north-east corner of Warwickshire. It is seventy-nine miles south-east from Liverpool, and the same distance north-east from Bristol, both in a straight line As Birmingham is nearly in the centre of England, its situation is elevated. The soil around it is light, but has lately been much improved. The appearance of the city itself is mean; a great multitude of the houses being inhabited by workmen. St Martin's is the only building of great antiquity. Its exterior is mean, having in 1690 been cased with a covering of bricks to preserve it from falling. The spire alone remains in its original state, a graceful monument of oiden architecture. The interior is grand and imposing, though disfigured by a coating of plaster and by tawdry ornaments. St Philip's Church is an elegant building, and, in the opinion of many, forms the chief architectural ornament of the city. Besides these two, there are ten churches and chapels belonging to the Established Church and forty-five Dissenting chapels, several of them elegant erections. Till lately, Birmingham possessed few public buildings worthy of notice, but the citizens are adding to their number. The town-hall is a splendid edifice of the Corinthian order, the material being of Anglesea marble. Its length is 166 feet, breadth 104 feet, and height 83 feet. The saloon, 140 feet long, 65 feet wide, and 65 feet high, contains one of the largest organs in Europe. The grammar-school is a splendid Gothic edifice, designed by Mr Barry, and erected at an expense of L.4000. The theatre, the banks, the libraries, Society of Arts, &c. are also worthy of notice. The schools in Birmingham are numerous and flourishing. Among these may be mentioned the free grammar school founded and chartered by Edward VI. Its income derived from land is L.3000 per annum ; the Blue Coat School and the Protestant Dissenter's charity school, supported by subscriptions. There are several associations for moral and intellectual improvement, such as a mechanic's institution possessing a library of 1200 volumes, the Society of Arts, and a philosophical institution. The old library contains about 17,000 volumes, and the new library 4000 volumes. The savings' banks, and provident institutions, and societies are numerous and highly beneficial. There are also many charitable institutions well supported. The Dispensary, Humane Society, and Magdalen Institution merit great praise. From a very early period Birmingham has been renowned for its manufactures in steel and iron. This trade is now carried on to an extent elsewhere unequalled. The principal branches of it are, plate and plated wares, ornamented steel goods, jewellery, japannery, papier maché, cut-glass ornaments, steel-pens, buckles and buttons, cast-iron articles, guns, steam-engines, &c. Birmingham is connected with London and various places by means of canals. In all probability it will soon form the centre of railway communication with every part of the kingdom. That with the metropolis was opened in 1837. Birmingham returns 2 M. P. The population in 1831 was 110,914; including the suburbs, 138,252. In 1841 it was 182,922.

The journey is performed in about 5 hours. Omnibuses leave the following offices

in London and Birmingham for the railway stations. In London, three-quarters of an hour before the departure of the trains, and Birmingham 20 minutes. London offices: Spread Eagle, Grace-Church Street, Cross Keys, Wood Street, Swan with Two Necks, Lad Lane, George and Blue Boar, Holborn, Spread Eagle, Regent Circus, Golden Cross, Charing Cross, and Green Man and Still, Oxford Street. Birmingham offices: Swan, Castle, Hen and Chickens, Albion, and Nelson.

LXIII. LONDON TO DENBIGH THROUGH BIRMINGHAM, NEWPORT, WHITCHURCH, WREXHAM, AND MOLD.

Aston Park, J. Watt, 97 Birmingham, (p. 165.) 109 Edgbaston Hall.

Esq.

cr. the Warwick

ON LEFT FROM LOND.

88

85

120

124

mile. To Castle Brom

Four Crosses Inn.

Hatherton Hall.

2 miles distant Stretton

77

Spread Eagle.

129

To Wolverhampton, 7 126 miles, Brewood, 24 miles. 2 miles distant Somerford Hall, Hon. E. Monckton.

Cefn, G. Kenyon, Esq. 30 Marchwial, (Denbigh- 1763

Denbigh, the capital of Denbighshire, is pleasantly situated on a rocky eminence in the beautiful vale of Clwyd. The castle, now in ruins, was founded in the reign of Edward I. It underwent a siege during the civil wars, and after the Restoration of Charles II. was blown up with gunpowder and rendered completely untenable. The ruins cover the summit of the craggy hill, and the prospect through the broken arches and frittering walls is extensive and beautiful. Denbigh has been compared to Stirling in Scotland, and has a very imposing aspect from a distance, with the ruinous castle crowning the summit of the hill. The parish church is situated about a mile from the town, but is seldom used by the inhabitants, who generally attend divine worship at the ancient chapel of St Hilary. In the porch of the parish church are the effigies in brass of Richard Middleton of Gwaenynog, and Jane, his wife. He was governor of Denbigh Castle in the reigns of Edward VI., Mary, and Elizabeth. William, his third son, was a sea captain, and a poet; Thomas, fourth son, became Lord Mayor of London, and founder of the family of Chirk Castle; Hugh, the sixth son, expended an immense fortune in bringing the new river into London. An ancient priory for Carmelites existed at Denbigh, but the conventual church, now converted into a malt-house, is all that remains of the institution. Denbigh has a considerable manufactory of gloves and shoes. It unites with Holt, Ruthin, and Wrexham, in returning one M. P. Population, 3405. The vicinity abounds with beautiful and interesting

scenery.

* MrFitzmaurice was uncle to the Marquis of Lansdowne, who was brother to the Earl of Shelburne, and grandfather of the present Marquis. In order to encourage his tenantry in Ireland, and promote the national manufacture of linens, he erected a bleaching establishment at the expense of L.2000, in which, under his own superintendence, 4000 pieces were bleached yearly. It is said he usually travelled in his coach to Chester, and when there stood behind a counter.