SHAKSPEARE's MONUMENT.

THE following remarks on the Monumental Bust of Shakspeare, in the Church of the Holy Trinity, Stratford-upon-Avon, in Warwickshire, is printed from my Pamphlet, 1825, with additions. I have also given an interesting account of the Chancel of the above church, which is extracted from an elegant work now in course of publication.

"The town of Stratford-upon-Avon, illustrious in British topography as the birth-place of SHAKSPEARE, is situated on the south-western border of the county of Warwick, on a gentle ascent from the banks of the Avon, which rises in a small spring at Naseby, in Northamptonshire; and continuing its meandering course in a south-westerly direction, approaches Stratford in a wide and proudly swelling stream, unequalled in any other part of its course. The town is distant eight miles south-west from Warwick, and ninety-four miles north west from

* Vide No. 4, "Views of Collegiate and Parochial Churches in Great Britain, from drawings by J. P. Neale." The engravings of which are very suitable to the illustration of the present work, especially the fourth plate, which shows Shakspeare's monument, his grave stone, and those of his family, &c. &c.

London. The Church stands at the south-eastern extremity, from which it is approached by a paved walk, under an avenue of lime trees, which have been made to form a complete arcade."

"The chancel, the eastern part of which is represented in Plate IV., is the most beautiful as well as the most perfect division of this Church, and was erected between the years 1465 and 1491, by Thomas Balsall, D. D. who then held the office of Dean. It is separated from the transept by an oaken screen, which originally formed a part of the ancient rood-loft; and which was glazed in the year 1813. Five large ornamented windows on each side, give light to the chancel; they were formerly decorated with painted glass, the remains of which were taken out in the year 1790, and transferred to the centre of the great eastern window, where they still remain, though in a very confused state. On each side of the eastern window is a nich, boldly finished in the Florid style of pointed architecture. In the south wall, near the altar, are three simular niches, conjoined, in which are placed the concessus, or seats, for the priests officiating at mass; and immediately adjoining them is the piscina. These objects are all shewn in the Plate. On each side of the chancel is a range of stalls belonging to the ancient choir, remarkable for the grotesque carvings which ornament the lower part of each

seat.