340 of them stood in a line reaching from the end of Laurence Lane, in Cheapside, nearly to that cathedral. They were all clothed on this occasion in a uniform dress of russet cotton; but on the Easter following, that colour and material was changed for blue cloth, which has ever since been continued, and has occasioned them to receive the denomination of the Blue-coat school. This dress, which still retains its original fashion, and has a very antique appearance, consists of a blue cloth coat, quilted close to the body, having loose skirts of the same, yellow under-coat, yellow worsted stockings, black lowheeled shoes, a flat round thrum cap, tied with a red band, and the hair cut short.

The several buildings of this charity are very extensive, consisting of various irregular parts, erected at different periods, and possess very little external beauty. The south front, which is hid by Newgate Street, is the handsomest. It is composed of a fine red brick, and is ornamented with Doric pilasters, placed on pedestals. This part of the Hospital was erected principally at the expense of sir Robert Clayton, alderman and mayor of London, and was executed under the direction of sir Christopher Wren. It forms the principal entrance, and may be seen from the west side of Christ's Church, to which there is a passage from Newgate Street. In a niche

above the door is a statue of the royal founder Edward VI. indifferently done, and much damaged; and underneath the following inscription:

"Edward the Sixth of famous memory, King of England, was founder of Christ's Hospital; and sir Robert Clayton, knight and alderman, some time lord mayor of this city of London, erected this statue of King Edward, and built most part of this fabric, Anno Dom. 1682."

The cloisters, yet standing, were part of the friary, but have been much modernized. They are very large, and serve at present as a thoroughfare to the Hospital, and a place for the boys to play in. Over them are some of the wards, and the great hall: both are well worthy of inspection.

In the cloisters, which are still used for interments, repose several of the officers of the Hospital, as well as some of its distinguished benefactors. Among the latter, the name of Mr. Thomas Firmin, a private citizen, merits preservation as an instance of uncommon liberality. His epitaph is said to have been composed by Dr. Fowler, bishop of Gloucester, who knew him well, and is no panegyric.

THIS Castle stands on an eminence, about one mile from Newport, and overlooks the village ofCarisbrook. Historians relate that a castle existed in this place when Britain was subdued by Vespasian, A. D. 45, in the reign of the emperor Claudius, and that it was repaired by the Romans; it was afterwards rebuilt by Withgar, the Saxon, then sovereign of the Isle of Wight, about the year 519, who called the Castle Wight Garisbourg, from which its present name Carisbrook, is supposed to be derived. This building falling to decay, in a great measure through length of time, was re-edified in the reign of Henry I. by Richard de Rivers, earl of Devon; and Camden relates that it was once more rebuilt by a governor of the island. Queen Elizabeth made some additions and considerably repaired the ancient building; the date of these reparations is sculptured on a shield placed over the outer entrance. Under the date are the initials E. R. from which it has been inferred that this gate was erected by Elizabeth. The walls of the ancient edifice enclose a space, whose area is about an acre and a half; its shape is a right-angled parallelogram, with the angles rounded off; its greatest length from east to west. The entrance is on the west, on a curtain between two bastions, then through a small gate, over which is an inscription,

with the date above noticed; this gate leads to another flanked with two round towers. On the north side are some low buildings in ruins, said to be those where the unfortunate Charles I. was confined, and in one of them a window is shewn, through which he attempted to escape. On the north-east angle, upon a considerable elevation, stands the keep, an irregular polygon, the way to which is by an ascent of 72 steps: here was formerly a well for the supply of the Castle, but now filled up with rubbish. In the south-east angle is a tower called Mountjoy's tower, with very thick walls, which, together with the keep, have appearances of much greater antiquity than most other parts of the edifice. The old Castle is enclosed within a more modern fortification, probably part of the erection of queen Elizabeth.

To this Castle, as already hinted, the unfortunate Charles I. was conducted, upon his arrival at the Isle of Wight; he remained here some time in reality a prisoner, though amused with all the mockery of feigned respect; and on the failure of a tedious negotiation, in which he was engaged with the parliament, who doubtless were suspicious of his sincerity, he was committed to close imprisonment by colonel Hammond, the governor.

THE village of Beddington lies nearly two miles to the westward of Croydon, and about eleven from Westminster bridge. The country around it is charmingly diversified, the inequality of the grounds producing a singular variety of rural scenes. The church, and the old mansion belonging to the family of the Carews, are particularly interesting. This manor-house is situated near the Church, and forms three sides of a square : it is built of brick; the centre consists of a large and lofty hall, with a beautiful roof of wood in the Gothic style; the north wing is a mere shell, its interior having been destroyed by Are about the year 1709, soon after the house had been rebuilt in its present form. The great entrance to the hall has an ancient lock of the most curious workmanship, the key-hole is concealed by a shield charged with the arms of England. The benefice of Beddington formerly belonged to Bermondsey abbey, being given to the foundation in the year 1159, by Sibella de Wateville and Ingram de Fountenays; it afterwards became vested in the Carew family; upon the attainder of sir Nicholas Carew, the gift of the rectory was assumed by the crown. Henry VIII. presented to it in 1542. The rectory of Beddington, with the rest of the property of his ancestors, was restored to the son of sir Nicholas, before mentioned, who, soon after he became possessed, rebuilt the

mansion-house in a magnificent manner, laid out the gardens, and planted them with choice fruit trees, which he spared no cost to procure from foreign countries; he is said to have planted here the first orange trees that were seen in England. The church is dedicated to St. Mary. It is in the diocese of Winchester, and in the deanery of Ewell: it consists of a nave, chancel, and two aisles; at the west end is a square tower, with a strong butment on each side. This tower contains a large pointed window, filled with tracery. The present church was probably erected about the time of Richard II., the style of its architecture being of that age; at the west end of each aisle are several ancient wooden stalls with lifting seats, which are carved on the under part, with shields and other devices. The nave is separated from the aisles by plain pillars of good workmanship; the font, which is large, is of an early date; its form is square; the sides are ornamented with a range of round-headed arches; the centre is supported by a massive column, and the corners by light shafts with ornamental bases. In the chancel are many brass figures of the Carew family, inserted into flat stones; most of the inscriptions are illegible. At the south-east corner of the church is a small aisle or chapel, erected by sir Richard Carew, for the sepulture of the family: he was the first interred