176 Four-in-Hand in Britain. 



taste if quietly ignored, but then it would be so finely 

 natural if put in. Well, I shall be natural or nothing, 

 and recount that I could not help rejoicing that Jessie 

 was Scotch, and that Scotchmen first broke the rebel 

 lines and reached the fort, and that the bagpipes led the 

 way. That's all. I feel better now that this also is set 

 down." 



In Lichfield cathedral are seven very fine stained- 

 glass windows which were found stowed away in a 

 farm-house in Belgium, and purchased by an English 

 gentleman for ;^200, and now they rank among the most 

 valuable windows in the world. What a pity that the 

 treasures wantonly destroyed during the Reformation 

 had not found similar shelter, to be brought from their 

 hiding-places once more to delight us ! 



We heard service Saturday morning, and mourned 

 over the waste of exquisite music — twenty-six singers in 

 the choir and only ten persons to listen in the vast 

 cathedral, besides our party. It is much the same 

 throughout England. In no case during week days did 

 we ever see as many persons in the congregation as in 

 the choir. Surely the impressive cathedrals of England 

 are capable of being put to better uses than this. It 

 seems a sin to have such choirs and not conduct them 

 in some way to reach and elevate greater numbers. In 

 no building would an oratorio sound so well. Why 

 should not these choirs be made the nucleus for a cho- 

 rus in every district, and let us have music which would 



