prised to see the whole of this extensive Market-place illuminated from one point. To effect this a handsome glass vase, twenty-two inches diameter, with a reflector, surmounting the top of the column, within this a burner is introduced, diffusing a light over an open space of four thousand square yards, the only attempt of this sort made since gas was first introduced. This column was designed by Mr. John Emett, and the pipes were inserted in the. shafts of the column by its being taken down by Mr. Wilkie, the builder, in 1816. Bull-baiting, a custom made use of by our Saxon ancestors, was duly enforced formerly, by the charter of the borough, but is now discontinued; a proof of the growing morality of the age we live in. The bull-ring may be seen on the south side of the Market-place to this day. NEWS ROOMS. The chief and first News or Coffee-room is situate nearly opposite the Bull Inn, Church-street, under the care of Mr. Baines, chiefly visited by the nobility, gentry, and clergy, and consists of a white building with a small portico at the front, seated on each side, and lighted within by carburatted hydrogen gas. This room is far too diminutive to accommodate the number of gentlemen who frequent it, and particularly when the town is filled with a concourse of strangers at the races, and upon other public occasions.. RULES FOR THE GENTLEMEN'S COFFEE ROOM. "That the election of future members shall be by ballot, for which purpose a box shall be provided. "That any person wishing to become a subscriber shall be proposed by a member, and his name, together with that of the proposer, affixed in the usual place; and that in order to his admission he shall have a majority of two-thirds of the members present at the ballot, which shall take place at twelve o'clock, on the fourth day after the notice shall be put up. "That a committee of five (of whom the treasurer shall be one,) shall be annually appointed, at a meeting for that purpose, the first Tuesday in May, and that such committee shall have full power to manage the concerns of the coffee-room. Mr. Alex. St. Clare, Mr. John Addison, Mr. Winstanley, and Mr. Travers, with the treasurer, be appointed such committee for the present year, 1820. That three of the committee assembled at any meeting shall have power to act. "That a general meeting of the subscribers shall be held on the first Tuesday in May, in each year, when the treasurer's accounts shall be audited, and the amount of the subscription for the year fixed. "That no paper or publication shall be taken from the coffeehouse, under any pretence whatsoever (except as aftermentioned,) and that any person offending against this rule shall be expelled. "That on application to Mr. Baines, a member, in case of sickness, shall be allowed to have any paper on the day after its arrival, on condition of its being returned in twenty-four hours." GUILD HALL NEWS ROOM, AND OTHERS. This place forms a part of the Town-hall, is very commodious, and conducted upon very excellent rules and probably will continue in a flourishing state, from the number of respectable members composing its supporters. This commodious room is well worth the attention of all visitors, as it is well furnished with a variety of newspapers. There are seven windows fronting Fishergate. The entrance next Tomlinson and Parkinson's shop, right under the pediment. This room measures 44 feet in length, by 22 in breadth. RULES OF THE GUILD HALL COFFEE ROOM. "1. This room is open to subscribers and strangers only. "6 2.-The management of the room is placed in a committee of seven gentleinen, and a treasurer, who are appointed annually by the subscribers, on the first of November (unless that day be Sunday, and then on the following day,) at eleven o'clock in the forenoon. "3.-The annual subscription of £1. 11s. 6d. to be paid to the treasurer on the first of November. New subscribers to pay this sum on their election into the room. “ "4.-No paper or publication to be taken out of the room on pain of expulsion. "5.-When any person is proposed as a member his name must be put up in the room, signed and dated by a member; and on the third night next afterwards, the members present at 8 o'clock shall proceed to ballot for such proposed member, who shall be admitted or rejected by a majority." There are other minor news-rooms established in the town, subject to certain rules, viz. the Commercial, at Mr. Hilton's, Mitre inn, entrance out of Cannon-street; the Mercantile, at Mr. Chambers', the George inn; the Royal Union, at the Castle inn, Market-place. A Circulating Library is established at Mr. Whittle's, in the Friargate, and is well filled with valuable and entertaining books, and is much frequented'; all the most modern publications are ready for the general purposes of circulation. Circles of Communication in literature exist amongst the higher classes of society. LITERARY SOCIETIES, NEWSPAPERS ESTABLISHED, &c. A Literary and Philosophical Society was established at the Town-hall, on the 12th day of March, 1810, under the superintendance of a president and four vice presidents, viz. Thos. Batty Addison, Esq. Rev. Jos. Dunn, Mr. Jas. Mounsey, and Mr. Wm. Taylor; secretaries, Mr. R. W. Hopkins and Mr. Thos. German; treasurer, Mr. R. Westmore; librarian, Mr. Isaac Wilcockson; associates, Mr. Jos. Brewer, Mr. Moses Holden, and Mr. George Riley; honorary members, Capel Lofft, Esq. Troston-hall, Sussex, Win. Roscoe, Esq. F. L. S., Edward, Lord Stanley, F. L. S., Arthur Young, Esq. F. R. S., Dawson Turner, Esq. A. M. F. R. A. & L. S., Rev. Jas. Maddison, D. D. Bishop of Virginia, Wm. Smith, Esq. M. P. F. R. S. & A. S. S., James Sowerby, F. L. S., John Coakley Lettsom, M. D. F. R. S. F. L. S. & F. S. A., Joseph Quaries, M. D. Archiater, Baron of the Holy Roman Empire, Vienna, Jno. Aikin, M. D. F. L. S. They have regular rules and regulations, which were first published in 1811.. The first weekly newspaper published in the town was in the year 1745, by James Stanley and John Moon, at their shop in the Market-place, and was entitled, "The British Courant, or Preston Journal," embellished with two wood cuts on each side of the title page, viz. the Holy Lamb couchant, being the arms of the town, and Britannia, the genius of England. The next weekly paper proposed to the inhabitants was published by Mr. Thos. Walker, bookseller, entitled "The Preston Review and County Advertiser," first published June the 1st, 1793, and given gratis for a short period, and afterwards sold at the low price of three-pence halfpenny. The motto chosen for its title page was as follows-"A faithful historian is of no country and the conductor of an impartial newspaper of no party." The third paper attempted in the town was published by Mr. Thos. Croft, bookseller, in the Market-place, this paper assumed the title of "The Preston Journal, and Lancashire General Advertiser," and was first published February the 7th, 1807. This paper is now continued by Mr. Isaac Wilcockson, under the name of "The Preston Chronicle and Lancashire Advertiser," and was first published on the 5th of September, 1812, with the arms of Preston in the front of its title, and the following appropriate motto: "This folio of four pages What is it but a map of busy life, Its fluctuations, and its vast concerns." The Choral Society continues under favourable auspices, and notice was given of their first rehearsal, in the Preston Chronicle of November 27, 1819. The following lodges exist in the town belonging to that ancient body the Free and Accepted Masons, viz. the Royal Preston Lodge, at the Bull inn, No. 636. On Monday, October 9th, 1820, the Right Worshipful Francis Dunkinfield Astley, Esq. Provincial Grand Master for this county of Free and Accepted Masons, held a Provincial Grand Lodge of the county at the Royal Preston Lodge, where an excellent dinner was provided for them, and a great number of Freemasons assembled upon the occasion from distant parts of the county; many appropriate toasts were drank upon the occasion, and an excellent address given by Brother Astley, the Grand Master. The Lodge of Perseverance, No. 255. On Monday, January 4th, 1819, the festival of St. John the Evangelist was celebrated in this town, by the Master, Wardens, and Members of the Lodge of Perseverance, assisted by several members composing the other masonic lodges in the town, when W. T. Ascroft, Esq. of Lydiate, presided on the occasion, during which the greatest harmony prevailed amongst the brethren; after the business was ended the following toasts and sentiments were delivered from the chair :the King and the Craft; his R. H. the Prince Regent, our Grand Patron; his R. H. the Duke of Sussex, our M. W. Grand Master; his R. H. the Duke of Kent, Past Grand Master; his Grace the Duke of Athol, Past Grand Master; the Rt. Hon. Lord Dundas, This The Lodge of Peace and Unity, No. 586, is held at Mr. Bennet's, the Horse Shoe, in Church-street. The Lodge of Concord, No. 655, at Mrs. Merrick's, Turk's Head-yard, and No. 1, of the Duke of York's loyal Lodge of Odd Fellows, who had a procession through the town, in September, 1820, when a concourse of people was assembled to witness so odd a spectacle. The first Botanic Society was established on the 18th of November, 1804, under the auspices of Mr. James Winstanley and Mr. Wm. Salts, (both deceased,) and began at the house of Mr. Thos. Hope, Butchers' Arms, in Molyneux-square, but removed afterwards to the house of Mr. Walter Fcss, Green Man, in Lord-street, where it still remains. Another society similar to this has branched from it, and fixed itself at the house of Mr. Layfield, the Lamb and Packet, bottom of Friargate, which has upwards of 70 members. They possess books upon the science, and, seemingly, are very assiduous in exploring the neighbourhood for plants, for the purpose of instructing each other in the knowledge of botany. They are governed according to printed rules set forth. A Botanic Garden is now in contemplation; this is desirable to all lovers of botany, and will form a feature in the annals of the town. There is also a Legulean Society, established at the White Horse, by the younger branch of Attorneys. Book and Literary Societies exist; together with many Benevolent and Charitable Institutions, for the relief of indigent and sick brethren. Some of these hold their annual fete on Whit-Monday, and parade the principal streets of the town, preceded by bands of music, with flags waving; thence proceeding to the Parish church of St. John's, and to St. Wilfrid's Catholic chapel, for the purpose of hearing divine service, and an appropriate sermon, preached expressly for the occasion. On Whit-Monday, May the 20th, 1793, there were only nine |