opposite ground forming an angle of about forty degrees, so that the top level of the ground on each side would be the same, and the excavation invisible until one is close to it.

This was a pet plan of mine, and I was constantly advocating it, but I discovered that there were certain difficulties which at that time made it impossible of fulfilment.

At last these difficulties were overcome, and some three years ago, it was with pleasure and gratification I heard from the vicar of Stoke (November 17th, 1887) that "an additional piece of ground to the churchyard had the day before been consecrated, and instead of the old iron rails for fence, we have now a sunken fence of flint stones with ditch, and a most beautiful lychgate, the latter the gift of Mr. Gilliat, designed by Mr. J. Oldrid Scott. You, of all others, will be pleased to see the great improvement."

Fully appreciating, as I do, the importance of the alteration thus announced, I consider that all who take an interest in the church of Gray's immortal "Elegy," are under obligations to Mr. Algernon Gilliat, and the owner of Stoke Park, and all others who have assisted in the good work.

Passing through this new lych-gate, the beautiful churchyard is entered. All who know that sad but exquisite "Elegy," must feel the keenest interest kindle when standing in that calm, quiet, solitary "God's-acre "—

"Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap."

Near the east window of the ivy-covered church there is an ancient tomb, where lie the remains of the poet, his mother, and his aunt. Close by the gabled porch is an aged yew tree, which, no doubt, gave expression to Gray's words, "that yew tree's shade;" and there under and around it are the old graves where—

Each in his narrow cell for ever laid,

The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep."

Every visitor, after inspecting the church, should go to the extreme south-west corner of the churchyard, and, standing back to the wall, look at the church from there, especially at its grand and strikingly-beautiful gabled roof.

With regard to the church, there is yet one improvement I should like to see carried out, one which I shall strive to keep before those

who might be likely to undertake it. I want to see the wooden spire removed. It is modern, probably erected about seventy years ago, is quite out of place, and thoroughly destroys the original character of the church. I remember once seeing a charming drawing by Birket Foster, in which the church is without the spire, the gain in picturesqueness being most obvious.

Burnham Beeches: The Drive from Stoke Poges Church-Richard Brinsley Sheridan and George Grote " History Hut" -- The Beeches Unique-The Reason for this-An interesting Point-My first Visit with the Camera-Negatives taken-The Age of the Beeches considered in a Letter to the Times-A Discovery-The Beeches put up for Sale-Subsequently bought by the Corporation of the City of London-Girth of some of the Trees" Autumn" blown down-Lines by Henry Luttrell and Mortimer Collins—A Mistake in the Management.

Stoke Poges

IT is a a beautiful drive from Church to the beeches-an example again of the charming Buckinghamshire lanes: how bright and beautiful are the hedgerows and banks, and how glorious are the wild flowers! Scarcely anywhere can be seen such a wealth of the dog-rose and honeysuckle.

After passing through Farnham Royal, a short drive, East Burnham is reached, where are two houses of historic interest-East Burnham House (formerly East Burnham Cottage), and History Hut. Mr. James Thorne in his

“Handbook to the Environs of London," says, "It was to East Burnham Cottage to which Richard Brinsley Sheridan brought his lovely young bride (Miss Linley) after their furtive flight to Paris, and from which several of his letters, printed in Moore's 'Life of Sheridan,' are addressed. This house was purchased by George Grote in the spring of 1838, when it was enlarged and other land added to it, and then it became East Burnham House. It was in this house Grote 'laid out the scheme' of his ' History of Greece,' and wrote a large part of it. Here he resided until 1852, when, writes Mrs. Grote in her 'Collected Papers,' 'I caused a small Elizabethan house to be built in Popple's Park, and also a range of farm buildings and a labourer's cottage." The house was built from the profits accruing from the "History," and hence was playfully named History Hut. The Grotes sold the property in January, 1858, after having resided in the hamlet, with one short interval, for twenty years.

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Within a short distance of East Burnham House are the beeches, and immediately on entering the forest, some of the largest of the old trees are seen.