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and niece of the late Miss Catherine Sayer, whose property the deceased lady and her sister were the chief inheritors of. The elder Miss Sayer was as noted for her benevolence as her nieces have subsequently been, although in a different manner and with different surroundings. She was also remarkable for her activity in her old age and for her courteous and chatty demeanour towards those of an inferior status. The writer remembers receiving a small silver coin from the old lady which she said she had picked up in crossing what used to be the field between Blackland's Farm and Breed's Barn, or between nearly what are now Baldslow ​road​ and Laton ​road​. "Take the money" said the affable Miss Sayer, "for it is better for a poor lad to have what perhaps some poor person has lost than for me to keep it who do not need it." It was but a simple incident, but it was one that made a lasting impression. The Miss Sayer here referred to resided at Parade House, which after her death was occupied by her nieces, Mary and Maria Jane Sayer, one of whom has now also gone to her account. Miss Catherine Sayer, in the later part of her life paid a sum of money to Mr. Diplock as compensation for not ​building​ to obstruct the view from her house; hence the cause of the shop or shops at the western end of the Marine parade being only one storey high. She was residing at Parade House in 1838, and it was in the same year and in close proximity to Miss Sayer's house that the first stone of the Literary Institution was laid. The place chosen for the new ​building​ was what had been the site of the old St. Clement's poor-house adjacent to the spot where, some four years previously,

In timber-yard of Ball's - now Albion Mews -
One "Mud Jack's" wife some brute did badly use;
Whose lifeless form, as seen by morning light
Had undergone ill-treatment in the night.
A fallen creature was that "Mud Jack's" wife,
Yet God alone should take away the life.

This is not a happy association,but these impromtu (sic) reminiscences will not always conform to what is called the fitness of things. It was my chance opportunity to see the body of the poor woman as it lay in the van, and it was my more pleasing privilege to witness the formality of founding the Literary Institute on an adjacent site. In a cavity of the foundation-stone were placed several new coins together with a scroll of parchment on which was written in Latin that of which the following is a translation:- "The Hastings Literary Society caused this ​building​ for promoting the Arts and Sciences to be erected on the ninth of May in the year of Salvation 1838. That it may be successful and prosperous and from day to day more vigorously flourish, is the supplication of this Society to the Almighty. Frederick North, president of the Society, laid this stone." The ​building​ was estimated to cost £1,500, and when once commenced it was proceeded with in an expeditious manner. On the 28th of December in the same year, the first meeting was held within its walls, when many new members were enrolled. During the following year, Dr. Cooke delivered some of his anatomical lectures - those lectures which "L.E.L." so rapturously and graphically described in verse. The amount of subscription for annual members was to be 25s., and for life-members twelve guineas. The library, by donations and purchases of books gradually increased until it reached the number of 3,000 volumes, whilst the reading-room was fairly supplied with magazines and newspapers. The last-named commodity reminds me that an attempt was made in 1838 to resuscitate the Cinque Ports Chronicle, and that a controversy was carried on in one of the county journals respecting it. Dame Rumour set it about that Mr. Southall, the St. Leonards librarian, was a partner in the project, but the gentleman in question repudiated such connection, he averring that he had "nothing whatever to do with the Cinque Ports Chronicle, with which the late Commander of the Arial ship would gull the public a second time." To this, Mr. Charles Bond retorted that Mr. Southall had promised to take shares in the paper, but that he could not print it in consequence of his not having sufficient type. The paper did, however, re-appear, as the Cinque Ports' Chronicle and Southern Advertiser. It was about half the size of the ST. LEONARDS GAZETTE, and its price was fivepence. The first number I believe was published on Saturday, September 9th. It was neatly printed on good paper by Mr. W. Ransom, of 42 George street, and published by M. W. Arundale, of Castle street, Mr. Charles Bond being the nominal proprietor. It should be stated that 42 George street was the new Literary Institution described above, the rooms there set apart for the members being on the first floor, whilst Mr. Ransom's printing-offices were on the ground floor. Both printer and publisher have long since made their exeunt from the stage of life, the former's remains having been placed at the Halton burial-ground, and the latter's in the cemetery of St. Mary-in-the castle. Not long since a son of Mr. Charles Bond, from a distant town, called on me to make my acquaintance and to gossip on bygone times.

It was my intention, further on, to notice the interments of Dr. Harwood and other St. Leonards, as well as Hastings, people in the St. Mary's ground which has been many years closed against all but those possessing family vaults; but a solemn ceremonial at that cemetery taking place during the week when I was writing in 1880 impelled me to anticipate a few of the associations reserved for a later period. The event here alluded to was the interment (sic) of the remains of the late Rev. William Wallinger who was Prebendary of Chichester and the first Perpetual Curate of St. Mary's-in-the-Castle. His ministrations commenced in 1828 when that handsome edifice was opened, and continued until 1834, when they were succeeded by those of the Rev. W. T. Marychurch, whose name and that of the new house of devotion were singularly in keeping. The latter gentleman, however, made way in 1835 for the Rev. J. S. Jenkinson, who was in turn succeeded in 1841 by the Rev. Thomas Vores, whose venerated name and faithful ministrations will be as long remembered as had been the piety and benevolence of his predecessor, a few of whose antecedents I am about to notice. The pleasantly-situated mansion known as Castledown House was built for Mr. Wallinger by, I believe, Mr. Carey, of St. Leonards, and in this house the reverend gentleman resided until he left Hastings, and the pathway leading up to the West hill between that house and the St. Mary's Cemetery is still known as "Wallinger's Walk." At the top of that pathway is a ​building​ which Mr. Wallinger erected as a school-house at his own cost, the builder of which, I rather think, was Mr. John Austin, also of St. Leonards. Mr. Wallinger, who was not married, was about 33 years of age when, through the patronage of the Earl of Chichester he commenced his ministrations at Hastings, he having been born in the year 1795. He read himself in at St. Mary's on Sunday the 24th of February 1828, the chapel having been opened with much solemnity four weeks previously. During the month of August, in the following year, a defect in the roof of the chapel was discovered, and the services were obliged to be suspended for a time. The Theological Library, once kept by Mrs. Thatcher, of the Pelham Baths, and subsequently transferred to the Young Men's Christian Association, was established by the Rev. W. Wallinger and many were the personal acts of kindness and benevolence performed by that worthy man. Among his proteges was a Mr. Burt for whom he purchased a horse and set him up in business as a milkman. The reverend gentleman, who was sensitively nervous, left Hastings in consequence of a painful event over which he had no control, and for a number of years past had resided at Tunbridge Wells. It was there that he died, in the 86th year of his age, and his remains were brought to Hastings to be interred in the cemetery which was formed during the reverend gentleman's ministrations at St. Mary's, service being first held in the church. The coffin was covered with black cloth, and on it was a plain brass plate with the following simple inscription:-

REV. WILLIAM WALLINGER,

Born 21st Oct., 1795; died 3rd Nov., 1880,

In his 86th year.

Reverting now to political conditions of 1838, it will be recollected that the Conservatives had banded themselves together in a "Loyal and Constitutional Association," and that, as a counter move, the Liberals formed themselves into a "Liberal and Constitutional Society." These latter politicians met at the Swan Hotel on Friday the 12th of January to discuss the propriety of preparing a petition to Parliament in favour of voting by Ballot. Mr. Alfred Vidler was chairman, and among the members present were Robt. Hollond, Esq., M.P., and his friend Mr. Richards. Mr. Edward Honiss (six months before his death) in proposing the petition, contended that the Ballot was the foundation of all reform. This opinion was endorsed by Mr. G. Clement, who seconded the motion. The chairman remarked that he had done the dirty work for Mrs. Camac,but he would not do it again, although he had been much abused because he dared in future to vote according to his conscience.

Mr. Hollond said the Association had more than anticipated his wishes, and it would be a proud thing for him to present and support the petition. He would advise them to petition for that alone, and not mix it up with other questions. If they obtained the Ballot, then would be the time to move for an extension of the suffrage and for shortening the duration of Parliaments.

Referring to some political sarcasm, out of doors, that he had been ill, Mr. Hollond said he had not been at all aware of such disability. He had hitherto done his best to support their principles, and was then ready to answer any question which might be put to him. - The motion having been put by the chairman, and carried, Mr. Richards proposed that the Rt. Hon. J. Planta be also requested to support the petition. He then, in some humorous remarks, said Mr. Hollond had divided sixteen times, notwithstanding his "illness," whilst Mr. Planta had divided only nine times. - This Association met again on the 6th of February. Their place of meeting was in the "Star of the East," and their chairman was Mr. Thomas Brown; but what matters were then and there discussed by the Magi I am not in a position to say. Nor beyond a few personal encounters and recriminations, do I know very much what the Liberal Constitutional Association did during the remainder of the year. It may be fairly assumed that there was a gradual accession of numbers to their ranks as young men came into possession of the franchise, for in the following year they met in good force to celebrate their anniversary. In the mean time the Conservative Constitutional Association was holding its own, if one may judge from the following address of its President:

"GENTLEMEN, - On the 21st of this month our Association will have existed one year, and not doubting but that you will meet to celebrate the first Anniversary, I avail myself of the present mode of addressing you, regretting that circumstances will deprive me of being present and personally congratulating you upon the signal success which has hitherto attended the formation of a society founded upon Loyal and Constitutional principles. I should indeed but indifferently appreciate the honorable post which your kind confidence assigned to me on the first night of our meeting could I permit the present occasion to pass away unnoticed; and though unavoidably absent from that post yet I would prove by my present address to you that my earnest and heartfelt interest in the increasing prosperity, and ultimate success of our good cause is as warm and energetic as ever. It is accordance with (sic) established usage for a committee or secretary to make a report upon each anniversary of the progress and results attending the labours of an association. For such report I must look to you; but I hold it to be part of my province to draw your attention to passing political events, with the view of ascertaining whether the principles which we profess, and under the animating impression of which we orignally (sic) determined to associate ourselves have not made such advance among the intelligent and well-disposed classes of society as to warrant the renewed expression of our anxious hoped, that they will eventually prevail to such an extent in the great council of the nation as to secure the re-establishment of a wise and efficient Government, founded upon strictly constitutional principles in Church and State. Since we first met great events have taken place, the most important of which has been that appeal to the electors of the United Kingdom which has been made in consequence of the lamented death of our late Sovereign William the Fourth, and it is upon the result of that appeal, that we should in the first place cordially congratulate ourselves. Before however, entering upon that subject generally, permit me to remind you that in the course of the few observations which I made on the first night of our meeting I thus spoke with reference to the position in which our own borough was then placed:- 'When the proper time shall arrive the members of this association will possess the usual opportunity (through the medium of different addreses) (sic) of becoming acquainted with the political sentiments entertained by the respective candidates, and we shall then be able to judge whose are most in accordance with those principles, upon which it is proposed to form this Association.' I have seen no poll-book, and of course must of necessity be ignorant of the vote which each member gave at the last Election, but I have every reason to believe that all tendered their suffrages in support of that candidate who most undoubtedly professed, and who has never shrunk from the profession of principles in accordance with those entertained by the Association. And if it should, unfortunately, have happened that in one or more instances this should not have been the case, it can afford no triumph to our opponents; because, then either undue influence must have wrought upon the mind of the elector, or he could never have been originally honest in his desire to co-operate with ourselves. To return to the General Election, and in the language of those who supported the Reform Bill, in the belief that through its medium the real wants and wishes of the people would be made known, I unhesitatingly declare that the result of the late contest throughout the country had been of a nature to diffuse satisfaction in the minds of all real Conservatives. I well remember, on more than one occasion, telling you that the majority of the reflecting people of this country were not in favour of the destructive measures introduced by Her Majesty's Ministers. I well remember, while addressing you, calling upon the noble Viscount at the head of Her Majesty's Government to dissolve the Parliament, and by so doing, ask the people these questions: 'Are you willing to sacrifice your Church? Are you willing to destroy the institutions of your country?' and I also remember musing these prophetic words, little imagining then that the truth of them would so soon become apparent - 'Then shall the united voices of the people of Great Britain reply in the negative; through the mouths of their Representatives they will say they are not content to do this great wrong, and that they have proved their sincerity by sending men to Parliament who shall oppose those Ministers who have insulted their Sovereign and outraged the feelings of the people! And has it not been even so? From a careful analysis drawn up by an ultra Radical paper, THE SPECTATOR, I find it thus stated: The Liberal majority elected to the Peel Parliament was 356 to 302; the majority elected to the Melbourne Parliament is 366 to 322; the balance against the latter being 40 votes."

But I will not rest satisfied with this mere numerical difference in our favour. Look to the counties of England and Wales. In one only has a Liberal displaced a Conservative, whereas in the following twenty-one counties Conservatives have displaced Liberals - Carmarthenshire, East Cornwall, North Devonshire, North Durham, Flintshire, Glamorganshire, North Hampshire, Huntingdonshire, Isle of Wight, North Leicestershire, Middlesex, West Norfolk, South Nottinghamshire, West Somersetshire, North Staffordshire. East Surrey, West, Suffolk, East Sussex, North Wiltshire, East Worcestershire, and East Yorkshire. In the large towns, also, there has been no lack of Conservative feeling manifested. Liverpool, Hull, Bath, Brighton, Beverley, Greenwich, Hereford, Lancaster, Preston, and Wakefield have all elected Conservatives in the place of Liberals; and the altered state of the polls for the city of London and the great West Riding of Yorkshire most forcibly demonstrate the change of opinion. At the time of the contest for the West-Riding of Yorkshire in 1835 the numbers were at the close of the poll:- Lord Morpeth 9066, Mr. S. Wortley 6259. At the election just over [1837] Lord Morpeth 12,576; Sir George Strickland 11,892; Mr. S. Wortley, 11,489; thus giving to Sir G. Stickland a majority of 403 over Mr. Wortley out of a constituency of 25,000 voters. At the close of the poll for the city of London in 1835,Mr. Grote the lowest of the Liberal candidates had a majority of 1356 over Mr. Lyall, the highest of the Conservative candidates; but at the election just over, Mr. Grote obtained a bare majority of 6 votes over Mr. Horsley Palmer, and the Conservatives have presented a petition with the view of substituting Mr. Horsley Palmer in the place of Mr. Grote. I repeat, am I therefore not fully justified in expressing my unfeigned satisfaction at the result of the late appeal to the people. You cannot fail to observe that I am altogether silent upon Ireland; but, believe me, I am not so because I conceive the spirit of Conservatives has retrograded in that country, but rather that as the mode in which the elections have been there conducted has caused very numerous petitions to be presented, it would be premature to offer any opinion upon the returns made until the decisions of the tribunals appointed to try their validity shall have been made. Upon those decisions will rest the question whether the Government or the Opposition possess a majority in the House of Commons; but whether the Conservatives shall possess a majority or not they are sufficiently powerful to resist the carrying (sic) any measure which would be subversive to the principles of the Constitution. The Ministers are well aware of this fact, and therefore they availed themselves of the earliest op-