terest than Hampden, and it will amply repay a visit to it. It is about seven miles from High Wycombe.

I should be ungrateful if I did not make my acknowledgments to the kind-hearted rector of the parish who accompanied me to Hampden and Checquers, and who showed me the entry of the death of the celebrated patriot in the parish register. It is thought to have been an interpolation, having been probably entered some time after his death, although in the same handwriting as the other entries both before and after it. There were also in the same register some curious details of persons who died by the plague, or sickness, as it was then called.

Before I quit Hampden, I must draw the attention of the visitor to a noble lime-tree standing near the church. It is in full vigour, and the situation in which it is seen is quite perfect. Nothing incroaches upon it, and it may therefore be viewed in all its just proportions. The extremities of its branches extend thirty-six yards, and its girth is twenty-three feet. It is, without exception, the most perfect and beautiful tree of the kind I have yet seen. Indeed, till I had seen it, I had always believed that the lime-tree, supposed to have been the largest in England, was at Moor Park. There is one also, hardly excelled of the same species, at Mr. Heber's seat at Hodnett in Shropshire,

CHECQUERS.

Cromwell, our chief of men, who through a cloud
Not of war only, but detractions rude,
Guided by faith and matchless fortitude,
To peace and truth the glorious way hast plough'd.

MILTON.

THIS place, like Hampden, is in the Chiltern hundreds, and it took its name, as Lysons informs us, from one of its ancient lords, John de Scaccariis (or of the Exchequer), from whose family it passed to that of the Hawtreys. It afterwards came into the Russel family, one of whom was a lineal descendant of Oliver Cromwell, by the marriage of Sir John Russel with Lady Frances, the Protector's daughter, widow of Robert Rich, Esq. In consequence of this connection, it may readily be supposed that Checquers, like Hampden, is replete with pictures and circumstances having reference to the times of the Commonwealth.

Checquers is pleasantly situate amongst woods, and is about two miles from Hampden. On emerging from a wood at the back of the house, a fine view presents itself from a sort of downy

terrace, and from which, part of the rich vale of Aylesbury is seen, and also a portion of Oxfordshire, with churches and gentlemen's seats in the distance. An abrupt bank, or what is called a hog's back, extends some distance from the terrace, down the sides of which, and in the bottoms, there is a box-wood, evidently indigenous, and which flourishes with great luxuriance. It gives a pleasing feature to the land

scape.

Near the house there is a noble relic of an elm tree, called "King Stephen's tree," and which from its appearance, and great size and antiquity, may possibly have existed in that king's reign. Its circumference, as far as I could ascertain it, was about thirty-six feet. The elm is a very long lived tree, and as long as any part of it is left, it will continue to throw out branches, which is the case with the one in question. A fine old ash tree stands near it. The gardens are kept up with great care and neatness, and are such only as are seen in the possession of English country gentlemen.

The house, although not remarkable for any architectural beauty, is replete with what may be called real comfort. The gallery is very striking, and has an interesting collection of portraits, and and a fine collection of books and old china. Amongst the books is the bible of Charles the First. In a cabinet in an adjoining room are some

of the clothes of Oliver Cromwell, with his sword over the mantel-piece. There is a portrait of him and of Lady Claypole, and of other persons either belonging to or connected with his family.

Checquers, by the liberality of the amiable possessors of it, is, I believe, shown on two days of the week. It will well repay a visit to it, both on account of the historical associations connected with it, and the beauty of the scenery around it.

The lovers of antiquity may trace the earthworks not far from Checquers, on the side of the Chiltern hills, and the circular mound or keep, called Kimble castle.

POPE AND BINFIELD.

First in these fields I tried the sylvan strains,
Nor blush to sport on Windsor's blissful plains.

POPE.

THE fact may not have occurred to the notice of many persons, although it is curious and interesting, that from Windsor castle, the residences of three of our greatest poets may be seen -those of Milton, Pope, and Gray; and in the further distance of Richmond, the locality in which Thomson wrote his Seasons. Nor from the same spot can we fail to be reminded of that wonderful genius, and greatest of poets, the immortal Shakspeare, as we look down on the places he must have visited, and which were comprised in the scenes he so happily delineated in his Merry Wives of Windsor.

Having already shortly noticed the residences of two of the poets I have referred to, I will now proceed to give some account of Binfield. I was accompanied to this place by the same agreeable and intelligent companion, who added so much to my pleasure in viewing several other places of interest during my summer excursions. It was a smiling day; indeed just such a one as we could