and after having made two unsuccessful efforts to reach my sword, which was the only weapon I carried, I sunk into a state of horror which I shall never forget. I knew most certainly my situation, for I fixed my eyes frequently on the waving curtain and shuddered to recollect what lay within a few yards of me: but at times my

undistinguishable. The scene now before us was by no means uninteresting. An immense range of high mountains, which runs parallel with the shore, enclosed us on all sides, and a wonderful variety of flowers and shrubs and trees while some of the latter were adorned with the most delicious fruit, a tempting fountain played amid this wilderness of sweets; and I ex-mind would wander to scenes of youth, claimed, "Oh, if there be an Ely- and with my early friend, methought sium on earth, it is this-it is this!" I stood on the brink of a precipice, Instead of becoming fatigued with I thought he pushed me over, and in the journey, I found my strength ra- falling I saw below me an agitated sea pidly returning; and I inhaled the-but again, when I fixed my eye cool mountain air with inexpressible delight. In the morning of the fourth day, after the commencement of our journey, I observed that the shrubs were frequently branching down upon the path, and that my palanquin bearers were apparently proceeding with considerable difficulty. Their conversation became more animated, and altho' I did not understand it, it was easy to perceive that a matter of interest and alarm was discussed. I was not left long in doubt. In a moment my palanquin was dashed to the ground, and the receding footsteps warned me too truly, that the whole of my companions had deserted me. After the descent of the palanquin the breeze at intervals still breathed gently around me, and wafting for a moment the thin curtain from its side, I saw an enormous tiger with his glaring eyes fixed upon me. The curtain fell, but only again to rise; and then I observed the mouth of the dreadful animal covered with blood, and its aspect of horror was heightened by an awful grin, which seemed as if called up for the occasion, by his certainty of prey. I lifted up my soul in prayer, and became more composed. Again the breeze removed the curtain, and again the gaze of the awful animal met mine.

I now found my strength decaying,

steadily it was only the waving curtain of the palanquin. Now, I stood by a mighty waterfall, and gazed upon it with serenity; but suddenly the ground below me gave way, and with a rushing noise I was hurried onward. The noise was only the wind breathing among the hard leaves of the plants around me. I thought I gazed upon the sun but its color was so bright and so red that I could not look long on it but no. The breeze had raised the curtain and the bloody aspect of the animal was again revealed. How long I remained in this deplorable state I cannot learn. Now I thought I heard the long low growl which is always heard before the Tiger leaps on his prey. The sound died away. Again I heard it, accompanied with shouts and other noises. It was not long before the curtain of the palanquin was raised, and I trembled when I observed, that one of the men who had carried me to the place, was standing near me, in a direct line betwixt the monster and myself. I could not speak to warn him of his danger, but I placed my finger on my lip and re-. mained immoveable. He smiled, and departed. What was my astonishment when I found my next visitor_was Capt. A. who was one of the officers lately confined with me in the hospital.

in and before the time of the Saxons, did make panels of horne insteed of glasse, and fix them in woodden calmes. But as horne in windows is now quite laid downe in everie place, so our lattices are also growne into lesse use, because glasse is come to be so plentifull, and within a verie little so good cheape if not better then the other.-The wals of our houses on the inner sides in like sort be either hanged with tapisterie, arras worke, or painted cloths, wherein either diverse histories, or hearbes, beasts, knots, and such like are stained, or else they are seeled with oke of our owne, or wainescot brought hither out

The mansion houses of the country-gentlemen were in the days of Shakespeare, rapidly improving both in their external appearance, and in of the east countries, whereby the their interior comforts. During the reign of Henry the Eighth, and even of Mary, they were, if we except their size, little better than cottages, being thatched buildings, covered on the outside with the coarsest clay, and lighted only by lattices; when Harrison wrote, in the age of Elizabeth, though the greater number of manorhouses still remained framed of timber, yet he observes," such as be latelie builded, are comonlie either of bricke or hard stone, or both; their roomes large and comelie, and houses of office further distant from their lodgings." The old timber mansions, too, were now covered with the finest plaster, which, says the historian, "beside the delectable whitenesse of the stuffe itselfe, is laied on so even and smoothlie, as nothing in my judgment can be done with more exactnesse;" and at the same time, the windows, interior decorations, and furniture were becoming greatly more useful and elegant. Of old time our countrie houses," continues Harrison," instead of glasse did use much lattisse, and that made either of wicker or fine rifts of oke in chekerwise. I read also that some of the better sort,

roomes are not a little commanded, made warme, and much more close than otherwise they would be. As for stooves we have not hitherto used them greatlie, yet doo they now begin to be made in diverse houses of the gentrie. Likewise in the houses of knights, gentlemen, &c. it is not geson to behold generally their great provision of Turkie worke, pewter, brasse, fine linen, and thereto costly cupbords of plate, worth five or six hundred or a thousand pounds, to be deemed by estimation."

The house of every country-gentleman of property included a neat chapel and a spacious hall; and where the estate and establishment were considerable, the mansion was divided into two parts or sides, one for the state or banqueting-rooms, and the other for the household; but in general, the latter, except in baronial residences, was the only part to be met with, and when complete had the addition of parlours; thus Bacon, in his Essay on Building, describing the household side of a mansion, says, " I wish it divided at the first into a hall, and a chappell, with a partition betweene; both of good state and big

nesse: and those not to

goe all the nature of the provision, the wine fre length, but to have, at the further end, quently circulating only above the a winter, and a summer parler, both saltcellar, and the dishes below it, faire and under these roomes a faire being of a coarser kind than those near and large cellar, sunke under ground: the head of the table. So prevalent and likewise, some privie kitchins, with was this uncourteous distinction, that butteries and pantries, and the like." Shakespeare, in his Winter's Tale, It was the custom also to have win-written about the year 1604 or 1610, dows opening from the parlours and designates the inferior orders of sopassages into the chapel, hall, and ciety by the term “lower messes.” kitchen, with the view of overlooking or controlling what might be going on; a trait of vigilant caution, which may still be discovered in some of our ancient colleges and manor-houses, and to which Shakespeare alludes in King Henry the Eighth, where he describes His Majesty and Butts the physician entering at a window above, which overlooks the council-chamber. We may add, an illustration of this system of architectural espionage, that Andrew Borde, when giving instructions for building a house in his Dictarie of Health, directs "many of the chambers to have a view into the chapel :" and that Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury, in a letter, dated 1573, says, "if it please Her Majestie, she may come in through my gallerie, and see the disposition of the hall in dynner-time, at a window opening there

unto"

At

The luxury of eating and of good cooking were well understood in the days of Elizabeth, and the table of the country-squire frequently groaned beneath the burden of its dishes; at Christmas and at Easter especially, the hall became the scene of great festivity; "in gentlemen's houses, at Christmas," says Aubrey, "the first dish that was brought to table was a boar's head, with a lemon in its mouth. Queen's Coll. Oxon. they still retain this custom, the bearer of it bringing it into the hall, singing to an old tune an old Latin rhyne, Apri caput defero, &c. The first dish that was brought up to table on Easter-day was a red-herring riding away on horseback; i. e. a herring ordered by the cook something after the likeness of a man on horseback, set in a corn sallad.— The custom of eating a gammon of bacon at Easter (which is still kept up in many parts of England) was founded on this, viz. to shew their abhorrence of Judaism at that solemn commemoration of our Lord's resurrection."

Games and diversions of various kinds, such as mumming, masquing, dancing, loaf-stealing, &c. &c. were allowed in the hall on these days; and the servants, or heralds, wore the coats of arms of their masters, and cried

The hall of the country-squire was the usual scene of eating and hospitality, at the upper end of which was placed the orsille or high table, a little elevated above the floor, and here the master of the mansion presided, with an authority, if not a state, which almost equalled that of the potent baron. The table was divided into upper and lower messes, by a huge saltcellar, and the rank and consequence of the visi- Largesse' thrice. The hall was tors were marked by the situation of usually hung round with the insignia their seats, above, and below, the salt- of the squire's amusements, such as collar; a custom which not only dis-hunting, shooting, fishing, &c.; but tinguished the relative dignity of the in case he were a justice of the peace, guests, but extended likewise to the it assumed a more terrific aspect.