WORCESTER. Scoop'd in the briny rock long streets extend, Rear their white towers, and wave their golden vanes; 259 How pleasing are the researches of the philosopher into the nature of those substances which enrich and beautify the natural world! They not only serve to gratify that thirst for knowledge by which man is distinguished above all other animals on the face of the globe; but they at once increase the comforts of life and extend the sources of national prosperity. Worcester is a beautiful city, standing on the Severn; its streets are spacious, the buildings handsome, and many of its inhabitants rank among the higher classes of society. It has a cathedral and nine parish churches, besides meeting-houses for the several denominations of protestant dissenters. The cathedral was repaired in the year 1752, at which time the workmen, on taking off the top of a tomb (the inscription of which was obliterated except the date, 1296) found the bones of a corpse firm, and most of them adhering together, in the same posture as when interred, and about the skull and shoulders appeared something like a coarse sacking or sackcloth quite fresh. The body of King John also having been buried here, was of late found in a state of high preservayears tion. With respect to the churches, the spire of St. Nicholas attracts attention, and in its parish is a free-school, founded by Henry the Eighth, which has produced excellent scholars. In the High-street, which is broad, stands the Guildhall, a stately structure, decorated by the statue of Justice, holding aloft her scales of rigorous impartiality. In this city there is a mart for hops; and here is a manufactory of china, much esteemed, in which numbers of hands are employed. Here is likewise an infirmary, supported by voluntary contributions; and many charity schools-by such institutions the community cannot fail of being essentially benefited. It may not be improper to remark, that about fifty years ago, the amiable Dr. Maddox, (one of Doddridge's correspondents,) bishop of Worcester, preached a sermon before this infirmary for the recommendation of Inoculation for the SmallPox, a practice which was then just introduced into the country. Similar steps ought to be taken in the present day by the clergy of every denomi nation, to extend the practice of Vaccine Inoculation, a discovery pregnant with blessings to the community. The most remarkable event that ever happened in this city, was the battle between the English, under the command of Oliver Cromwell, and the Scotch who had taken up arms in defence of Charles the Second. Cromwell encamped within a mile of the town, having first detached General Lambert with some forces to the opposite side of the river, which obliged Charles to weaken his army by sending his men to oppose Lambert. While these two detachments were engaged, Cromwell attacked the royalists at both ends of the city, and the engagement continued for hours with fury. The Scotch, commanded by the Duke of Hamilton and the Earl of Middleton, fought with bravery, but both of these noblemen having been wounded, and most of their men killed, a sudden fear seized the rest of them, and a dreadful slaughter ensued. The king endeavoured to bring them once more to renew the charge, but his efforts were in vain. The foot finding themselves deserted by the horsemen, were filled with such terror that they stood motionless, whilst upwards of 2000 were killed on the spot, and above 8000 taken prisoners, most of whom were sold as slaves to the American Colonies. Cromwell ordered his men to level the walls of the city to the ground. The king in the meantime escaping through the gate of St. Martin, sought safety by flight. He first dressed himself in the habit of a peasant, and in that disguise travelled through several parts of the kingdom, being frequently in danger of being seized by his enemies, especially as a price was set upon his head. The better to elude the search of his pursuers, he spent a whole day in a tufted oak, at Boscobel in Staffordshire, thence called the ROYAL OAK, where he saw pass under him some persons on horseback, who expressed, in his hearing, their earnest wishes that he might fall into their hands. At one time A he was detected by the sagacity of a smith, who remarked that his horse-shoes had been made in the north, not in the west, as he pretended; and he very narrowly escaped. At another time he was discovered by one Pope, the butler of a family, where he happened to come as servant to a visitor, but Charles made the butler promise that he would keep the secret from every mortal, even from his master, and he was as good as his word. At last, after a concealment of forty-one days, he embarked in a vessel at Shoreham, in Sussex, and landed safely at Fescamp, in Normandy. The man who carried him over, lies buried in Brighton churchyard, where I have seen a stone with a long inscription, mentioning the circumstance and applauding his loyalty. There is a report in that part of the country, that an annuity was given the family by way of reward, and that it has been lately discontinued. Charles remained in this state of exile till the 29th of May, 1660, when he was restored to the throne of these kingdoms.-The above anecdote shews the reason why Oak is still worn in the hat on the 29th of May, as commemorative of the restoration. It is in this county that Hagley lies, the seat of Lord Lyttleton. The house, situated on a rising ground, commands an extensive prospect. The ascent to this mansion is by a flight of steps: the edifice itself, built of grained stone, has been reckoned one of the most beautiful structures in England. It was erected by the celebrated George Lord Lyttleton, author of many admired produc tions, who has embellished several of the rooms with the portraits of Pope, Thomson, West, and characters of a similar description. With most of these his Lordship was acquainted, and he was held by them in estimation. In early life he had been a deist, but upon his believing Christianity, be wrote some excellent Observations on the Conversion and Apostleship of St. Paul, which remain as an irrefragable proof of his judgment, integrity, and piety. The gardens belonging to this farfamed mansion are so picturesque, that they have not unfrequently been made the subject of song. His lordship, in his Monody on the Death of his Wife, alludes to them in an affecting manner: O shades of HAGLEY! where is now your boast? You she preferr'd to all the gay resorts, The pomp of cities and the pride of courts: And flow'r-embroider'd vales, From an admiring world she chose to fly. The silent paths of wisdom trod, And banish'd every passion from her breast, This accomplished nobleman has, by these lines, shewn at once the fervor of his affection towards the deceased, and the poignancy of his grief upon her dissolution. More expressive strains could |