particular attention for its size, beauty, and antiquity, is constructed of Roman brick, to which age has given the appearance of stone. A stone screen, erected before the communion table, in 1461, is much admired for the richness and lightness of its sculpture. The tombs of the founder, Offa, and that of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, are shown here; and, not many years ago, the leaden coffin, containing the body of the latter, was opened, and the corpse found nearly entire. The Roman antiquities discovered on the site have been very numerous. The effect of the venerable abbey, when seen from a distance, is extremely imposing; situated upon an eminence, its massive towers rise majestically above the houses of the ancient town, which is well, known to have derived its first importance from the Romans, since which, it has increased chiefly under the protecting influence of successive abbots of this rich and powerful monastery. The prospect of its mouldering ruins, forces upon the mind a melancholy train of reflection on the instability of all human institutions. _Market_, Saturday.--_Fairs_, March 25 and 26; October 10 and 11, for horses, cows, sheep, and hiring servants.--_Inns_, Angel, and White Hart.--_Mail_ arrives 10.15 P.M. Departs 4.30 A.M. [Sidenote: Originally the British metropolis.] [Sidenote: King Offa's extraordinary vision, which induced him to build the abbey.] [Sidenote: St. Alban's body found after a lapse of 494 years; a golden circle placed round his head.] [Sidenote: Duke of Gloucester's body found nearly entire.] Map| Names of Places. |County.|Number of Miles From | +--+--------------------+-------+---------------+----------------+ 38|Albourn pa|Sussex |Hurst 2|Brighton 8| 33|Albrighton to & chap|Salop |Shrewsbury 4|Wem 7| 33|Albrighton pa|Salop |Shiffnall 6|Bridgnorth 10| 27|Alburgh pa|Norfolk|Harleston 3|Bungay 5| 31|Albury pa|Oxford |Tetsworth 3|Thame 4| +--+--------------------+-------+---------------+----------------+ |Dist. | Map| Names of Places. |Number of Miles From |Lond. |Population. +--+--------------------+-----------------------+------+---------+ 38|Albourn pa|Cuckfield 6| 42| 362| 33|Albrighton to & chap|Ellesmere 12| 157| 1054| 33|Albrighton pa|Wolverhamp 7| 137| 98| 27|Alburgh pa|Norwich 16| 103| 586| 31|Albury pa|Wheatley 3| 45| 239| +--+--------------------+-----------------------+------+---------+