that my heart recoils to reflect on them. This place was called the Elms, and used for executions at so early a period as the year 1219. Many unhappy people have been burnt here for their religion, and others for atrocious crimes."

"I am well pleased, Charles, to find you pay attention to what you read; and, as I have yet some time to spare, will order the carriage to proceed toward the more open and fashionable part of the

town."

Mr. Richardson then pulled the checkstring, and ordered the servant to drive through some of the most frequented streets.

This command obeyed, they soon reached Oxford-street, which, from its show and bustle, greatly attracted Mary's attention.

"Public as this street now appears," " said Mr. Richardson, "ninety years ago the greater part of it was unbuilt, and consisted of a deep hollow road, with here and there a desolate wretched ha

bitation, the lurking place of the most infamous robbers. - Those fine squares you have passed through with me, in this vicinity, were then unbuilt, and merely open ground, covered with filth and dunghills."

This discourse, with the children's observations, continued until they reached. Bond-street, which, Mr. Richardson informed them, in the year 1700, consisted only of that part near Piccadilly; New Bond-street being then an open field, called Conduit-Mead, from one of the conduits in that spot for supplying the town with water. Conduit-street received its name from the same cause.

The carriage then passed through Berkley-square and Hay-hill, when Mr. Richardson said, "Near this place, then an open country as far as Charing-cross, Sir Thomas Wyat, with his party, in the year 1554, made their attack on London, but were repulsed. On the execution of Sir Thomas, which afterwards took place, his head was set up near the spot, and his

parboiled quarters in different parts of the neighbourhood."

As they passed homeward, they crossed Soho-square, which their father informed them was begun to be built in the reign of Charles the Second, when the Duke of Monmouth dwelt in the centre house, but which had now given way to other buildings.

"It was originally," said he, " called Monmouth Square, and afterwards King's Square: but, on the Duke's death, it is reported, was changed to Soho, which was the word of the day at the battle of Sedgemore."

As it grew near dinner-time, Mr. Richardson ordered the carriage home, where, on their arrival, they found Mr. Williams, with his nephew and niece.

CHAP. XXVIII.

MR. WILLIAMS, WITH HIS NEPHEW AND NIECE, EMBARK FOR INDIA.-A LETTER FROM FRANK.

CONCLUSION.

MR. RICHARDSON was well pleased to find the young people grown apparently attached to their uncle, whose benevolence of disposition made it impossible for grateful minds to be otherwise. They were speedily to embark for India, and nothing appeared to decrease their satisfaction but parting with their youthful benefactors.

At length the morning arrived when they were to bid them farewell, which was not done without tears from all par ties; the new situation of Frank and Patty not being able to obliterate the memory of the past. Mr. Williams entreated a correspondence with Mr. Richardson, and those gentlemen parted rather as long-established friends than new ac

quaintance; for congenial minds had at once made them estimable to each other.

Mr. Williams promised to write from the Downs; and the fourth day after their departure, as Mr. Richardson was sitting with his children, the servant entered with a box which had just been delivered, directed for his master. On opening it, Mr. Richardson found it came from Mr. Williams, and was much surprised to find, in addition to a letter, some very valuable presents for his children, and which he could by no means return, as the vessel had sailed.

Mr. Williams's letter was expressive of the highest gratitude: but what particularly pleased the young people was to see one also directed for Charles, and which, on opening, he found came from Frank ; and though by no means written in a good hand, was very legible, passably spelt, and contained these words:

"My ever dear and beloved young master, I know your goodness too well to make any apology about my bad writ