of Hexbam, historian, 1190. The parish containing 8 townships, ranked as a county palatine, till 33 Henry VIII. Hulne and Aylesford in Kent were the first houses of Carmelite or Whitefriars in this kingdom. Hulne abbey was founded by John Fresburn, a Carmelite, brought over by Lord John Vescy in 1240. John Bale, the biographer, resided and composed his works at this place. The steeple of St. Nicholas church, Newcastle, extremely light and elegant, is built in the shape of an imperial crown, and is 194 feet high. In the old library of this church is the Bible of Hexham priory, a splendidly illuminated MS. about 600 years old. In Tynemouth priory had sepulture Oswin the martyred king of Northumbria, its patron saint, 652; Malcolm king of Scotland, and his son Edward 1093. PRESENT STATE AND REMAINS. Rivers. Allen East and West, Alne, Alwain, Blythe, Bovent, Brenuich, Cherlop, Coquet, Cor, Derwent, Dill or Devil's beck, Erringburn, Font, Glen, Hart, Hestild, Hoc, Irthing, Knare, Line, Nent, Otter, Perop, Pont, Rede, Ridley, Ridland, Seaton, Shele, Till, Tippal, TWEED, TYNE North and South, Wansbeck.-The name of the province of Bernicia, which with Deira formed the kingdom of Northumbria, was derived from the river Brennich, on which is the cataract called Linhope spout, a fall of 56 feet. Inland Navigation. Blythe and Tyne rivers. Lakes. Kim-mere. Eland. Eminences and Views. The Cheviot chain. Aumond. The Bannocks, Bilden hill, Black-tree, Borcum-hill, Byres fell, Camp hill, Catcleuch, Chattlehope, Clinch hill, Cocklaw, Dale-castle, Earls seat, Ellis craig, Flodden hill, Fox craig, Glanton pike, Glassen-hope, Harnham bill, Hanging Shaw, Harwood moor, Hawk-hope, Hedge-hope, Ingram hill, Leam beacon, Mote law, Newton tor, Ottercaps, Plin Meller, Red-squire, Rosedon edge, Samyel craig, Scotch Coltherd, Silverton mountain, Snow-hope, Tindale fell, Tinney hill, Two pikes, Warkworth castle, White-squire, Yevering bell. Natural Curiosities. Bates and Coquet islands. The Farn-islets. Eglingham, Halliwell, Snowhope and Thurston medicinal waters. Halystone and Jesmond Holywells. Wild cattle in Chillingham park. Public Edifices. Alnwick Town-ball, built 1731; Clock-house, built 1786; Free-school, rebuilt 1741; Lancastrian-school, founded 1810; shambles.— Berwick Town-hall, built 1754, its turret 150 feet high, architect, Dodd; Bridge 15 arches, 1014 feet long and 17 broad, finished 1634, architects Burrel and Braxton, cost 24,9601.: Pier: Barracks: Fortifications: Schools. -Coquet and Fern islands Light-houses.-Haydon bridge, 5 arches: School: Hospitals.-Morpeth Town-house built 1714: County gaol.-Newcastle Exchange and Guildhall, finished 1658, architect Trollop, cost 10,000l.: Mansion-house, rebuilt 1691, cost 60007.: All Saints church, circular, Stephenson architect, cost 27,000l.: County Courts, founded 1810, Stokoe architect: Infirmary, founded 1751; Bridge, 9 arches, 300 feet long, finished 1781: Assembly Rooms, erected 1776, Newton architect, cost 6,7017.; Freeman's Hospital, erected 1681; Keelman's Hospital, built 1701, cost 20007: Lunatic Asylum: Royal Jubilee school: Butcher market: Baths: Theatre, opened 1788.-North Shields, 2 Light-houses: Clifford's fort.Seaton-sluice harbour. Seats. Alnwick and Keelder castles, Duke of Northumberland, Lord Lieutenant of the County. Adderstone-hall, C. B. Forster, esq. Blagdon, Sir M. W. Ridley, bart. Bywell, Rev. S. Hodgson. Callaly, John Clavering, esq. Capheaton, Sir John Swinburne, bart. Bavington, Little, Sir Cuthbert Shaftoe. Belsay castle, Sir C. M. L. Monck, bart. Carey Coats, Delaval Shaftoe, esq. Benton Parva, T. C. Bigge, esq. Biddleston, Thomas Selby, esq. Carham-hall, Anthony Compton, esq. Cartington castle, Causey . Ogle, esq. Cornhill-house, Henry Collingwood, esq. Mounce-Know, Sir John Swinburn, bart. Craster, Shaftoe Craster, esq. Edderstone, J. Pratt, esq. Eglingham, Ralph Ogle, esq. Ellingham, Thomas Huggerston, esq. Elswick, John Hodgson, esq. Eslington, Sir T. H. Liddel, bart. Etal, Earl of Glasgow. Ewart, Sir H. D. C. St. Paul, bart. Felton-hall, Ralph Riddel, esq. Gosforth-house, J. C. Brandling, esq. Haggerston, Sir Carnaby Haggerston, bt. Clennel, esq. Hartford-house, Will. Burden, esq. Houghton castle, William Smith, esq. Humshaugh, late H. Richmond, esq. Nether-witton, Walter Trevelyan, esq. Rev. Henry Wastell. Newton-hall, Jos. Cook, esq. Newton Low, Marmaduke Gray, esq. Ellis, esq. Pallinsburn, G. A. Askew, esq. Park-end, Thomas Ridley, esq. Paston, Ridley-hall, Selby, esq. Lowes, esq. Roddam, late Admiral Roddam. Sandho, Edw. Charlton, esq. Thomas Huggenton, esq. Seaton Delaval, E. H. Delaval, esq. Stagshaw Close house, G. Gibson, esq. Peerage. Alnwiek barony to Percy Earl of Beverley: Howick viscounty to Grey Earl Grey, who is also Baron Grey de Howick: Morpeth viscounty to Howard Earl of Carlisle: Northumberland dukedom and earldom and Warkworth barony to Percy: Prudhoe barony to Percy: Redesdale barony to Mitford: Tynedale barony to Scott Duke of Buccleuch in Scotland.Of Belford, Graham, earldom to Graham Duke of Montrose in Scotland.Of Etal, Ros barony to Manners Duke of Rutland. Members to Parliament: for the county 2, Berwick-upon-Tweed 2, Morpeth 2, Newcastle-upon-Tyne 2, total 8. Produce. COAL, lead, zinc, limestone, free-stone, whinstone, marle, corn, sheep, cattle, salmon. Manufactures. Colliery machines, the first steam-engine in this county was erected at Byker, in 1714: the coal-pit at Willington is 280 yards deep. -Coal-tar; the first apparatus for extracting tar from pit-coal was established at Scotchwood near Lemmington by Lord Dundonald.-Ship-building; cordage; glass; iron; steel; copperas; white lead; pottery; soda; paper; leather; gloves; hats; and cotton. POPULATION. Wards 6; Parishes 82; Market Towns 13; Houses 29,384. Families employed in Agriculture 10,945; in Trade 16,547; in neither 10,251; total 37,743. Baptisms: Males 2109; Females 2049.-Marriages 1,201.-Burials: Males 1582; Females 1521. Places 626. At Wall-town, Edwin the first Christian King of Northumbria, baptized by Paulinus the first Bishop of that kingdom. 628. At Widdrington, Cadwallon King of the Britons defeated by Edwin King of Northumbria. 635. At Dilston, Cadwallon King of the Britons defeated and slain by Oswald King of Northumbria. 642. Bamborough castle successfully defended by the Northumbrians against Penda King of Mercia. 653. At Welton Peada King of Mercia, and Sigebert King of Essex, baptized by Finian Bp. of Lindisfarne in the presence of Oswy King of Northumbria. 705. In Bamborough castle Osred the young King of Northumbria besieged by the pretender Edulph, but in a sally made by Brithric, Osred's General, Edulph was defeated, taken prisoner and beheaded. 788. At East Chesters, Alfwald I. King of Northumbria, assassinated. 795. Tynemouth priory plundered by the Danes, and again in 869. 938. At Brunanburgh (Bromridge or Brinkburn) the allied Scotch, Welsh, Irish, and Dano-Northumbrian army under Anlaff, totally defeated by Athelstan, when Constantine King of Scotland, 6 petty Princes of Ireland and Wales, and 12 Earls, were slain. 993. Bamborough castle and Tynemouth priory destroyed by the Danes. 1072. At Newburne, Copsi Earl of Northumberland murdered by Osulph. 1093. Alnwick successfully defended against Malcolm King of Scots and his eldest son Edward, both of whom were surprised and slain by Robert de Mowbray Earl of Northumberland. 1095. Tynemouth castle, under Robert de Mowbray Earl of Northumberland, (who had revolted in consequence of receiving no reward for his victory at Alnwick) after a siege of two months, taken by William Rufus; but the Earl escaped to Bamborough castle, which Rufus immediately invested, but being unable to take the place by siege, he commenced a blockade by building a castle called "Malvoisin" or "bad neighbour," to intercept supplies from the surrounding country, when the Earl endeavouring to escape was taken prisoner at Tynemouth, and his wife surrendered Bamborough castle to the King on his threatening to put out Mowbray's eyes if she refused. The Earl was carried to Windsor castle, where he was imprisoned for 30 years. 1173. Harbottle castle taken by William King of Scotland, but at the siege of Alnwick shortly afterwards he was defeated and taken prisoner. 1174. Berwick burnt and its inhabitants butchered by Earl Duncan. 1188. At Brigham, William II. King of Scotland, with many of his nobles and prelates, met Hugh Bp. of Durham, and rejected Henry the II.'s demand of tenths as a tax for a crusade. 1209. At Newcastle, John King of England, and William King of Scotland, met to negotiate a peace in vain. (To be concluded in our next.) REMARKS REMARKS ON THE SIGNS OF INNS. (Continued from vol. LXXXVIII.) HE FLITCH OF BACON.-On the Tread between Lichfield and Burton upon Trent, near Wichnor village, a large Inn commemorates by this sign the curious custom of the manor, which was granted in the reign of Edward III. by the Earl of Lancaster, Lord of the honour of Tutbury, to Sir Philip de Somerville, on condition that "the said Sir Philip shall fynde, meynteigne, and susteyne one bacon flyke, hanging in his halle at Wichenore, ready arrayed all tymes of the yere bott in Lent, to be given to everyche mane or womane married, after the dey and yere of their marriage be passed, and to be given to everyche man of religion, archbishop, prior, or other religious; and to everyche priest, after the year and day of their profession finished, or of their dignity resey ved in forme following ;-whensoever that any such before named wylle come for to enquire for the baconne in their own person, or by any other for them, they shall come to the bayliff or porter of the Lordship of Whichenour, and shall say to them in the manere as ensewethe: Bayliffe or porter, I doo you to know that I am come for myself (or if he come for any other, shewing for whome) for one bacon flyke, hanging in the halle of the Lord of WhicheBour,after the forme thereto longinge.' "After which relation, the bayliffe or porter shal assigne a daye to him, upon promise of his feythe to return, and with him to bring tweyne of his neighbours; and in the meyn time, the said bailif shall take with him tweyne of the freeholders of the Lordship of Whichenoure, and they three shal goe to the mannour of Rudlowe, belonging to Robert Knyghtly, and then shal somon the foresaid Knightley, or his bayliffe, commanding him to be ready at Whichenour, the day appointed, at pryme of day, with his carriage; that is to say, a horse and sadyle, a sakke and a pryke, for to convey and carry the said bacon and corn a journey out of the county of Stafford, at his costages; and then the sayd bailiffe shal, with the sayd freeholders, somon all the tenants of the said manoir to be ready at the day appointed at Whichenour, for to do and performe the services to the bacopne. And at the day assigned, all such as owe services to the baconne, shall be ready at the gate of the manoir, from the sonne risinge to none, attendyng and awayting for the comyng of him and his felowys chapaletts, and so all those whiche shal be there to doe their services deue to the baconne: and they shal lead the said demandant, wythe tromps and tabours, and other manner of minstralseye, to the halle close, where he shal fynde the lord of Whichenour ready to deliver the baconne in this manere: "He shall enquire of him which demandeth the baconue, if he have brought tweyne of his neighbours, who must answere, They be here redy;' and then the steward shall cause these two neighbours to swere yf the said demandant be a weddyt man, or have be a man weddyt, and yf syth his marriage one yere and a day be passed, and yf he be a freeman or villeyn: and yf his seid neighbours make othe that he hath for him all these three points rehersed, then shal the bacon be take downe and brought to the halle dore, and shal there be layed upon one halfe a quarter of wheatte, and upon one other of rye: and he that demandeth. the baconne shall kneel upon his knee, and shall hold his right hande upon a booke, which shal be laid above the baconne and the corne, and shal make oath in this manere: 'Here ye Sir Philip de Somervyle, lord of Whichenour, mayntayner and giver of this baconne, that I A. syth I wedded B. my wife, and syth I had her in my kepyng, and at wylle, by a yere and a daye after our marryage, I would not have changed her for none other, farer ne fowler, richer ne powrer, ne for none other descended of gretter lynage, slepyng ne wak yng, at noo tyme; and if the seid B. were sole, and I sole, I wolde take her to be my wife before all the wymen of the world, and of what condytions soevere they be, good or evyle, as helpe me God and his seyntys, and this flesh and all fleshes.' "And his neighbours shal make oath that they trust verily he hath said truely. And yf it be found by his neighbours aforenamed, that be be a freeman, then shall be delyvered to him halfe a quarter of wheatte and a cheese; and yf he be a villein, he shal have half a quarter of rye, withoutte cheese; and then shal Knyghtley, the lord lord of Rudlowe, be called for to carry all their things to fore rebersed, and the said corn shall be layd upon one horse, and he that the baconne apperteyneth shal ascend upon his horse, and shall take the chese before hym, if he have a horse, and yf he have none, the lord of Whichen our shall cause him to have one horse and sadyl, to such tyme as he passed his lordshippe, and so shal they departe the manoyr of Whichenour, with the corn and the baconne to fore him that hath wonne ytt, with trompets, tabourets, and other manoir of minstralsce; and all the free tenants of Whichenour shall conduct him to be passed the Lordship of Whichenour; and then shall they retorne, except hym to whom apperteiyneth to make the carryage and journey withoutt the countye of Stafford at the costys of his Lord of Whichenour, and yf the seid Robert Knyghtley do not cause the baconne and corne to be conveyed as is rehersed, the lord of Whichenour shal do it to be carryed, and shal distreigne the said Robert Knyghtley, for his default, for one hundred shillings in his manoir of Rudlowe, and shall kepe the distresse so takyn, irreplevisable." A similar custom of the manor of Dunmow Parva, in Essex, is generally supposed to have been instituted by one of the Fitzwalters, who are said to have possessed the lordship as parcel of their barony for eleven generations; and of whom several monuments still remain in the venerable priory church. The ceremonial established for these occasions consisted of the married couple, who claimed the bacon, kneeling on two sharppointed stones in the church-yard, when after solemn chanting and other rites performed by the convent, the following oath was demanded of them: "You shall swear by custom of confession, That you ne'er made nuptial transgression; [wife, Nor since you were married man and By household brawls or contentious strife, Or otherwise, at bed or at board, Offended each other in deed or in word: Or since the parish clerk said Amen, Wished yourselves unmarried again; Or in a twelvemonth and a day Repented not in thought any way; But continued true in thought and desire As when you join'd hands in the holy quire. If to these conditions, without all fear, Of f your own accord you freely will swear, A whole gammon of bacon you shall receive, [leave; And bear it home with love and good For this is our custom of Dunmow well known, [your own." Tho' the pleasure be ours, the bacon's Three instances of the delivery of the bacon are recorded in the Chartulary of the Priory, now in the British Museum; and since the suppression of the Priory, three more instances have occurred at the Courts Baron, held by the Steward of the manor. The first recorded delivery was in 1444, to Richard Wright of Bradbourge in Norfolk, and the last was in June 20, 1751, to John Shakeshanks, woolcomber, and Anne his wife, of Wethersfield in Essex. "The Flitch of Bacon," a ballad opera, by Henry Bate, was acted at the Haymarket in 1778, and printed in 1779. THE FLOWER POT. I remember this sign at Earls Shilton in Leicestershire, and I believe that it is not very uncommon. To describe the beauties of the various kind of flowers has been a favorite theme, and there can be but few readers who do not recollect Perdita's pleasing appropriation of them in Shakespeare's "Winter's Tale." Darwin's "Botanic Garden” particularly abounds in bold personification and luxuriant description. Langhorne's "Fables of Flora" are natural and easy; indeed, there is hardly a writer of any eminence from whom some Elegant Extracts" might not be obtained, but it would be utterly inconsistent with the limits of this paper to venture on such extensive transcription. As a painter of flowers, Simon Varelst, a Dutchman, stands pre-eminent. Under one of his pieces Prior wrote, "When fam'd Varelst this little wonder [view; drew, Flora vouchsaf'd the growing work to Finding the Painter's science at a stand, The Goddess snatch'd the pencil from his hand; And finishing the piece, she smiling said, 'Behold one work of mine that ne'er shall fade"," Varelst's vanity was excessive; he called himself " The God of Flowers." Walpole tells us that Lord Chancellor Shaftesbury going to sit for his portrait, was received by him with his bat on. "Don't you know me?" said the |