bouring demesnes, to Sir Francis Brandling, knight; of whose descendants it was purchased by the family of Doubledays. Subsequently, in 1798, it was again sold, and divided into three portions, one of which became the property of the Duke of Northumberland.

The only remains of the abbatical structure are a gateway and tower, of excellent masonry, which, judging from the architecture, and the armorial sculptures that adorn the building, appear to be of a more modern date than the foundation of the house. The abbey gardens and orchard now form part of the Duke of Northumberland's pleasure grounds, and, the noble gateway having been preserved and repaired, the interior is fitted up for the accommodation of a porter. Time, which destroys the records of the past, has left no vestige to denote the exact site of the abbey church, or of its cemetery, where many of the Percy family are said to have been interred. The existing remains stand within a short distance of the castle, near the margin of the Aln river, whose stream glides past in gentle murmurs, its banks shadowed with overhanging woods.

NEWCASTLE FROM THE "SIDE,"-NORTHUMBERLAND.

The "Side" is that part of Newcastle, extending from the north angle of the Sand-Hill to the church of St. Nicholas. The lower portion was formerly divided by the rivulet called the Lork-Burn, which was arched over in 1696, and hid from the public eye. From the foot of the "Side," a street, chiefly inhabited by butchers, from which circumstance it is called the Butcher Bank, winds round a steep acclivity to the church of All Saints. At the bottom of this avenue was the Scale Cross, so called from the town scales which used to be kept here for the purpose of weighing all butter that came into the town. It was a stone building, supported by six pillars, and surmounted by the figures of two lions couchant. The structure having been pulled down, the lions were removed to the seat of Sir M. Ridley, at Blagdon.

Of the church of St. Nicholas, an interior view has been given, accompanied by such notices of the structure as were deemed likely to interest the general reader. The introduction of the edifice into the present illustration offers a convenient opportunity to make mention of the Public Library attached thereto. Previous to 1661, the collection was small, and consisted of a few choice books, chained to the shelves, to secure them from being stolen; in that year, however, the catalogue was augmented by one hundred folio and quarto volumes, bequeathed by Alderman John Cousins. In 1734 Sir William Blackett caused a handsome fabric to be constructed over the vestry of St. Nicholas' Church, and endowed it with a rent charge of twenty-five pounds a year to be paid to a librarian. Further additions were made to the collection by Dr. Tomlinson, who having deposited, during his life-time, sixteen hundred books in the new library room, at his death bequeathed the residue of his literary property to its use; and also left by will a rent-charge of five pounds per annum, as a perpetual fund, for the

purchase of new books. Amongst the ancient books, is a curious and beautifully illuminated manuscript, executed in the early part of the thirteenth century, which formerly belonged to Hexham Church. The library hours are from ten to twelve o'clock, during which time any person can have access to this really valuable literary depository. The word chare, which is peculiar to Newcastle, and is used to signify a narrow street, lane, or alley, is worthy of notice, on account of a laughable incident to which gave birth. In an assize case tried at Newcastle, one of the witnesses swore, that he saw three men come out of the foot of a chare. "Gentlemen of the jury," exclaimed the judge, "you must pay no credit to that man's evidence: he must be insane." But the foreman, smiling, assured his lordship that they understood the witness perfectly well, and that he spoke the words of truth and soberness.

it

Charles I, after his escape from Oxford, at that time besieged by the parliamentarian army, placed himself under the protection of the Scots, by whom he was conducted to Newcastle. During his stay at this latter place, the king regularly attended the Scotch places of worship, which the preachers, in accordance with the spirit of the times, had well nigh converted into news-rooms, and places for political debate. On one occaasion, when the king was present, the minister delivered a sermon full of rancorous allusion to the monarch, and at its close called for the fifty-second psalm, which opens thus:

"Why dost thou, tyrant, boast abroad,

Thy wicked works to praise ?"

The king, moved by the bitter persecuting spirit of the preacher, immediately stood and called for the fifty-sixth psalm, which commences with these words :

"Have mercy, Lord, on me, I pray,

For man would me devour."

up,

The congregation, either from commiseration for the reverses of royalty, or from disgust at the indecorous personality of their zealous minister, shewed so great deference to the king, as to sing the psalm for which he called.

As we are in the vein for culling anecdotes, we will append another to the present article. English mysteries, or Miracle Plays, were anciently performed by the trading companies of Newcastle, on the festival of Corpus Christi. These theatrical exhibitions were not very delicate; for instance, in the representation of Adam and Eve, such strict attention was paid to fidelity of costume, that the performers appeared in a state of nudity. In Brand's History of Newcastle, a description is given of "the play or dirge called Noah's Ark," as performed by the shipwrights of this port. In this " mystery," the characters are God, an Angel, Noah and his Wife, and the Devil. A modern manager would experience some difficulty in casting such a dramatis persona; but then, no doubt, the worthy shipwrights of Newcastle had a "Bottom the weaver" amongst them.

THIRLWALL CASTLE-CUMBERLAND.

Thirlwall Castle occupies that part of the Roman wall which crosses the Tippel, near the Irthing, on the borders of Cumberland.

The famous barrier named the Picts' wall, was erected by the Romans to restrain the incursions of the Caledonians, and was at first composed of ramparts of earth thrown up to a considerable elevation. These proving insufficient to repel the attacks of the North Britons, Severus, the emperor, built up in their place a wall of stone, extending from Tynemouth, in Northumberland, to Solway Frith, and thus divided the kingdom from sea to sea. Castles or towers were erected at intervals along the line of the wall, as a further protection, and as a means of conveying information from one part of the rampart to another. This barrier was erected by the legionary soldiers of Rome, and the extent of the work may, even in the present day, be traced through a distance of seventy miles.

The original of Thirlwall Castle may, no doubt, be referred to one of the old Roman towers above mentioned. It was here that the Scots forced their way through the barrier, after the departure of the Romans. Having collected their forces, they made openings with their mattocks and pickaxes, and from these gaps or breaches the site obtained the name of Thirl-wall, which signifies, in the Saxon language, a perforated or broken wall. The remains of the castle stand close by the north side of the wall. The floor of one of the apartments was lately cleared, and discovered to be of singular construction, consisting of three tiers of flags, laid upon sand. The only light admitted is seen through narrow apertures in the walls; and the whole aspect presents the appearance of a gloomy and terrific dungeon.

WASTDALE HEAD-CUMBERLAND.

Wastdale Head is a narrow vale, in the vicinity of Wastwater, where the primitive simplicity of pastoral life remains seemingly undisturbed. Its inhabitants are chiefly shepherds, residing beneath the shelter of stupendous mountains, by which they may be said to be "disjoined from all the world beside." Their limited intercourse with the rest of mankind necessarily preserves them from many vices which disfigure society; but on the other hand it deprives them of the great advantages resulting from social life. Hospitality forms a distinguishing feature in their character.

2 L