which one man does the work of two. As much wool (skin, not fleece wool,) is wrought here as there was forty years ago, which was then estimated at 7000 packs; and trade is increasing. Machinery at present earns 40001. a year, and the place I was assured is flourishing. But, in respect to the state of the working hands, the medal must be reversed; for the former state of the manufacture having nursed up a great population, the effect of the introduction of machinery, gave, with such a population, the power of keeping down wages in such a manner as to deprive the poor of any share in, or at least leaving them a very small one in, that prosperity which has pervaded the kingdom, and so greatly raised the general wages of labour. In 1768, I found that ten or twelve shillings a week were the earnings of the weavers, and they are now but twelve shillings, with the employment of less than half the number that were here in the former period. In 1768 blankets were made to 31. a pair; they are now made up to 51. a pair."

The manufactories in the north possess many local advantages, which enable them to prove powerful rivals to the trade of Witney; but, at present, the town is full of business. The protracted war, which injures so many descriptions of manufacture, furnishes the weavers with employment. Blankets are necessarily wanted in great numbers for the use of the various armaments sent on foreign expeditions; and Witney has its full share of government orders. The masters at any rate appear to prosper; but the state of the poor-rates proves that the labouring part of the population is far from being in a desirable condition. Perhaps 1000 persons, comprising men, women, and children, may now be employed in the different branches.

The staple, or blanket, hall, is situate on the east side of the High Street, and is a building calculated to adorn the place. About the centre of the same street is the town hall, a handsome modern building of stone, with a piazza beneath, intended for a market-place. Nearly adjoining, is a more humble building, termed the market cross, which was erected by William

William Blake, Esq. of Coggs, in the year 1683, and was repaired, by a subscription among the towns people, in 1811.

A free school was founded here by Mr. Henry Box, in 1660. The building is respectable, and consists of a dwelling for the master, and a spacious school room, with an annexed library. A charity school was, likewise, founded in the year 1732. The boys receive education, clothing, and five pounds as an apprentice fee. From a meeting held lately at the Blanket Hall, it seems likely that the system of gratuitous education will soon be judiciously extended. At this meeting it was resolved," that a society be now formed, entitled The Society for promoting the Instruction of the poor in the town and neighbourhood of Witney, according to the general plan of the National Society." Among other resolutions connected with this salutary purpose were the following :---That, considering the peculiar circumstances of the population of this town and neighbourhood, the schools now instituted shall be open on Sundays, as well as other days, to poor children of all sects and denominations.--That the children of churchmen shall regularly attend Divine service in the parish church; and those of Dissenters, either at the parish church, or some other legally authorised place of public worship." Lord Francis Spencer presided at this very laudable meeting.

Witney church is a large and handsome building of the cruciform description. From the square tower in the centre rises a spire of substantial rather than airy proportions. At each angle of the tower is an octangular minaret; and four faces of the steeple are ornamented with a pointed piece of masonry, divided by mullions of stone into four compartments. The workmanship of this pile is generally of an estimable character, and several fine Gothic windows are to be seen in different parts. The north entrance is by a descent of several steps, through a round-headed doorway; over which is a vacant canopied niche, and many niches of a similar description o cur in various divisions of the northern front. Small grotesq figures (the dis

The east end was not com

eased exuberance of Gothic fancy) are placed on several of the lower portions of the structure. pleted according to the architect's design. In general feature it is lower than the other parts; and this circumstance detracts from the effect of the whole. Yet the building is still a fine and attractive object, though the site is too flat to admit of much commanding grandeur of display.

In the very spacious and handsome chancel is the ancient Piscina, together with some remains of the stone recesses used by the priest and deacons, during the performance of mass. In the same part of the church is the burial-place of the Freind family; and a well-preserved brass, bearing the effigies of a man, standing with his hands folded, but not uplifted. The inscription shews that this is the memorial of Richard Ayshcome, of Lyford, in the county of Berks, who died in 1606.

In a recess at the end of the north transept are two recumbent effigies in stone, without inscription, and much defaced by age. Not far distant is a mural tablet to the memory of Henry Box, who founded the free school.

At the north west corner of the church is a spacious recess, formed as a burial-place for the Wenman family. On the outside of this building are two niches, now vacant; and in the interior is a place for holy water, over which is a shelf or bracket. The first of the Wenman family buried in this chapel, whose inscription remains, was Sir Francis Wenman, Knt. who married Anne, the daughter of Sir Samuel Sandys, and who died in 1640. This is the Sir Francis before noticed at Caswell. He represented the county of Oxford at the time of his decease. Samuel, his eldest son, was killed near Plymouth, in the year 1456; and Anne, his daughter, married into the Fettiplace family.

The wooden roof of the chapel is painted with bad imitations of clouds in red, white, and blue, among which are plentifully interspersed gilded stars. This burial-place is preserved by the present representatives of the family in an exemplary state of repair.

The