church is a curious sun-dial: on the top of it is this motto:

"Trifle not; your time's but short."

Under the motto are curved lines, eleven in number, forming conical sections across the dial, and called parallels of the length of the day; the uppermost is the Tropic of Capricorn, marked at both ends with its proper character. The others immediately under, are marked 8, 9, 10, 11; that marked 12 being the Equinoctial line, having at one end the sign Aries, and at the other Libra; the remaining lines, below, are marked 13, 14, 15, 16, the lowermost line being the Tropic of Cancer, also distinguished at both ends by its proper character. By the shadow of a small ball, fixed on a stile, called the nodus, the several lengths of the days are pointed out. This ingenious instrument was invented by Mr. James Giles, who lies buried in the churchyard.

In Milton are many agreeable residences, and numerous lodging-houses, pleasant walks are to be found in all directions, and from many points are some beautiful views. Here is a good library (Mr. Penny's), of which we have before spoken.

This brings us to the end of the first "stage" of our journey, and the first chapter of our book.

E

CHAP. II.

GRAVESEND TO ROCHESTER.

CHALK AND CHALK CHURCH.-HALFWAY HOUSE.-COBHAM HALL.-COBHAM VILLAGE, CHURCH, AND COLLEGE.GAD'S HILL.-SEATS.-OBELISK.-STROOD HILL.-STROOD. -STROOD CHURCH.-SEAL AND COINS FOUND.-ANCIENT HOSPITAL.-TEMPLE FARM.-ROCHESTER BRIDGE. THE

BRIDGE CHAMBER.-ROCHESTER.

THIS Our second stage, though short, is somewhat barren; yet, even on these seven miles of comparative dulness, we shall find something "to yield a careful man work," and we may at least console ourselves with the views right and left of our road, and with the reflection that we are journeying towards a place where there is much of interest. That place is Rochester, the description of which city will, we trust, make amends for the paucity of notabilia on the road, and give ample weight to this chapter.

Near the 23d milestone (after passing Milton church) is a large red brick edifice, on the left, unoccupied in September, 1836; and beyond this, about half a mile, we run through a small village called Chalk or Chalkstreet, in which there is nothing noticeable, except the church, which stands on an eminence on the left, at some distance on the road, and attracts attention from its prominent situation and apparent antiquity. It is, in fact, very old, being supposed to have been built about A. D. 1400. It is dedicated to St. Mary, and is

particularly remarkable for some curious sculptures; among others, for one, over the porch door, of a man holding a jug with both hands, apparently about to drink to a mountebank or tumbler, who is performing antics above him. These preposterous figures are thought to be illustrative of a church ale, established by the will of William May, of this parish, in 1512. He directed that his wife make every year for his soull, an obit, and make it in bread six bushells of wheat, and in drink ten bushells of mault, and in cheese twenty pence, to give to poor people for the health of his soull and that after the decease of his wife, his executors and feoffees should continue the obit before rehearsed for evermore."

In a niche or recess, between the figures of the tippler and the scaramouch, formerly stood the image of the Virgin Mary. How far the good Catholics of former days may have deemed the situation appropriate, we cannot pretend to say; but the patron-saint frequently came in for a share of the oblations offered up by the merry-makers at the ancient church ales. In the nave of this church is a brass plate to William Martyn, who died in 1416, and Isabella, his wife; the former was a great benefactor to the church,

About a mile and a half beyond Chalk church, is the Halfway House, a road side inn, about half way between Gravesend and Rochester, where omnibuses and "flies" have a particular fancy for stopping. Close against this house, a road branches off, on the right, to Cobham Hall, the beautifully wooded park attached to which is seen distinctly from the high road for a considerable distance.

Cobham Hall is situate to the east of the village of Cobham, four miles from Gravesend, and twenty-five E.S.E. from London. It was anciently the baronial

A feast established by custom, authority, or bequest, in the neighbourhood of a church, for the double purpose of regaling the people, and of gathering contributions towards the repair of the edifice. By such entertainments, in ancient times, many parishes, and their poor, were much benefited.

estate of the illustrious and far-spreading family of Cobham, but, in the reign of Queen Anne, became the property of the then Earl of Darnley, partly by purchase and partly by marriage. It was recently the seat of Edward, fifth Earl of Darnley, who, in February, 1835, died here of tetanus, or lock-jaw, caused by a wound accidentally inflicted by himself on his foot, by incautiously using a scoring axe. By this fatal accident, this amiable nobleman was lost to his family and friends, and the neighbourhood deprived of a generous and consistent benefactor. The present earl is a child, of about nine years of age only.

Cobham Hall is a spacious antique edifice of red brick, not externally grand, but rather of the substantial quality of the "olden times," with the plain unpretending front which imagination would attach to the residence of the "fine old English gentleman." It is built in the form of a half H.; the extremities of the side wings are terminated by octagonal towers, and, with the centre, and a sunk wall in front, inclose a quadrangular lawn, ornamented by statues, vases, &c. The centre of the building was planned by Inigo Jones, and was new-cased with brick, and sashed, by the fourth Earl of Darnley; so that its appearance is not uniform with the wings, which formed part of the residence of the Cobhams. In these are projecting entrances, of stone, extending to the roof: that to the south, has the arms and supporters of the Cobhams, sculptured in bold relief, in the upper apartments. The central front presents a handsome appearance from several points of the park.

The Vestibule, which opens upon the lawn, is partly fitted up in the Turkish, and partly in the Italian taste. The chimney piece is of marble, and extremely elegant; having in front, a sculpture of a bacchanalian subject, and being surrounded with beautiful marble statues, and other ornaments. Small figures of Hercules and the Vatican Apollo, stand above, and a group of Cupid and Psyche below.

:

The Music Room is magnificently fitted up and furnished its length is 50 feet; its breadth, 36; and its height, 52. The ceiling, designed by Inigo Jones, is divided into various square and circular compartments, with a deep oval in the centre; all superbly gilt, and enriched by appropriate ornaments, among which are twelve pendant coronets. The lower part of the sides is lined with grey veined marble, between pilasters of Scagliola, supporting a rich fascia and cornice. In the compartments above are representations of all kinds of musical instruments, hanging in festoons. At each end is a gallery, supported by four columns, cased like the pilasters, and having bases and capitals of Parian marble; the latter are exquisitely sculptured. The chimney piece has full length marble statues at the sides; and in front, a sculpture from the Aurora of Guido. The furniture is equally splendid with the decoratives; and among the other ornaments are eight alabaster vases or pedestals; together with full length statues of the Venus de Medicis, and an antique, either of Meleager or Antoninus.

The interior of the North Wing has undergone complete repair under the direction of the famous Wyatt, now Sir J. Wyatville, and a new arched entrance in the Gothic taste has been built. This communicates with a vaulted passage, leading to the grand staircase, also altered to the Gothic style, having, on a shield above, the quarterings of the Darnley family.

Thence you proceed to a gallery amply lined with pictures of the first masters, the length being 134 feet. The chimney pieces are beautifully wrought in black and white marble, as are all the rest in the ancient parts of Cobham Hall, bearing the arms of the Cobhams, with the date 1587.

In an adjoining chamber Queen Elizabeth was lodged during her visit here to William Lord Cobham, in the first year of her reign her arms still adorn the ceiling.

The basement story contains the dining parlour, the