disagreement with the inhabitants of Stratford." The disagreement arose out of the assessment for poor-rates, which, as he resided part of the year at Lichfield, he thought should not be levied upon him for the entire twelve months. As he left servants in possession, the magistrates decided against him. And having, in 1756, cut down the mulberry-tree, because it led to so many inquiries, and requests to be permitted to see it-in the year 1759, he ordered the house to be pulled down, and sold the materials: nothing, therefore, now remains of the mansion where Shakespeare lived for the latter years of his life. When this gentleman had the mulberry-tree cut down, he ordered it to be sold for firewood; very little of it, however, came to that ignominious fate. The bulk of the wood was purchased by Mr. Thomas Sharpe, of Stratford, watch and clock maker; who worked it into curious toys and useful articles. Mr. O. Hurst, of Stratford, has now a very valuable table in his possession, made from the wood. The inhabitants of Stratford were very indignant at the destruction of this venerated tree; and Mr. Wheler informs us, that he had heard his father say, that "he assisted, when a boy, out of revenge, in breaking the reverend destroyer's windows." Mrs. Gastrell was a sister of one of Dr. Johnson's friends and correspondents, Mrs. Aston. After the death of Mr. Gastrell, his widow resided at Lichfield; and there, the Doctor, with Boswell, dined with the sisters. In noting down the occurrence, and commenting upon it, as was his wont, Boswell remarks-"I was not informed till afterwards, that Mrs. Gastrell's husband was the clergyman who, while he lived at Stratford-uponAvon, with Gothic barbarity cut down Shakespeare's mulberry-tree, and, as Dr. Johnson told us, did it to vex his neighbours. His lady, I have reason to believe, on the same authority, participated in the guilt of what the enthusiasts of our immortal bard consider a species of sacrilege." The Shakespeare Hotel stands near the site of New Place; and part of the garden and grounds of the latter now form the bowling-green of that place of public entertainment. In the centre of the green is a fine mulberry-tree, which is very rich in foliage during the summer, and is said to have been produced from a scion of Shakespeare's own tree. This green "is irresistible to every one, and deserves a visit, as on the site of New Place; and there are, besides, several architectural relies of pinnacles, &c., from the church, strewed around, inviting thought and observation."t

Opposite the site of New Place is a house, evidently as ancient as the time of the poet. It is now a public-house, having for its sign the Falcon, Shakespeare's crest-no doubt adopted in compliment to him.

Having seen where Shakespeare was born, where he was educated, and where he lived, when at Stratford, we must now visit the place of his interment; and no poet has a more appropriate one. We give a view of the sacred edifice, embowered with woods, and its quiet serenity must strike the most careless observer. The church is approached by a thickly-arched avenue of limes; and it is, says Washington Irving, "a large and venerable pile, mouldering with age, but richly ornamented. It stands on the banks of the river, on an embowered point"-as represented in our view-"and separated by adjoining gardens from the suburbs of the town. situation is quiet and retired: the river runs murmuring at the foot of the churchyard, and the elms which grow upon its banks drop their branches into its clear bosom. The * History of Stratford. + Lees' Stratford as connected with Shakespeare.

The

graves are overgrown with grass; the
grey tombstones, some of them
nearly sunk into the earth, are
half-covered with moss, which has
likewise tinted the reverend old
building. Small birds have built
their nests among the cornices and
fissures of the walls, and keep up
a continual fluttering and chirping;
and rooks are sailing and cawing
about its lofty grey spire."
church itself is thus described by
Mr. James Thorne :-"Stratford
church is a structure of large size
and unusual beauty. The bold free
hand of the old English architect
is seen to advantage here. It has
transepts, nave, chancels, and aisles.
-a fine tower and a steeple. The
tower, transepts, and some other
portions are of the early English
style, and very perfect; the re-
mainder belongs to a later period,
and is not less graceful. Its win-
dows are, some of them, full of
rich tracery. The whole appear-
ance of the pile, with the surround-
ing objects, is extremely pleasing.
Beautiful as is the exterior, the in-
terior is even more so. It has very
recently been fully restored, and
with very great skill-so great
skill, indeed, is displayed, that little
is left to desire. All the barbaric
refinements and embellishments of
the last two centuries have been
swept away-would they were in
every church in the county-and
there is really now a fair restoration
of the whole to its original state,
with some little concessions, indeed,
to modern requirements, but all
done in the spirit of its original
contrivers. The monuments in the

* Sketch Book.

church are many, and besides the monument, are interesting. One chapel" [dedicated to the Virgin "is entirely filled with those of the Clopton family; and many of them are handsome. On the north of the east window is a marble tomb to the memory of John Combe, the friend of Shakespeare, and whom he has been charged with libelling in some rhymes that would have disgraced a Thames waterman. The statue of Combe was executed by Gerard Johnson, the sculptor of Shakespeare's bust. But all else sinks into insignificance before the monument of Shakespeare, rendered, too, so doubly interesting by the likeness of him it has preserved."*

The church is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. It is cruciform, and the tower is over the centre of the cross. It rises from four arches, in the pointed style, and is sustained by massive clustered pillars. A timber spire, forty-two feet high, covered with lead, which originally terminated this tower, was taken down in 1763, and the present handsome stone spire was erected. The height of the tower and spire is 163 feet.-In the interior, the nave, divided from the aisles by hexagonal pillars supporting six arches in the early pointed style, has a fine appearance. Above the arches is the clerestory—a continued range of windows, two above each arch. They are of a later date than the body of the church, and are supposed to have been put in by Sir Hugh Clopton. Here open seats, and a handsome stone pulpit and reading-desk, which exhibit some delicate carving, have been placed. Advancing up the nave, we see the beautiful roof of the chancel, supported by cherubs, and ornamented with the arms of those who subscribed to the work of restoration mentioned by Mr. Thorne. There has, for many years, been a Shakespeare Club at Stratford; and it was at one of its meetings, in 1834, that Dr. Conolly suggested a subscription to defray the expenses of restoring the church. The suggestion was at once taken up, and it was liberally supported; and, remarks Mr. Lees, "the remains of the Great Bard now repose in a solemn temple, that none can thread without awful and exciting sensations, free from that disgust and vexation attendant upon the view of a neglected and dingy edifice."

The chancel, erected between 1465 and 1491, by the then Dean of Stratford, Thomas Balsall, D.D., is the most perfect as well as the most beautiful portion of the church. It is lighted by ten large ornamented windows, five on each side; and on each side are the stalls of the ancient choir, remarkable for the grotesque carvings on the lower part of each seat. The tomb of Dean Balsall is erected against the north wall; and near it, elevated about five feet from the pavement, over the spot where his body was interred, is the monument of WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. A bust represents the dramatist in the attitude of poetic inspiration, with a pen in his right hand, his left hand resting on a scroll; and a cushion before him. It is placed under an arch and entablature, which are supported by Corinthian columns of black marble, with gilded vases and capitals. The bust was originally painted to resemble life; the eyes being of a light hazel, and the hair and beard auburn. The costume is a doublet, with a loose gown over it, without sleeves; the former was coloured scarlet; the latter, black. The cushion was green on the upper part, and underneath, crimson. Above the entablature, and surmounted by a skull, are the armorial bearings of Shakespeare-viz., “Or, on a bend sable, a tilting spear of the first, point upwards, headed argent:" crest, “A falcon rising argent, supporting a spear, in pale, or.” The shield, bearing the arms, stands on a pier, on each side of which is a child in a sitting *Rambles by Rivers.

posture. The figure on the right holds a spade; that on the left has a torch, inverted, in its left hand; its right hand rests on a skull; and its eyes are closed. The following inscriptions are engraven under the bust, between the bases of the columns :

"Ivdicio Pylivm, genio Socratem, arte Maronem,
Terra tegit, Popu us moret, Olympvs habet,"

"Stay, passenger, why goe-t thov by so fast,

Read, if thov canst, whom envious death hath plast
Within this monvment, Shakespeare, with whome
Quick Natvre dide; whose name doth deck ye tombe
Far more than cost; sith all y' he hath writt,
Leave living art bvt page to serve his witt."

"Obiit Ano Do 1616. Ætatis 53, die 23 Ap."

Upon the stone below the monument, which covers the poet's grave, are the following lines; they are traditionally represented as "Shakespeare's epitaph, written by himself "— which we very much doubt:

"Good Freend, for Jesus sake forbeare,

To digg the dust encloased heare;
Blest be y man y' spares thes stones,
And curst be he y' moves my bones."

The bust of Shakespeare looks very different now from what it did in the last century. In the early part of that period it was greatly discoloured, and the monument was altogether out of repair. The latter was, in 1748, renovated, and the colour of the bast carefully restored; the expense being defrayed from the proceeds of the performance of Othello, by a company of actors and actresses who were travelling through the town, under Mr. John Ward, grandfather to the Kembles. In 1793, the bust was painted white, at the instance of Mr. Malone; a mark of very questionable taste.

Our view of a portion of the chancel (on the next page) shows the position of this monument; and also that of the graves of Shakespeare's wife and daughters, which are near it. That of the former is next the stone with the poet's epitaph, but nearer the north wall. Α brass plate is inserted in the stone which covers it, with the following inscription :-" Heere lyeth interred the body of Anne, wife of Mr. William Shakespeare, who dep'ted this life the 6th of August, 1623, being of the age of 67 years." Some Latin verses follow, expressing the deep affection of her daughter: they are supposed to have been written by her son-in-law, Dr. Hall.-Next to Shakespeare's gravestone, is one to Thomas Nash, the first husband of his grand-daughter, Elizabeth Hall, who died April 4, 1647. Then follows one to the memory of Dr. Hall, who died Nov. 25, 1635: and next to that is the tomb of Mrs. Hall, who survived her husband fourteen years. A flat stone, ranging with the others, but nearer the south wall, marks her grave. This stone is inscribed as follows:-" Heere lyeth ye body of Svsanna, wife to John Hall, Gent., ye daughter of William Shakespeare, Gent. She deceased the 11th of July, A.D. 1649, aged 66."Beneath these lines, were the following verses:

VOL. III.

"Whitty above her sexe, but that's not all,
Wise to salvation, was good Mistris Hall,
Something of Shakespeare was in that, but this
Wholy of Him with whom she's now in blisse.

4 M

This inscription was, many years ago, obliterated, to make room for another, relating to a Richard Watts, who was in no way connected with the Shakespeare family.

Over the tombs we have enumerated, matting has been for the last few years placed, to prevent the wear and tear arising from persons walking over them. When inspection is desired, this matting is raised.

There are many monuments in Stratford church besides that of the dramatist, which deserve something more than a passing notice; and when the visitor quits the sacred edifice, and enters the churchyard, "the lofty central window, beneath the embattlements