Europe, and are choice examples of English ecclesiastical architecture. The height to the summit is 303 feet. The body of the church is more ancient, the first mention of it being in King Stephen's time, when Ranulph, Earl of Chester, rendered it to the monks of Coventry, by the name of the Chapel of St. Michael.

TRINITY CHURCH is both handsome and capacious, but being situated so near to St. Michael's, its effect is in a great degree diminished. It was appropriated to the Priory in the forty-fourth year of Henry III., A.D. 1260, which is the first mention made of it. The height of its spire is 237 feet.

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH has a very ancient appearance. It is in the form of a cross, and was founded in the reign of Edward III.

A handsome new church has been added to the ancient steeple of the Grey Friar's Convent.

ST. MARY'S HALL, situated in the immediate vicinity of St. Michael's Church, is a building affording a high treat to the antiquary and artist. This rich and beautiful specimen of the ornamental architecture of the fifteenth century, was erected in the reign of Henry VI., as a place of meeting for the Trinity Guild. The large hall is sixty-three feet by thirty feet, and thirtyfour feet in height, and its interior exhibits a variety of antiquarian relics. The carved roof of oak, the gallery and armoury, the state chair, the great painted window, and a piece of tapestry made in 1450, which measures thirty feet by ten, and contains eighty figures, all furnish a vivid idea of what Coventry must have been when it was favoured with the presence of royalty.

There existed, prior to the year 1771, a very splendid CROSS, at Coventry, of which, at one time, the citizens were justly proud, as, from the plate of it in Dugdale's Antiquities, it must have been inferior to none in England. It was begun in the year 1541, and took three years in building, the founder being Sir William Hollies, Knight, sometime Lord Mayor of London, who bequeathed 2007. sterling to the mayor and aldermen of the city for the purpose. It was, however, removed, to gratify bad taste, in the year 1771.

THE MAYOR'S PARLOUR, which is used for judicial purposes, is a building of the sixteenth century.

The city generally appears gloomy and crowded, and bears a similar appearance to all others of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. It is restricted within its ancient limits, being surrounded by the beforementioned Lammas Land. The COUNTY HALL, DRAPERS' HALL, and many modern places of worship of the dissenters, are buildings very creditable to the projectors.

The staple manufactures of Coventry, prior to the war with France, in 1694, were woollens, broad cloths, and caps; and a celebrated blue thread was made here, prior to 1580. In the eighteenth century, the manufacture changed to tammies, camlets, shalloons, calimancoes, gauzes, &c. In 1730, the manufacture of ribbons was introduced; that of watches commenced in 1800, and these now form the staple trade of the city.

Coventry sends two members to Parliament; the number of electors under the Reform Act is 5000.

The population at the present time is somewhat above 30,000. There is a weekly market on Friday, and fairs are held on the second Friday after Ash-Wednesday, May 2, Friday in Trinity week, August 26 and 27, and November 1.

About three miles and a half to the left of the Station is the beautiful village of STONELEIGH, noted for its picturesque and rural scenery and the splendid seat of Chandos Leigh, Esq.

KENILWORTH, about four miles and a half to the left, is a market town, and contains about 4000 inhabitants.

187

ng place, it was included hich coming into the rebuilt this town, and yke, Warhica, whence

e Danes, and suffered novated by Ethelfleda, ess of Mercia, who built which is said to form the third year of the the Danes infested the d as being sick at heart, his dominions. A prowarlike enemies, that hould be decided by a and a Danish warrior. agreed to withdraw; if elstan must resign his thelstan agreed to the his nobles, offered the n who should overthrow bion of the Danes. The ny other of his warriors who, unfortunately, was ly Land. The English ed to God for a saviour Dane. Moved by their el to Athelstan, ordering ishops, up to the north and stay there till the crowd of pilgrims would