The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1825-11-30
SatBceIIaMp.
From the New York Statesmen
LETTERS FROM EUROPE, No. xxx
DERBY, 25th AUG. 1895.

LETTERS FROM EUROPE, No. xxx.
DERBY, 25th AUG. 1895.
The coach arrived at Leicester at 8
o'clock in the evening of Monday, and
wishing to become acquainted with a
town, interesting from its antiquities and
its association with historical events, AS
well as from its present importance, we
appropriated day TO an examination of
the various objects it presents TO the
eye of traveller.
A friend first conducted US to the top
of fve-story warehouse, for the pur-
pose of giving us bird's-eye view of
the town and lite vicinity. The pros
pect from such a height was wide, vari-
ed and delightful. We looked down upon
Leicester, as upon picture, tracing
with the eye its streets, liz numerous
spires and turrets, its public ed6ces, the
great avenues leading to ii from all di-
rectiohs, the meanders of the river
Soar through the town, and the rural
enyirons, which extend far on every
side 10 gentle and verdant fluctuations.
It is large, we'll built place, with a
population of about $4,000. The hous-
es are almost entirely of brick, two and
three stories high. Many new buildings
are going up, and although the town is
said to have been founded long before
the Christian era, it is generally modern
in its appearance. The southern part
of it, bordering upon the London road,
and extending towards beautiful pro-
menade upon an eminence, which is
crowned with shady walks and CON-
mands fine view towards the west, has
been entirely added within few years.
Interspersed, however, with new hous-
es are several that are very ancient,
built in the oId-fashioned English style,
like those at Chester; and after all, the
venerable relics of other ages, still TO
be seen about Leicester, are among its
most attractive features.
Having obtained general idea of the
topography of the town from this lofty
observatory, and examined the splendid
show of articles which the warehouse
contains, being the largest in the place,
we commenced survey 10 detail, and
proceeded to the remains of an ancient
castle, which was built by the celebrat-
ed John o. Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster,
the story of whose gigantic height is
familiar to the reader. The ruin is en-
tered beneath lofty and we'll proper
toned arch, forming gateway to which
there was formerly port-cullis. A con-
siderable part of the fortress is yet
standing, although it has been sadly
mutlated in fitting it up as modern ar
mory for the county. lis walls are four
feet aud a half thick, composed of lime
stone laid in hard cement. On all
sides it was strongly barricaded, and rem
dered impregnable.
Among our first visits, was one to the
Roman Milestone, which is of undoubt-
ed authenticity, and forms curious rel
ic of the imperial couquerors of Britain.
1t was dug up many years ago, in an en-
tire state CT preservation, and has re-
Gently been incorporated into the shaft
of a pillar erected at the junction of two
of the principal streets. The inscrlp-
ton is considered the most ancient in
England, and, according TO the interpre-
tation of antiquaries, the translation is as
follows -" Hadrian Trajanus Augustus,
Emperor and Caesar, the son of the
most ilustrious Trajan Parthicus, in the
fourth year of his reign and the third
Consulate From Rata Che Roman
name for Leicester) two miles," The
place where it was found, aud where it
doubtless stood, corresponds, in its dis
tance from Leicester, with the inscrip-
ton, and thus establishes the ancien;
appellation of the town, as well as the
fact that it was Roman station of im-
portance.
In beautiful situation upon the i'm
mediate banks of the Soar is an extern
sive manufacturing establishment, which
in point of convenience and beauty is
decidedly the finest we have seen in
England. The grounds and gardens
around it are laid out with much taste
and in entering the gate to serpentine
gravel walk, bordered by trees and
flowers, one would suppose he was APP
preaching an elegant private residence,
instead Of mandatory of suspenders,
comfortables, and variety of small ar