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the Dining-room (in which Sir Walter died), and the Library, a magnificent apartment of sixty feet by fifty, and containing about 20,000 volumes. The Study is also worthy of notice, as the scene of his labours while, in the zenith of his powers, he was throwing off those marvellous productions which have made his name immortal.

The Abbey of Melrose, about two miles from Abbotsford, a favourite haunt of the poet, and a source to him, no doubt, of unceasing delight, is one of the finest architectural remains in Scotland. The monks of the Cistercian order, to whom it owed its existence, were distinguished for their taste in decorative architecture, and evidently gave full scope to their powers in connection with this structure. All its parts are in admirable keeping, and it proves a delightful study to the artist or connoisseur. The description of it by moonlight, given in the "Lay of the Last Minstrel," is well known, and has been the means of directing the footsteps of many a pilgrim to the spot, although it is rather remarkable (if indeed a fact) that Sir Walter should have drawn the description, as it is said, rather from fancy than from actual observation, as he is not known to have visited it by moonlight himself. On the left bank of the Tweed, opposite St. Boswell's, stands Dryborough Abbey, another interesting object in connection with t' poet. It was founded in 1150. There is considerable architectural beauty in the parts which remain,

especially St. Mary's Aisle, in which the dust of the poet lies. From this brief notice of Sir Walter Scott I shall now pass to

Wordsworth.

This must be regarded as a great representative name in the gallery of modern poets. His influence has been as great as the acknowledgment of his merits on the part of the critics was tardy. He inaugurated a new era in English poetry; and although he had a long and hard battle to fight, for the acceptance both of his theory and of his poetry, he did not pass away from the world without seeing the latter at least, whether literally carrying out his theory or no, rising into general recognition, and filling a wide space in the world's eye. William Wordsworth, second son of John Wordsworth, attorney-at-law, and law agent to Sir John Lowther, afterwards Earl of Lonsdale, was born at Cockermouth, Cumberland, April 7th, 1770. His mother was the only daughter of a mercer in Penrith, William Cookson. His ancestors were originally from the same district, so that in respect of pedigree Wordsworth must be considered as strictly belonging to the north of England. The other members of the family were three brothers, Richard, John, and Christopher; and one sister, Dorothy, between whom and the poet the most lively sym