Grimball's tower is most conspicuous with its ivy-mantled turret. A tradition belongs to this spot which Mrs. Bray has interwoven with her tale of Fitzford. Beneath the archway of this tower is the small stone Sarcophagus which contained the large bones supposed to have belonged to the giant Ordulph. Many architectural fragments are preserved with the Sarcophagus, and in the Vicarage garden are two of the sepulchral stones which belonged to the Danmonii, the earliest inhabitants of the place.

The improvements in the parish church forwarded chiefly by our late worthy magistrate J. Carpenter, Esq. have rendered it a building of no mean appearance; its fine new roofing, and the handsome stone mullions of the windows are especially to be admired. This church as we have before observed was dedicated to St. Eustacius, and "was erected within the cemetry of the Abbey Church." Within its walls are two ancient monuments of interest to the curious spectator; one representing Judge Glanville in his judicial robes, with his wife arrayed in the splended attire of the reign of Elizabeth, kneeling beside him; the other ornamented by two figures supposed to represent Sir John Fitz of Fitzford and his lady. Near the baptismal font is Erasmus's Paraphrase on the Gospels; which, (showing the value of books in those days) is confined by a chain. Little remains to be noticed in the Parish Church. The other religious edifices consist of a handsome Independent Chapel, a Friend's Meeting house, a Methodist Chapel of large dimensions, and a pretty Edifice built in the Abbey style by the seceders from the Wesleyans. The Unitarians hold their worship in the ancient refectory of the Abbey, where until of late years a stone pulpit was remaining from which the Monks were accustomed to be exhorted during their meals. Another building of handsome elevation has of late years added importance

to the Town of Tavistock. It is the Workhouse of the district, which contains within its walls, the indigent poor of twenty four parishes. It stands in the North West part of the Town, on a sheltered slope of land, and consists of connected buildings around a square, ornamented by an entrance porch, which gives unity and beauty to the whole; and with its neighbouring porter's lodge effectually ensures security from ingress or egress without due permission from the governor or his delegates.

The markets next claim our attention: a new CornMarket has been erected in the centre of the place where are extensive sales of corn every Friday. Its neat granite colonnade has been admired by competent judges. There are also ancient but tolerably spacious shambles for butchers' meat, but by no means sufficiently so for the present population of the town. A separate market for butter, poultry, and eggs, and another for fruit and vegetables, are held under covered piazzas, but there is no provision for the Fishmongers, whose stalls are only separated from the Abbey Church-yard by a low wall.

One good extensive market-place embracing every thing brought for sale seems to be an accomodation very much needed, as a considerable number of the frequenters of the Tavistock market, some from probably a distance of nearly forty miles, are compelled to expose their wares on open stalls, and on the ground in various parts of the town. The weekly market is on Friday; the fairs are held on the second Wednesday in the months of January, May, September, October, and December; there are also great cattle markets on the second Wednesday in March, July, August, and November. An Agricultural Society has been lately formed. Prizes are awarded to such as excel in the various departments of husbandry, and much good is likely to result from this institution, which already has given birth to a spirit of experiment and enterprize hitherto unknown in this district of

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Devonshire. In alluding to things desirable for the town, it may with propriety be stated, that a Guild-hall or sessions house of a commodious size, together with a prison on the best, that is, the most humane principle, to supersede the present old, decaying, inconvenient structure, would be hailed not by the public only, but by Magistrates and others who have to hold courts therein, as an essential benefit.

Tavistock derives considerable advantage from enjoying the most generous support and patronage in every beneficial institution from the high family to which it principally belongs. Liberality of sentiment, and freedom of opinion have been always encouraged by the noble house of Russell. The electors, as has been already shown, have been particularly happy in their parliamentary representatives. The power of returning members to parliament was first exerted by the people of Tavistock in the reign of Edward 1st. By the passing of the Reform Act the elective franchise has been extended to the £10 householders of the parish: the number of qualifying tenements under the new law is 380, the Portreeve (elected at the annual court-leet of the lord of the manor) is the returning officer. The members returned at the last election, in 1841, were Lord Edward Russell and John Rundle, Esq.* Of the physical advantages of Tavistock no one can doubt. Its salubrity of climate has rendered it the frequent resort of invalids, who have been restored to health by its bracing air, and instances of great longevity have been frequent among us. As in the days of Risdon. "The climate of this part of Devonshire is sharp, yet healthful, giving appetite both to labour and rest. For when our forefathers lived frugally, and were pleased with what was sufficient to content

* The latter has since resigned and is succeeded by J. Trelawny, Esq.

nature, they were strong people, lived many years, and could endure any labour or travail; surely the country is temperate, and freed from extremities of cold: the frost and snows are not here so piercing, nor of such continuance, as in the inland countries. "The climate has changed for the better even since the time of Risdon, for the country being no longer "full of brakes and briars," but generally in a state of cultivation, the temperature has altered accordingly. I find, however, from a work* kindly furnished me by the author, that the extremes of heat and cold are said to be greater at Tavistock than at Plymouth, although the mean temperature of the year is but slightly different, being rather above 50 degrees. The average quantity of rain falling in the year is about 45 inches. This great amount of moisture is supposed to be owing to the attraction of the clouds by the neighbouring eminences of Dartmoor.

"Hills from three to six hundred feet in height, rise in continued succession in the vicinity of Tavistock; these are frequently enwreathed with cloud.” But we can scarcely regret our proverbially rainy climate, since it clothes with verdure the environs of our town, and makes beautiful the surrounding country.

We would intimate that the advantage of a cemetery away from the town is great, as conducing to health and comfort. The dissenters have set an excellent example, by choosing a delightful spot on the bank of the river between Vigo and the Abbey Bridge, in which they are at liberty to inter their dead. It occupies the site of a beautiful field once the scene of many a bull fight and wrestling match. By excavating a lower portion of the hill, which rises precipitously clothed with plantations

* Remarks on the Parish Registers of Tavistock, Devon; by C. Barham, M. D.

above, a tolerably large piece of ground has been acquired, which is laid out in walks and grass-plots as a garden; a raised bed of flowering shrubs in the centre adds to the pleasing illusion. And here amidst flowers and verdure, in a peaceful retirement, broken only by the singing of birds, may lie the beloved forms of those endeared to us on earth. Let us hope that ere long the injurious practice of burial in the centre of a populous town may be altogether abandoned. A few large cities are adopting the plan of choosing the environs for their cemeteries. The frequent recurrence of infectious disorders in consequence of the malaria, arising from a crowded church-yard is a sufficient warning to care for the welfare of the living, as well as for the peaceful interment of the dead. Fortunately our own church-yard is open enough to prevent the return of contagious disorder.

"The Cholera though twice or three times introduced into Tavistock, did not take root, nor spread beyond the persons attacked; an exemption the more remarkable as the neighbouring town of Plymouth was most severely visited by this scourge.

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A constant supply of water is furnished to all the town by pumps or conduits.

Among the charitable institutions of this place is a Provident Society, established in 1835 by the Rev. Edward Kempe, it has since been continued by the exertions of those ladies who have shown their interest in its welfare, by taking upon themselves, in their various districts, to visit the humble dwellings of the poor. There may be likewise mentioned with approbation,

* In the late epedemic (in 1842) which spread through the whole county of Devon, very few fatal cases occurred in Tavistock, although circumstances at the time were unfavourable to the health of the

town.