attained their limited perfection, approach toward a flow, but a fure decline.

The pride of a potent monarch may be gratified, in erecting some magnificent temple to his god;-he may perpetuate the remembrance of his ancestors, by fuperb mausoleums; - he may command the daring pyramid to shoot upward to the skies, - may inscribe his victories on the trophied column, - or register his triumphs on the sculptured arch! - But even though no accident should abridge their duration, - yet the revolving seasons soon fully their beauty; - and the filent power of Time gradually shakes their foundations; and at last levels them with the duft. - While thy works, O NA

TURE, remain uninjured; - ever

changing,

changing, and ever reviving, thou shinest unconscious of decay!-still bright in immortal youth!

And yet more lovely far dost Thou appear, when Thou commandest our attention in thy active scenes, and beamest from the mind with all those irradiations of VIRTUE, HONOUR, and BENEVOLENCE, which dignify humanity. These may be deemed the fun-shine of the moral world! -that warms, that brings forward, -and ripens the foul to perfection ! -And if fometimes, in contemplating the pictures of real life, one fees with pain the canvass darkened with worthless characters, they should be viewed but as deep shades, which, however they may interrupt thy native brightness, yet by their contrast

6

more forcibly impress the amiableness of thy luftre!

Full of fuch sentiments, I frequently, from this cliff, cast a look toward RECULVER, and drop a figh, to the memory of those beloved SISTERS, who were in their lives so undivided, and whose unfhaken union hath there been so long recorded.

Confidering how many furveys have been published of this county, and how much the zeal for antiquity hath for many years prevailed amongst us; it is somewhat singular, that fo flight mention should have been made of this extraordinary building; of which little more hath been faid, than that the church was formerly confiderable, having still two goodly

Spiring steeples.

As

T

As people in general only speak of this edifice merely as being accidentally an advantageous fea-mark, unknowing of the cause by which it became fo;-I am happy that it is in my power, in this remote period of time, to gratify the curiosity of those, who hereafter may visit these shores.

I have long wished, my dear JENNY, to relate to thee this interesting story.-To Thee, whose heart NATURE hath so sweetly harmonized, that it vibrates at the flightest touch of another's forrow; and is therefore worthy to hear a tale of diftress.

Several years ago, being on a journey to SPA, I was detained fome time in the university of LouVAIN, by an accidental illness, which feized

:

me on the road.-During my stay, I made an acquaintance with an IRISH jefuit, who honoured me with many civilities, and whom I found a very intelligent companion.-He shewed me whatever he thought most curious in the place; though, except the great library, and the public schools, there is but little worth notice.

I was however much pleased with two manufcript volumes, which I met with in the library of one of the colleges; - they chiefly contained anecdotes relative to some ENGLISH families, and to several historical, and monaftical antiquities; and were the memorials of a DOMINICAN Friar of CANTERBURY, who quitted ENGLAND at the time of the Reformation, and retired to LOUVAIN;- at his death he bequeathed them, together with