Book of Prayer; but there is every probability that the legislature will shortly relieve them from an unwilling conformity in this respect, and remove every other disability against which they can entertain any reasonable ground of complaint; and although this subject at present excites great animosity of feeling, we hope the day is not far distant when it will completely subside.

The christian world must always consider itself indebted to the dissenters for their missionary exertions, and for the abolition of slavery, and it should always be had in remembrance that we all unite in protesting against popish idolatry on the one hand and infidelity on the other, and that whether Churchmen or Methodists, Baptists or Independents, we are all animated by one faith and one hope, and should endeavour, as far as possible,' to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.'

Public Buildings and Works.

THE country by which Wisbech is surrounded is so

completely divested of every thing that is ornamental either in natural scenery or the designs of man, that the stranger is very agreeably surprised on entering the town, to see its neat and uniform appearance. It may, however, generally be observed, that in the more romantic portions of our sea-girt isle, the towns very seldom present any architectural beauties, as if the mind of man shrunk with a feeling of religious awe from placing his little contrivances in competition with the grand and stupendous works of the world's great architect, and confined its operations to places where there is but little to distract the taste or tame the fancy. We have observed this more particularly to be the case throughout the whole kingdom of Holland, which is a country bearing a strong resemblance to this district of the Fens: the towns of Holland, like our own, are situate in a tract of country flat but fertile, and the

inhabitants seem to turn from the desolation on all sides presented to their view, and congregate together in the towns, where they expend a portion of the wealth derived from the soil, in the construction of comfortable dwelling-houses for themselves, and buildings for the use of the public.

The town has frequently been compared to the towns of Holland as to its construction, being built on the banks of the river, which winds its way through the principal streets; but here the houses are very inferior in height and extent to those on the Continent, and there are no double, and in many cases triple, rows of trees, which are there planted on the verge of the canals, giving a welcome shade from the meridian sun, and with the combined effect of the moonlight on the waters, presenting an appearance which we can so fully recollect, but could very faintly describe.

The best view of the town is from the bridge; and the circular form of the street following the course of the river, with its gas-lamps at equal distances and brilliantly illuminated, has a very pretty effect.

The Bridge is built with stone, having handsome balustrades on each side: the span of its arch is seventy-two feet, but the road over it is so much contracted that two carriages are not enabled to pass over together; and the descent from the centre is so steep, that accidents frequently occur in consequence of the impossibility of checking the rapid movement of heavily laden vehicles. It was contemplated by the corporation about two years since, to devote the whole of the present bridge to the carriage way, and construct castiron foot paths on the outside of the arch; but they were

induced to abandon their design, under an apprehension that the effect of the improved outfall, and the consequently rapid course of the waters, might endanger the whole structure: if, however, the road-way were macadamized, the danger to passengers would be materially diminished.

There was formerly a bridge of wood, but it was demolished in the year 1758, and the present bridge was constructed at an expense of about £1800.: on the foundation-stone was recorded the following inscription: EX LIGNEO

SURREXIT LAPIDEUS,

A. D. 1758.

ESTO PERPETUUS.

We fear, however, that the founders did not construct a monument of a very lasting nature, (ære perennius) and their good wishes as to its perpetuity will not be realized, since the force of the ice floods in winter make rapid inroads on its foundation, and frequently place it in considerable jeopardy. The expense of its repair devolves on the corporation.

The Corn Exchange, or Exchange Hall as it has since been denominated, is the next most striking object; it was erected by the corporation in the year 1811, for the purpose of providing accommodation for the merchants and farmers on the market day. The merchant, however, soon discovered that the eye of his competitor was not confined exclusively to the partition of territory allotted to his own use, but was rather actively engaged in watching the movements of his neighbour, the price and quantity of corn that he purchased, and what particular farmers became his

regular attendants; and those feelings of jealousy and suspicion, which unfortunately usually accompany an extension of commerce and personal competition, induced the merchants to abandon their public position, and retreat to their respective private places of business, where they might set a value on the commodity, and on the accommodation previously rendered to the farmer, in greater security and without the observation either of their neighbours or the public. The corn exchange therefore became entirely deserted, and the capital burgesses, in the year 1881, caused it to be inclosed, and converted into a room for concerts, lectures, and other public meetings and exhibitions. The rooms over it are used as billiard and news rooms, but we confess we should rejoice to see the whole of the building devoted to an extensive public library and museum; and this might very easily be accomplished by the corporation granting a long lease of it at an adequate rent, and the expenses of this establishment (or Athenæum,) being provided by subscribing shareholders.

At the back of the corn exchange is an extensive plot of ground used as a cattle market: it was found, however, to afford so little accommodation, that in the year 1827, the capital burgesses purchased another piece of land on the north side of it and separated from it only by the public street, for the sum of £800.; the greater part of this sum was borrowed on mortgage of the land; and the money required for building the corn exchange and public inn adjoining to it, was borrowed by way of annuity when money was scarce at rather an extravagant rate; and although the rents of the cattlemarket tolls, and of the public inn, together with those