50 And with one start, and with one cry, the royal city 21 woke.

At once on all her stately gates arose the answering

fires;

At once the wild alarum clashed from all her reel

ing spires;

From all the batteries of the Tower pealed loud the voice of fear;

And all the thousand masts of Thames sent back a

louder cheer:

55 And from the furthest wards was heard the rush of hurrying feet,

And the broad streams of pikes and flags rushed down each roaring street;

And broader still became the blaze, and louder still the din,

As fast from every village round the horse came spurring in:

And Eastward straight from wild Blackheath the warlike errand went,

60 And roused in many an ancient hall the gallant squires of Kent.

Southward from Surrey's pleasant hills flew those bright couriers forth;

High on bleak Hampstead's swarthy moor they started for the north;

And on, and on, without a pause untired they bounded still;

All night from tower to tower they sprang; they sprang from hill to hill;

65 Till the proud peak unfurled the flag o'er Darwin's rocky dales, 23

Till like volcanoes flared to heaven the stormy hills

of Wales,

Till twelve fair counties saw the blaze on Malvern's lonely height,24

Till streamed in crimson on the wind the Wrekin's25

Till broad and fierce the star came forth on Ely's

70 And tower and hamlet rose in arms o'er all the boundless plain ;

Till Belvoir's lordly terraces the sign to Lincoln

And Lincoln sped the message on o'er the wide vale of Trent;

Till Skiddaw28 saw the fire that burnt on Gaunt's

And the red glare on Skiddaw roused the burghers

LIFE OF JOHN HOWARD.-Part I.

1. This prince of philanthropists1 was born at Hackney, at that time a village surrounded by green fields, now a busy and populous suburb on

the north-east side of London, in the year 1746. When about sixteen, his father died, leaving Howard to a great extent his own master, with a comfortable competence.

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2. Probably on account of his health, which at that time was delicate, the young man travelled on the Continent, deriving, doubtless, much knowledge and experience from his journey. On his return he lodged for some time at Stoke Newington, where his landlady nursed him with such tender care that he was induced by grateful feelings to make her an offer of marriage, though she was rather more than double his age. The marriage proved a very happy one, but was soon terminated by her death. in 1755, after a married life of about four years.

3. We next find Howard setting out on another journey with the intention of visiting Portugal after the terrible earthquake of 1755, but he never reached his destination. At that time privateering vessels abounded on the seas, simply sailing about in search of plunder. The vessel in which Howard sailed was taken by a French privateer, and was carried off to Brest. There, we are told, he and his companions were kept for some time without food, until a joint of mutton was thrown into the filthy dungeon, which the prisoners were obliged to tear to pieces and gnaw like dogs. Howard was then allowed his liberty on giving his promise that he would not attempt to escape. At length he was allowed to return to England. Remonstrances were made to the Court of France, and his companions were sent home shortly afterwards. When

some years later he published his famous book, 'The State of Prisons," he said-" Perhaps what I suffered on this occasion increased my sympathy with the unhappy people whose case is the subject of this book."

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4. On his return home he became a member of the Royal Society, the oldest, and, at that time, by far the most important scientific association in the country, and began to take great interest in meteorological observations." He also studied medicine, and though he did not go through any complete course, he learnt enough to be of great service to him in future years.

5. In 1758 Howard married again, and removed to a house belonging to his estate at Cardington, about three miles from Bedford. "Care for the cottagers," says Dr. Stoughton in his recent biography, " was a ruling passion in this remarkable couple; they gave employment, whilst they bestowed charity; and it is said, that most of the linen for the household was spun by villagers, under Mrs. Howard's direction." New cottages were built, securing more light, more air, and more cleanliness; schools were founded, and it seemed as though a charming prospect of a quiet, useful life among loving friends and a loyal tenantry lay before the excellent Squire of Cardington.

6. In 1765 the second Mrs. Howard died after giving birth to a son. For the remainder of his life Howard remained a widower. The son lived to grow up a source of bitter sorrow and anxiety to his honoured father. Before that father's death