and over many of these, which are modern buildings, the writer would gladly throw a charitable veil.-The situation, however, in which they are placed, the rank they hold among public buildings, and the sacred use for which they were intended, all furnish a powerful cause of lamentation, that structures, so mean, so ill designed, and so puerile in form and character, should ever have been dedicated to the service of the Deity. With regret it must be said, that few of them, either from external grandeur or internal decoration, merit a particular description.

St. Bennet's church, a little to the south of High-bridge, consists of a small nave and a north ́aile, with a square tower at the west end. The tower is about twenty-five feet high, with four windows, in the early Norman, or Saxon style; having more modern battlements. It appears that the nave formerly extended further towards the west. The south windows are placed high, having under them a projecting torus moulding; and under the nave is a row of curious diminutive heads. The aile has a handsome east window, in the style of King Henry the Seventh's time; and the windows of the nave appear to have been enlarged in the fourteenth century. On the floor are many ancient monumental flat marbles, but their brasses are gone. Against the west wall is a square brass plate, to the memory of Alderman

Becke

Faith's; St. George's, Thorngate; St. Giles's, in the East; St. Gregory's ; St. Innocent's; St. John's, Corn-market; St. John's the Poor, a vicarage; St. Lawrence's, in Bulbury; St. Leonard's, Eastgate; St. Mary, Crakepool, a vicarage; St. Michael's, on the Mount, a discharged curacy, church rebuilt; St. Peter's, by the Pump; St. Peter's, Fishmarket; St. Peter's, Stonebeck; St. Peter's, Hungate; St. Rumbold's; St. Stephen's; St.Trinity, Greestone Stairs; St. Trinity, Clasketgate; St. Nicholas, in Newport, Church gone; St. Swithin's, a discharged curacy, church rebuilt; Holy Cross church, near the Grammar-school, in ruins; St. Benedict's; St. Mark's, rebuilt; St. Margaret's, curacy, united to St. Peter's Eastgate, church down; St. Mary's, in Wigford; St. Mary Magdalen; St. Michael's, Curacy church down; St. Paul's, rebuilt; St. Peter's, at Gowts, a curacy; St. Peter's, Eastgate, rebuilt; St. Peter's, at Arches, has been rebuilt for the corparation.

Becke and family, on which are engraved the effigies of him and his wife, and children; the date 1620.

The Church of St. Mary de Wigford has a nave, chancel, and a north aile; a south porch, and a lofty square tower, at the west end of the nave. The tower is of the Norman style. It has no buttress, but is square and plain up to the belfry story; where a torus moulding forms a base for the uppermost story, which is narrower than the other parts of the edifice. The belfry has four windows, each consisting of two lights, divided by a column; the ornamented battlements, with figures at the angles, appear of more modern date. The south side of the nave is coeval with the tower; the aile seems to have been added, and the windows enlarged, about the reign of King John; but the upper part of the aile is of Henry the Seventh's time. Against a door-way, now blocked up, in the north wall, is a statue of an upright female figure, much defaced. The west door-way is of singular construction: the frames are plain and square, with a circular arch, having imposts, not projecting in front, but ornamented with small squares, alternately raised and depressed; the latter of which have a small knob; in the centre of each is a transom stone resting on the imposts, and the arch is blocked up. Round the arch is a double billetted moulding, on the right of which is a Roman monumental inscription, almost obliterated with dirt. From the appearance of the arch, &c. it may be conjectured that this part of the building is very ancient.

St. Peter's, at Gowts, situated on the south side of an old building, opposite what is called John of Gaunt's house, is a very ancient structure. That was probably some religious house, and this the chapel annexed. The church has a lofty tower in the Norman style, similar to that of St. Mary's; but in a more perfect state. On the front is a figure carved in relief, which, from the key placed in its hand, was doubtless meant for St. Peter. The nave and chancel are very lofty, and appear to have been coeval with the tower. On the north side of the nave is a short thick column, with two circular arches, through which formerly the communication

communication was made to the north aile, now taken down. On each side of the chancel are narrow lancet windows, like loop-holes ; and on the north side is a door-way, having a flat arch built up. The south aile, which is in the style of the fourteenth century, has a porch, and is separated from the nave by two lofty elegant pointed arches. On the south side of the chancel is a chapel, with some remains of painted glass in its east window. Under one of the arches, which separates the nave from the south aile, is a small stone font, of high antiquity; round the outside is a row of small circular arches.

St. Martin's Church is still prebendal; it consists of a nave and chancel, with a modern tower, built in the last century, by Alderman Lebsey. In a chapel to the north of the chancel is a large monument of alabaster, with two whole length recumbent figures, to the memory of Sir Thomas Grantham and his lady; date 1618. The canopy falling down some years ago, greatly damaged the figures,

Other places of worship for the different denominations of dis senters, are, one for Roman Catholics, one for Independant Baptists, one for Calvinists, and another for Methodists,

The number of parishes within the city are twelve, which, with the four townships within its jurisdiction, make sixteen. These, according to the late government survey, consist of 1574 houses, which accommodated a population of 7398 persons. Though many of the houses are old, there are some very good buildings, both upon and below the hill. The city has of late been considerably improved, by the making of a new road, paving some of the footways, erecting a new market place, also shambles for meat, and lighting it.

Lincoln has a large trade in corn and wool, quantities of which are exported into Yorkshire, by vessels which obtain a back freightage of coals, and other necessary articles for the use of the interior. This city is a county of itself, having subject to it four townships in the neighbourhood, Bracebridge, Canwick, Branston,

and

and Waddington, called the "Liberty of Lincoln." This privilege was conferred in the third year of the reign of George the First; and in official acts it is denominated, "The City and County of the City of Lincoln." Its viscountial jurisdiction extends twenty miles round: a privilege unequalled by that of any city in the kingdom. It sent members to parliament as early as the time of Edward the First. In the twenty-sixth year of that monarch, A. D. 1298, Willielmus Disney and Johannes Marmion, were summoned to parliament as its first representatives. In the History of the Boroughs of Great Britain, it is said, "This city had summons with London and York, to send members to parliament, the forty-ninth of Henry the Third. The right of election is considered to be in the freemen, and the number of voters is about eleven hundred. The political influence, though it is by no means absolute, is possessed by Lord Delaval, who has a seat at Doddington, in the neighbourhood."

T

Lincoln is governed by a corporation, consisting of a mayor, twelve aldermen, two sheriffs, twenty-eight common councilmen, and four chamberlains; who have a recorder, deputy-recorder," steward of the courts of borough-mote, a town-clerk, and four coroners. Also a sword-bearer, mace-bearer, cryer, four sergeants at the key, or bailiffs, constables, and other inferior officers. The mayor is elected on the fourteenth of September, from among the aldermen; the senior, if he has not served the office before, is the person elected. If all have served the office, then' he who is the highest in order of standing, is elected to serve a second year. At the same time two citizens, who have served the office of chamberlain, are elected sheriffs: the one nominated by the new mayor, and the other elected by a majority of votes among the mayor, aldermen, and common council: the mayor having a casting vote.-The chamberlains are chosen from among the freemen, by the mayor, upon the Monday after the feast of St. Michael. If any refuse to serve the offices to which they are thus elected, the mayor and corporation are invested with a power to compel them, by fine and imprisonment.

The

The cordwainers and weavers are the only privileged companies still subsisting here: indeed, they appear to have been the only companies incorporated by royal charter. The former as early as the second year of King Richard the Second, A. D. 1389.

Like all other corporate places, the genius of trade is shackled in Lincoln; and that vigour which it derives from a spirit of rivalry is suppressed, by what is considered, in such cases, a justifiable partiality: though in no instance does it contribute to the wealth or comfort, and certainly not to the credit, of a town. All persons who have not obtained their freedom, if they carry on any kind of trade, are obliged to pay an annual acknowledgement to the sheriffs for the time being, for the allowance of such privilege.

It was incorporated as early as the reign of Edward the Second. Henry Best was the first mayor, in the seventh year of that reign. This city has had the honour of conferring the title of Earl upon several noble families.

Leland observes, in his description of Lincoln, "There be 4 commune places, named as ferys, upon the water of Lindis, betwixt Lincoln and Boston; the which feris leade to divers places. To Short Fery, 5 miles. To Tatershaul Fery, viij miles. To 1 Dogdich Fery [1 mile]. To Langreth Fery [five miles]. To Boston [5 miles].

"Gates in the waulles of the citie of Lincolu. Barregate, at the south ende of the toune. Bailegate, by south a little a this side the minstre. Newportgate, flat north. Estgate and Westgate, toward the castel. Sum hold opinion, that est of Lincoln were 2 suburbes of it, one toward S. Beges, a late a celle to S. Mari Abbay at York; the which place I take be Icanno, wher was an house of monkes yn S. Botolphe's tyme, and of this spekith Bede. It is scant half a mile from the minster.

"It is easy to be perceived, that the Toune of Lincoln hath be notably buildid at 3 tymes. The first building was yn the very toppe of the hylle, the oldest part wherof inhabited in the Briton's tyme, was the northethest part of the hille, directely

withoute