Clemens'-Street-Bissett's Picture Gallery.

fitted up, within, in a style of elegance, equal to almost any in the kingdom. The general dining-room and the public drawing-room are spacious and handsome. There are several smaller rooms, for private parties; and the number of chambers exceeds sixty.-Beyond this large establishment, are Barford Buildings-a row of houses very small, but very snug; and, further on, towards the extremity of the village in this direction, interspersed amongst the old cottages, are several new and good houses.-The whole of this part has lately assumed the name of High-Street.

Ar right angles with this street is anotherentirely new-wide and well-formed-called Clemens'Street. Of this, one side is occupied by a range of good houses, furnished with neat balconies; behind which are a considerable number of smaller houses. On the opposite side, are several good shops; an intended hotel, as yet unoccupied; PROBETT's Mews capable of receiving fifty horses, and half as many carriages; and a range of houses, uniformly built, in a good style, distinguished by the name of Clemens-Place.

IN Clemens-Street, is BISSETT's Picture Gallery, in which are a considerable number of paintings, some of them good, particularly a large picture, representing "The Baptism of Henry VIII," by MATHER BRowne, Esa." Gidem's Sacrifice," by SIR J. BARRY." Perseus and Andromeda," by TINTORETTO.-" Flowers," by BAPTISTE. Trajan's Pillar at Rome," by LAIRESSE.This Gallery is also used as a Reading Room; and is well furnished with the daily papers, the monthly publications, and many of the more popular productions of the day.

Upper Clemens'-Street-Ranelagh Gardens—Market Place.

CLEMENS-STREET is terminated at its upper or southern extremity by a Bridge, thrown across the Napton Canal-leading to an intended new street, to be called Upper Clemens'-Street.-On the left of this—at a small distance-are extensive flower and fruit gardens, occupying a space of nearly ten acres-but not laid out at present with much taste-in which are large hothouses and green-houses-and for which a botanical collection is said to be preparing. If these, rather on the credit of what they promise hereafter, than on what they actually appear, must rest their claim to the high-sounding name of Ranelagh Gardens, which they have lately assumed; it must, however, be allowed they have already opened a source of amusement, to the visitants of Leamington, at once, pleasing, rational and healthful.—On the right of the Bridge-is the occasional residence, in the cottage style, of WILLIAM MOODY, of Beaudesert, Esq.; and still further to the right, appears the busy scene of a Navigation Wharf, chiefly filled with coal.

OPPOSITE the lower or northern extremity of Clemens'-Street-to the left is Bath-Street-and to the right Church-Street. In this latter, Leamington, as it was, may be seen, perhaps, more than in any other part. At the left corner stands the Bowling Green Inn-small but comfortable. Here is the old Assembly Room, whose scanty dimensions and humble appearance, compared with the extent and splendour of the New Rooms, strikingly shew the progressive improvement of the place. On an open space, near this Inn, the newlyestablished Market is held, every Wednesday, during the

season.

Church-Street-Satchwell-Place-The Church.

In the central part of Church Street, are several good houses, recently finished, forming a strong contrast with the thatched roofs, and mud walls, amid which, they rear their modern and shewy fronts. At the upper extremity of this street-to the right-is the way to the Post-Office; near which, rurally situated, is a range of good houses, called Satchwell-Place, terminated by Gordon House, once honoured by the residence of some of that noble family;-and, to the left-a short path, through the Church-yard, leads to Bath-Street, the Public Well, and the New Town.

THE Church is ancient, and presents all the humble exterior of a country church, with plastered walls, and low tiled roof. It is, however, neatly fitted up within. One of the windows is venerable for its antiquity; and affords no mean specimen of the fine pointed style, which prevailed in the fourteenth and following century. At the west end, is a good old square tower, furnished with four bells. Against this, was once a clock. It may well be supposed that this small church, inadequate for the accommodation even of the parishioners, must be deplorably insufficient for that of the numerous visitors, resorting to Leamington: and a plan has been proposed, for enlarging or rebuilding it. May zeal and money, equal to its accomplishment, be speedily found!

THE monuments within this Church are not numerous, nor, with one or two exceptions, remarkable. A flat stone, in the middle aisle, with a short inscription, in English, shews where lie deposited, the remains of the Rev. Dr. GREENWOOD, formerly vicar of St. Mary's and

TT

Tomb of the Rev. Dr. Greenwood.

St. Nicholas', in Warwick, who was an author of some considerable note in his day.* In the Chancel, is the family vault of MATTHEW WISE, Esq. of Leamington; and that of the Rev. EDWARD WILLES, whose ancestors were seated so long ago as the reign of HENRY VIII. at Newbold Comyn, in the same parish.||

Or this latter family there is one monument, which is well entitled to distinct notice. It is a marble tablet, with a Latin inscription, dedicated to the memory of the Right Hon. EDWARD WILLES, father of the present possessor of Newbold, who greatly distinguished himself in the study and practice of the law; and who rose, by his merits, with little assistance from the patronage of the great, to the higher honors of the bar. He was, for many years, as the inscription informs, Recorder of Coventry, and Attorney-General for the Duchy of Lancaster. He was afterwards advanced to the honorable post of King's Serjeant-at-Law; and was, finally, raised, in 1757, to the dignity of Chief Baron of the Court of Exchequer, and one of his Majesty's Privy Council, in Ireland. Though he owed his elevation principally to the high reputation he had himself acquired for profound and extensive knowledge in his profession, and for great sagacity, activity, and integrity in the discharge of its duties; yet he always acknowledged much obligation to the favourable opinion, and zealous support of his relative, his friend, and his only patron, the Right Hon. JOHN WILLES, who was for many years, Chief Justice in the Court of Common Pleas, in England. 'It is pleasing to add, that the eminence of his

• See some account of him, page 132,

See Appendix,

Dugdale.

Monument of the Right Honourable Edward Willes.

character, as a Judge, was accompanied by all the less dazzling, but not less important qualities, which adorn private life. Few surpassed him, as a husband and a father, in fervor of conjugal and parental affection; or, as a man and a christian, in benevolence of disposition, and in kindness and suavity of manners.-By an attention, too close and too ardent, to the duties of his high station, his health was irreparably injured, and the foundation laid of a disorder, under which he languished for some time; and which obliged him to retire, in 1766, to his native country, and the seat of his ancestors, amidst the delightful shades of Newbold Comyn. In this rural retreat, he had, however, the satisfaction to find, that his public services, though discontinued, were not forgotten; and the soothing consolation to receive, amidst the pains of a lingering distemper, the well-merited testimony of royal munificence and gratitude, in the grant of a liberal pension-which was settled upon him for life-but which he did not long live to enjoy. Exhausted by gradual decay, the effect of his incurable disorder, at length, he calmly resigned his mortal existence to Him, who gave it, June 24, 1768, in the 66th year of his age.

IN the Church-yard, are some very old tomb-stones -"frail memorials," treacherous to their trust, on which are no longer visible "the names,"" the years,"-" the uncouth rhymes,"" the shapeless sculpture," or with whatever else they may have once been charged. One tomb without, as well as two elegant marble tablets within the Church, seems to forebode that, as the scene of the living world changes round it, this once "sequestered spot," will no longer be the receptacle only of the "unhonoured dead.”—But in the midst of other humbler monuments,