which affords direct communication with Oxford and London. The beauty and salubrity of the neighbourhood attract new residents every year. The town is well lighted with gas, and shops of every kind offer a supply to the inhabitants of all the conveniences and comforts of life. There are also several comfortable hotels, the accommodations of which have been the theme of praise to many distinguished travellers.

The Bard of Avon Lodge of Freemasons (No. 1080) was consecrated on the 20th of June, 1859, by P.G.M. Lord Leigh. The meetings are held at the Golden Lion Hotel, on the first Monday in each month.

The town also contains a Theatre, fitted up with much neatness and taste, and which has occasionally been honoured by the exertions of some of our most distinguished actors. A Public Infirmary, for supplying the sick with advice and medicines, was established in 1823, and is liberally supported; its objects being materially assisted by a District Visiting Society, the members of which (ladies) visit the poor and provide them with the comforts needful in sickness.

The inhabitants also enjoy the advantages of an excellent Free School for their children: The head master is the Rev. T. R. Medwin; second master, Mr. J. Atkinson. And, besides the Parish Church, and the Chapel of the Holy Trinity, a new Church, dedicated to Saint James the Great, was erected in 1853-4, on the north side of the town, near to

Shaksepeare's house. The necessary funds were raised by voluntary subscriptions, through the indefatigable zeal of the Rev. Henry Twells, the then Sub-Vicar. The expenses attending the performance of divine worship are paid by the offerings of the people. The Curate is the Rev. I. W. Trow, B.A. There are several places of worship for different denominations of dissenters.

Stratford consists of eighteen principal streets, generally well paved and remarkably clean. The town has recently been thoroughly drained agreeably to the provisions of the Sanitary Act, under the superintendence of Mr. E. Gibbs, the Borough Surveyor. The works were very ably executed by the Messrs. Callaway. An unsightly mass of building, known as the Middle Row, in Bridge Street, has, through the indefatigable exertions of Mr. Robert H. Hobbes, Mr. W. Gibbs, and the liberality of the public, been pulled down and the street substantially repaired : it now forms a spacious and handsome approach to the centre of the town from the Clopton Bridge, and may justly be denominated the greatest improvement which has taken place in this town for many years. The market, which was formerly on Thursday, is now, by Charter, granted on the 59th of Geo. III., held on Friday, and is very considerable for wheat and other grain. A commodious Corn Exchange was erected in 1855, on the east side of the High Street, near to the Town Hall. Several well-attended fairs are held; and also two statutes for the hiring of servants.