CHAPTER  XIX.
" And gray walls moulder round, on which dull time
Feeds, like slow fire upon a hoary brand ;
And one keen pyramid, with wedge sublime,
Stands o'er the dust of him who planned."
Shelley.
I have just finished a short visit to the far-famed
city of Oxford, which has not unaptly been styled the
City of Palaces. Aside from this being one of the prin-
cipal seats of learning in the world, it is distinguished
alike for its religious and political changes in times past.
At one time it was the seat of Popery ; at another, the
uncompromising enemy of Rome. Here the tyrant
Richard the Third held his court; and when James the
First and his son Charles the First found their capital
too hot to hold them, they removed to their loyal city of
Oxford. The writings of the great republicans were
here committed to the flames. At one time Popery sent
Protestants to the stake and fagot ; at another, a Papist
king found no favor with the people. A noble monu-
ment now stands where Cranmer, Ridley and Latimer,
proclaimed their sentiments and faith, and sealed them
with their blood.    And now we read upon the town