so as either to cloy the eye, or diminish the satisfaction at first entertained; and, it is believed, no other example of modern ecclesiastical architecture presents the like system of repetition, which, we are compelled to own, has its peculiar charm. terial, stone.

South side, or front; two stories as in the West ditto; (Westward, proble of portico; Eastward, profile of circular recess.) First story; seven divisions; first and seventh of which, repetitions of the side divisions of West front, in pilasters, windows, &c. the intermediate five divisions are so formed by Ionic three quarter columas, inclosing niches. Second story: seven divisions in continuation; first and seventh, repetition of side divisious West front, as the intermediate five are repetitions of its centrical Corinthian columns, and pediments. In these seven divisions are as many windows; between the pediments, pedestals supporting urns, balusters in continuation.

East 'ront; two stories as before, three divisions; first story, Ionic pilasters; centre division, three windows with circular heads (of increased dimensions for lighting the altar) beneath them tablets filled with sculptures; in side divisions, doorways. Second story. Corinthian pilasters, centrically three piches, on sides left and right, windows; general entablature of pedestals supporting urns, balusters in continuation.

Side windows on West front, and those in repetition on South side and East fronts, with the niches, have circular heads, scrolls attached, with pediments, both triangular and circular, in which are cherubim heads and festoons of fruits and flowers; and those windows of larger dimensions arranged with them, give angel head key-stones; East end is much enriched with compartments contain ing books, writing implements, flowers, corn, palm branches, &c. North side, same as the South ditto. There is a studied regularity in the decorations on every part of the exterior; the particulars on the West front give the lead to those displayed on every other aspect, yet not

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Interior. Judiciously arranged; no galleries to disfigure the lines, except

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contain the organ, and the pews rise no higher than the general dado. The uprights in two stories; they have breaks centrically at the West and Eastern ends with Corinthian columas, against the several piers ditto pilasters, between them large compartments intended for paintings; in the dado, compartments also. trance at West end, circular-headed doorway, with double Corinthian pilasters. East end opens into the circular recess for the altar, its arched head taking in the whole height of second story; the effect is highly imposing, and the enrichments are appropriate and elaborate. This, being the most attractive point of the whole place, certainly demanded all the Architect's attention, his utmost skill; indeed he appears to have obeyed the "order of the Commissioners to spare no cost," and sufficiently to do honour to his royal mistress who first suggested the idea of an accu mulation of places of divine worship, and no doubt, strictly adhered to her instructions in what manner the altar should be accompanied, not alone by architectural forms, but by symbolical embellishments. On either hand, at the commencement of the recess, doorways; that on the left, entrance from the street; that on the right, the vestry: these doorways are pedimented, and over them compartments with paintings, probably the first specimens of what was to have adorned the several compartments on the uprights; one the Salutation of the Virgin Mary, the other Our Saviour in the Gardea, by Brown; paintings happily conceived, and well executed. Altar; baluster railing in a sweeping direction before it; three large circular-headed windows; below them, and immediately above the altar, three tabernacle compartments; side ones circular-headed, centre ditto, open scroll pediment, supporting an urn with cherubim heads (a decoration certainly referring to

the

the antient service of the church); these tabernacles not enriched, probably once covered, or intended to be, with altar-like allusions. In the dome head of the recess, three grand compartments (following the syinmetry of the windows below), full of splendid scriptural emblems; centrically, the lineal representation of the Trinity, surrounded with cherubim heads, rays of glory, foliages, &c. The upright of the recess terminates with a pediment enclosing the sovereign's arms. On second story the range of windows, the circular heads of which break into the elliptical arch of the cieling as small groins the cieling itself, which is of a magnificent turn, is entirely compartmented in square and diamond forms alternately, filled with large flowers; the dividing architrave foliaged. Notwithstanding the unbounded embellishments marking the altar recess, cieling, and tiers of Corinthian columns and pilasters, the mouldings in the entablatures are but partially enriched, and their friezes left entirely plain, as in the preceding designs, manifesting that the Wrencan school still maintained an influence not easily to be relinquished. Pews, as already stated, in no way interfering with the uprights, are of plain appearance; the reading-desk assumes some kind of ornamental consequence; and the pulpit completes the climax, by an increase of guiderons, foliages, and cherubim heads; its plan hexangular, the stem, and soundingboard of the pulpit plain, suggest ing an opinion that they are some economical reparation, perhaps done when the pulpit and reading-desk were removed, about twelve years past, from their rubric appropriate situations on the side of the interior to their present altar-hiding position. Whoever first set about this pulpit fancy of innovatory removal, (now become a common practice) has much to answer for, in having offended architectural propriety, not to say ecclesiastical decorum, and rendered of but little interest, objects on which much labour and expence bad been bestowed, as in the present instance. To carry on the unpleasant sensations of this kind of derangement, a Buzaglio stove, placed before the pulpit, is also made part of the same objectionable expedient. Upon the whole, this interior is unique;

and though the "first" trial of the Artist's genius, certainly his most chaste and elegant work; and, that no censure may attach to his memory in point of common judgment, let it be stated, that a plain gallery has, at a latter day, been attached to the original organ gallery at the West end; in a word, it not only disfigures the contiguous decorations, but is a disgrace to the manifest splendour of the sacred pile. AN ARCHITECT.

Mr. URBAN,

Cosford, near Rugby, Feb. 23. NE of the ill-fated family of Ratcliffe,when seeking concealment, lost his life in crossing a Ford in Hertfordshire about the year 1715. When this happened, his favourite dog, which had constantly attended him, returned to his house in Haltongarden, leaped into an arm-chair which Mr. Ratcliffe generally used, and died instautly. He is supposed to have been Francis, second son of Francis, second Earl of Derwentwater, and, of course, brother of James the third Earl, who was beheaded in 1715, and of Charles (the fourth TITULAR Earl) who was executed in 1746. Perhaps some of your intelligent Correspondents can inform me, whether any traditional story of these circumstances is still in existence in the county of Hertford: if any Ford is now called Ratcliffe's Ford, in consequence of Mr. Ratcliffe's being drowned there: or, in short, if any memorial or account of his death is to be met with near to the scene of it. Authentic information on any of these points, and any intelligence which may lead to the discovery of the very house in Halton-garden which Mr. Ratcliffe formerly occupied, will, from particular circumstances, prove a source of great satisfaction to some of his descendants, and, amongst them, to Yours, &c. H. L-N.

A FRIEND OF DEPARTED Worth regrets that our account of so profound a Scholar as the Rev. THOMAS HowES, Author of "Critical Observations," and several Theological works, is record some memorial more extended, so very brief; is anxious that we should and better proportioned to his merits as a Scholar and Divine, for the information of posterity.-We shall be obliged to any of his relatives or acquaintance who will favour us with a more enlarged account of his life and writings.

bels, which kept open the communication round the top: at the inside were placed the habitations of the owner and his warlike retainers.

"At the South side the walls were built with massy stones, parts of the natural rock on which it was erected; which, on levelling and clearing the summit, were used for that purpose, and laid as regularly as their shape would aduit; the insides were filled up with small materials mixed with fluid mortar, which from age has become harder and more impregnable than the rock itself. The West was secured by a deep valley, the ascent from which was very steep and difficult. The Eastern descended in a gradual slope to the river, and was doubly defended, not only by the walls of the Castle, but by those of the Cockpit. On the North it was secured by a moat; the part next the town, being only a little elevated above the adjoining ground, was its weakest side. To secure this, it being also the principal entrance, Conan, about 75 years after the first erection, among his other repairs, built the great square tower 54 feet long and 48 wide: the walls of which, from their extraordinary thickness, have braved the united attacks of time and weather, and remain at this day in their original state; they are 99 feet high and 11 thick, and have pinnacles resembling Watch Towers at the four corners, united by a battlement. It had a well of excellent water on it, which is yet remaining, being lately discovered in the mist of rubbish; but from whence supplied with water cannot now be ascertained. The tower contains three stories; the lower one is supported by a heavy column in the centre, from which spring circular arches meeting at the top, and within these few years was in a perfect state. From the bottom a circular staircase leads to the first apartment, which has three windows larger than usual in such buildings, and with semi-circular arches supported by round pillars. From this a passage is cut through the middle of the wall, near the doorway which led to the battlements. The floors of these last two are fallen in, and now in ruins, having been supported by beams resting upon a stone pillar in the middle. From the great height of

this tower the besieged had a view of all the neighbouring country, and from hence they could see with every advantage all the motions of the enemy, and be ready prepared to resist any hostile attack. To strengthen this, an outwork, called the Barbican, was built before it, which was a strong high wall, with turrets upon it, designed for the

defence of the gate and draw-bridge. In the course of this wall was placed the great gate of the Castle, machi, colated and strongly fortified with a tower on each side: rooms were built over the passage, which was closed with thick folding doors of oak plated with iron, and with an iron portcullis occa, sionally let down in grooves from above. The open space within this was called the Bailey, where were the quarters of the Constable and Guard, with long narrow windows, which admit. ting but little light, rendered the apart ments within dark and uncomfortable. On the top of these walls, and on the flat roofs of the buildings, stood the defenders of the Castle; and from hence they discharged arrows, darts, and stones on the besiegers.

"In the South-eastern corner is now remaining a Tower about 14 feet deep, supposed to have been either a cellar or place of confinement: from this Tower a secret subterraneous passage is said to have gone under the bed of the river to St. Martin's Priory, through which the female part of the inhabitants in times of danger retired for protection: but there seems to be no foundation for these reports, as it appears only to have been a staircase to the upper apartments of the great Hall of Scolland, and the doorway at the bottom, the entrance from the court."

The Casile at Skipton in Craven also, we have been told, but cannot vouch for the truth of the assertion, had a subterraneous passage belonging to it, the further end of which opened into a farm-house; from whence, in the night-time, supplies of all sorts might be forwarded with seéurity to the Castle. Of this description was that (if it did exist) which the Editor here mentions, as having

reached under the bed of the river to St. Martin's Priory. Another communication of the same sort is said to have been formerly established between the Priory and the Abbey of St. Agatha near Easeby. Of this, however, nothing certain can be said. At all events, the use, which the one, supposed by some to have proceeded from the Castle at Rich-. mond, is said to have been applied to, is but a secondary one. The first object with the garrison must have been to secure to themselves the necessaries of life. That the female part of the inhabitants should, in time of danger, retire from

a strong