tants, in trade, and in moral endowment, it still remains in its civil department with all the characteristics of the days of yore. Its magistracy is connected with the borough of Newport: its police is chosen annually at the Court Leets, held at Ashey Farm, and designated by the appellation of Ashey Court.*

The poor of Ryde are blended with those of the other parishes of the Island, and its paupers find refuge in the House of Industry, which is common to all the poor of the Island. Each parish, without being under the necessity of relieving its own poor absolutely, contributes its quota to the general fund; and by this means, all that are indigent, find in the common House of Industry, far more conveniences than they could obtain in a small country work-house; whilst this asylum of the pauper, for beauty, order, and comfort, may vie with any in the kingdom.

The town of Ryde is situated in the parish of Newchurch. There is a fair held in it annually, in the beginning of July; this fair has nothing to recommend it in its appearance it resembles a country revel, and

* The manor of Ashey is of high antiquity, and of great value and importance. It consisted of Courts Leet and Courts Baron, which held cognizance of every thing within the manor. It originally belonged to a branch of the monastery of Wherwell, a benedictine nunnery of the foundation of Elfrida, Queen Dowager of King Edgar, about the year 986. One of its earliest possessors was the Abbess of Wherwell. Its name has been variously written in the court rolls. It was anciently called Assesshee and Asshesye, but from the time of Elizabeth down nearly to the present period, it has been called Ashey and Langbridge, though now it is invariably known by the appellation of Ashey and Ryde. The courts were held twice a year, by the Abbess of Wherwell, as lady of the manor, until the time of the dissolution of the great monasteries, (of which Wherwell was one), in the reign of Henry VIII. when it came into the hands of the crown, and was granted out again, for the sum of £759 19s. 2d. by letters patent.

the company who frequent it are mostly of the humbler order of society. Fairs, in their original institution, were a benefit to the community; but when they degenerate to the level which characterises Ryde fair, they become an injury to morals and the peace of society.

The houses of which the town is composed, are distinguished by neatness and beauty; many are large in their dimensions, and magnificent in their elevation: but there are scarcely any that bear the marks of former days; and not one, the porch, or roof, or windows of which would give it the impress of antiquity. The site of Ryde is calculated to form a place of great enchantment, had any regular plan of building been adopted; but the land being at various periods disposed of in separate pieces, left each individual at liberty to erect his detached cottage, and to choose his own style of architecture.

The town is surrounded with an atmosphere salubrious in its nature, and a soil fertile in its production. It consists of four principal streets, running from north to south, and others are rapidly forming. The streets are all spacious and well paved. The houses are built irregularly; but notwithstanding this irregularity, they have a very pleasing appearance: some are in clusters, others stand insulated; while the intermediate spaces are filled with shrubs, with poplars, with myrtles, or rose trees in addition to which, the shady verandah, the elegant French window, opening on a plat of velvet green, and a neat palisading in front, give to many of these modern named cottages a very great degree of beauty and simplicity, At a short distance from the chapel is a beautiful terrace: this elegant range of wellbuilt houses is a considerable improvement to the town; while for fineness of prospect, and convenience of situation, they are not easily surpassed. A number of good lodging houses have been erected, and the

neatness of their appearance, as well as the excellence of their elevation, make them in point of beauty and respectability, not only a pleasant addition but a great ornament to the place. The town is extending both on its eastern and western sides; and bids fair in the course of a short period to be adorned with the greatest variety of buildings.

In the principal street are two Hotels: they are large well-built inns, with spacious bow windows, from the ground floor to the attics, commanding the extent of the street, and having a slight view of the Pier and distant water. There is also the Pier Hotel, situated nearly close to the Pier gate. Its situation is most commanding, and being adorned with a double row of balconies, presents every convenience for the enjoyment of a sea prospect. Each of these inns, from the pleasantness of the situation in which they are placed, as well as the excellent accommodation they afford, merit the highest eulogium.

A little below Yelf's Hotel stands the Royal Marine Library: the front is adorned with a balcony and verandah, from which a fine sea view presents itself. The reading rooms are well fitted up, and supplied with a good variety of daily and weekly newspapers, and periodical publications, together with the most interesting works of the age. Here the visitor may regale himself during the sultry hours of noon with politics or with literature; and in the evening he may listen to the dulcet sounds of music, and if so disposed, may trip the light and airy dance.

There is also a select Public Library, called the Ryde Reading Institution, well supplied with some of the best literary productions of the day. This, with other establishments of a similar character, add much to the pleasure of the visitor.

BUT a few years have rolled away since Ryde assumed the character and appearance of a town; yet it is gratifying to see the public spirit of the inhabitants, in the edifices which have been erected, and the improvements which present themselves in every direction.

D

In taking a survey of the public buildings, the first that meets the eye, and demands the attention, both from the sacredness of its character, and the superiority of the edifice, is the chapel. This noble pile is a chapel of ease. The town of Ryde is situated in the parish of Newchurch, and the parish church stands in that distant village. Ryde chapel, dedicated to St. Thomas, was originally built A.D. 1719, by Thomas Player, Esq. who endowed it with an annual stipend of ten pounds, payable to the vicar of Newchurch, to officiate therein, or cause some one to officiate for him. The present edifice was erected A.D. 1827, by George Player, Esq. It is surrounded with a spacious burial ground, and from its situation forms one of the most beautiful ornaments of the town. Its front elevation is very commanding. A lofty tower rises from the ground, in the centre of which is placed a clock; on the summit stands "the heaven directed spire;" while a wing on each side forming separate entrances to the sacred pile, sheds on it an air of beauty and magnificence: underneath are a few large catacombs. The walls are supported by a range of noble buttresses, which add a massiveness and dignity to the building; while the long gothic windows give the whole a softened and sombre expression. The interior of the chapel is characterized by neatness and simplicity in its architecture. At the eastern

extremity is a beautiful altar; and adjacent to it is the pulpit: there are two side galleries and a front gallery; above the latter are three small galleries, unique in their structure, being placed in the recess formed by the tower and the wings, and separated from each other by the walls of the tower. This part of the chapel is appropriated to the choir and the charity children.

At a little distance to the west is an episcopal chapel, under the licence of the Bishop of Winchester.