dangling rugg gown bound round with a broad leathern girdle; his beard thick and grisly; a large fur cap on his head, and a long staff in his hand; his face wrinkled and of a dark sable hue. I was struck with the appearance and felt some unusual shocks, for you know the old saying I made use of in Court when part of a lanthorn in Westminster Hall fell down in the midst of our proceedings, to the no small terror of one or two of my brethren:

But to go on.

face!"

'Si fractus illabatur orbis,

Jmpavidum ferient ruinea.'6

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It drew near me and stared me full in the "And did you not speak to it?" interrupted the Bishop, "there was money hid or murder committed to be sure." "My lord, I did speak to it." And what answer, Mr. Justice ?" 66 My lord, the answer was, not without a thump of the staff and a shake of the lanthorn, that he was the watchman of the night, and came to give me notice that he had found the street door open, and that unless I rose and shut it I might chance to be robbed before break of day." The judge had no sooner ended but the Bishop disappeared.

One of his latest kindly acts is said to have been that of mediating with success as peacemaker between the Mayor of Gloucester and some roistering young citizens, who in an after dinner ramble encountered his worship, and thought it fine sport to roll him in the street gutter! Those who remember what our city gutters were even fifty years ago, will not wonder that the chief civic magnate failed to see the fun of such a proceeding.

A

About the beginning of last century much attention was being directed in several parts of the country to the question of pauperism and the management of workhouses. workhouse, built by special Act of Parliament in Bristol, and used as a test of destitution, had produced such excellent effects, that the example was followed in many places-our neighbour city Worcester among others. Sir John Powell was at this time Governor of the old workhouse which stood

at the corner of Quay Street;

and it was, no doubt, under his influence, and by his assistance, that an Act of Parliament in 1703 abolished the old government of that institution, so that a new Corporation was formed under the title of "The Governor, Deputy Governor, and Guardians of the Poor of the City of Gloucester," with powers which it was hoped would enable them to deal more satisfactorily with this ever difficult social problem.

Sir John's Gloucester residence was an interesting spot. The site of the Grey Friars Priory, which at the Dissolution was granted by Henry VIII. to one John Jennings, came, in 1630, into the hands of the City Corporation. The building, which had been converted into a private dwelling-house, was occupied by Governor Massey during the siege in 1643, and received some damage from the King's artillery. Robert Raikes, referring to it in his Gloucester Guide, 1802, says: "It is remarkable for having been the residence of Judge Powell, a native of this city, and much celebrated for the integrity of his conduct and the soundness of his judgment."8 He also lived, and most probably died, in the house where Raikes himself dwelt from 1758 to 1802,-the fine old residence opposite St. Mary de Crypt Schoolroom-which is so closely associated with the name and memory of the venerable Founder of Sunday Schools. He had a country house in the pleasant Severn-side parish of Deerhurst.

It is amusing to observe that the confusion between the two Judges Powell has extended to their portraits, for the folio engraving by Sherwin bears the inscription "Sir John Powell, Bart.," whereas neither of them were baronets! The son of the senior judge was created a baronet but died without issue, and the title became extinct. Moreover, the portrait in the National Portrait Gallery, which is described as that of the Welsh judge, is that of our own worthy-Sir John Powell, of Gloucester!

Another portrait of the judge, one which originally belonged to himself, remained as a sort of fixture in his

Southgate-street residence. For some generations it passed from tenant to tenant under certain conditions, but is now in the possession of the descendants of the late Mr. Richard Powell Chandler. His brief bag," bearing his name, is preserved by Mrs. Witcomb, of London Road, one of hist collateral descendants. Another relic is a massive brass dog collar, of a large size, probably buried with some favourite animal, which was found many years ago when the foundations for a house were being dug in Lower Westgate Street. It is engraved "1701. Judge Powell, in Sergeants' Inn, in Chancery Lane, London ;" and has long been in the possession of Mr. Councillor Ward.

NOTES.

1. This charter was granted in 1673. Under it the Town Clerk was electd for life; his election being subject to the approval of the Crown. His duties, which were to assist the Magistrates at Quarter Sessions, and to transact the usual business of the Corporation, could be discharged by deputy. His salary of £8 13s. 8d. per annum was supplemented by certain fees and professional charges for busin ss connected with his office.

2. Robert Price was a Welshman, born at Cerrig-y-Druidion, in 1653, educated at Wrexham, and St. John's College, Cambridge, and called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn. He was made Attorney General of South Wales in 1682, and Recorder of Radnor the same year. In 1700 he was raised to a Welsh judgeship; and two years afterwards created a Baron of the Exchequer; so that there were two judges who had been town clerks of Gloucester on the Bench at the same time. He was removed to the Common Pleas in 1726, and died February 2nd, 1733.

3. The Rev. John Russell Washbourn, Rector of Rudford, in pointing out that for January, 1687, we should, allowing for difference of style, understand 1688 as the correct date, remarks that about this time the corporation was 'regulated" in order that members favourable to the views of James might be elected to Parliament.

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4. John Snell afterwards represented Gloucester in Parliament.

5. Belief in witchcraft long lingered in our rural districts, and unrestrained by the law, would still have found victims to destroy. A poor woman of exemplary character, who died in the village of Icomb, as recently as 1840, was suspected of "having to do with devils and evil spirits, and using enchantments," so that on one occasion, a rich neighbour stabbed her in the arm with a penknife, saying she was a witch, and

drawing her blood to break her spells! The chief ground for these cruel suspicions was, that she was a Baptist! These superstitions do not seem to be yet entirely extinct either in town or country.

6. Horace Odes III. 3

"Should Nature's pillar'd frame give way,

That wreck would strike one fearless head."

Conington's Translation.

7. On the site of the Ironworks of Messrs. Seekings and Co.

8. The present Grey Friars House was built by Mr. Philo Maddy, about seventy years ago.

SIR ROBERT ATKYNS, JUNIOR.

[1646-1711.]

HE only son of Sir Robert Atkyns, senr., inherited both his name and his virtues, and is known as Sir ROBERT ATKYNS, jun., the Historian of Gloucestershire. Born in 1646, and educated with great care under the eye of his father, he became in early life a student of antiquities. Having a considerable estate settled upon him, and being happily married, he took up his abode at Pimbury Park, secluded and delightful residence in the parish of Sapperton. Here he pursued his favourite studies and exercised old English hospitality. He was repeatedly elected as member for Cirencester; and also for the county, in which he was highly popular. His political opinions were more Conservative than those of his father, but he was not a prominent member of his party, and seems to have taken no active share in Parliamentary affairs. His preferences lay in other directions.

For many years during the middle and latter part of the seventeenth century, Dr. Parsons, Chancellor of the Diocese, was collecting materials for a history of this county. Finding that the infirmities of age and the declining state of his health would not permit him to complete his design, he handed his collections to Sir Robert, who undertook to carry on the work. It was one involving much research, but in thorough accordance with his tastes. His position and influence were favourable to his success, and after some years of diligent labour his pleasant task was accomplished. But he did not live to see its publication.