Charles the First (which now lies before me), it appears that the limits of the former are much circumscribed. For, to say nothing of the farther side, with which I am not so well acquainted, the bounds on this side, in old times, came into Binswood; and extended to the ditch of Ward-le-ham park, in which stands the curious mount called King John's Hill, and Lodge Hill; and to the verge of Hartley Mauduit, called Mauduit-hatch; comprehending also Short-heath, Oakhanger, and Oakwoods; a large district, now private property, though once belonging to the royal domain.

It is remarkable that the term purlieu is never once mentioned in this long roll of parchment. It contains, besides the perambulation, a rough estimate of the value of the timbers, which were considerable, growing at that time in the district of the Holt; and enumerates the officers, superior and inferior, of those joint forests, for the time being, and their ostensible fees and perquisites. In those days, as at present, there were hardly any trees in Wolmer-forest.

Within the present limits of the forest are three considerable lakes, Hogmer, Cranmer, and Wolmer; all of which are stocked with carp, tench, eels, and perch; but the fish do not thrive well, because the water is hungry, and the bottoms are a naked sand.

A circumstance respecting these ponds, though by no means peculiar to them, I cannot pass over in silence; and that is, that instinct by which in summer all the kine, whether oxen, cows, calves, or heifers, retire constantly to the water during the hotter hours; where, being more exempt from

flies, and inhaling the coolness of that element, some belly deep, and some only to mid-leg, they ruminate and solace themselves from about ten in the morning till four in the afternoon, and then return to their feeding. During this great proportion of the day they drop much dung, in which insects nestle; and so supply food for the fish, which would be poorly subsisted but from this contingency. Thus nature, who is a great economist, converts the recreation of one animal to the support of another! Thomson, who was a nice observer of natural occurrences, did not let this pleasing circumstance escape him. He says, in his Summer,

"A various group the herds and flocks compose :
on the grassy bank

Some ruminating lie; while others stand
Half in the flood, and, often bending, sip
The circling surface."

Wolmer-pond, so called, I suppose, for eminence sake, is a vast lake for this part of the world, containing, in its whole circumference, 2,646 yards, or very near a mile and a half. On the face of this expanse of waters, and perfectly secure from fowlers, lie all day long, in the winter season, vast flocks of ducks, teals, and widgeons, of various denominations; where they preen and solace, and rest themselves, till towards sunset, when they issue forth in little parties (for in their natural state they are all birds of the night) to feed in the brooks and meadows; returning again with the dawn of the morning. Had this lake an arm or two more, and were it planted round with thick covert (for now it is perfectly naked), it might make a valuable decoy.

PRAYERS

FOR THE OLD COUNTRY

O God of our fathers, Lord God of Israel and of England, have mercy upon us. Thou hast given us the land on which we dwell, and we have called it our own, not confessed it to be Thine. We have not confessed that we are all citizens of the same land, bound to our forefathers, whose tombs are amongst us, bound to the children whom Thou wilt watch over as Thou hast watched over us. We have not reverenced our fathers and mothers as Thou hast bidden us reverence them. We have often fancied that we were honouring Thee in neglecting them. O God, for the sake of Thy dear Son, who hast taught us to call Thee Father, and has bound us together in one family, turn us from our evil ways. May Thy Spirit write this Commandment, that we should honour our fathers and mothers in our hearts. May He make this land very dear to us. May He make us ready to live and die that it may be a great and free land, worshipping Thee the true God, and not worshipping Mammon, the spirit of baseness and selfishness. We know that if we serve him, we shall be indifferent to our fathers and mothers, and perish off the land. But O, reform us, and restore us, and fill us with fear of Thee and trust in Thee, that we may honour those who have testified, and do testify, to us of Thee, of Thy enduring law, of Thy everlasting love. AMEN.

FREDERIC DENISON MAURICE.

II

O GOD of earth and altar,
Bow down and hear our cry,
Our earthly rulers falter,
Our people drift and die;
The walls of gold entomb us,
The swords of scorn divide,
Take not Thy thunder from us
But take away our pride.

From all that error teaches,

From lies of tongue and pen, From all the easy speeches That comfort sinful men,

From sale and profanation.

Of honour and the sword,

From sleep and from damnation,
Deliver us, good Lord!

Tie in a living tether

The prince and priest and thrall,

Bind all our lives together,

Smite us and save us all;
In ire and exultation

Aflame with faith and free,
Lift up a living nation,
A single sword to Thee.

G. K. C.

THE SINGING LARK

S. T. COLERIDGE (1772-1834): Fears in Solitude.

A GREEN and silent spot, amid the hills,

A small and silent dell! O'er stiller place
No singing sky-lark ever poised himself.
The hills are heathy, save that swelling slope,
Which hath a gay and gorgeous covering on,
All golden with the never-bloomless furze,
Which now blooms most profusely: but the dell,
Bathed by the mist, is fresh and delicate
As vernal corn-field, or the unripe flax,
When, through its half-transparent stalks, at eve,
The level sunshine glimmers with green light.
Oh! 'tis a quiet spirit-healing nook!

Which all, methinks, would love; but chiefly he,
The humble man, who, in his youthful years,
Knew just so much of folly, as had made
His early manhood more securely wise!
Here he might lie on fern or withered heath,
While from the singing lark (that sings unseen
The minstrelsy that solitude loves best),
And from the sun, and from the breezy air,
Sweet influences trembled o'er his frame;
And he, with many feelings, many thoughts,
Made up a meditative joy, and found
Religious meanings in the forms of nature !
And so, his senses gradually wrapt

In a half-sleep, he dreams of better worlds,
And dreaming, hears thee still, O singing lark;
That singest like an angel in the clouds !