That portion of the prison appropriated to the debtors is not shown to visitors, out of respect to the feelings of the debtors.

Proceeding round the court we come to the ancient Well Tower, which has the reputation of being built by the father of Constantine the Great; while in all probability the well itself is the only part of the work which can really be ascribed to the Romans. On the first floor in olden times, was "The Jailer's Tap," while on the outside was a bowling green. The old dark condemned cells, with double doors, on the floors of which are ponderous iron rings, to which the unfortunate prisoners were fastened, can be inspected by the public. Sterne's reflections and touching description of the condition of a wretched captive, on hearing a starling cry, "No, I cannot get out," is applicable to this place:

"He was sitting upon the ground upon a little straw, in the furthest corner of his dungeon, which was alternately his chair and bed; a little calendar of small sticks were laid at the head, notched all over with the dismal days and nights he had passed there. He had one of these little sticks in his hand, and with a rusty nail he was etching another day of misery to add to the heap. As I darkened the little light he had, he lifted up a hopeless eye towards the door, then cast it down, shook his head, and then went on with his work of affliction. I heard the chains upon his legs, as he turned his body to lay his little stick upon the bundle; he gave a deep sigh. I saw the iron enter his soul; I burst into tears. I could not sustain the picture of confine

ment which my fancy had drawn."

Visitors to the Castle are shown the Crown and Nisi Prius Courts, which are reached from the outside, by a fine stone terrace. The old Shire Hall, situated in the Great Tower, is now used as an hospital, while the Duchy Court occupies the old Crown Court.

The modern Crown Court, a lofty hall, lighted by a dome, and stated to be capable of containing 1,500 persons, was opened in 1796.

Above the judges' seat, which is elaborately carved, is a large painting of George III. on horseback, by Northcote, and presented by the High Sheriff, James Ackers, Esq.

66

The prisoners to be tried are conducted from their cells by a subterranean passage, leading to the dock, where still may be seen the holdfast," an iron which held those convicts who were condemned to be branded on the hand, the sentence being executed in open court; and near it is to be seen the last branding iron used for that purpose.

The Nisi Prius Court, the roof of which is supported on clustered columns and very beautiful arches, is altogether an elegant

structure.

The Grand Jury Room is well worthy of notice. The robing room for barristers opens into the Crown Court; while the rooms for jurors, &c., are well arranged.

The Record-office is contained in " John o'Gaunt's Oven," an apartment thirty-eight feet high, occupying the whole interior of an ancient circular tower, formerly containing the mill and bakehouses of the Castle.

There is a Chancery Court, also offices for the prothonotary and

cursitor, and for the Court of Common Pleas, Recorder's-room, a law library, &c.

Before leaving the Castle, the visitor is usually conducted on a sorrowful path, being the last one trodden by the unfortunate prisoners who are condemned to death. At the end of this chamber is a door leading to the gallows, which is laid in this room, awaiting its next victim. A model of this instrument of death is still shown.

The present gallows was first adopted by the county of Lancaster ; but until the beginning of the present century those condemned to death were hanged upon Lancaster Moor. In concluding this notice of the Castle, we must mention the Rev. Joseph Rowley, the late chaplain, who died in 1864 at the advanced age of upwards of 90 years. In earlier life he had been Master of the Grammar School, and in this position he instructed two of the greatest men of this generation-one of whom, now deceased, was Professor Whewell, late Master of Trinity College, Cambridge; and the other Professor Owen. Mr. Rowley had attended no less than 170 criminals in their last moments, and when the laws were sterner than at present several were indebted for their deliverance from an ignominious death to his exertions.

With regard to the historical particulars connected with Lancaster Castle, we may briefly state that it is said to have been built by the Romans on the site of a former camp, A.D. 79, the south-western tower being ascribed to the Emperor Hadrian. Soon after the withdrawal of the Romans from the country, the Castle was taken by the Scots in one of their predatory excursions, and on their evacuation of it the chief defences were demolished. From this time till the Norman Conquest, but little or nothing is known of the Castle or its possessors. In 1199 it fell to the crown. It was besieged and taken by Hubert, Archbishop of Canterbury, who greatly restored it. It next fell into the hands of the Earls of Chester. It was presented by Henry III., in 1267, to his youngest son, Edmund Crouchback, together with the town and Earldom of Lancaster. This castle successfully resisted the Scottish army in 1322, after the defeat of Edward II. by Bruce, but the town was burnt. Edmund Crouchback's nephew Henry was created first Duke of Lancaster in the year 1350; and, still later, Henry IV. held his court here for some time, at a period renowned for its splendid tournaments. During the wars of the Roses it was captured by both parties, and subsequently fell into decay, until the threatened invasion of the Spanish Armada in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, when repairs were made on an extensive scale, and the fortifications rebuilt or strengthened. In this state it remained until it was captured by the Parliamentary forces under Cromwell, who, it is reported by common tradition, planted his battering train on a bill near Havarbricks, The Castle has been used as the county gaol from a very early period. The greater part of the buildings around the Castle court date from about the year 1788.

On quitting this venerable edifice, we find ourselves on the stone terrace overlooking the trees occupying the spot where the dark waters of the moat once flowed. Below us, on the left, are two large cannon, which were taken from the Russians in the Crimean War, and afterwards presented to the town. We here conclude our observations on

the Castle, leaving it to the visitor to Lancaster to perambulate the town as we did, marking any other objects of interest; while the Castle is decidedly the lion of the place.

After spending about four hours in Lancaster, we once more started by rail for Oxenholme Junction, where we transferred ourselves and our traps to a coach, by which we proceeded to Ambleside on the beautiful Lake Windermere. It was pleasing once more to journey amidst the picturesque scenery which we had tramped so many years ago with an old college chum, unencumbered by anything beyond our knapsacks and our fishing-rods. Beautiful beyond description did this lake appear at the time of our visit (approaching autumn), which was not only an excellent season for the district, but, being past the height of the tourists', who had chiefly left, a better opportunity was afforded us of obtaining private quarters. On reaching Ambleside we soon succeeded in obtaining excellent lodgings, with the advantage to boot of a most obliging and attentive landlady, who, by-the-bye, was an excellent cook, and operated on the sweet and delicious hill-fed mutton to perfection. Our lodgings being on considerably elevated ground, the view from our window over the heather-clad hills and richly wooded valley was exceedingly beautiful.

We need scarcely say that there are a variety of ways and means for the tourist and visitor to enjoy themselves. There is an abundance of boats, in which all (including the fair sex) are constantly enjoying themselves on the beautiful lake, to the head of which a steamer plies several times a day. These boats also afford a facility for angling, although they are narrower than those made expressly for that purpose. The fish contained in Lake Windermere are pike, perch, and some large trout, besides the char, so celebrated in its potted form in the London market, where however many representations of the finny tribe are palmed off under a title which does not belong to them. Besides the aquatic amusements to which we have alluded, coaches run during summer to various places of interest in the neighbourhood, which consists of almost uninterrupted charming scenery. If a dismal wet day should come, which it will do occasionally in any place, there is one capital billiard-table at the principal hotel, and there may be more for all we know, but for the trueness and light-running properties of the one to which we have alluded we can vouch, having played upon it many times, and on one occasion having the amusement of five games for nothing, by beating the marker, being the only competitor at this time of the year, while in the height of the tourist season the table is almost constantly engaged, both for pool and billiards.

We amused ourselves by fishing the small river which runs into the lake, but the water was too low and clear for any sport. This stream takes its rises amongst the hills above Grassmere, and, after running through that lake and Rydal Water, joins Windermere at Ambleside.

(To be continued.)

189

BY DIANA.

A stranger appears on the scene.

We-that is Lavalette, Crawford, and myself (Evelyn)-continued our conversation upon wolf-hunting, the various traditional stories of the were-wolf and the faith given to them in the early ages. We likewise spoke of Catlin's account of the Black-foot Indian, in North America, frequently personating the wolf by covering himself with the skin of one, and thus disguised crawling on his hands and knees for half a mile or more in order to get near a herd of buffaloes-these animals when herded together showing little dread of the wolf-and thus when near enough, the pretended wolf was able to select and shoot down the fattest of the throng. Then the skill which the wolf shows in attacking an animal, as drawn from the observation of various witnesses, was discussed; the discrimination with which he flew at the neck of a bullock, and tore open the veins with his teeth and claws, while he invariably attacked a horse by fastening on his haunches.

Thus we were engaged when a loud knocking was heard at the inn gate, and in a short space of time the landlady opened our door, and with many apologies begged permission to introduce a stranger, a Spanish gentleman, into the apartment until she could arrange some accommodation for him, if indeed it were possible to do so, as we occupied all the rooms in her poor house. We freely consented, glad of any addition to our party who might help to enliven us during our forced stay in the little inn.

Pleased with our willing assent she disappeared, and almost imme diately returned followed by the new comer; a fine, stately-looking, middle-aged man, who introduced himself as the Señor Andrea de Lauria.

A few words explained the cause of his attempting to travel in such severe weather-he had been on a visit with a friend at (mentioning a gentleman with whom Lavalette was well acquainted), when a matter of business called him to Paris. Taking a guide, despite Monsieur L's advice, he tried to brave the elements; but was obliged from the depth of snow to seek a night's lodging at the inn.

Lavalette recollected that Monsieur L- on his return from a tour in Spain mentioned the hospitality which he (Mr. L--) had received from the Señor Andrea at his castle in Aragon; so that we all became on a good footing at once, to which the inviting-looking supper that our landlady soon served up did not a little contribute.

After supper the Señor was not a little curious to know how we managed to pass our time, being thus weather-bound, within doors, and with but few books, for such a number of days. This led to an account of Lavalette's inexhaustible store of narratives, with a dissertation upon wolf-hunting, and the Festivals of the Bulls.

Our new acquaintance entered with much zest into accounts of

Spanish bull-fights, and after giving us some interesting anecdotes

said

"An ancestor of mine, Roger de Lauria, according to tradition, won his wife at a bull-fight. It was one of those magnificent fêtes which are given in Spain on extraordinary occasions, and was attended by all the knights and ladies of the court. A youthful beauty was brought there for the first time by her parcuts, and attracted all eyes. The scene was so new to her, however, that, when the combat between the bulls and the men on foot began, terror seized her; and falling back in a faint she dropped her fan over the balcony into the arena beneath. De Lauria, who happened to be near, and had been gazing upon her with much admiration, sprang over the balcony into the arena, and at considerable risk recovered the fan. This was his introduction, which he followed up with success, and won the hand of one of the loveliest maidens who had ever graced the court of Aragon."

"Was this ancestor the De Lauria so famous for his victories in the reign of Peter III. of Aragon?" inquired Crawford, who was well versed in Spanish history, and a proficient in the language-he having been several times, for months together, a resident in Spain.

"Yes," replied the Señor Andrea, with evident satisfaction, "he was our ancestor; and we, Laurias, are very proud of our descent."

"I never met with his biography, although I know him as a historical character," returned Crawford; " yet I think it has been written by one of his countrymen."

"Yes, it has been written," said Andrea, "and it is certainly interesting, besides being curious as an accurate picture of the manners of those days-days when warfare was carried on differently to what it is in our more civilized times. Indeed, I never travel without a copy of it--a bit of Spanish pride, no doubt, you will say."

"No, not that," replied Crawford, "for why should not a man be proud of his ancestry? I look back with satisfaction to deeds done in the olden time by my forefathers, and perhaps, if you have it at hand, you will let us peruse your ancestor's story. It will brighten this dreary night."

"Willingly," said the Spaniard. And drawing out a huge pocketbook he pulled from it a pamphlet carefully folded.

Crawford, however, was likely to have the gratification of the biography to himself, as neither Lavalette or myself were Spanish scholars, but, on our expressing our regret on the subject, the Señor Andrea, who spoke both English and French with tolerable fluency, proposed that Crawford should read the narration aloud to us, in whichever tongue he preferred. Crawford decided upon English, and after glancing over the first page said

"I see this biography commences with the death of the unhappy Prince Conradin."

The Spaniard nodded assent, and Crawford continued to turn over a few pages; and while he was thus employed my memory carried me back to a week spent at Naples, and to one particular evening when I strolled along the sea-beach with a friend now no more. Our walk led us to the black, massive bastion of the fortress Del Carmine, and, at the end of its gloomy square, we visited the church erected by the mother of Conradin over her brave boy's grave. On hearing of the