead house, Dorchester; Rev. James Acland Templer, Piddletown ; Augustus Foster, Esq., Warmwell; Augustus Billett Foster, Esq., Warmwell; W. L. Henning, Esq., Frome house; William Eliot, Esq., Weymouth ; R. H. 0. Swaffield, Esq, West Down lodge, Weymouth; H. N. Middleton, Esq.; Herbert Williams, Esq., Stinsford ; H. C. Godden, Esq., Upway; Sir John H. Lethbridge, bart., Sandhill Park, Taunton; James Fellowes, Esq., Kingston house; Sir Edward Johnson, Weymouth.

BOURGH MAGISTRATES (Dorchester). Herbert Williams, Esq., Stinsford ; John Bishop, Esq., Mayor; George Curme, Esq., Cornhill; Edward Pearce, Esq., Dorchester; John Galpin, Esq., High West street; Matthew Devenish, Esq., High West street; John Francis Hodges, Esq. High East Street; Robert Davis, Esq., High West street; John Ensor, Esq., High East street.

Quarter Sessions, held at the Shire-hall.
Chairman—Lord Portman.
Second Chairman-John Floyer, Esq., M.P.

BANKERS :-
Dorchester Old -Bank and Dorsetshire Bank—High West street (Williams and Co.); draw on Williams, Deacon and Co., London.
Wilts and Dorset Banking Company—High East street (James Thurston Shorto, Esq., manager); draw on London and Westminster. Bank.
Weymouth Bank (branch of)--High West street. (Elliot, Pearce and Eliot) (Edward Cross, Esq„ manager); draw of Glyn, Mills and Co., London.
'Savings' Bank—South street (George Henry Davis, Esq., actuary); open every Saturday, 11 to 2.

PUBLIC ESTABLISHMENTS:-

Union Workhouse--
Board sit every Wednesday at 11 o'clock, John Floyer, Esq., M.P., chairman; John Francis Hodges, Esq., vice-chairman; Rev. Thomas Ratsey Maskew, M.A., chaplain' , George Panton, Esq., surgeon; Henry Lock, clerk Thomas Coren, master; Mrs, Ann Coren, matron; Miss Slade, schoolmistress.

County Gaol and House of Correction--
James Vandyk Lawrance, governor; Wm. Curtis Raynold, deputy governor; Mrs. Mary Ann Lawrance, matron; Rev. B. L. Watson, chaplain; J. Good, Esq., surgeon; George Bawler, schoolmaster; William. Lovering, principal officer.

Dorset County Hospital---the Hon. the Earl of Ilchester, patron; H. C. Sturt, Esq., John Floyer, Esq., M.P., and Robert Williams, Esq., trustees; Herbert Williams, Esq., treasurer; Thomas Coombs and E. Pearce, Esqrs., auditors; J. R. Tooze, Esq., honorary secretary; Rev. C. W. Bingham, chairman; H. N. Middleton, Esq., vice-chairman; Rev. G. Davis, chaplain ; Dr. Cowdell, physician; John Tudor, Esq., consulting surgeon; G. Curme, Esq., surgeon; Mr. Evans, house apothecary and secretary; Mrs. Darcy, matron; Mr. John Brown, clerk.

Dorset County Museum and Library—Trinity street,
Right Hon. the Earl of Shaftesbury, president; Herbert Williams, Esq., treasurer; Rev. C. W. Bingham, honorary secretary.

Militia Stores .Depot--William Howe, clerk.
Working Men's Reading Room---South street, Mr. E. Baker,, secretary; John Dean and James Orchard, librarians.
Gas Works—Bell street, Wm. Osmond, manager.
Stamp Office—High East street, John Ensor, Esq., distributor.
Excise and Corn Inspector's Office—Corn Exchange, Jno. Leach, supervisor; Thomas Hawker and William Willand, officers.
Police Station—George Plummer, superintendent. Tax Offlce--T. C. Maltby, Esq., surveyor, Cornhill. London and South Western Railway Station-- Mr. William Mears, superintendent. Great Western Railway Station—- Mr. Edwin Wall, superintendent.

PUBLIC OFFICERS:--
Borough Treasurer--Montague Charles Weston, Esq., High West st.
Coroner--Giles Symonds, Esq.
Town Clerk, Clerk to .Borough Magistrates, County Treasurer, and Registrar to County Court—-Giles Symonds, Esq., High West street.
Clerk to the Board of Guardians-- Henry Lock, Esq., High East street.
Clerk to the Magistrates for the County of Dorset (Dorchester Division)--,Thomas Coombs, Esq., South street.
Clerks to the Commissioners of Taxes--—Andrews & Cockram, South st.
High Bailiff to the County Court—- Win. Gray Bryer.
Superintendent Registrar-—Henry Lock.
Registrar of Marriages---John P. Aldridge.
Registrar of Births and Deaths—Thomas Helps Bishop, Back West st.
Relieving Officer.--Mr. Wallis, Fordington.

PLACES OF WORSHIP:--
All Saints Church--High East street, Rev. Evan Davies, vicar; Rev. T. Proctor, M.A., curate.
Trinity Church—High West street, Rev. James Fisher, M.A., rector; the Rev. Thomas Alexander Falkner, M.A., curate.
St. Peter's Church—High West street, Rev. E. W. Pears, M.A., rector.
Fordington Church—Rev. Henry Moule, MA. vicar; Rev. Frederick John Moule, curate.
Christ Church—West Fordington, Rev. L. J. Bird, M.A.
Baptist Chapel---Dorford, High East street, Rev. E. Merriman, minister.
Congregational Chapel—South street, Rev. Joseph Fox, minister.
Wesleyan Chapel--Durngate street, Rev. J. Allen, minister.
Unitarian Chapel—Pease lane.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS :-
Hardy's Free Grammar -- Founded in 1569, South street, Rev. Thomas Ratsey Maskew, , M.A., head master.
Dorset County School--High West street, Rev. Richard George Watson, M.A., head master. Secretary, Rev. V. D. Vyvyan.
Christchurch Parochial--(mixed), Fordington., Miss Ellen Simner, mistress.
Trinity Endowed—Trinity churchyard, William Bryer, master; Mrs. Bryer, mistress.
National--(boys), Fordington, James White, master.
National—(boys), Pease lane, John Rowe Cooper, master.
National (girls), Bell street, Mrs. Mary Way, mistress.
National--(infant), Trinity Churchyard, Miss S. A. Cooper, mistress
British---boys , Durngate street, Bunting, master.
British—(girls), Mrs. Bunting mistress.

NEWSPAPERS:---
Dorset County Chronicle & Somersetshire Gazette--Published every Thursday morning; Mr. Henry Spicer, printer and publisher.
Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette--Published every Tuesday, Frederick Foot, printer and publisher, Church street.
Weymouth Portland & Dorchester Telegram --every Thursday morning, printer and publisher, Frederick Foot, Church street.

POSTING HOUSES:--
Antelope-—James Yearsley, Cornhill.
Kings Arms William Manley, High. East street.
Junction Commercial hotel---Jane Dunn, opposite South Western station.

OMNIBUSES :- Omnibuses are constantly at the stations from 'King's Arms' and 'Antelope' to meet all the trains.

CARRIERS To :---
Bere Regis---Day, to and from 'Phoenix', 'Wednesday and Saturday.
Buckland Newton---Best, to and from the 'George,' High street, Saturday.
Cerne---Strange, to and from 'Royal Mail,' Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday; Bragg, to and from 'Royal Oak,' High street, Wednesday and Saturday; James Sherry, to and from 'George,' High street, Saturday.
Evershot --Howe, to and from' Royal Oak,' every Saturday.
Harfoot Lane---Stickland, from 'Chequers,' High East street,'Saturday.
Haselbury---Williams, from 'Plume of Feathers,' Back West street, Saturday, at 3 o'clock.
London, Dorchester , Weymouth, Cerne , & Bridport---William Bishop (agent for Lipscomb), forwards goods by train to and from each station, daily; London booking - offices, 'White Horse,' Fore street, Cripplegate, 'White Horse,' Friday st, Gerard's hall, Old Bailey.
Piddletown ---Brett, from 'Phoenix' High street, wednesday and Saturday
Piddletrenthide --- Turner from 'Plume & Feathers' Back West St Monday, Wednesday & Friday
Pulham --- Crocker from 'George' High street Saturday;
William Manley agent for South Western Company
James Yearsley, agent to the Great Western Company