The Coach. 179 



he had probably only the sing-song Chinese fiddle to 

 console him ! I forget, he had the gongs, and a set of 

 fine gongs of different tones make most suggestive 

 music, as I have discovered. 



The position of Lichfield Cathedral is peculiarly 

 fine. Three sides of the square surrounding it are occu- 

 pied by splendid ecclesiastical buildings connected with 

 the diocese, including the bishop's palace. A beautiful 

 sheet of water lies upon the lower side, so that nothing 

 incongruous meets the eye. 



We obtained there a better idea of the magnitude 

 of the church establishment and its to us seemingly 

 criminal waste of riches than ever before. To think of 

 all this power for good wasting itself upon a beggarly 

 account of empty benches, the choir outnumbering the 

 congregation ! 



We had ordered the coach to come and await us at 

 the cathedral, but had not expected Perry to drive up 

 to the very door. There the glittering equipage was, 

 however, surrounded by groups of pretty, rosy children 

 and many older people gazing respectfully. There is 

 something about a well-appointed coach and four which 

 is calculated to puff a man up with vanity. I remem- 

 ber I had been absorbed in the service, and afterward in 

 wandering about the cathedral had had my thoughts 

 carried back to India. I was again in the crowded 

 streets of Benares mounted upon the richly caparisoned 

 elephants of the Rajah, and anon strolling upon the 



