above their arrears to the privates; and in order to preserve the memory of the transaction, the fifth day of September was ordered by the Mayor and Common Council, to be annually observed as a day of thanksgiving, which was called Gloucester holiday, and so kept till the restoration. An estate of inheritance of £1000 a year was also voted to Massie, who, afterwards disgusted, joined the fortunes of Charles, and was taken prisoner in an attempt to surprise Gloucester, but effected his escape.

In 1662, the walls were razed by order of the King.

About 1687, James the II. visited Gloucester in his progress through the Kingdom.

From this period no interesting event has occurred till July, 1788, when the city was honoured with the visit of the Royal Family, consisting of the late King and Queen, and four of the Princesses: and on October 5, 1807, his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales also honoured Gloucester with his presence.*

The City of Gloucester, owing to the variety of improve ments made in it during the past fifty years, has been declared by travellers to be as pleasant and healthy a place as any in England, while the surrounding country is indescribably beau tiful. It is at present nearly three miles round, and situated 107 miles W. of London, in lat. 57° 53', according to Sir Robert Atkins. It stands 36 miles N.E. from Bristol; 25, S.W. of Worcester; 32 miles from Hereford; 26 miles E. from Monmouth; 39 from Bath; 10 from Cheltenħam; 7 from Stroud; and 17 Cirencester. The prospects from the city are rich, but not extensive: they are just distant enough to soften the regularity of the objects, and remove the disgust which is always more or less occasioned by the intermixture of wood and cultivated lands, when too near the eye; the marks of the spade and plough are lost in the distant landscape; and the

* The foregoing part has been principally taken from Rudge's excellent history.

hedgerows united lengthen into agreeable streaks along the horizon. The scenery in the clothing country, which is within a few miles of the city, we will venture to assert, is not surpassed by any in the kingdom. To the west of Gloucester are seen May-hill and the highlands of the forest of Dean stretching down to Chepstow. To the south, Stinchcomb-hill, the summit of which commands a view of the estuary of the Severn, as grand and beautiful as is any where to be found. To the east are the Cotswolds, so long and so far famed for fine sheep; and on the north, the prospect is terminated by the sublime range of Malvern hills. The approaches to the city, at the distance of two or three miles, are very beautiful: from Wooldridge, on the Worcester road; from Highnam, on the Ross and Newnham; from the two mile stone on the Bristol; and, more striking than all, from Birdlip on the Cirencester; where the road on a sudden, after a long ride between stone walls and square intersections of land, breaks into the delightful Vale of Gloucester, and presents the traveller with the most gratifying prospect, seldom to be equalled, and no where to be exceeded; the cathedral tower standing in the centre, conspicuous to the surrounding country.

A few years since an act of parliament was obtained by the corporation for purposes of general improvement. Among other removals in consequence of this act, was that of the High Cross; which, though a beautiful piece of architecture in the style of the 15th century, was, from its unfortunate situation in the centre of the four principal streets, an actual nuisance, and with great propriety was taken down, and is now placed in a paddock at the back of Mr. Griffith's residence in the Eastgate-street, where it can be distinctly seen in passing down Dog-lane. We understand it has been suggested by a gentleman of Gloucester, (and we consider the recommendation does him credit) that there might be found on the Spa grounds a very eligible situation for this elegant structure. A row of houses in the middle of Westgate-street, terminating with a

beautiful pile, called Trinity Tower, was, for the same reason, removed.

If we regard the police and internal management of this city, no place, perhaps, will be found where fewer circumstances occur to disturb its repose. The streets are well paved and lighted with Gas, the inhabitants are hospitable and attentive to strangers, the tradesmen civil and obliging, and the lower classes in general orderly and industrious.—The amusements resemble, in a great measure, those found in other large towns.

"Gloucester is every way entitled to considerable rank among the principal cities of England. Situated on an eminence gently declining from the centre in every direction, and open at every quarter to the fresh breezes, it may truly boast of being healthy. Epidemical or endemical disorders seldom make their appearance in it, and the inhabitants live to a greater age in general than is allowed by calculation in most other large towns. The population, it was said in 1801, contained 7,265 inhabitants, independent of the suburbs."--Cheltenham Guide.

"The present boundaries of the City, which are marked at different points with stones having C.G. cut on them, are better ascertained as follows;-beginning at the stone on the Causeway leading to Over Bridge, and proceeding north east to the next station, about a quarter of a mile up the river on the east bank, then to a stone on the bank of the ditch which parts the two meadows, thence to a stone on the bank of the Old or Little Severn, in a line to another on Tulliwell-brook, where was a bridge with iron bars, on the Tewkesbury-road. Thence to a station on Monkleighton grounds, where the line turns southward to a stone on the London road, which it passes, through a house belonging to Mr. Lewis, into the adjoining ground, and taking a south-west direction, proceeds with a little deviation more to the west, through Friar's ground, to a stone on the bank of a branch of Wyver's river or brook, and

thence to Barton-street, where making a quick turn to the northwest, to a stone on the opposite side of the street, it proceeds south-west to the Rignumstile grounds, and thence north-west to the Infirmary, through the middle of which it passes, and turning down the Lower Southgate-street, proceeds to the end of Slaughterman's leaze, and taking a north-east direction over the Berkeley Canal Basin, proceeds by the side of the north wall of the County Gaol, almost to the lower end of Castlelane, and then going westerly by the town ditch, unde the wall of the Workhouse, crosses the Severn in a south-west direction, to the Castle meadows, and then making a turn to the north-west, to a station in the same meadow, and across the Oxlease to the first station on the causeway leading to Over. The perambulation of the city, according to the accurate survey made by Hall and Pinnell, in 1782, is three miles one furlong, and eighty-nine parts, and the area 317 acres and eight perches.-Gloucester was anciently a distinct hundred of itself, and probably continued so till the reign of Ed. Ill. for before that time several acts are said to be done in the full hundred of Gloucester."—Rudge.

The following is also taken from Rudge's history::-The Westgate street, or anciently Eliug street, extends from the Cross to the West-bridge, and is 938 yards long, including the Island, which begins at Foreign-bridge. Several lanes branch from the main street on each side. On the south side are Mercers'-entry, Bull or Goose-lane; Catherine wheel-lane, new Berkeley-street; Upper Key, or Castle-lane; the Lower Key, or Walker's or Fuller's lane; Turnstile-alley. Beyond the Foreign-bridge are no lanes. On the north side, Mary de Grace or St. John's-lane; Trinity or Peter's-lane, or Collegecourt; King Edward's, or Lich, or Lower College-lane; Abbey or Three Cocks-lane; Archdeacon or Leather-bottle-lane ; Dockham or Dock-lane. The Southgate-street extends from the Cross to the place where the Southgate stood, and is 391 yards long. On the west side a passage formerly led to Mercers'

entry, but is now built upon; Cross Key-lane, so called from the Cross Keys sign; Long Smith or Old Smith-street, or the School-house-lane, or Bolt-lane; Sater's lane; leading to the Black Friers: St. Kyneburgh's or Kimbros-lane. On the cast side, Bell-lane, formerly Travail or St. Peter's lane; Cryptalley, formerly Mary-lane Frycr's lane, leading to the Grey Fryers: Sheep-lane, formerly, now built upon and lost. The Eastgate-street, extending from the Cross to the place where the Eastgate stood, is 294 yards long. This was formerly called Jewry street, either because it was the chief residence of the Jews, or because they had a synagogue in the reign of Henry II. and a school in that of Henry III. A building still remains on the north side of the street, which is supposed to have been either their synagogue or school. It is built with pointed arches, and corresponds in style to that age. In the course of so many years, the ground has been considerably raised above, so that it now serves for a cellar or a warehouse. It is probably here that the cruelties were practised on a boy by the Jews."* This street was also called Hailes or Ailes gate street. On the north side is King's-street, running parellel with the old wall, and on the south side opposite to it, Queen's-street, extending to Constitution-walk, which is formed by the old wall. The Northgate-street, extending from the Cross to the place where the Northgate stood, 180 yards. On the west side the upper part was formerly called Cordwainers' row; St. John's-lane, conn cting with Grace-lane. On the east side, New Inn-lane, formerly Graunt's or Ross-lane; Oxbody-lane: St. Aldate's-lane, leadir g to St. Aldate's church; Almesham Postern or Sally-gate. Beyond the gates, in all, except the Westgate-street, the streets continue somewhat farther, to the city-stones. Beyond the Southgate, is lower Southgate-street; beyond the Eastgate, is Barton-street; and beyond the Northgate-street, is lower Northgate-street. There

* For particulars of which see account of St. Peter's Abbey.