the surprising reverberations of sound that are produced amongst the mountains by its discharge.

"The cannon's roar

Bursts from the bosom of the hollow shore:

The dire explosion the whole concave fills,
And shakes the firm foundation of the hills.

Now pausing deep, now bellowing from afar,
Now rages near the elemental war:

Affrighted echo opens all her cells,

With gather'd strength the posting clamour swells,
Check'd or impell'd, and varying in its course,

It slumbers-now awakes with double force,
Searching the straight and crooked hill and dale,
Sinks in the breeze, and rises in the gale:

Chorus of earth and sky! the mountains sing,

And heaven's own thunders through the valleys ring."

"In no part of the world are tourists treated with more respectful attention, and on more reasonable charges, than at this health-restoring portion of the British empire."

TYNEMOUTH PRIORY,-NORTHUMBERLAND.

Early in the seventh century, Edwin, king of Northumberland, built a small chapel, of wood, at Tynemouth, in which his daughter Rosella took the veil. This humble structure, to which, however, the Priory of Tynemouth owed its origin, was rebuilt of stone, by St. Oswald, the successor of Edwin. It was dedicated to St. Mary; and, in the course of a few years, so great was the sanctity which it obtained, that the illustrious dead were brought from various parts to be interred within its sacred precincts. During the infuriated career of the Danes, this edifice, in common with most other religious houses and monasteries in the kingdom, was plundered and destroyed. Tostig, Earl of Northumberland, is said to have rebuilt the monastery from the foundations; and his successor, Waltheof, about 1074, gave it, with all its possessions, to the monks of Iarrow. In 1090, Earl Mowbray, a patron of this house, having conspired against William Rufus, converted the building into a fortress, which, after a siege of two months, was taken by storm. After an ineffectual attempt to secure his safety by flight, Mowbray returned to take refuge in the ruined sanctuary, whence he was dragged forth, and consigned to a dungeon.

Twice after this period, the Priory was subjected to spoliation and ravage: in 1306, by a victorious band of Northumbrians; and, in 1389, by the Scots, to whose trages the northern parts of England were so much exposed. A high degree of sanctity, however, continued to brood over the edifice; and it was not unfrequently the temporary residence of royalty. On the dissolution of religious houses, the prior of Tynemouth, making a virtue of necessity, surrendered his monastery; when an annual pension of £80 was assigned to him, and smaller stipends to the other members of the convent. The possessions of this richly-endowed priory were granted, by Edward VI., in 1550, to John

Dudley, then Earl of Warwick; but, on the attainder of that nobleman, they again reverted to the crown, and, in 1567, were enumerated among the queen's possessions in Northumberland.

Though sufficient is still remaining to show its former extent and grandeur, this beautiful structure has, since the dissolution, suffered greatly from the ravages of time and military occupations. "The little oratory of the Virgin, at the east end of the chancel, which, till of late years, was preserved in great perfection, has been converted into a magazine for military stores, and has had its windows walled up. The cemetery of this venerable ruin still continues to be used, by the parishioners of Tynemouth, as a place of burial. The remains of the priory stand at the east end of the town, on a peninsula formed of stupendous rocks, on the north side of the mouth of the Tyne, against which the heavy seas break with great vehemence and tumult." They are approached from the west by a square gateway, at the north-east corner of which is a circular exploratory turret. This tower has been modernized, and converted into barracks, capable of accommodating a considerable force. Tynemouth Castle (the title of Priory being now inapplicable) has been made a depôt for arms and military stores, under the superintendence of a governor and lieutenant-governor.

The dim obscurity which gathers upon the past, imparts to every thing that carries back its original to former times, a peculiar degree of interest, varying, it is true, in extent and character, with the nature of the subject by which it is called forth. The splendid and venerable ruin, shown in the Engraving, is a stupendous memorial of departed years. Whether it be viewed as the altar on which a maiden sacrificed her earthly hopes, thither led by an enthusiastic and mistaken zeal; or as the once impregnable fortress of an imperious churchman, who strangely blended piety with warfare, and religious services with the shock of arms-it calls up visions of other days, on which the poet, the philosopher, and the historian delight to dwell.

"Ruin sublime! Oh! who could gaze on thee

Untouched by tender thoughts, and glimmering dreams

Of long departed years?"—

INTERIOR OF THE CASTLE CHAPEL, NEWCASTLE.

The building of the Castle, and surrounding fortifications, at Newcastle, is ascribed, by historians, to William the Conqueror. It seems probable that he contemplated, and even commenced the work; but there is good reason to believe, that these erections were carried on and completed by William Rufus. According to some writers, Rufus was despatched by his father against an insurgent army, commanded by the Duke of Northumberland, who were then in possession of Prudhoe Castle, situated about ten miles west of Newcastle. Not thinking it advisable to commence the siege of that fortress till the ensuing spring, Rufus garrisoned his troops for the winter in Newcastle. He employed his soldiers, during this cessation of arms, in building the Castle; remarking on the occasion, "if we