produces a most pleasing effect, a repose that never wearies, but which the eye can dwell upon and behold with delight. The paintings are also well placed, and admirably adapted to their station. Taken altogether, they are calculated to elevate the mind of the observer, and not only to please the eye, but to improve the understanding; which is the chief end of the fine arts. We have no doubt many of the figures were intended by the artist as portraits. The whole was painted by Mr. W. Bacon, of Great Russell-street, Bloomsbury, and presented by him to the parish.

St. John's church contains 1782 sittings, of which 753 are free; and was built at an expense of 11,8907. 78. 8d. The minister is the Rev. Henry Venn, B. D. The National School in rear is a plain building, gratuitously designed by the architect. It provides instruction for about 120 children of both sexes, and is supported by the voluntary contributions of the congregation, and the inhabitants of Upper Holloway and its vicinity.

The "Mother Red Cap" public-house, not many yards farther, is of some celebrity in its class, as well as of considerable standing, being named in various publications of the last century, and, among the rest, by Drunken Barnaby, in his Itinerary.

It was

rebuilt about fifteen years since, until when it wore the usual appearance of those ancient houses in this parish, so many of which have been particularized.

Crossing the Archway Road, we reach the foot of Highgate Hill, and observe the celebrated "Whitting

ton Stone," standing a little way up on the left. The present stone, marking the site of the original one so named, was placed here, by the trustees of the parish ways, in the year 1821, and is inscribed, " Sir Richard Whittington, thrice Lord Mayor of London," with the dates of his mayoralty and shrievalty. The real original, as it was commonly supposed to be, long lay flat on the ground, broken into two pieces, which were removed many years ago by the Surveyor of the Roads, and placed as curb-stones against the posts at the entrance to Queen's-Head Lane, Lower Street. Richard Whittington, the person here commemorated, and about whom so many extraordinary stories have been told, was born in the year 1360. He followed the business of a mercer in the city of London, and acquired great wealth. Having served the office of sheriff with credit in the year 1393, he was chosen Lord Mayor, and filled that office not less than three times, namely, in the years 1397, 1406, and 1419. He was knighted, it is said, by King Henry the Fifth, to whom he lent large sums of money for his wars in France; and he died full of years and honour in 1425.

"This year," (1406,) says Grafton, "a worthy citizen of London, named Richard Whittington, Mercer and Alderman, was elected Mayor of the said city, and bore that office three times. This worshipful man so bestowed his goods and substance to the honour of God, to the relief of the poor, and to the benefit of the common-weal, that he hath right welldeserved to be registered in the book of fame. First, he erected one house, a church, in London, to be a house of prayer, and named the same after his own

name, Whittington College, and so it remaineth to this day; and in the said church, beside certain priests and clerks, he placed a number of poor aged men and women, and builded for them houses and lodgings, and allowed unto them wood, coal, cloth, and weekly money, to their great relief and comfort. This man also, at his own cost, builded the gate of London, called Newgate, in the year of our Lord 1422, which before was a most ugly and loathsome prison. He also builded more than half of Saint Bartholomew's Hospital, in West Smithfield, in London. Also he builded of hard stone, the beautiful library in the Grey Fairs, in London, now called Christ's Hospital, standing in the north part of the cloister thereof, where, in the wall, his arms are graven in stone. He also builded, for the ease of the mayor of London, and his brethren, and of the worshipful citizens, at the solemn days of their assembly, a chapel adjoining to the Guildhall; to the intent they should ever, before they entered into any of their affairs, first go into the chapel, and, by prayer, call upon God for his assistance. And in the end, joining on the south side of the chapel, he builded for the city a library of stone, for the custody of their records and other books. He also builded a great part of the east end of Guildhall, beside many other good works that I know not. But among all others, I will show unto you one very notable, which I received credibly by a writing of his own hand, which also he willed to be fixed as a schedule to his last will and testament. He willed and commanded his executors, as they would answer before God at the day of the