and accommodated with seven gates; a defence that secured the town from pillage for nearly four centuries, and enabled it to resist for two months the heavy siege of the Scotch army under the Earls of Callander and Leven, who at length were obliged to take it by storm.

Great part of the walls and some of the towers remain; but their condition is so beastly, as to prevent investigation, and almost approach. Like all other places that were rich and secure, Newcastle had its proportion of monks and nuns in the Roman Catholic times, the "fruges consumere nati;" and Benedictines, and Camelites, white friars and black friars, Fransiscans and Dominicans, Augustines and Cistercians, swarmed in its streets. A part of the grey priory still remains, though incorporated with a modern house, the mansion of the late Sir William Blanket. It is remarkable as having been the residence of the famous Duns Scotus, the doctor subtilis of the schools; the theatre of his inexplicable reasonings and invisible distinctions, faculties which acquired him much renown in his day, when men were satisfied with sound instead of sense, with words in the lieu of ideas. But the liberality of individuals at Newcastle was not entirely confined to the encouragement of idleness and sensuality in the persons of

monks, many more liberal institutions were established there, for the protection of the distressed, and the relief of the diseased; for the redemption of the captive; the solace of the stranger in his wanderings; the sustenance of the aged and unbeneficed clergy; and the interment of the poor. These, indeed, ceased to exist, when the causes for which they were instituted ceased to operate; but in their stead several noble foundations have arisen, the asyla of wretchedness under every shape of mental and bodily infirmity-the General Infirmary, the Lying-in Hospital, the Lunatic Asylum, the Keelmen's Hospital, the Hospitals for the Aged, and the Charity Schools. The first of these receives from ninety to one hundred invalids, and affords them assistance and support, till their pains be removed, and their vigour restored. Its funds indeed are small, but the deficiency is handsomely made up by the ready contributions of the inhabitants. An exemplary neatness, regularity, and cleanliness mark the extreme attention paid to the institution in all its departments. Two beautiful anatomical preparations, of full grown subjects, bear ample evidence to the skill of Mr. George Davidson, of Newcastle, formerly surgeon to this establishment. Convenient baths, both hot and cold, with every accommodation for the invalid,

and agreeable garden-grounds around them, contribute to the health and pleasure of the inhabitants of the town, whose amusements are diversified by balls and races. And a general taste for reading, and an increase of literary information are diffused over it, by means of a good public library, well stocked with books, and liberally supported: a very desirable institution in every large and money-getting town, not only on account of the gradual growth of knowledge that results from it, but also of that extension of urbanity, liberality, and softness of manners, which are ever found to accompany a taste for letters; the best corrector of the pride of the purse, and the scornful reproof of the wealthy.

Of the other public buildings, the most remarkable are the Exchange, and St. Nicholas's church; the former presenting a good front towards the river, of the architecture of James Ist's time, the other affording in its tower a specimen of singular and beautiful masonry. From each of the pinnacled corners of the square of this tower springs a rib or section of an arch, meeting a similar one which rises from the opposite angle in the centre, where the four unite, and support a beautiful open lanthorn, with frost-work pinnacles at its corners, and a lofty spire in its centre. An

ingenious architect in the reign of Henry VI. by name Robert Rhodes, is said to have constructed this tower. It is two hundred feet high, and, I believe, may be considered an unique in its kind. Certain it is, nothing can exceed the lightness, airiness, and beauty of its plan; an effect which so pleased Ben Johnson, that he was tempted to forget the dignity of poetry, and make the following nonsensical riddle on the steeple:

"My altitude high, my body four square,

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My foot in the grave, my head in the air;

My eyes in my sides, five tongues in my womb, "Thirteen hands on my body; four images alone; "I can direct you where the wind doth stay,

"And I tune God's precepts twice a day;

"I am seen where I am not, I am heard where I is not; "Tell me now what I am, and see that ye miss not."

On quitting Newcastle, we touched upon the famous Picts' wall, a boundary I should take an opportunity of describing to you at present, did not the prospect offer of a fairer one for that purpose, on my return to the South, where an investigation of this ancient remain is intended to make one object of our attention. At present you must allow me to lead you towards Morpeth, by an excellent road, admiring in our way Gosforth-Hall, the seat of Mr. Brandon, four miles from New

castle; and Blagdon-Grange, the elegant seat of Sir Matthew W. Ridley, five miles further to the north. With this all ornamental scenery ceased, till we descended into the pleasing town of Morpeth, seated so snugly in a deep valley as not to unfold its beauties till it be nearly entered. These chiefly arise from the river Wanspek, who plays round the town in a sweeping direction, throwing up his well-wooded banks into the most picturesque forms. The small remains also of its old castle, lying to the south of the town, give rise to a pleasing association of ideas, and testify the former importance of the place. But whatever its consequence might have been in ancient times, it certainly has fairer pretensions to the gratitude of society at present than at any former period; since the cattle-market of Morpeth yields only to that of Smithfield, in the quantity of beasts exposed for sale every Wednesday. Three, four, and even five thousand sheep are frequently exhibited here on market-days, and an equal proportion of black cattle; which, purchased by butchers who come forty, fifty, or sixty miles for the purpose, are driven up the country as far as Yorkshire; and again disposed of at Wakefield market, feed an immense district to the westward of that town. The population of Morpeth is about four thousand.