"Braintree is a well-built and improving market town, situated on arising ground, and connected on the north with Bocking. It has some good houses, inns, &c, and has been considerably improved on its south-eastern side, since the railway has been brought in to it, by the erection of a very handsome station, from which a new road has been formed. It contains, together with Bocking, about 7,000 inhabitants. The woollen manufacture, that formerly flourished here, disappeared many years ago,but is succeeded by the silk manufacture, which employs a great number of the inhabitants. The market,held every Wednesday, is well supplied with corn, cattle, and all sorts of provisions; there are two annual fairs, held on May 8th, and October 2nd. The town has a handsome Corn Exchange, built in 1839, at a cost of £3,000, together with a Literary and Mechanics' Institution. There are two ancient parish churches, built in the time of Edward III — that of Braintree, dedicated to Saint Michael, on an elevated site at the south side of the town, and that of Bocking,dedicated to the Virgin, situated on high ground in Bocking, Church Street,and forming a conspicuous object at a considerable distance. We need scarcely add, that there are different dissenting chapels, workhouses, and such other establishments