be estimated at more than £23,000. per annum, while its annual expenditure amounts to £27,000. Still the society continues to enlarge the sphere of its operation, in the full assurance that the deficiencies will be supplied by the liberality of the British nation.

THE BIBLE SOCIETY.

In the year 1804, the British and Foreign Bible Society was established, and recommended to public patronage and support. Lord Teignmouth, a nobleman of distinguished manners, talents, and virtues, was appointed president. Various auxiliary societies, following the example of the parent society, were established in most of the considerable towns in the united kingdom. An earnest desire was felt by many inhabitants of this town to form an auxiliary society for the isle of Ely: their wishes were communicated to the earl of Hardwicke, the lord lieutenant of the county, who readily promised to give the society his support, and his lordship accordingly attended a public meeting at Wisbech in the month of May 1813, when he condescended to accept the office. of president; the meeting was most numerously attended, and several animated speeches delivered. From that period, the society has continued, and seems to acquire additional vigour. The distribution, from the formation to the year 1826, makes a general total of 6,755 bibles and testaments circulated by the society from the commencement of its labours. The president and vicepresidents are at this time as follows:

PRESIDENT,

The Rt. Hon. the Earl of Hardwicke.

VICE-PRESIDENTS,

The Hon. and Rt. Rev. the Lord Bishop of Kildare. The Rt. Hon. Lord Francis Godolphin Osborne, M.P. The Rt. Hon. Lord Viscount Milton, M.P.

The Rev. R. Chatfield, LL.D.

Thomas Clarkson, Esq. Playford Hall, Suffolk.
The Rev. George King, Prebendary of Ely.
William Dunn Gardner, Esq. of Chatteris.
The Rev. Richard Dods, Rector of Fleet.
William Watson, Esq. High Bailiff of the Isle of Ely.
Jonathan Peckover, Esq. of Wisbech.

COURT OF REQUESTS.

An act of parliament was obtained in the year 1748, for establishing such court for the isle of Ely, for the recovery of small debts under forty shillings, which act was obtained through the exertions of a former vicar, Dr. Warren, afterwards bishop of Bangor. Commissioners are appointed, and sit at Wisbech the second Friday in every month. These courts, though they have some conveniences, are not approved by all, as the basis of the decisions is laid on wrong principles, the interested oath of the plaintiff being decisive, and the defendant being called on to prove perjury, or in other words, to prove a negative, which is an absurdity. At this time there is a bill before parliament "for preventing "Delays and Expenses in the Proceedings of County "Courts, and for the easy and more speedy Recovery of "Small Debts in England and Wales," which, it is conceived, will be attended with general utility, by taking cognizance of all actions of debt, which shall not exceed £10.

A LITERARY SOCIETY

was established in the town in the year 1781.

The

subscribers are about eighty-four. A room is appropriated for reading at the house of Mr. Henry Leach, the librarian. Every person, on being admitted into the society, pays £3. 3s. as his right to a share in the library, the books were in besides the sum of £1. 1s. as an annual subscription. High .50ean

A

The library consists of more than 2,500 volumes. president is annually elected, which appointment has been held for twenty-one years by the Rev. Jeremiah Jackson, to whom the subscribers at large are indebted for his indefatigable exertions, and to whose attention to the library, it is a satisfaction to bear a grateful testimony.* The collection of books is constantly receiving augmentation by publications of merit in the various departments of literature and science.

This respected gentleman, having removed from Wisbech, declined the office for which he was so well qualified, when the following resolution was entered at the annual meeting on 3d August 1826: 66 Resolved, "that this meeting, while they regret the retirement of the Rev. J. "Jackson from the office of president of this institution, feel a pleasure "in recording their unanimous and most cordial thanks to him for his "long, able, and zealous attention to the interest and prosperity of the

society, and for his uniform courtesy to the different members:"—and William Watson, F.A.S. was nominated president in his room for the year ensuing. This society originated at a private meeting of a few friends at the house of Jonathan Peckover, esq. before mentioned, whose name is too well known and respected in Wisbech and its neighbourhood to need any eulogium, either upon his private virtues, or for the patronage he affords to scientific pursuits. The compiler has been favoured with the original note which led to this institution, conveying an invitation to certain gentlemen to meet at the Rose and Crown inn, for the purpose of establishing a well chosen library, on a permanent and increasing plan, dated 29th March 1781, and signed by the following gentlemen:

THE BANK

at Wisbech is conducted by Messrs. Gurneys and Peckovers, a most respectable firm, who have acquired and long retained what they justly merit,-the highest degree of commercial confidence and respectability, both in the town and neighbourhood; their bills are made payable at the house of Messrs. Barclay, Tritton, and Co. London.

THE SEMINARIES

are numerous, besides the grammar school, so that ignorance cannot be said to be fostered by this part of the community. The greatest facilities are, in fact, given to the acquisition of knowledge among all classes, and the instructors of youth are held in due estimation, as among the most useful members of society.

ASSEMBLIES

are held in the winter season at the Rose and Crown inn, which has been a place of public reception and entertainment for nearly four hundred years. It was originally known by the sign of the Swan,* and afterwards of the Horn, a figure of which is still to be seen on one of the outbuildings, erected in 1601.

THE THEATRE

is situated nearly in the centre of the town, and is well adapted for the purpose. It was built in the year 1793,

See deed, dated 17th August 1471, p. 297.

previous to which, a building in Pickard's Lane, now belonging to Jonathan Peckover, esq. since converted into a barn, was used for theatrical purposes. A large building also, on the Sutton road, was afterwards used for the like purpose, previous to the present erection in Deadman's Lane. The very respectable manager, Mr. Robertson, pays his annual visit to the inhabitants in the spring season.

THE POST OFFICE

is situated in a central situation in Hill Street, and shuts every day at four P.M. but the bags are not closed until half-past four. The mail, when not retarded by the weather, arrives from the south about eight in the morning, every day except Monday, and no post sets out for the south on Saturday. The mail is at present brought from Huntingdon by a cart.*

The town possesses convenient modes of travelling.-Coaches go daily to London in twelve hours. The Defiance leaves Wisbech every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday morning at seven A.M. and the Day, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning at the like hour, the former from the New Inn, and the latter from the White Hart. The time for leaving London is eight o'clock, the Defiance from the Golden Cross, Charing Cross, and the Day from the Belle Sauvage, Ludgate Hill. Two coaches also pass daily through Wisbech to and from Norwich and Stamford; a branch from which is established to Boston. By these conveyances a convenient communication is formed between the eastern and northern districts of the kingdom. The fares are as follow ;

A packet, called the Nene Packet, belonging to Messrs. Simpson and

Co. Peterborough, arrives from Peterborough every Tuesday and Friday, and