great beauty which chiefly screen its old walls from view. At first sight it has more the appearance of an old fortress than what it really is, a Hall chiefly in the Elizabethian style and without any effectual defences as we shall presently see from the following remarks, which we beg to make while we contemplate this interesting structure,a structure which assisted the imagination of Mrs. Radcliffe in its wildest flights when writing the Mysteries of Udolpho. A book happily out of fashion in the present day.

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HADDON

Is decidedly one of the finest specimens of a Hall of the olden time" in existence. The old tower, with narrow loop holes and gloomy uncomfortable rooms, is the only part which retains that stern character the peculiar feature of that iron age when "every man's hand was against his fellow,"-that age of darkness and military despotism which succeeded the destruction of the Roman power by the savages of the north. In these times each successful Conqueror parcelled out the nation, or territory subdued, into so many military "fiefs" held only by virtue of devotion to their Prince, who claimed their services whenever circumstances required. These were again subdivided into smaller portions to their dependents and retainers who held their lands upon precisely the same tenure of doing fealty to their lord, and could be called upon at any moment to defend his person and domains from the aggression of a neighbour, or to proceed with him to serve their common chief either at home or abroad. Thus Europe universally became subject to military rule which gradually softened, and settled down into what is termed the feudal system—a simple modification of this military despotism with a somewhat less stern aspect, still retaining its form and sanguinary character.* The bulk of the population

The small Baronies and Baronial Courts and Manors are still existing relicts of these times only shorne of their power as it is fitting they should be.

of physical and metaphysical truth.* The door-way close by the head of the Baron's table leads into a dark passage which is in part wainscoted off from the Hall, is the outlet to one of the lower terraces and communicates with the more modern dining room, supposed to have been fitted up, if not built by Sir George Vernon, when the customs and manners began to change and the Lord no longer used the great Hall except on high and festive occasions. The ceiling of this room, which is low and gloomy, is divided into bays by five beams, once, evidently richly gilt, and otherwise ornamented. It is lined with oak panelling; and a unique and richly carved cornice. This is particularly the case in the recess with the fine Oriel window. The frieze of which is adorned with boars' heads, the crest of Vernon and portraits of Henry VII. and his Royal consort. It is said that Prince Arthur, the heir apparent of Henry VII. visited Haddon upon several occasions in the times of Sir Henry Vernon, who was his Governor. The singular portrait of " Will Somers," the King's jester, occurs also here. A shield with the arms quartered of the Avenells, Pipes, Pierponts, and Vernons, the initials E. P. of the names of Sir G. Vernon and his Lady, the date of 1545 are over the fire-place. The old fire range, dilapidated chairs, and oval copper cooler are interesting objects. From hence we proceed to the Drawing-room, up the grand staircase, which is constructed of rudely jointed stone steps. This is a much more cheerful room than the one we had just left. The oriel window, which is immediately over the other, is wain

and

It is a singular fact that science was never rightly studied or pursued and the inductive philosophy wholly unknown, till after the Reformation and the spread of the Bible.-Wherever that blessed book goes; there light, knowledge, and a refined civilization follows rapidly in its wake. Consequently that which unbelievers attribute solely to the gradual and necessary development of mere unassisted human reason which, according to their loose views, is destined to attain the zenith of intellectual glory by its own "impetus" is REFERABLE ONLY to the spread of DIVINE TRUTH; and to that high, all-powerful, and spiritual agency with which it is ever accompanied; and to which they themselves are really indebted for correct views on many subjects without knowing or acknowledging the quarter from whence it comes.

scoted, and contains the old State chair, &c. The walls of the room are hung with ancient arras and likewise the Earl's dressing and bed-room, to which a door at the upper end of the Drawing-room on the left communicates. On the arras are represented a variety of field sports and scriptural subjects, particularly a boar hunt, in which the dogs are singularly covered with a kind of armour or cloths, studded with iron points as a means of defence. This is the only instance I believe in existence of dogs wearing defensive armour in the chase. Beyond the bed room is the valet's room; a door out of which leads down the stone stairs into the lower court.

Opposite to the Drawing Room at the top of the stairs is the long Gallery or Ball Room. It is entered by a flight of circular steps said to be cut out of the root of a single oak which grew in the garden, the bole furnishing sufficient timber to lay the entire floor, which is 109 feet long by 18 feet wide. The elevation of the room is 15 feet. The width of the room being so small compared with the length very much detracts from the effect, but for convenience this loss of width is amply compensated by three recesses, with bow windows; the centre one of which is very spacious, being no less than 15 feet by 12. The sides of the room are covered with oak panelling, enriched with Corinthian pilasters; over which are arches, and between these are shields of arms of Manners impaling those of Vernon. The frieze is ornamented with carvings of boars' heads, peacocks, the crest of Manners, thistles, roses and other embellishments. In one compartment of the window, in the large recess, appear the arms of the Earl of Rutland impaling Vernon, with its quarterings and encircled with the garter. In another compartment of the same window are the arms of the Earl of Shrewsbury, encircled with the garter, and in another window, the arms of England, similarly surrounded, surmounted by a crown. The glass and panes of the windows are curiously bent; but owing to what cause, whether made so as to give greater strength or whether occurring from accident, is not known. The date of this noble apartment must be subsequent to the time

when the property came into the Rutland family. Over the fire-place is a painting of Tamyris, Queen of the Scythians, with the head of Cyrus. It is truly ludicrous to hear old Hage, the Guide, tell the tale of the capture of that prince and his death. In a box at the end of the gallery is a cast of the head of Lady Grace Manners, taken shortly after her death. A door near the upper end of the Gallery leads us by a few steps into the AnteChamber. Mr. King, in his observations on ancient castles, supposes this to have been the Earl's private parlour, but for what reason it would be difficult to conjecture without better authority. Here are the portraits of Queen Elizabeth, Charles 1st, Prince Rupert and Eugene, by Vandyke, also a picture (swans, &c.,) by Snyder, said to be an original. This room as well as the succeeding state bed room have a frieze and cornice in rough plaster, adorned with peacocks and boars' heads in alternate succession. In the bed room, which we now entered, there is over the mantle-piece a similar rude plaster cast in bas-relief of Orpheus charming the beasts, which reflects little credit on the age in which they were executed for skill or proficiency in this art. This room is spacious and comfortable with an immense "Oriel," the recess of which is raised about a foot, in which there is an old dressing table and large French looking-glass a couple of centuries old at least. The room is lofty and the walls hung with French tapestry from the celebrated manufactory of the Gobelins at Paris, but the state bed is the chief object of interest here; 14 feet in height and 6 long: the pillars surmounted by a splendid canopy of a green silk velvet, lined with a thick, rich white satin. The flowing hangings are made of similar materials, all said to have been worked by Eleanor Roos, (co-heiress of Lord Roos,) who was the wife of Sir Robert Manners. After remaining at Belvoir for many years, it was removed again to Haddon as a splendid relict of its ancient grandeur. The last party who slept in this noble bed was George IV, on his visit to the Duke of Rutland, when Prince