ries were first brought from Greece to Italy 608 years after the foundation of the city of Rome, and in the year of our Lord 120, transplanted to England, though not carefully cultivated till the reign of Henry the Eighth, when the county of Kent was particularly planted with cherry trees."

Thus conversing they entered the coach which waited for them, and conversing gaily, reached town.

CHAP. XVI.

THE ROYAL EXCHANGE, FIRST BUILT BY SIR THO

MAS GRESHAM.-CHEAPSIDE, AN OPEN FIELD

IN THE YEAR 1246.

ACCOUNT OF THE BUILD

ING OF THE TEMPLE, AND THE RELIGIOUS ORDER OF KNIGHTS TEMPLARS.

THE weather proving unfavourable for a week, Mr. Richardson had the satisfaction to find that Charles was perfectly content at home, and that Mary began to accustom herself to the recreation that books and works of fancy afforded her. At the end of that period, a fine morning inspired the children with the hope of a ramble; nor were they disappointed; for their father bidding them hasten their lessons, all were performed by twelve o'clock, at which hour he sent for them to attend him.

any

"I have not time," said he, "for particular observation to-day, being obliged to call in different parts of the town;

however, it may afford you a little recreation, and we can make our comments as we pass along."

Mr. Richardson ordered the coach to the Royal Exchange, and when he had performed his business, was not displeased to find his children curious respecting the building.

"It is, my children," said he, "the great mart of commerce to the whole world, merchants and captains of ships meeting here daily to transact business. It was originally built by Sir Thomas Gresham, at the instigation of Richard Clough, afterwards knighted, but for many years servant to Sir Thomas, who had so high an opinion of his integrity, that he advanced him to be his agent at Antwerp, from whence, in one of his letters to his master, he bluntly said, that the merchants of London studied nothing but their own private profit, for that, in every other country, they had a place proper to transact their business: whereas, in London, they walked about in the rain,

more like pedlars than merchants. This reproach stimulated Sir Thomas to purchase soine tenements on the site of the Royal Exchange, and the building was begun in the year 1566, and completed in 1567. Three years after, Queen Elizabeth paid Sir Thomas a visit at his own house, and, after dinner, viewed every part of the building, which she dignified by naming the Royal Exchange.-This edifice continued until the great fire of London, when it was destroyed, but afterwards rebuilt, in its present magnificent form, by the city and company of mercers, at the expence of eighty thousand pounds. In it are the statues of several of our kings; nor must I neglect to tell you, that Sir Thomas Gresham is not forgötten, being in one corner, in the dress of his time."

The bustle and number of shops in Cheapside next attracted Mary's notice, and her father, ever ready to gratify laud ́able curiosity, informed her that it received its name from chepe, a market,

being originally the great street of splen did shops.

"In the year 1216," added he, "we are informed by an old writer, that it was an open field called Crown Field, from an inn of that sign at the east end. The same writer adds, that not until two hun. dred years after the above-mentioned date, were there any streets in London paved, except Thames-street, and from Ludgate-hill to Charing-cross."

"Ah!" there is St. Paul's," exclaimed Charles. "What a magnificent building!" "We will give it a particular examination on the first opportunity; I will therefore defer my observations till then," replied Mr. Richardson.

.. Nothing particular attracted their notice until they reached the Temple, near Fleet-street, where Mr. Richardson informed them he had business.

This," said he, " is one of our celebrated seats of law, and took its name from a religious military order called Knights Templars. They were origi