Some twenty or thirty yards farther the road divides in twain—that upon the left being the great highway to Nantwich and London in the days when “_flying_ machines” went hence to the metropolis in _a couple of days_!—the disciples of Watt are now ready to convey us thither in six or seven hours! The right-hand road would lead us to Whitchurch and Shrewsbury, if we wanted to go there; but we have not yet done with “rare old Chester.” This little plot of land on the right is extra-parochial, forming part of that ancient Hospital for _Lepers_, the ancient lazar-house of St. Giles. In the ’SPITAL, as it is now by corruption called, George Marsh was burnt for his firm adherence to the Protestant faith in the days of Queen Mary; and in the little Cemetery of this Hospital, near which we are standing, his calcined remains now quietly rest “in sure and certain hope.” Beyond this lies the township of GREAT BOUGHTON, and a Chapel, once presided over by the Rev. P. Oliver, a somewhat celebrated nonconformist divine. Near this Chapel, in 1821, a Roman Altar was dug up, in splendid preservation, and about four feet high, bearing the following inscription:— NYMPHIS ET FONTIBUS LEG. XX. V.V. the which, being translated, would in English read thus—“To the Nymphs and Fountains, the 20th Legion, the invincible and victorious.” So much for BOUGHTON, and its past and present condition; we will now retrace our steps to the head of ST. JOHN STREET. Moving rapidly down this street, leaving behind us the POST OFFICE, and the entrance to the Blossoms Assembly Room, we pause before a house on our right-hand, approached by a flight of steps, and having a lofty stuccoed front. This is the MECHANICS’ INSTITUTION, and is consecrated to the instruction and healthy amusement of that important class of society whose name it bears. In addition to a Library, comprising several thousand volumes, this Institution enjoys the advantages of a News-Room, liberally supplied with the leading daily and weekly papers; together with sundry classes for the special behoof and instruction of the members. During the summer months also, members have the right of free admission to the WATER TOWER MUSEUM, which we described at some length in our “Walk round the Walls.” What a marvellous fact it is, that with these benefits within their reach so few mechanics, comparatively, avail themselves of this, _their own_ Institution! Beyond this lie the Schools and minister’s house of the Wesleyan Methodists, divided only by a path to the Walls from the WESLEYAN CHAPEL itself. The principles of Wesleyanism found their way into Chester as early as 1760, the first congregation being held at a house in Love Lane. Fifteen years afterwards, the Octagon Chapel in Foregate Street was erected for them, and continued to be their place of worship until the completion of the present edifice in 1811.