had 32 towers and gates. They were begun about 1356, and took many years to be completed. They were kept in good repair during a period of nearly 300 years, and were strong enough to admit of the citizens more than once safely bidding defiance to the royal authority. The walls were demolished in 1662. Some interesting remnants of the walls and the gates are still to be seen.) Coventry was on several occasions subsequently honoured by the visits of royal and other remarkable personages; but these, and the facts in its more recent history, do not call for special mention. The "New Boundary Act," already referred to, put an end to the ancient jurisdiction of the city, with respect to the "County of the City of Coventry," in 1842. Coventry sends two members to Parliament. Ancient records show that it possessed this privilege as early as the latter part of the 13th century. It gives the title of Earl to the family of Coventry. Two newspapers are published in Coventry-the Standard, established 1741, of Conservative principles; and the Herald and Observer, Liberal, established in 1808. The Eminent Natives of Coventry are the following:Vincent of Coventry, a distinguished Franciscan, educated at Cambridge, of which university he afterwards became a professor; he lived in the early part of the 13th century, and was the author of various theological works. William Maklesfield was general of the order of the Dominicans, and a celebrated scholar. John Bird, the head and last provincial of the Carmelites, gained the favour of Henry VIII. by his opposition to the Pope, and was appointed to the bishoprics of Bangor and Chester. Humphrey Wanley, an eminent scholar and antiquary, was born in 1671. He rendered great service to the cause of letters by his investigations regarding Anglo-Saxon and other manuscripts. The work by which he is best known is entitled "The Wonders of the Little World." He died in 1726. John Tipper was the original publisher of the "Lady's Diary," which was commenced in 1704. The Chief Manufactures of Coventry are those of ribbons and watches. The textile art can be traced to a very remote period, a weaver having filled the office of mayor in 1525; but the ribbon trade was not introduced till a century and a half ago. It is supposed that the commencement of the ribbon trade in Coventry was greatly owing to the French refugees, who had been compelled to leave their country in great numbers in consequence of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. The introduction of steam looms gave great impetus to the manufacture. At the present time it is in a flourishing condition, giving employment to about 6000 hands. The manufacture of other textile fabrics is understood also to be in a prosperous state. The manufacture of watches is very extensive. The amount of business in this line is said to have been at least doubled within the last twenty-five years. There are several very large factories; one of the most extensive being that of R. K. Rotherham and Sons. The tourist will be able, by visiting some of the establishments where the watch manufacture is carried on, to pick up some curious information regarding some branches of the "trade." There are numerous charities instituted for the benefit of the poor. Their incomes amount annually to about £4000. There are about 2300 acres of land, called "Lammas" and "Michaelmas" lands, upon which freemen of Coventry have the right of feeding three head of cattle each. An attempt, some years ago, to get this right converted into something more likely to render service to the whole body of freemen, met with so much opposition that it had to be relinquished. The freemen of Coventry number about 3400. Coventry has a considerable amount of traffic both by canal and railway. Besides the great fair, which commences on the Friday of Trinity week, and continues eight days, there are two annual cattle fairs, and two cheese fairs, as well as a monthly cattle fair. There are races in March, which are very well attended. The chief architectural ornaments of Coventry are its churches. Of these, ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH is one of the noblest ecclesiastical edifices in England. Sir Christopher Wren pronounced it to be a master-piece of art. It is said to be the largest parish church in England originally built as such. The spire, which attracts universal admiration, rises to a height of 303 feet. The tower is 136 feet 3 inches from the base to the battlements. Its windows are, in size and style, admirably in keeping with the proportions of the tower. The buttresses are finely ornamented with carvings, and the niches of the upper part are adorned with thirty well-executed statues of Roman saints. Above this tower rises an octagonal prism to a height of 32 feet 6 inches. From this octagonal prism tapers the spire, which is 130 feet 9 inches high. The walls of the spire are said to be 17 inches thick at the bottom, and so finely tapered as to recline but 4 degrees from the perpendicular. It is exceedingly to be lamented that the stone of which this noble spire and church, and the neighbouring church of the Holy Trinity, are constructed, is of a soft, friable description, very liable to crumble under the action of the weather. Owing to this circumstance, much of the exquisite and delicate carving with which these buildings are adorned appears doomed to certain decay; indeed, many of the ornamental details are already partially or wholly lost. This circumstance must also necessitate comparatively frequent repairs, to prevent these sacred edifices themselves from being materially injured. The architecture of the body of the church, though somewhat less ancient than the steeple, is admirably in keeping with it. "The whole," as Mr. Brewer very justly observes, "is of the best character of Gothic; light, though august, and impressive from a felicitous arrangement of parts." The general effect of the interior is very imposing. It consists of a nave, chancel, and two side aisles; and is 293 feet 9 inches in length, and 127 feet in breadth. The church is divided by lofty arches with clustered pillars. The ceiling is of oak, finely ribbed and carved. In the chancel are five splendid windows filled with stained glass. The three centre ones are occupied with representations of incidents in the life of our Saviour. The two outer ones are filled with fragments of old stained glass, which, being rich and varied, produce a fine effect. The church contains a number of monuments, none of which, however, are of particular importance. For the benefit of the tourist who is interested in such matters, we copy a curious inscription from a brass plate in a slab in the floor at the western end of the church: "Here lyes the body of Capt. GERVASE SCROPE, of the family of Scropes of Bolton, in the county of York, who departed this life the 26th day of Aug., Anno Domini 1705, aged 60. "An epitaph, written by himself in the agony and dolorous paines of the gout, and died soon after. "Here lies an old tossed TENNIS BALL, With long CAMPAIGNS and paines o' th' GOUT, Always a restless life he led, He marry'd, in his latter dayes, There are in several parts of this building some antique oak furnishings. There is some curious wood-carving, enclosing a table, near the chancel, on the left side of the church. It has figures of griffins, lions, and angels—so at least they seem. The church possesses one of the best organs in the kingdom. It was built, in 1733, by Thomas Swarbrick, a German, at a cost of about £1400. In 1836 it underwent great alterations and improvements, at a further expense of about £600. The peal of bells, ten in number, is one of the finest in England. The arrangement of the interior of the church is tasteful and appropriate. In 1849 the renovation of the interior was begun, when the galleries were swept away, and the pewing made low, open, and uniform. Much care and judgment have been exercised, also, in restoring the stonework where it had been concealed by paint or plaster. The history of St. Michael's Church is worthy of notice. The steeple is the most ancient part of it. Its erection occupied twenty-two years, being begun in 1373 and finished in 1395. It is said that the tower was erected by Adam and William Botoner, who were both several times mayors of Coventry, and that the spire was added to it by their sisters, Ann and Mary, who also built the middle aisle of the church. There is a tradition that the following rhyme was inscribed on a brass plate found in the chancel: "William and Adam built the Tower, On the erection of the spire, Adam and William Botoner expended £100 annually for 22 years. New Street, adjoining the church, was built for the accommodation of the workmen employed upon the construction of the steeple. Whether the above account of the time and manner of the erection of this church be correct or not, it is at least certain that St. Michael's was completed and used for public worship in the reign of Henry VI., for in 1450 that monarch heard mass here, and presented a golden cloth. The memory of the Botoners is still held in veneration by the inhabitants of Coventry. TRINITY CHURCH, with not a few faults in style, owing to the injudicious manner in which alterations and repairs have been made at different periods, is nevertheless a handsome and imposing structure. It suffers in effect from its too close proximity to St. Michael's. The tower, surmounted by a fine spire, rises from the centre of the church, and is supported by four massive and well-proportioned pillars. The original spire was blown down in 1664, and caused extensive injury to the body of the church. The new spire was erected, and the roof of the church restored in the course of three years. The entire height of the spire is 237 feet; the tower being 99 feet high, and, consequently, the upper portion 138. The ground-plan of the church consists of nave, chancel, and aisles. The modern "improvements" of the interior, in respect to decoration and accommodation, are more numerous and elaborate than in St. Michael's; but it may be doubted whether they are entirely in keeping with the style and antiquity of the building. The ancient stone pulpit is probably unsurpassed in the kingdom. The font will also attract the deserved admiration of the antiquarian. An extraordinary fresco painting was discovered in 1831, in the space above the western arch under the tower. It is a curious representation of the Last Judgment. There is a communion-table, which is an excellent specimen of antique carved oak-work. In 1833, the window over the altar was adorned with stained glass, by Evans of Shrewsbury. Among the monuments of Trinity Church, there is one which possesses some interest. It is that of Dr. Philemon Holland, the first translator of Camden's Britannia. The tablet is affixed to the south wall of the choir, and bears a Latin inscription written by himself. It runs as follows :— Epitaphium Doctoris Hollandi a seipso confectum qui obiit 9 die Februarii 1636, et 85 ætatis suæ. Nemo habet hic, necnon? hospes salveto, Philemon At redivivus morte tua servabor, Jesu, Una Fides votis hæc est via sola salutis, |