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Belcroft, the neat seat of J. Cooke, Esq., near which a church has lately been erected, possessing considerable architectural beauty. At a short distance stands a spacious building, in which a lace manufactory, belonging to Messrs. Nunn and Freeman, is carried on; while a little to the left, descending the hill leading to the town appears Barton's village.

Newport now opens before us. Having crossed the bridge the High-street presents itself, with its variety of well-built houses, good shops, and noble buildings. This town, the metropolis of the Island, is situated near its centre. The river Medina rolls its waters at its feet, bearing on its bosom the steam-boat, the vessel, and the barge, to aid the commerce or promote the pleasure of the inhabitants. At the time Carisbrook was the feudal residence of the lords of the Island, Newport was nothing superior to a fishing village; but when the Lordship of the Island was sold, and the priory of Carisbrook was sequestered, Newport began to rise into the character of a town, till it attained its present commanding position. The town possesses the honour of a corporation, at whose expense a noble Guildhall has lately been erected, after a design by Mr. Nash. This hall is admirably fitted up as a Court of Justice. Its spacious room is ornamented with a fine portrait of the late Sir L. F. W. Holmes, by Owen. The painting was presented to the corporation by the inhabitants of Newport. The magistrates of the Island assemble here every Saturday, and those of the Borough, every Monday, for determining parochial questions, petty causes, and the cases of prisoners, prior to their committal to the county assizes. The borough Quarter Sessions have power to award any punishment not exceeding transportation. A Court of Requests is held in it weekly. Beneath the hall is a spacious and com

modious market-house. The principal markets of the Island are held here on Wednesdays and Saturdays. On the latter day, the market is generally crowded: the villagers come from all parts of the Island with their vendable commodities: the town is then very lively. The farmers in their clean white frocks-the women with their panniers-the hucksters with their crates of poultry-and the bustle of the cattle market, afford a very attractive scene, and furnish the visitor with a specimen of Island manners.

Near the centre of the town stands the church. It is an old building, but having undergone many repairs, there is now a mixture of architecture attaching to it. At the west end is a square tower, containing a peal of six bells: the church is divided into three aisles. The pulpit, which is a curious piece of antiquity, is richly ornamented with carved figures, emblematical of the liberal sciences and the cardinal virtues. The sounding board bears the date of 1636.

In this sacred edifice are deposited the remains of the illustrious dead. In 1793 a vault was discovered, containing the relics of Elizabeth, second daughter of Charles I. She died a prisoner in Carisbrook Castle. The coffin was made of lead, ridged in the middle, after the manner of ancient tombs, and bore the inscription,

ELIZABETH, SECOND DAUGHTER OF THE LATE KING CHARLES, DECE'D SEPTEMBER 8TH. MDCL.

The most splendid monument is that of Sir Edward Horsey, Knight, whose figure in armour, executed in alabaster, lies on the tomb under a fine ornamental canopy. He was captain of the Island from 1565 to 1583. He was uncle to Sir Jerome Horsey, Ambassador from Queen Elizabeth to the court of Petersburgh. The family pedigree is traced from Sir Philip de

child and heiress of the late Samuel Horsey, Esq. whose son, Spencer H. de Horsey, Esq. bears the name and arms of "De Horsey," by virtue of a warrant from his late Majesty, William IV. The inhabitants had no cemetery till the reign of Elizabeth: at that time the plague raged at Newport; in consequence of which, they obtained the grant of a burial ground for the resting place of their forefathers, as Carisbrook was not sufficiently spacious to contain the dead. This cemetery does not adjoin the church, but stands behind the town, in a quiet retired spot.

The dissenters here have a variety of places of worship: the Catholics, the Independents, the Baptists, the Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists, and Unitarians, have all their appropriate chapels. Most of them are small in their dimensions and neat in their structure. In the Independent chapel at Node Hill, is a neat marble tablet to the memory of the Rev. D. Tyerman, with an elegant inscription from the pen of Montgomery the poet.

The town has the advantage of several charities for the education of youth: the most ancient is the Free Grammar School, erected by public subscription in the reign of James I. In this school-room the commissioners from the Parliament held a conference with Charles I. There are two other public schools for the education of the poor; one on the plan of Dr. Bell, the other on the system of the British and Foreign School Society: in addition to which, a very considerable degree of attention is paid to Sunday Schools in this place.

The inhabitants have obtained great honour to themselves by the Literary and Philosophical Societies which they have so nobly instituted, and so liberally supported. In St. James's Square stands a fine stone building with a piazza, called the Isle of Wight Insti

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