Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1870-10-01
Letter from Rev. Mr.. McGiffert.
NUMBER NINE
EpINBuRGn. Scni. 9Th. 1870

ter tour on the Continent, almost thinks him
self at home again when he steps on English
soil To hear on every side the "tonguc In
which he was born," to be compelled no Ion.
ger TO quote Italian from his guide.book, or to
make known his wants in broken German, or
excreabIc French, and wonder that he is not
understood; to lay aside gestures and motions,
and find his ewn speech answers his purpose,
removes the most apparent and constant evil
dence that he is a stranger in strange land.
True, he is not long in learning that this old
Country is not young America and he finds
himself still amidst institutions and customs
which leads him TO prize more highly
the land of his birth; but 1t is strange relief
to speak to any one we may chance to meet,
and receive an intelliglble answer
will not detain your readers with an ac-
count Of my second visit to London; but will
note only some of the objects of interest at
points which did not visit on the outward
journey. The course which we took through
England ON our return, lay south of our for.
mer course; through Oxford, Birmingham
and Chester to Liverpool. Oxford is known
in America, as in England, Us the city of cob
leges, and the chief object of the traveller, as
he stops here, is to become acquainted with
these schools of world wide reputation The
colleges number 10, besides halls, which arc
smaller colleges. Each college has its own
corps of Professors. and its separate buildings,
chapel dining-hall etc. but all are connected
under one government, and together consti-
tute the Oxford University. Some of the col
leges are OF venerable anliquity dating back
to the time OF William the COnqucror; while
there is fondly cherished tradition that tue
University was founded by Alfred the Great
In connection with the University is the Bod
leicon Library, containing near 100000 vols.
Here are manuscripts of great antiquity, dating
back to the eighth century; also copies of the
first printed books, besides the work of modern
authors. The Library receives copy of ev-
cry book printed in England, and purchases
are made oi the books ol foreign countries.
But to us, there was something more inter
esting in Oxford than its famous schools and
libraries. It's name has been made precious
to the Christian heart, through the martyrs of
the time OF Qleen Mary, who here gave up
their lives for faith We visited the Hall
where the chief of these martyrs were tried,
and stood on the spot where it is said the
stake was reared to which Ridley and Latimer
were bound. A stone cross in the pavement
marks the spot. A monument is erected at
little distance, bearing the names of Cranmer,
Ridley and Latimer. the street being too mar
row at the place Of execution. Did sad and
solemn thoughts rush through the mind as |
stood, in Paris, on the spot where Louis of
France and Marie Antoinetc were executed
at the behest of an angry Republic? far
more sacred place was the stone cross in the
pavement at Oxiord. For the sufferers in the
Place de Ia Concorde were representatives OF
the earthly kingly authority, martyrs to their
own power and glory; but here men died for
the King of Kings, martyrs TO that precious
faith which shall last when the thrones of this
world are in ruins The great names of The
past are not thosewhose deeds and sufferings
fill the pages of The historian and novelist;
but those who spoke and died for Christ,
whose record is on high.
A short distance from Oxford we come to
Warwick, interesting chiefly for its ancient
castle, now the residence of the Earl of War
wick; which is in perfect preservation. Near
Warwick are the Ruins of Kenilworth, ia
nous in the annals of Queen Elizabeth and
her predecessors and made so familiar TO most
readers by the writings of Walter Scott. We
come next TO Stratford on Avon, a country
town not much largerthan our own the birth
place of Shakespeare. We rested here over
the Sabbath, attending service in the church
in which his remains are buried. The house
in which he was born--traditionally. al least
is in good preservation, having been purchas-
ed by the town. We walked across the fields,
through lanes and hedges, to the hamlet of
Shottery, where Ann Hatha ways cottage still
stands. And we thought how often the young
poets feet must have passed over these same
lanes as he was preparing the way for taking
Ann as his bride.
Chester, in North Wales, is one of the old
est cities in England; dating back TO the con-
quest by the Romans. Portions OF the old
Roman wall still exist, and many Roman Gu
riosiiies, among them coins bearing date of
the End century have been discovered. A Ro-
man bath is shown said to he in good preser-
walton; we suppose il is, but il needed strong
imagination 10 see in it anything but cellar
with pit on one side. Chester is an exceed
ingly quaint city, surrounded by wall, which
constitutes the only perfect specimen of these
ancient fOrtfcations in England. A fOot-path
extends on the top of the wall around the
city Many of the houses were built in the
Middle Ages, and arc high, unsghtly struc-
tIres. The second story projects over the
street, forming what the inhabitants call
"Rows" Chester is especially famous in con-
ncction with the war between Charles l.,
and the Parliament From an old tower,
which every stranger visits, the King beheld
the engagement in which his army was final
iy routed. The house 10 which he resided
during the siege is shown, and is anything
but kingly palace.
Our last point IN England was its Chief COM
mercial city-Liverpool There is little here
of interest save the incessant rush of business,
which reminds us SO vividly of our own New
York. The inhabitants point with just pride
to their famous stone docks, which extend
some seven miles. and present striking contrast
to the wooden docks of our great American
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