in the heavenly bodies; his lectures were attended by respectable audiences in the Theatre.

It is curious to remark, from Strype's History, that the Rev. Nicholas Banastre was priest of St. Wilfrid's parish church, in this town, and was ejected from the said church, on account of popish practices, and obligated, by order of the Bishop of Chester, to remain in any part of the county palatine, (excepting Preston,) in the 3rd year of Elizabeth, A. D. 1561. Descendants from the family of this said N. Banastre kept the George inn, in this town, so late as the year 1788. The last was a female, married to a person of the name of Werden.

James Brockholes, Esq. (but sometimes known under the name of Hesketh,) lived, and died in this town, about 1781. He had in his possession a great curiosity, viz. the original chalice made use of by the Catholics at Poulton church; which chalice is now used at the Roman Catholic chapel of Claughton.

A Polemic Preacher was highly recommended to Dr. William Chadderton, Lord Bishop of Chester, by Henry Hastings, Earl of Huntingdon, on the 7th day of October, 1583, the 25th of Queen Elizabeth, to repair to the town of Preston, in Amounderness, county palatine of Lancaster, in order to preach in St. Wilfrid's church, against the popish jesuits swarming in that neighbourhood. -Vide Peck's Desidera Curiosa.

The Hon. Sir Alexander Thompson, Knt. Lord Chief Baron of his Majesty's Court of Exchequer, was a native of Preston, and received the first rudiments of his education at the Free Grammar School in this town; he was a man of profound legal knowledge, as well as a most upright judge, and was the intimate friend of Lord Thurlow, by whom his talents where held in the highest estimation. He died on Tuesday morning the 15th day of April, 1817, at Bath, in his 73rd year, whither he went for the benefit of his health. He left property to the amount of £40,000. to two nieces who lived with him. The following epitaph is fixed upon the tablet which forms part of the monument erected in the Abbey church of Bath, to the memory of Judge Thompson :—

"Sacred to the memory of the Right Hon. Sir Alexander Thompson, Knt., one of his Majesty's most honorable privy council. He was born at Camberwell, 6th January, 1745; called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn, Michaelmas Term, 1769; appointed a master in

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chancery, in May, 1782; Accountant General, January, 1786; A Baron in the court of Exchequer, February, 1787; and Lord Chief Baron of the same court, to the universal satisfaction of the bar, the bench, and the nation, 23rd February, 1814. He died in this city, sincerely regretted, 15th April, 1817. His understanding was sound and strong; his knowledge in every branch of the law accurate, extensive, and profound; his impartiality invariable; his attention to criminals unremitting; his humanity judicious. He was patient in hearing; laborious in investigating; cautious in deciding; and his judgment seldom erred. Simple and unostentatious in the application of his talents, and courting neither favor nor popularity, he deservedly obtained the confidence of the country. To these public virtues were added, in the habits of his private life, a general acquaintance with literature and the arts, unaffected piety, unassuming manners, and steadfastness in friendship, with the kindest heart. To perpetuate the remembrance of so useful an example, and to record their own gratitude and affection, his two surviving nieces have caused this memorial to be erected."

Two excellent engravings have lately appeared, engraved from the portraits of the celebrated Lonsdale, and published in London, of Wm. St. Clare, M. D. and our worthy member for the borough, S. Horrocks, Esq. M. P.

Mr. Roger Sudell deserves notice in this niche; he was what is termed a bachelor, and erected a Catechetical School, in Midsprit-wiend, A. D. 1701, for the purpose of giving education to poor children of the town, denominated the Blue School. A handsome tablet is erected to his memory, by his nephew, C. Sudell, prebendary of Chester, in the parish church of St. John's, affixed to the second pillar in the nave.

PLACES OF WORSHIP.

THE public structures devoted to religious purposes in the town of Preston are not so very numerous; notwithstanding their paucity, they are simple but yet elegant, and well furnished; and not inferior to any in the neighbouring towns. They are amongst the first objects that deserve the attention of the stranger. There are two churches belonging to the Establishment, and one chapel of ease, and another, St. Paul's, which is not as yet consecrated; two Scotch Independent and Presbyterian chapels; one Methodist; one Baptist; one Friends' meeting-house; two Roman Catholic chapels; one Unitarian chapel. The most ancient, and indeed the only building dedicated to religious worship which has any claim to antiquity, is St. John's (formerly St. Wilfrid's.)

THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST. JOHN'S,*

FORMERLY DEDICATED TO ST. WILFRID.

The first church built in Preston was built of (Getymbria) wood, of split oak, and covered with reeds; the wood was roughly hewed and carved, let into a sill, and a plate of iron at the bottom, and fastened with wooden pegs. This was gradually improved upon and brought forward; massy columns, semicircular arches, and diagonal mouldings, are all peculiar to the Saxon buildings. Archbishop Wilfrid, of York, repaired the church of Preston, in the year of Christ 700. This church was dedicated to St. Wilfrid, and consecrated by means of the holy eucharist being placed

There are four chapels of ease to the Parish church of St. John's, viz.-Brough. ton church, Grimsargh chapel, St. George's chapel, in the Friargate, and Trinity church. A mistake has arisen with respect to this, stating that St. Laurence's chapel was subject to Preston; whereas it is under the immediate patronage of the vicar of St. Michael's, but more properly speaking is a domestic chapel, belonging to -. Shuttleworth, Esq.