ON THE CHARTERS OF CLEEVE ABBEY. 19 
suggested to me, however, by more than one, that the 
department to which I proposed to devote special atten- 
tion, that of the Archives, was still open to me, and that 
I should undertake an investigation which my residence in 
the metropolis, as well as other advantages, by opening to 
me the rich stores of our national depositories, afforded 
me peculiar facilities for pursuing to a successful issue. 
On this desire Ihave acted. But see to what it has re- 
duced me! I cannot now lead you by some green 
path in the glade, with the honeysuckle hedges in full 
perfume alongside of us, and discourse with you as we 
pause every here and there, where the solemn arches are 
rising above the covert, or where the ivy all but conceals 
the sculptured foliage or the benignant lineaments of some 
angel or angelice man. I cannot take you through some 
fair portal, or bid you mark the wondrous adaptation of 
some architeetural arrangement, or point out to your de- 
lighted eyes the rich curves of some superb moulding, the 
delicate crotchets of some ornamented niche, or the 
graceful tracery of some exquisite window. I cannot 
speak of the lights and shadows, the deep silence, the 
hallowed repose of a spot, dilecta tabernacula Domini, which, 
from times of old, religion has chosen for her home. Neither 
can I present you with a retrospect for your imagination 
to revel in, the imposing ceremonial of some early age, the 
prayers which irradiated the House where they were 
offered, or the music which carried the soul to Heaven. 
AU this I must leave to my more fortunate coadjutor. I 
have, however, to say a few words about, and to put into 
a literal English dress, those dozen or two documents, 
which, be it remembered, alone enable us to know for 
certain that these walls are the veritable remains of a 
House dedicated to God, and used for His service ; which, 
