meeting-house, or hall, for the glaziers, plumbers, pewterers, and painters.

We then come to Ever Tower, and the intervening distance is ninety-nine yards.

The next on the walls is Andrew Tower, and the distance from Ever Tower is one hundred yards. It probably derived its name from its vicinity to St. Andrew's church.

The next tower was built over New-yate, or Newgate. This has been one of the principal passages through the walls, and in consequence strongly fortified. It probably derived the name of New-gate from its being built on the fite of an old one, which appears to have been called Berwick-gate. There is fome rude sculpture on the north fide of the gate; there are also three ancient shields of arms, St. George's cross-arms of England, with the fleurs de lis femee-and the Newcastle arms.

A French antiquary, Troissart, tells us, that the bishop of Durham, going with a strong body of troops to join the English army then marching against the Scots, when a bloody battle was fought at Otterburn, issued out of Newcastle at Berwick-gate, now Newgate. This memorable battle was fought in the year 1388.

There is a statue over the gate, in royal attire, with a truncheon or fceptre in its hand, and a crown upon its head; it is within a niche, or arch, of Roman architecture, and is supposed to have been placed there in commemoration of James I. who paffsed through Newcastle on his way to London, at his acceffion to the throne.

Here is the common prison, which is very strong: the condemned hold is truly frightful. The amia

ble

ble philanthropist, Howard, disapproves of this prifon, both for its fituation and inconvenience; but applauds the benignity of the late worthy Sir Walter Blackett, out of the rents of whose ample estate this place of confinement is plentifully supplied with coals. The names of the respective gaolers are uninteresting; sufficient is it to add, that they have in general been men of humanity and sympathy towards those who were configned to their care by the laws.

Mr. Brand observes, that Newgate seems to have been built before Newcastle was made a county of itself, and took custody of its own prisoners, who, no doubt, before that time, were confined in the old castle of the town, in common with other delinquents of the county of Northumberland. The additional wings or flanks, on each side of the fouth front of this structure, appear to have been erected about the beginning of the last century: the portcullis of this gate still remains entire.

The common-council of Newcastle, in the year 1676, appointed a minister to read prayers every Wednesday and Friday, and to preach a fermon to the unfortunate prisoners there once a month, granting, for such benevolent services, an annual falary of ten pounds.

In the year 1765, a foot-way was opened into Sidgate, on the east fide of Newgate, through the town wall, for the convenience of the public; the passage through Newgate being, especially in winter, dark, dangerous, and nafty.

The next place of strength to Newgate is Bertram-Mowboucher Tower; the distance between them is one hundred and twenty-fix yards. The name is evidently derived from Bertram Mowboucher, who was repeatedly high sheriff of Northumberland. The names of public benefactors are justly perpetuated, and defervedly and gratefully remembered.

The next is Ficket Tower, and measures, from the last mentioned, one hundred and thirty-two yards. This tower has nothing remarkable to claim our notice.

The next worthy of mention is Pilgrim-street Gate, and the distance from Ficket Tower is 137 yards. This being one of the most public gates of the town, towards the north, and from whence the greatest danger generally came, was, accordingly, strongly fortified. As dividing one of the most spacious and longest streets of Newcastle, the view of this gate has an unpleasing effect, for as trade and business increased, large carriages, waggons, &c. find it very difficult to pass. It is remarkable, that the inhabitants of this street, some years since, petitioned the town-council for liberty to pull down the gate, which, it feems, was refused. Since then the inhabitants of Pilgrim and Northumberland streets have been applied to by the magistrates to remove the same gate, and defray the expence, but they, on their part, refused to comply with these proposals. It was called, says Bourne, Pilgrim-ftreet, from the great number of pilgrims, who, in the days of fuperstition, lodged in this street, coming from every part of the kingdom to vifit the shrine of the Virgin Mary at Jesmond. Over the gate is the hall of the joiners, who repaired it in the year 1716.

Next is Carliol Tower. From Pilgrim-street gate to this tower is one hundred and fifty-seven yards.

Three

Three smaller ones intervene between these two large towers. Here is the weavers' hall.

The next is Austin Tower. This was built by the friars of St. Augustine, and the order went by that name. It seems to have been erected in the reign of Edward I. The hall is the meeting-house of the mafons' society. From Carliol Tower to Auftin Tower is one hundred and fifty-seven yards.

The next is Corner Tower. The distance from Austin Tower to Corner Tower is one hundred and thirty-two yards. From this last to Pandon Gate is ninety-five yards. From Pandon Gate to the Carpenter's, or Wall Knoll Tower, is ninety-five yards, This was evidently of Roman architecture, as the Roman wall ran cross here, by the Low-bridge, St. Nicholas' church-yard, and through Westgate, &c, as has been already observed.

From Carpenter's Tower to Sand-Gate is the diftance of two hundred and thirty-two yards. It was at this gate that the east end of a strong wall, which ran parallel with the river Tyne, joined to Sandgate, and formed an angle. That gate was taken down in the year 1798, by order of the magistrates, to widen the street, which, on account of the vast number of carriages, was exceedingly inconvenient and dangerous to foot paffengers. The wall along the Quayfide had many gates, opposite to the several chares, or lanes, leading into the town. These gates were very strong, and were all shut every night, excepting two, which were left open for seamen, keel. men, &c. and these were well guarded.

It was observed by Mr Milbank, in the MSS which he left, that between each of these large towers there were generally two lesser ones, of a square form, with

the

the effigies of men cut in stone upon their tops, as in a watching posture, and they were called Garrets, having square holes, or apertures, through which to discharge arrows, ftones, and other missiles, at a befieging enemy.

Such is a general account of the once famous walls, inclofing the town and county of Newcastle upon Tyne, being about two miles in length. Leland, in his Itinerary, says, they were the strongest and most magnificent of almost any in Europe. This is poffibly faying too much; but, from what remains of them any way entire, they must have been exceedingly strong, and perfectly capable of fetting at defiance any enemy, before the invention of artillery. They were at once the ornament and security of the town. The eye of the antiquary surveys them with complacency: the architect applauds the maffive ftones, compact cement, iron cramps, folid and strong gates, portcullises of iron, &c. that have once composed this mighty barrier. Curiosity views the majestic ruins with delight, whilst the delicate valetudinary, panting for breath, reprobates them, as obstructing the more free circulation of the ambient air. The man of business wishes them level with the ground, as hindering the passage of his waggons, transporting valuable bales of goods from one part of the island to another. But, some centuries ago, had they then lived within their bounds, had they seen the adjacent fields gleaming with hostile arms, while masses of stone, arrows, and other weapons of destruction, in vain were hurled at their gates, and the daring invaders repelled by the courage and resolution of the wardours of the respective towers; they would have viewed these noble efforts of patriotic

art