whispering gallery," and which is alluded to by Lord Bacon as being very remarkable, the lowest whisper, or even the smallest scratch of a pin, is distinctly heard on the opposite side, if the ear be applied to the wall. On the walls are inscribed the following:-

Doubt not but God, who sits on high,

Thy secret prayers can hear,

When a dead wall thus cunningly

Conveys soft whispers to the ear.

The chapel of our Lady is in a direct line with the choir, to which it was added in 1228, but totally rebuilt between 1457 and 1498, by the abbots Stanley and Farley; its interior is peculiarly chaste, and elegant. The cloisters, begun by abbot Horton, were completed by abbot Frowcester, in 1390, when all the windows were filled with stained glass, which being placed low, was easily taken. away or destroyed. The library was formerly the chapter room of the abbey, and the place where William the Conqueror used to meet the nobles, and prelates and great men of the kingdom, to consult about important affairs in church and state. The ground plan of the cathedral forms a cross, extending from east to west 426 feet, and from north to south 144 feet; its stately and magnificent tower, rising from the centre of the edifice to the height of 255 feet; its ornamented members and perforated pinnacles are of the most delicate tabernacle work, very full, but preserving an air of chasteness and simplicity. Its peculiar perfection, which immediately strikes the eye, is an exact symmetry of component parts, and the judicious distribution of ornaments. The shaft of the tower is equally divided into two stories, correctly repeated in every particle, and the open parapet, and pinnacles so richly clustered, are an example of Gothic in its most improved state. The interior of this cathedral contains monuments of Osric king of Northumberland, Edward II., Robert Curthose Duke of Normandy, Judge Powell, Dr. Jenner, Sir G. O. Paul, Bart., Rev. R. Raikes, the founder of Sunday schools, &c. &c.; but, singular to relate, no inscription appears to perpetuate the memory of the much-lamented Bishop Hooper, who was burned to death for his steady adherence to the protestant faith, in St. Mary's square, adjoining the cathedral, on the 9th of

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February, 1555. Mr.Coules, of this city, has in his possession a painting representing the martyr at the stake, attended by the civic and ecclesiastic authorities; the subject is taken at the moment a friar offers him a pardon in a gold box, which he disdainfully rejects; this is the only illustration of that melancholy event which has been handed down to posterity.

CHURCHES..

St. Mary de Crypt is a handsome edifice, consisting of a nave, north and south aisles, and transepts, with central tower containing eight bells: this building has lately undergone a thorough repair, under the superintendence of Messrs. Daukes and Hamilton, Architects; all the monuments in the chancel have been removed, the floor laid with encaustic tiles, the eastern sepulchre and sedilia restored in the most perfect manner, and the east window filled with stained glass. Living a rectory, in the patronage of the Lord Chancellor, but formerly belonged to the priory of Lanthony.

St. John the Baptist's was erected in 1732-1734; it consists of three aisles, of which the middle one is the widest; the steeple contains five bells and a saint's bell, formerly rung at the elevation of the host, that all persons might fall upon their knees. The living is a rectory in the gift of the Lord Chancellor. Among the epitaphs is the following: One Francis Yeate, a cordwainer, at the time of his death had seven apprentices, six of whom carried him to the grave in February, 1699, the seventh preached his funeral sermon.'

St. Michael's is also a rectory; patron, the Lord Chancellor. The edifice consists of two aisles of unequal dimensions, with a square tower at the west end, containing six bells. The largest bell but one is rung every night at eight o'clock formerly the inhabitants were obliged to put out their fire and candle at the tolling of this bell, under a penalty for neglect.

St. Nicholas consists of a handsome nave, with an aisle on each side; at the west end of the nave is a square tower, surmounted by a spire.

St. Mary de Lode is an ancient but handsome structure, having two side aisles, and a vestry at the end of that on

the south, and a cross aisle at the end of that on the north. In the middle is a low square tower containing six bells, and said to have been formerly surmounted by a lofty spire, which was demolished by a storm.

Additional Churches have been built, one in the south hamlet at Sudbrook, dedicated to St. Luke; one at King's Barton to St. James; and another, in the early English style of architecture, is now in course of erection at Kingsholme, to St. Mark. Independent of these the ancient churches belonging to the hospitals, St. Margaret, and St. Mary Magdalen at Wotton, have recently been opened for divine worship: the latter edifice is considered to be one of the finest specimens of the Norman and early English styles of architecture in this country; it particularly attracted the attention of the Archæological Society, during their recent visit to Gloucester, so much so, that being much dilapidated, they proffered taking it down and building it up again, in its pristine form, at their own expense.

Here are also places of worship for Unitarians, Independents, Baptists, Wesleyans, Huntingdonians, the Society of Friends, and Roman Catholics.

CHAPELS.

The Unitarian Chapel is one of the oldest non-conformist chapels in England, and was built in 1699. The Rev. Mr. Forbes was the first minister until 1712; he was ejected from Gloucester Cathedral by the Act of Uniformity, in 1662.

The Independent or Congregational Chapel was erected in 1730, on or near the site where the Parish Church of St. Owen stood, which church was burnt down by order of the Governor, at the siege of Gloucester. This chapel contains a theological library, for the use of dissenting ministers.

The Wesleyan Chapel is the largest dissenting place of worship; about the year 1800, it was so considerably enlarged as to contain 1200 persons; a gallery is appropriated for the choir, which has from seventy to eighty well-trained singers, supported by a powerful organ; at the rear of the chapel are commodious rooms for the meeting of religious classes, and Sunday scholars.

INSTITUTIONS, &c.

The COLLEGE SCHOOL was founded by Henry VIII., and repaired and made more convenient for the purpose by Elizabeth Wiltshire, widow, in 1587.

CRYPT GRAMMAR SCHOOL was founded by John Cooke, 31st of Henry VIII. George Townsend, Esq., of Lincoln's inn, in 1683, presented it with two exhibitions at Pembroke College, Oxford, tenable for eight years.

SIR THOMAS RICH's, or the BLUE COAT SCHOOL, was founded in 1666, for the maintenance and education of 20 boys, who are admitted for three years; after which £10. is assigned to apprentice them. In 1809, the old building was taken down and the present handsome one erected, the front is of Bath stone, standing upon a rustic basement.

Here is also a NATIONAL and the GLOUCESTER POOR CHARITY SCHOOL. Independent of these, each parish has its Sunday School.

ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S HOSPITAL is said to owe its origin to William Myparty, a burgess of Gloucester, in the reign of Henry III.; some years since it was taken down and rebuilt in a handsome style by the corporation. Since its foundation it has received many benefactions, and at the present period about 58 persons of both sexes are accommodated with separate rooms, and who receive 4s. 6d. each weekly.

ST. MARY MAGDALEN, or KING JAMES'S HOSPITAL, was originally founded by the priory of Lanthony; about 10 poor men and 10 poor women are maintained in it, who receive each 3s. per week, and some other gifts periodically.

ST. MARGARET'S HOSPITAL is of great antiquity, and the period of its foundation is unknown; at present it has eight inmates, who receive 4s. each weekly, with gifts occasionally. Beside these benevolent institutions, there are several other charitable societies and schools for the support and instruction of the less affluent.

The other public buildings in and about the city are as follow :

The SHIRE HALL, in Westgate street, is an elegant structure, constructed wholly from Bath and Leckhampton stone; the building is in the Ionic order, said to be copied from an ancient temple on the Ilyssus; its interior is remarkably well

adapted for judicial and magisterial purposes, it also contains a large ball and concert-room, capable of accommodating from 2 to 3000 persons, which room is secured by an Act of Parliament for the use of musical festivals; and here the evening concerts and balls are invariably held. The Choral Society also have (by permission of the magistrates) their public performances here. In this room the nomination of candidates at elections, both for the city and the eastern division of the county, takes place. Sir R. Smirke was the

architect.

The TOLSEY, or TOWN HALL, in the centre of the city, is a handsome brick building, ornamented with stone, having the city arms carved in a triangular pediment. The building is appropriated to the use of the corporation, and also for a police-office. In the council-room are excellent full-length paintings of recent high stewards.

The INFIRMARY, in Southgate street, was erected in 1755, from a design of the late Luke Singleton, Esq.; it is so well calculated for the purpose for which it was intended, that other hospitals have been built upon the same plan.

The LUNATIC ASYLUM is situated on the east side of the city, at a distance of about half-a-mile; it stands upon an eminence, from whence the views of the surrounding country are extensive and picturesque. The front of this handsome building, including the wings, extends 250 feet; the basement story is built with Bath stone, the remaining stories are of brick, stuccoed with Roman cement; the hospital will contain about 120 patients; attached to the building are extensive grounds, where the inmates take air and exercise in fine weather.

In St. Mary's Square is the MAGDALEN ASYLUM: this excellent Institution was established in 1821, and is supported by voluntary contributions, the management is vested in a committee of ladies and gentlemen, who meet at the Asylum the first Thursday in every month.

The COUNTY GAOL, at the west part of the town, was erected at an expense of nearly £40,000., upon the plan of the philanthropist Howard, under the direction of the late Sir Onesiphorus Paul, Bart., and is worthy of notice, as being the first in England where attempts were made to introduce a more humane and enlightened system of prison