which it occurs. They therefore discard all prefixes to names in which the letter occurs, and in naming any person (which they can do very intelligently), they call them simply by their surname-never saying Mr., Mrs., or Miss. Mary Jane Gordon, though older than her sister, hardly made so rapid progress in learning the letters, but displays a great taste for imitating writing, a matter in which her sister is not backward. It will thus be seen that much has already been achieved in the direction of civilizing and humanising these two remarkable specimens. By the courtesy of Mr. G. O. Duncan, the inspector of industrial schools, I was afforded an opportunity of seeing the children on Thursday last, and on paying a flying visit to the Ballarat Industrial School, my object was kindly furthered by both the matron, Miss Wilson, and Miss Johnstone, the teacher. I confess that surprise predominated when the children were pointed out to me in the schoolroom. They were quite unlike what they were represented as being but a little over two months ago. Mary Jane, the eldest, is a fine, well-made child, of rather stout build, and good carriage. She is tall for her age, standing nearly four feet seven inches, while her sister is about six inches shorter, but rather fuller bodied. Both have the appearance of sharp, intelligent children, their faces being decidedly prepossessing. The features are oval and regular, the forehead well developed, and the nose and mouth both of moderate size and good form. The complexion of both is dark, almost approaching an olive, with a healthy tinge of red, and the eyes are of a clear brown. The general expression, when confronted with a stranger, is one of shyness and a desire to get away. This feeling seemed however soon to wear off, and both stood the scrutiny well, and even, contrary to their usual custom, spoke somewhat freely during my short stay. They repeated some of their letters distinctly and correctly, and casually made use of a few short sentences, such as "I do love you," to their teacher, and "I don't want to," to one of their playmates who wished them to go out of the room. They were not communicative though about themselves, and what they did say was drawn from them. I was given to understand that I was the first stranger who had ever heard the children speak. The tone of their voices, though somewhat harsh, is natural, and the articulation all but perfect, the words being spoken with distinctness and force, and with an evident understanding of their import. The manners of both girls were mild and affectionate, their natural dispositions being evidently gentle; and with further culture they will probably be fully reclaimed from the condition into which they had drifted, and be fitted to take their place in society equally with the other children now under training in the Industrial School.

NOTTINGHAM CASTLE.

S a fortress, a prison, and a palace the Castle

held for many centuries a proud position in the midland counties. It was built by William the Conqueror in 1068 on the site of an ancient tower, and it is

probable that from the earliest ages the natural advantages of an eminence so admirably adapted for a watch tower and stronghold would be readily recognised. The only existing remains of this ancient fortress are the present gate-house, or lodge, with its approaches, and the fragments of two or three bastions. The aperture through which the portcullis descended is still visible. William Peverill, a natural son of the Conqueror, was the first governor, under the title of Earl of Nottingham. In the feudal ages the Castle often changed masters and sides, and its history is connected with the fortunes of a long line of sovereigns. Stephen, while he was warring against the Empress Maude, or Matilda, daughter of Henry I., resided here, as did also his successor, Henry II. Richard Coeur-de-Lion besieged it while in the custody of his brother John, who had treacherously taken possession of it during his absence. John, when he came to the throne, often held his court here, as

L

which it occurs. They therefore discard all prefixes to names in which the letter occurs, and in naming any person (which they can do very intelligently), they call them simply by their surname―never saying Mr., Mrs., or Miss. Mary Jane Gordon, though older than her sister, hardly made so rapid progress in learning the letters, but displays a great taste for imitating writing, a matter in which her sister is not backward. It will thus be seen that much has already been achieved in the direction of civilizing and humanising these two remarkable specimens. By the courtesy of Mr. G. O. Duncan, the inspector of industrial schools, I was afforded an opportunity of seeing the children on Thursday last, and on paying a flying visit to the Ballarat Industrial School, my object was kindly furthered by both the matron, Miss Wilson, and Miss Johnstone, the teacher. I confess that surprise predominated when the children were pointed out to me in the schoolroom. They were quite unlike what they were represented as being but a little over two months ago. Mary Jane, the eldest, is a fine, well-made child, of rather stout build, and good carriage. She is tall for her age, standing nearly four feet seven inches, while her sister is about six inches shorter, but rather fuller bodied. Both have the appearance of sharp, intelligent children, their faces being decidedly prepossessing. The features are oval and regular, the forehead well developed, and the nose and mouth both of moderate size and good form. The complexion of both is dark, almost approaching an olive, with a healthy tinge of red, and the eyes are of a clear brown. The general expression, when confronted with a stranger, is one of shyness and a desire to get away. This feeling seemed however soon to wear off, and both stood the scrutiny well, and even, contrary to their usual custom, spoke somewhat freely during my short stay. They repeated some of their letters distinctly and correctly, and casually made use of a few short sentences, such as "I do love you," to their teacher, and "I don't want to," to one of their playmates who wished them to go out of the room. They were not communicative though about themselves, and what they did say was drawn from them. I was given to understand that I was the first stranger who had ever heard the children speak. The tone of their voices, though somewhat harsh, is natural, and the articulation all but perfect, the words being spoken with distinctness and force, and with an evident understanding of their import. The manners of both girls were mild and affectionate, their natural dispositions being evidently gentle; and with further culture they will probably be fully reclaimed from the condition into which they had drifted, and be fitted to take their place in society equally with the other children now under training in the Industrial School.

S a fortress, a prison, and a palace the Castle held for many centuries a proud position in the midland counties. It was built by William the Conqueror in 1068 on the site of an ancient tower, and it is probable that from the earliest ages the natural advantages of an eminence so admirably adapted for a watch tower and stronghold would be readily recognised. The only existing remains of this ancient fortress are the present gate-house, or lodge, with its approaches, and the fragments of two or three bastions. The aperture through which the portcullis descended is still visible. William Peverill, a natural son of the Conqueror, was the first governor, under the title of Earl of Nottingham. In the feudal ages the Castle often changed masters and sides, and its history is connected with the fortunes of a long line of sovereigns. Stephen, while he was warring against the Empress Maude, or Matilda, daughter of Henry I., resided here, as did also his successor, Henry II. Richard Coeur-de-Lion besieged it while in the custody of his brother John, who had treacherously taken possession of it during his absence. John, when he came to the throne, often held his court here, as

L

did Henry III. and Edward I., the former of whom made considerable alterations and additions to the Castle. It was the favourite palace of the weak and unfortunate Edward II. At the commencement of the reign of his successor, Edward III., it was the royal residence of Isabella of France (widow of Edward II) and her favourite, Mortimer, Earl of March. The indignant king, then a youth of eighteen, having won over the constable of the Caste, led a chosen band up the secret entrance, still known as "Mortimer's-hall," a rock staircase then leading from the banks of the River Leen to the Castle summit (which the writer of this article and his partner and a friend ascended and descended a few months ago), arrested Mortimer, slaying two of his supporters who endeavoured to defend him. The captive Earl was dragged down the same passage, and hurried to London, and after an hasty trial he was executed at Tyburn. The same warlike sovereign, the conqueror of two kings. made it the prison of David, king of Scotland, taken prisoner at the battle of Neville's Cross. Richard II. and Henry II. both resided here. During the reign of the latter Owen Glendower suffered captivity within its walls. It was greatly enlarged and beautified by Edward IV., who made it a favourite rendezvous in the Wars of the Roses. Richard III. left its walls to march to the battle of Bosworth Field, and Henry VII. held a council of war here a few days before the battle of Stoke. It was the policy of this monarch to curtail the power and possessions of the nobles, and in his reiga the Castle was suffered to fall into decay. Henry VIII. is said to have paid it a visit in the early part of his reign. James I. came to Nottingham on several occasions, but it was then held to be unsuitable for a palatial residence. Still, although at that period deemed not suitable as a royal dwelling-place, it was capable of being made a strong fortress in the time of the Civil Wars, and in 1642 Charles I. raised his standard here. It was first unfurled on the highest turret of the Castle, but was soon removed to the adjoining close, now called Standard-hill. The weather being at the time very stormy, it was blown down, and could not be reared again for a day or two. This was looked upon at the time as a bad omen by the superstitious. The king was much disappointed by the scanty support he received while at Nottingham, and he soon left such unsympathetic subjects. The Castle then passed into the hands of the Parliamentarians, and Colonel Hutchinson was appointed governor, by whom it was successfully defended against frequent assaults of the Royalists. The neighbouring castle of Newark being for the king, frequent sorties and skirmishes were exchanged between them. An attempt was made by the Duke of Newcastle to bribe Hutchinson with £10,000 to surrender his trust, but the stout-hearted Puritan was at once brave and incorruptible. When Cromwell assumed the reins of the government he gave orders for the Castle to be dismantled; and its history as a fortress may then be said to have closed.

After the Restoration it was acquired by the Duke of Buckingham, who sold it to the Marquis, afterwards the Duke of Newcastle, who began the present building in 1674, having previously razed the old structure. The architect was named March, a Lincolnshire man, probably a pupil of Inigo Jones. The style is renaissance, and is a blending of Elizabethian, Corinthian, and Italian architecture. An equestrian statue of the founder was placed at the entrance door of the north-east façade. Until the last hundred and fifty years the park connected with the Castle was well timbered, paled, and stocked with deer, and in