BEFORE the invasion of the Romans, York was one of the chief towns of the Brigantes, the most powerful of the British Tribes. By them it was known as Yure- Wic, and even at that time was a place of importance. The parent city is sup- posed to have been founded by Julius Agricola, between the years 70 and 80 A.D.

He it was who cemented the power of Rome in Britain, and was father-in-law of Tacitus, the historian. By him York was made a strong military station, as well as the Capital of the North, under the name of Eboracum. During the Roman period it was evidently a place of great grandeur and considerable extent, and be- came the resort of the wealthy Romans in Britain, and the seat of Imperial Govern- ment. Whether the ancient walls, the remains of which form one of the prin- cipal features of York, were the work of the Romans, or whether they existed be- fore, is quite uncertain, but there is no doubt that Agricola invested the city with a wall, as he did other places, in order to protect the territory he had acquired.

The power of the Roman Empire de- clining a century later, many of the troops, which had previously been kept in Britain for the protection of Roman interests, were recalled to Rome. The Britons thought this too good an opportunity to be lost, and advantage was at once taken to raise a revolt against the Roman power. In 207 the Emperor Severus, though advanced in years, led his troops in person, and having taken four years to reach York, died there.

It is believed that the funeral rites were performed on Severus Hill, west of the city. Constantius Chlorus, who also ruled and resided in York, died here in 306, and was succeeded by his son Constantine, afterwards called the Great. He, after experiencing several reverses in the north, quitted the island. To him has been awarded the honour of introducing Christianity into this country, which is said to have been first preached in York on the spot where the Cathedral, or Minster, now stands. The power of Rome, which had so long been mighty, was now rapidly declining; York was left to take care of itself, and, with the whole island, was soon overrun by the Picts and Scots; then by the Saxons, and ultimately by the Danes.

At the establishment of the Heptarchy, York was the Capital of Northumbria, formed by Ethelred, who united the petty monarchies of Bernicia in the north, and Dieri, or the Land of Deer, in the south.

It was from this district that a number of youths were taken captive and exposed for sale in the slave-market at Rome, attracting the attention of Pope Gregory the Great, who sent the priest Augustine to re-convert the people to the Christian faith. Edwin ascended the throne at York as King of Northumbria 621, and six years later was publicly baptized by Paulinus, a Roman missionary, who very soon after became the first Archbishop of York. In 867 the Danes wrested North- umbria from the Saxons, in whose posses- sion it had been for three hundred years.

In 910, however, Edward the Elder ob- tained a complete victory over them.

Northumbria was now reduced to an Earldom, York still continuing the Capital city. After the death of Edward the Con- fessor, the Crown was seized by Harold, but his possession was soon disputed by Earl Tostig, his brother, and the Norwegian King Hardrada, who sailed up the River Ouse in his war-galleys, and marched upon York, which they took by storm after the battle of Fulford; but a few days after, they themselves were slain at the battle of Stanford Hill. It was at York that Harold was celebrating his success, when news was brought him of the landing of William of Normandy, and he was killed a few days after at the Battle of Hastings.

In. 1069 the Conqueror marched upon York against Edwin, the half-brother of Harold, who had collected an army in the North, and waited near the River Ouse.

William was victorious, and took the city without difficulty, strengthening his posi- tion by building the Castle-keep, known as Clifford's Tower, and a second fortress on Baile Hill, on the south side of the river. In 1137 the Cathedral and greater part of the city was burnt to the ground.

In the reign of Henry II. the first English Parliament was held at York (1156). A dreadful massacre of the Jews took place here soon after Richard I. came to the throne, when nearly one thousand men, women, and children lost their lives by fire and sword, through the rage of an infuriated mob. In 1389 Richard II.

conferred the title of Lord Mayor on " William De Selby," the Mayor, at the same time presenting his sword to him, to be borne with the point erect before him and his successors for ever. Few English cities passed through more violent changes than the city of York during the Wars of the Hoses; and for a time, in the .reign of Henry IV., the citizens forfeited their municipal rights and liberties; these were, however, soon restored them. In 1464, Edward IV. was crowned in the Cathedral. About 1505-6, during the reign of Henry VII., the first printing- press was erected here by Hugo Golg. In 1536 Henry VIII. suppressed the Abbeys and Monasteries; this led to an insur- rection, which was speedily put down.

Henry visited York in 1541, and estab- lished the famous Council of the North, whose function it was to hear and deter- mine all causes north of the Trent. In 1641 this Council was abolished by Charles I., who stayed five months in the city, residing at the Mansion House, close to the*Minster. York played an important part in the Civil War, the city suffering severely during the siege to which it was subjected, and which terminated in the battle of Marston Moor. Clifford's Tower was blown up by the explosion of the magazine in 1684, and reduced to ruins; the walls are still preserved with great care, no effort ever having been made to restore them. In the reign of Charles II.

coaches were first run between York and London; and in 1727 Daniel Defoe visited York, and made it the birthplace of his celebrated hero " Robinson Crusoe." The Princess Victoria, our present Queen, and her mother, the Duchess of Kent, attended the last musical festival held in the Minster in 1835. The first passenger-train ran into York 29th May, 1839. In 1850 a grand banquet was given in the Guildhall by the Lord Mayor and Corporation to the late Prince Consort, and the Mayors of the dif- ferent Corporations in England including the Lord Mayor of London, in aid of the Great Exhibition held in London the fol- lowing year. This banquet was signalized by the preparation of a dish which alone cost 100 guineas. The city was visited by the Prince and Princess of Wales in 1866, for the purpose of attending the Yorkshire Fine Art Industrial Exhibi- tion, held in a temporary building, and they were also present at a grand review of the whole of the Volunteers of York- shire on the Race-ground, on which occa- sion, it is said, more people visited York than had ever been known to enter the city before in one day. The new Exhi- bition building was completed, and opened by the Archbishop of York in 1879.

Such is a brief outline of the principal historic events which have occurred in this ancient city from the Roman period to the present date. Notwithstanding all its troubles, it continues a place of con- siderable extent and population, and has always held a proud position in English history as the residence of Kings, the Seat of Parliament, and the centre of civilization in the North of England.

The three leading features in York are, the Minster, the Castle, and the City Walls. The two latter have already been alluded to. York Minster is unquestion- ably the finest Gothic building in the world. It was originally founded in 626 by Edwin, King of Northumbria, soon after his conversion by Paulinus, the first Archbishop. The present edifice was built in the 13th, 14th, and 15th centuries, between the years 1215, when it was begun, and 1472, when it was completed.

The whole length of the building is 524 feet; of nave, 264 feet, and of transept, 222 feet, and the height of the great Tower is 234 feet. The Minster 'is the largest of any Cathedral in England, ex- cepting that at Winchester.

Of the numerous charitable institu- tions which abound in and about the city, none are better supported than that in aid of the funds of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, which Society possesses many friends in the neighbour- hood. The York Branch was established in 1868, when Mr. WILLIAM DYSON occu- pied the post of Hon. Secretary. He was succeeded in 1873, by Dr. DUNHILL, through whose kind and zealous exer- tions much attention and assistance has been attracted to the cause. The coast of Yorkshire possesses more Life-boat Stations than any other county in the United Kingdom except the coast of Devon, which has the same number.

The subscriptions and donations now received amount to more than. 100Z. a year and four Life-boats have been presented to the Society, one by the late Mrs.

ELLIS, which is endowed and stationed at Whitby; one by GEORGE MIDDLEWOOD, Esq., Rufforth Hall, stationed at Mam- borough ; and one at Filey, which, after doing good service for many years, was replaced (last year) by R. W. HOLLON, Esq. Mrs. ELLIS'S Life-boat was ex- hibited in York, and launched in the River Oase in December, 1881. York, a seaport, has been often mentioned in con- nection with proposals for improving the navigation of the River Ouse, on which it is situated; but we do not suppose it ever entered the minds of the supporters of the scheme for enabling sea-going vessels to come up the river, that a Life-boat would ever be launched on its waters. Such however was the case. A public proces- sion and demonstration was arranged by Dr. DUNHILL, in order that the citizens might see the Life-boat, and have their sympathies enlisted for the work of the Institution. The Boat, on its transporting- carriage, and fully equipped, was manned by the crew from Whitby in their life- belts and red caps, and the procession paraded through the principal streets of the town, gaily decorated for the occasion and crowded with masses of people to witness the unusual sight. The launch took place near Blue Bridge, in the presence of a distinguished company, including the Dean of York, the Lord-Mayor, the Com- mander-in-Chief of the Northern District and his Staff, besides many others. The ceremony passed off with the greatest suc- cess, the utmost enthusiasm being shown by the multitudes who had assembled to see the proceedings. The Society possesses an old friend and supporter in the Dean of York, who on former occasions has given proofs of his sympathy with Life- boat work. Several years ago, when the Dean resided in Reading, he persuaded the inhabitants to subscribe the cost of a Life- boat (The Royal Berkshire), which was publicly exhibited through the streets of that city before proceeding to her destina- tion at Aberdovey. The York Branch is still under the management of a strong and influential local Committee, with Dr. DUNHILL as Hon. Secretary, to whom the Life-boat Institution owes a large debt of gratitude for their long-continued co- operation and support.