THE CROSS OF THE BLACK FRIARS,

HEREFORD.

On the north side of the city of Hereford are the remains of the house of the Black Friars, which was elected in the reign of Edward III. who himself was present at the dedication of the church, together with his son Edward the Black Prince, several archbishops, and great numbers of the nobility and gentry.

This Friary became exceedingly flourishing in a very short period; and many persons of distinction were buried here. On the dissolution, the site and buildings were bestowed on John Scudamore of Wilton, and William Wygmore of Shoddon, esqs. ; but in the reign of Elizabeth this place became the property of the Coningsby family, from whom the estate has descended to the present earl of Essex.

The principal remains of this establishment are some offices in a ruinous state, and the cross or stone pulpit, which we have represented. This is a hexagon open on each side, and surrounded by a flight of six steps decreasing in length as they ascend. In the centre is a base of the same figure, with two arches on each side supporting the shaft of the cross. A number of ramifications from the shaft form the groining of the roof; passing through which

THE CROSS OF THE BLACK FRIARS.

it appears above in a very ruinous state. The upper part is embattled, and each angle supported by a buttress. This pulpit was most probably surrounded by cloisters, where the people might, under cover, attend to the sermons delivered from it; as the Black Friars were extremely popular, and greatly affected preaching to the multitude from these kind of erections.

In the year 1614, sir Thomas Coningsby, near the site of this Friary, and evidently with part of its materials, erected an hospital for the reception of the "disabled soldier and the superannuated faithful servant." This edifice was built in the form of a quadrangle, and consisted of twelve apartments, a chapel, hall, and other necessary conveniences.

DOVE-DALE,

DERBYSHIRE.

DOVE-DALE is a deep and romantic chasm, through which the river Dove winds its perturbed and devious course, rolling over the solid basements of tremendous rocks, whose rugged, dissimilar, and frequently grotesque and fanciful appearance, distinguishes the scenery of this valley from perhaps every other in the kingdom. Mr. Brayley, in his Beauties of England and Wales, has given a very animated and accurate description of this place.

"On entering the Dale the mind regards it as a sequestered solitude, where Contemplation might take her seat, and extend her musings through the wide range of existence, neither interupted by jarring sounds nor distracted by discordant images. As the road proceeds, however, the scenery becomes too romantic and impressive, from its sin gularity, to permit the attention to engage itself on other objects. The valley contracts; and on each side, rocks of gray limestone, abrupt and vast, rear their grotesque forms, covered with moss, lichens, yew-trees, and mountain-ash. A narrow and broken path winds along the margin of the river, which in some parts so nearly fills the bosom of the Dale, that even the foot-passenger cannot pursue his cautious way without the hazard of being precipitated from the slip