One of the most celebrated of Lynn residents was, perhaps, the Rev. William Richards, M.D., who was for twenty years pastor of the General Baptist Church in that town. He commenced his career in Wales, not many miles from Haverford West. In 1773, at the age of 24, he entered the Bristol “Academy.” Two years later he became co-pastor at Pershore, with the late Dr. John Ash, author of the English Dictionary. Perhaps it was through contact with Dr. Ash that he first conceived the idea of writing his very popular Welsh-English Dictionary. In 1776, he settled at Lynn, and during his residence there wrote, besides many other works, a “History of Lynn” in two octavo volumes, printed in 1812, at Lynn, by W. G. Whittingham. He willed his library to the Brown University, Rhode Island, from which university he received his doctor’s degree. He died in 1818, in Wales, where for supposed unsoundness in the faith—a groundless charge, however—he suffered a good deal. Dr. Richards was a man of exemplary life, of much learning and of downright independence of judgment, and from all I can learn of him he deserved to be remembered at Lynn and throughout the country. Since his time, there has been advance in politics in Lynn, as well as elsewhere. When the judicious Dod published his _Electoral Facts_, the town had one newspaper—Conservative, of course—with a circulation of 654 copies; now it has a Liberal newspaper as well, and both papers enjoy a large circulation; and owing to the facilities afforded by the Great Eastern Railway, Lynn has its London morning papers down by nine o’clock. At the period of the passing of the Reform Act, Lynn had a voting force of 660. One of the best things I saw in Lynn, as I was groping my way in the uncertain light, was the fine schoolroom of the Congregational Church, filled with a cluster of clean, happy looking girls, all hard at work sewing. I knew no living soul. I felt I was an intruder, and popped out as speedily as I popped in; but I have the picture before me as I write, of happy girls under the sanction of the Christian Church, preserved from the contagion of the streets, learning to work. Christianity has been dogmatic long enough, a little mild and benevolent socialism will not do it much harm. This old world town may be described as a city of churches, and one of its most characteristic remains is Road Mount Chapel, a curious octangular structure containing a beautiful but tiny perpendicular apartment, that once contained the rood of our lady of Lynn. Every schoolboy knows how unwarily, King John nearly lost his life in crossing Lynn Wash, and did lose all his baggage, devoured by the unexpected flood. VIII. FRAMLINGHAM AND ITS CASTLE.