Here, my dear friend, I shall release you for the present, which, perhaps, you may be as glad of as we were to see the spires of Shrewsburyhowever, in all circumstances, I am truly and sincerely your's.

"

A

LETTER V.

Pym's Farm, July 18, 1803.

THIRD letter from Pym's Farm, before I have had any account of the place itself?"-yes, my dear friend, so it has happened, but, before you have read this through, you will be gratified in that, and, I hope, in other respects.

At the close of my last, we had just got sight of the capital of Shropshire-we entered it by a noble stone bridge over the Severn, which river, in the shape of a horse-shoe, encompasses it on three sides. In this curve an eminence rises, and forms a delightful situation for the town. Parts of the wall, with which it was once defended, are still remaining, but what was once the castle, and which, indeed, still retains the name, has been repaired and modernized, and now serves chiefly for a prison. Its situation is extremely pleasant, and, from the walks round it, which form one of the promenades of the inhabitants, extensive

views into the adjacent country are to be obtained.

SHREWSBURY Was a well-built and populous place so long ago as the Norman invasion. In the time of Alfred it was called a city; and, in the reign of Edward the Confessor, it had a mint for the coinage of money. Being given by the Conqueror to Roger de Montgomery, with the title of earl, he built the castle, and founded an abbey, whose abbot was mitred, and one of the three of that description who, for some ages, had a seat in Parliament. This abbey was called St. Giles, or the Holy-Cross. Roger, the founder, also built and endowed a Benedictine monastery; and, in his old age, to atone, I presume, for his sins, quitted a world he could no longer enjoy, and spent the rest of his days as a monk in his own abbey. After this, several other monasteries and churches were erected here, and two collegiate churches, St. Chad's, and St. Mary's. ry's is still in its ancient state, has a lofty spire, and is, altogether, a handsome specimen of the ecclesiastical architecture of the times in which it was built. A few years ago the old church of St. Chad's fell down suddenly; but, as it providentially happened about four o'clock in the morning, not a single person was hurt. It is remarkable, that it had been extremely crowded the night before, on account of a funeral. The present edifice is of free-stone, finished in a very ele

St. Ma

gant manner, with a dome and cupola, and upon a plan much more suited to the religious services of protestants (in which the sermon is considered as of so much importance,) than the Gothic aisles, and arches of our ancient religious structures, which are so unfavourable for the voice of the preacher.

Shrewsbury has three other churches, and several dissenting places of worship. The friendship which subsisted for so many years between the late Mr. Job Orton, and Mr. Stedman, the present minister of St. Chad's, did honour to both parties, and exhibited a fair model for the conduct of the clergy, of different persuasions, towards each other. It was to Mr. Stedman that the Letters to a Young Clergyman were addressed, and to him the public is indebted for whatever pleasure or improvement it has derived from their publication. The character of Mr. Orton is well known; he was a native of Shrewsbury; and, from the year 1742, to the month of September, 1765, he continued to preach with singular acceptance and usefulness, to a large congregation of dissenters, in this his native place. Though of a robust make, his health was extremely precarious, and he was obliged to have assistants in his public employment. Mr. F. Boult was the first ; who soon removed to Wrexham. Mr. Moses Carter succeeded him; but died in 1747. The following year Mr. Joseph Fownes was chosen ;

and continued to act as co-pastor till Mr. Orton's resignation. The following testimony to the excellence of Mr. Orton's character, from the pen of a clergyman of the Church of England, is given, with some others, by Mr. Stedman, in his Preface to the "Letters."

Extract of a Letter, &c.

Feb. 3, 1791.

"I highly approve your design, respecting the publication of Mr. ORTON's Letters.-I considered the writer as one of the best men living-judi. cious, pious, benevolent, and piercingly sensible; a most instructive minister, and a most valuable and faithful friend. I had a particular intimacy with him for at least forty years. By such a publication as you intend, he will, being dead, yet speak,' and speak instructively."

Mr. Orton died at Kidderminster, July 19, 1783, in the sixty-sixth year of his age. Agree. ably to his own request, he was buried in St. Chad's church, where a monument is erected to his memory.

The charitable foundations of Shrewsbury were many-some of them have perished in the lapse of time, but several yet remain.

Opposite the castle is one of the largest freeschools in England; it was first founded and endowed by Edward VI. by the name of the FreeGrammar School. Queen Elizabeth rebuilt it

from the ground. It is, even now, a very respects able looking edifice, and has a very good library and chapel. Three masters, and several ushers, conduct the education of this place, and there are several scholarships belonging to it in the university of Cambridge. Besides, St. George's, St. Chad's, and other alms-houses, here are also several charity-schools.

Much

For the sick, here is a large infirmary, supported by voluntary contribution; and, for the comfort of the poor, the famous House of Industry, so justly celebrated for its excellent regulations. It is erected on a beautiful eminence, near the river, and appears more like the seat of a nobleman, than an edifice for charitable purposes. of the celebrity of this House of Industry, which was opened in 1784, must be ascribed to the vigilant and persevering superintendance, as well as the judicious, liberal, and spirited suggestions, of the late Mr. Isaac Wood, a man of whom it is scarcely possible to speak in too exalted a manner. I had the happiness of knowing him, and can fairly say, that any language which can convey an adequate idea of his worth, either in public or private life, must wear the air of panegyric. He might truly be said to live for the happiness of all to whom his influence could reach. In the year 1791, Mr. Wood published an interesting account of this establishment, under the title of Some Account of the Shrewsbury House of Industry, &c.; in this account, which was the result of ex