according to a nursery rhyme of the neighbourhood forty years since, have some features of interest independent of the not usual number of three places of the same name, occupying a parallel line in a hilly quarter. Little Brickhill was "their ruler," having been the assize town of Buckinghamshire for a considerable portion of the seventeenth century, a fact but little known in the immediate vicinity, and scarcely making its way in any historical allusions respecting this county; and the cause is still more unknown, at least as far as the writer has ever been able to gather any information on the subject. It must be supposed therefore to be dependent on its having been situated on the great road from London at that time-the old Coventry and Shrewsbury. Yet then, again, it stood on the extreme limit of the county, only three-fourths of a mile from Bedfordshire, and a grievous distance from several other parts. Stony or even Fenny Stratford, further on, would have appeared more eligible.

The market then was perhaps in existence as a fair, or the ghost of one, as now; but from every probable indication it did not then contain 150 houses; it now has not 100, forming, however, rather a town-like street, rising up a hill crowned by the church. The jail was in the road leading to Great Brickhill, and the gallows on the heath leading to Woburn; of an assize hall I do not know that any trace exists. The parish register gives the number of forty-two executed criminals in a smaller number of years; a sad record, but not worse than thirty or twenty-five years ago, when hanging for the offence of horsestealing existed here and in Bedfordshire to a shocking degree. Unless

GENT. MAG. VOL. XXXI.

there be a parallel instance at Wilton, I do not know another such village, a quondam assize town 200 years ago, south of the Tweed.

The railway here has "done a little wrong;" some folks, as in other parts, think it a great one. The " оссираtion's gone.' Twelve inns, including two posting ones, and the celebrated George," are reduced to seven, with no posting unless by previous advice; and thirty-three coaches daily to none, and a waggon or two, now looked upon as "somethings."

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The church is an ordinary sized one, and never could have belonged to a large town. It has two aisles, with four arches, I believe early Gothic, and neat octagonal piers; a chancel, rebuilt in brick, probably about 200 years ago; and a small south chancel, called the "lord's aisle;" a small chapel on the north side of the nave was pulled down 100 years back. The tower, at the west end, is rather picturesque, the remainder of the exterior having been neatly modernised. It has very heavy buttresses, yet is scarcely safe. Four bells were formerly in the belfry, of which one has disappeared, and another is slightly cracked, with a little or "saint's" bell.

I have pleasure in adding that the venerable perpetual curate, the Rev. E. Jones, a kind-hearted man, who has been minister of this parish (a "peculiar" of the Primate) about forty-five years, has let some garden ground to the poor, at the very moderate rate of 6s. per half rood, or 48s. per acre. For, when such things are let at 47. or upwards an acre, as we read of in the newspapers, it impairs much of the graciousness of the act, and might unjustly impugn its disinterestedness.

The "Shire Oak," which divides the counties, is a small tree, but apparently centuries old, and likely to last others.

At Bow Brickhill, the hill on which the church towers is five hundred and ninety-nine feet above the level of the sea, the precise height of Fairlight hill, near Hastings. A grove of firs, which relieved it at the back, has been

unfortunately cut down. This church can be seen in many directions, including below Northampton about 30 miles off: when the Ordnance survey was made some years ago tents were pitched in the churchyard; and a large gilt globe was placed on the tower as an object by Mr. Fairey, steward to the Duke of Bedford, but fell into decay. Unless, however, at sun-rise and set, the view, which includes about fifty churches, is not striking. The church, i. e. the old part, standing in a fairsized churchyard, is decent, with two aisles, a small chancel, and a tower. A popular preacher ten years ago, who attracted a numerous congregation from neighbouring parishes, had a new aisle built, in the neatest style of ugliness imaginable, which now is of little use to the quiet population. The village, sloping down the hill, and containing with the parish 400 inhabitants, has little remarkable. A parochial chapel formerly stood in the green, and the church was empty, only being used for occasional services, but was refitted in the time of the celebrated antiquary, Browne Willis.

Great Brickhill, not much larger than the other two, is also commandingly situated, and particularly neat. The road from Little Brickhill is very romantic, and a place for "gypsying." The church here is of unusual shape, having three aisles, without a clerestory or transepts, but the tower in the centre, and the aisles continued half way along the chancel. The exterior is neat, with substantial battlements; and the churchyard very pretty, with a time-honoured appearance. In the tower are six bells; tenor nearly fifteen hundred-weight, the most harmonious in the immediate neighbourhood; and a sanctus bell of superior tone. The interior was well repaired, pewed, and ornamented, with a spacious gallery, twenty years ago, at a cost of 1,2007. by P. D. P. Duncombe, esq. lord of the manor, who has since erected a village school. In the south aisle are two handsome mural monuments. Here is a famous set of singers, in an excellent old style; some of whom have been performers for fifty years, singing psalms and anthems, with their instruments-clarionet, bass viol (the old viol de gamba), &c., and chanting the "Benedictus," "Magnificat," &c.

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quite equal to an organ. The rector, Sir H. Foulis, Bart., who has lately succeeded to the title, without additional revenues, and prebendary of Lincoln, is a rural dean, and very attentive to the churches in his walk; and, what is better still, possesses the title of benevolence from his poorer parishioners and the public in general.

Wavendon. The chancel here has just been rebuilt, through the liberality of Mr. Burney, the present rector. Mr. Fisher, the late incumbent, some of whose poetical works have been reviewed in your Miscellany, sleeps near the east end, externally. "No stone marks the spot ;" but probably his family or friends will still erect one. Of the interior, the late Sir Henry Hugh Hoare observed that the lofty arches, with clustered columns, not a common thing in this part of Bucks, or Beds either, were "the best he had ever seen in a village." He purchased many of the wainscot fittings of old Saint Dunstan's, Fleet Street; and for his liberal contributions to the rebuilding they presented him with the rich inlaid pulpit, which is accordingly here. Part of the altar-piece forms a screen for the tower, and the remainder will be placed in the chancel.* The tower is pretty large and conspicuous, and contains four coarse-toned bells, tenor seventeen hundred-weight.

The Heath in this parish and Bow Brickhill-the Wavendon portion purchased of the poor for 100 tons of coals yearly by the Duke of Bedfordcommands some fine prospects. Service is now performed in a schoolroom at Hogstye End, on Woburn Sands. An account of Aspley may be seen in your Magazine for Jan. 1845.

Buckinghamshire is one of two or three counties only in England which has no town with more than one church, i. e. an ancient parochial one. This is strange, as it has two county towns, and a considerable number of others of old rank and repute. Bedford, with five churches, formerly seven; and Huntingdon, with formerly fourteen, and still four parishes, in an extremely small county; are decided

*Since the above was written, a paragraph has appeared in the Builder, stating that Wavendon church is now being pulled down for rebuilding.