the principal one has been the seat of the Dedes for generations.

At Hythe is a collection of human bones heaped up under the middle chancel of the church. The pile is twenty feet in length and eight feet in height and breadth, and the ghastly mass excited my admiration. They are supposed, with probability, to be the remains of the Britons slain in a bloody battle fought about the year 456, near this place, with the Saxons. Their whiteness arises from their having been bleached, by lying on the shore. Several sculls are deeply cut-probably with the weapon of the enemy. Alas, for human nature! that it should ever have been stained by such deeds of ferocity.

From Hythe, at the distance of seven miles, lies New Romney, a small neat place risen out of the ruins of Old Romney, about a mile off, now almost extinct. Though denominated new, it is said to have flourished at the Conquest. Its chief trade is grazing of cattle on Romney Marsh, a rich tract of land of about 50,000 acres, defended from the encroachment of the sea by an embankment three miles in length. Towards the sea it is defended by piles and stakes at the expense of 4000l. per annum. This is called Dymchurch Wall, along which there is a good road for carriages. The church is a plain structure, and here is a hall where meets the Court of the Cinque Ports. The town has a corporation, and sends two members to Parliament. Hence are distinctly seen the lofty tower of Lydd,

and the solitary light-house of Dungenness, a guide to the mariner amidst the perils of navigation.

Twelve miles further is Rye, a town of considerable antiquity: it has about 2000 inhabitants. It was not one of the original Cinque Ports, but added to them in the reign of Henry the Third, along with Winchelsea, surrounded with a wall; it was once strongly fortified. The streets are very irregular; but the whole town is lately, by being paved, much improved. The church, built of stone, is one of the largest in the county of Sussex, for it is here separated from Kent by a small stream of water. Here are many dissenters, with some neat places of worship. It has a corporation, and sends two members to Parliament. From the outskirts of the town, situated on an eminence, are fine views of the sea, of Romney Marsh, and of the adjacent country.

Winchelsea is in the vicinity of Rye, on a hill, and of a pleasant appearance, having about 100 houses with 600 inhabitants. The part of Old Winchelsea not swallowed up by the sea is a marsh. The present town was erected by Edward I., and made one of the Cinque Ports. Devastated by the French and Spaniards, and abandoned by the ocean, it has dwindled to almost nothing. Out of its three churches the chancel of St. Thomas is only used. In various parts of the town are spacious vaults, and the ruins of extensive buildings. It has a corporation, and two members of Parliament.

senters.

Seven miles further stands the fashionable watering place of Hastings, in a deep valley, and close to the murmuring ocean. It has two churches, and places of worship for the disOne of the churches has on its ceiling a curious delineation of Faith, Hope, and Charity; and the other church a pulpit cloth made of the canopy used at Queen Anne's coronation. Hastings is one of the principal Cinque Ports. Here are famous herring and mackarel fisheries. The town has baths and libraries; for in the summer it is frequented by the first families in the kingdom. The houses on the sides of the adjacent hills resemble aerial nests of a picturesque description. Hastings has a corporation, and two members of Parliament. In its vicinity was fought the bloody battle which seated William the Conqueror on the throne of these kingdoms. Battle, seven miles off, by its name and venerable abbey commemorates the event.*

The Cinque Ports (cinque being the French term for five), the havens of Hastings, Sandwich, Dover, Romney, and Hythe, lying contiguous to France, were thus denominated, on account of the importance of their situation. Their inhabitants being always on the watch to prevent invasions, were rewarded by the bestowment of privileges, and had granted to them a form of government. Except Dover, these havens are degenerated---but in an

* I feel much indebted to my worthy friend Mr. William Woollat, for the extension of my journey in the autumn of 1815,

cient times, the Cinque Ports possessed celebrity. Almost the whole of the sea-coast from the north side of Thanet to Hastings is within their jurisdiction.

Here I took my leave of the SEA, and not without regret ;-to me, it is, at all times, an interesting object of contemplation. The MIGHTY OCEAN, by its calms and by its storms, exhibits alternate scenes of beauty and sublimity.

I remain, dear Sir,

Yours, &c.

LETTER VII.

LORD ROKEBY; ASHFORD: TENTERDEN; BEACON; DR. FRANKLIN ; CRANBROOK; ITS CHURCH; MR. NOYES; GREY-COATS OF KENT; VISIT OF QUEEN ELIZABETH; PENSHURST; SIR PHILIP SYDNEY; ALGERNON SYDNEY; TUNBRIDGE WELLS; TUNBRIDGE TOWN; DR. VICESIMUS KNOX; SEVEN OAKS; HOADLEY; WOLFE; LORD STANHOPE ; CHIPSTEAD PLACE; POLHILL FAMILY; LORD LE DESPENCER; MAIDSTONE.

CROSSING the country from Hythe towards Ashford, we are at no great distance from the seat of the late eccentric Lord Rokeby; a man esteemed by the more discerning part of society. His long beard his frequent immersions—and his hoarding up money in specie, form, indeed, traits in his character which excite our risibility. But forgetting these singularities, let it be remembered, that he' was a friend to the liberties of his country.

...I

Having travelled about twelve miles, we enter the town of Ashford—it is rendered lively by being a thoroughfare from several parts of Kent. The houses are modern, and well-built. The marketplace stands in the centre of the town; and the church, on the south side of it, has a beautiful tower. Barracks have been built here, which will contain a great many soldiers. Several genteel' families reside in Ashford and its vicinity.

Tenterden, the next town we reached, has many genteel houses, and stands in a pleasing situation. Its appearance, however, is scattered. Great part of it is built on each side of the high road leading