From this anecdote of civil discord we are led to contemplate the more rationally excited bravery of the present times, by the sight of the old colours of the 17th or Leicestershire regiment of foot, which are suspended over the royal arms at the east end of nave. They were presented to the corporation by Lieut. Col. Stovin, of that regiment, and how much their intrepid defenders suffered in guarding them, may be known from their worn and tattered appearance. As it is the most curious and useful branch of antiquarian research to read the manners and sentiments of an age in its public solemnities and pastimes, we will not leave the church without a wish for a better investigation of an obscure and singular custom, that antient carnival of Leicester, "_the riding the George_." The horse of this chivalrous saint, which, when the reformation had overthrown the monkish mummeries that so inconsistently blended religion with pastime, was sold for twelve pence, stood at the west end of the south aisle, harnessed in all the trappings of Romish splendor. Notice of the day appointed for this festivity was annually given by the master of St. George's Guild; sports of every variety animated the town, and that the jubilee, was, in the strictest sense _general_, is proved from the summons issued in the 17th of Edward the fourth, ordering _all_ the inhabitants to attend the mayor, to _ride the George_. Mention of the celebration is recorded so late as the 15th of Henry the eighth. The stranger who is an admirer of sacred harmony will not pass without particular notice, the Organ of St. Martin's. A spirited subscription in 1774, furnished the church with this noble ornament. It was built by the celebrated Snetzler, and esteemed one of the best specimens of his art. It has three sets of keys, from F in alt, to GG. The stops in the great organ are, the stopped diapason, two open diapasons, flute, and principal, trumpet and baffoon, all entire, the 12th, 15th, sesqui-altera, cornet and clarion. In the ch. organ, are two diapasons and principal. In the swell two diapasons, principal, hautboy and trumpet. A range of antient stone building bounding the west side of the church yard is an hospital founded about the year 1516, by W. Wigston, Merchant of the staple at Calais, and mayor of Leicester, for 12 men and 12 women, their pay about 3s. weekly. It has a master and confrater. The Chapel has a large gothic window of painted glass. On the north side of the hospital is a building called _the Town Library_, established 1632 by the corporation, at the motion of the then bishop of Lincoln. It consists of about 948 vols. chiefly the Latin classics and historians, to which no modern additions whatever have been made.