n spite of its parliamentary, municipal, and assize honours, would
soon be as much forgotten as a hundred other dull little country towns,
without local trade or local attractions, if it were not for the castle, the
church, and the river, which, in connection with striking epochs in England's
history, will ever render it a favourite pilgrimage.

After being destroyed by the Danes, Warwick was restored by Ethelfreda, the
daughter of Alfred the Great, who built a fort there, A.D. 913. At Domesday
Survey it was a borough, and contained 261 houses, of which 126 belonged to
the king. Members were sent to Parliament in the time of Edward I., when
also the paving of the town and the erection of a wall round it were
commenced. In the time of Philip and Mary, the first charter of
incorporation was granted.

The town stands on the west side of the river Avon,--Shakspeare's Avon, from
which it is separated by Warwick Castle and grounds. It was formerly a
little county metropolis, many of the families of rank and fortune had winter
residences there; the Warwick balls were frequented by a select and exclusive
set; a small theatre was well supported, and few races assembled more
distinguished company than used to throng the Warwick course once a year, in
family coaches and four-in-hands. All this grandeur has departed, Leamington
has absorbed the wealth and fashion of Warwick, the town mansions have fallen
into plebeian hands, the theatre has ceased to be a training school for the
London boards, the streets are silent except when a little temporary bustle
is produced by an influx of Birmingham attorneys, their clients, and
witnesses, at the assizes, of stout agriculturists and holiday labourers on
"fair days," or the annual "mop," when an ox is roasted whole, and lads and
lasses of rosy rural breed range themselves along the pavement to be hired,
or at the races twice a year, when, although the four horses with postilions
and outriders are seldom seen, railroads from a distance, and Leamington from
close at hand, pour a variegated stream of sightseers and gamblers on one of
the prettiest pieces of ground in England.

Warwick has no manufactures, but, being a borough very evenly balanced
between the two contending political parties, its inhabitants have enjoyed a
fuller share of the favours of Government than has fallen to the lot of towns
of more commercial importance.

Warwick stands on solid rock, in which the cellars are exc