tions, has attained to a high reputation in the literary world. He politely accompanied me through the several departments of the seminary-which were neatly laid out, and the library euriched with beautiful editions of the classics, was decorated with the busts of Homer, Virgil, Cicero, together with those of other celebrated characters of antiquity. It remains that I just mention the church, a large handsome building, having a square tower at the west end. Within its walls is a neat white marble monument to the memory of the celebrated actress, Miss Anne Elliot, who died 1769, aged 26; the inscription is elegant and spirited Of matchless form adorn'd, with wit refin'd, A feeling heart, and an enlighten'd mind ; Of softest manners, beauty's rarest bloom, Here ELLIOT lies, and moulders in her tomb. Oh! blest with genius-early snatch'd away, The muse, that joyful mark'd thy op'ning ray, Now, sad reverse! attends thy mournful bier, And o'er thy relics sheds the gushing tear! Here fancy oft the hallow'd mould shall tread, Recall thee living, and lament thee dead; Here friendship oft shall sigh, till life is o'er, And death shall bid thy image charm no more! Did we pursue the direct road to London, we should pass through the small town of Seven Oaks; in a healthy and pleasant situation. On the left, beyond the town, is to be discerned CheveningHouse, the seat of Earl Stanhope, well-known in the political world. The country all along boasts a fertile soil, and is enriched by the finest rural scenery. But it is now time to bend my course towards Maidstone, at the distance of about fifteen miles from Tunbridge, and on my way thither we observed Mere-worth-House, the seat of Lord le De spencer. It was built after the plan of a gentleman's villa near Vendee, and is elegantly designed. The interior is decorated with many beautiful paintings, and the situation yields a fascinating variety. My approach to Maidstone could not fail of giv ing rise to agreeable sensations. Here, amidst a circle of kind and intelligent friends, many vacations have frequently passed away, and here I had now left my little family, to whom I was about to return with renewed satisfaction Domestic happiness! thou only bliss Of Paradise, that hast survived the fall! COWPER. Having already, in a letter of some length, described the pleasant and populous town of Maidstone, I shall beg leave my young friend, only to add a few particulars on the present occasion. The central situation of MAIDSTONE renders it extremely convenient for the transaction of county affairs. The election of representatives in parliament occasions a great bustle whenever it occurs; whilst the assizes, held here twice every year, draws a vast number of persons from every part of the county. The gaol for debtors and felons is a strong building, but not being sufficiently capacious, the erection of another is in contemplation. A gentleman residing in the town very obligingly introduced me to Mr. Watson, the keeper of the prison, who has held the office for many years, and demeans himself towards the prisoners with great humanity, Virtue," says Dr. Johnson," is un doubtedly most laudable in that state which makes it most difficult, and therefore the humanity of a GOALER certainiy deserves public attestation. The man, whose heart has not been hardened by such an employment, may be justly proposed as a pattern of benevolence." By the permission of Mr. Watson, we went over the prison, which was in a very nice condition. On the debtor's side we observed a court, where they are all allowed to range, the sides of whose walls were chequered by the rough figures of a horse-race, which had a most singular appearance! They were drawn, we were told, by a blacksmith, who being confined here for twelve months, thus beguiled the tedious hours of his imprisonment. He reminded me of the man in the Bastile, who either in picking up pins, which he had scattered over the floor, or in reckoning the nails with which the door of his cell was studded, backwards and forwards in every direction, found a never-failing source of amusement. The felon's side was somewhat crouded, being on the eve of the assizes a period to which some of the prisoners must have been looking forward with a trembling anxiety! There are two dungeons, one for the men, the other for the women, into which we descended by eleven steps. These are small dark rooms, with an iron ring in the center, to which the poor wretches are fastened, when destined to fall a sacrifice to the avenging laws of their country. With what emotions of grief must the victim enter this dreary abode! With what agonizing sensations is he dragged forth, and consigned over, with circumstances of ignominy, to the awful realities of eternity! The frequency of capital punishments, however, defeats the ends of justice, by brutalising the lower classes of the community. To prevent rather than punish crimes, should be the study of every well constituted legis, Iature. A plan of this kin, ably carried into execution, would diffuse the most beneficial effects throughout society. For crimes committed in London and Middlesex alone, from 1749 to 1779, a period of thirty years, nine hundred and fifty one died by the hands of the executioner-eighty-nine only of these unhappy creatures were guilty of murder-the only just cause for which life should be taken away. During the same period, beside the above executions, upwards of five thousand were doomed to transportation! Surely such a statement argues either an excessive severity in the nature of our laws, or a most alarming depravity in the manners of our country. See Howard's State of the Prisons in England and Wales; a work which reflects immortal honour on his memory!* During my say at Maidstone, one of the volunteers died '; on a Sunday evening he was interred with the usual solemnity. The crouds of people pouring from almost every quarter-the corpse, borne on the shoulders of his comrades, with the accoutrements of the deceased lying on the coffin, the band of music playing in those mournful strains, which are suited to the occasion, and the volun Taking a period of twent-three years, from 1749 to 1771, it is remarkable, that of the 120 sessions at the Old Bailey, in the fifteen years of peace, (eight in a year) only one was maiden—and of the sixty-four sessions in the eight years of war, nine were mailen so that it becomes us at this period, to guard with a more than ordinary vigilance, against the depredations which may be committed on the community. What a pity! that some mode could not be hit upon, whereby our soldiers and sailors, laying aside their idle habits, might return as good citizens into the bosom of the community. teers marching slowly with their arms inverted, rendered the funeral interesting to a mind disposed for reflection. The stillness of the evening, which was considerably advanced, heightened the scene! whilst the setting sun indicated the certain termination of all human glory! In about a week after, my young friend, I, with my little family, left Maidstone and set out for the metropolis. The road, thirty-five miles in length, is not only good but pleasant, exhibiting throughout the fertility of an highly cultivated country. Wrotham, the first stage, is charmingly situated. The church is a venerable structureand the living one of the richest in the kingdom. Close to the inn, about two or three years ago, Colonel Shadwell was shot dead by a deserter-and by a small stone placed in the wall, this disastrous event is commemorated. The hill above the village commands a most extensive prospect over Maidstone Down, even to the Weald of Kent-chequered by a luxuriant profusion? Nor must we forget to remark, that the hop plantations for a prominent feature in the landscape "On Cantium's hills The flow'ry hop, whose tendrils climbing round Our next stage was Farningham, where we dined -its situation is rural-a fine clear brook runs close by the door of the inn, on the surface of whose stream the scaly tribe are occasionally seen playing with their characteristic agility! The church at some little distance, has a rustic appearance; and, from the stones in the church-yard, which contains a mausoleum, it appears that several persons have |