a very short distance from London bridge. It was built by that great architect, Sir Christopher Wren, in the reign of king Charles the second. It was begun in the year 1671, and finished in the year 1677. The whole height of it is 202 feet.

In the inside there is a large staircase of black marble, with 345 steps, leading to an iron balcony which surrounds the monument, and where people go to look down upon the wonders of London below. The sides of the pedestal of the pillar are adorned with curious figures, intended to represent something of the history of the Fire of London, and its restoration. From the inscriptions upon it we read that "In the year 1666, the second day of September, a terrible fire broke out about midnight, just 202 feet eastward of this column, (which is exactly its height,) that the fire was driven by a high wind, and not only laid waste the adjoining parts but very distant places too, with incredible noise and fury." It consumed 89 churches, the city gates, guildhall, many public buildings, hospitals, schools, and libraries, besides many hundreds of streets and

many thousands of houses. The ruins of the city are said to have covered 436 acres. When this dreadful fire had continued to rage for three days, and when all human aid seemed to be wholly vain, it pleased God to put a sudden stop to it. This fire was indeed dreadful, but we have seen that in the end it was made productive of good, for the city was built again upon a much better plan than before; the streets were made much wider, and consequently London became much more airy and healthy than it had been before. In former days that most dreadful disease, the plague, was very frequent in London, and the very year before the fire it had swept off a vast number of the inhabitants.

An inscription on the Monument tells us that this dreadful fire was caused by the malice and treachery of the popish faction, in order to the carrying on their horrid plot for destroying the Protestant religion, and English liberty, and introducing popery and slavery; but whether this is true or not I am not able to say. I hope not. For in those days the people had seen

so much of the real evils of popery, that they were apt to believe that every misery that occurred was brought about by them; and so we may hope that they were not really guilty of so dreadful a piece of wickedness.

The Monument has been generally open to the public, to be seen for sixpence; and a person may ascend by the steps to the balcony, which commands a noble view of London and the distant country. But we have been informed that of late years it has not been usual to allow persons to go up from an apprehension of danger. As we have not tried, we do not know how this is; and our young readers will be safer in looking at the Monument from below, than at London from above; and save their sixpence besides.

QUESTIONS FROM THE HIS-
TORY OF ENGLAND.

(See our last No. P. 231.)

1. IN what year did Richard I. come to the throne?

2. By what name was he known?
3. Why was he so called?

4. Where did he principally carry on his wars?

5. What king went with Richard to the Holy Land.

6. How many soldiers did they muster together?

7. Did the king of France continue long in the Holy Land? 8. Why not?

9. Was Richard successful in his war against the Infidels ?

10. What happened to Richard on his way home?

11. How was his place of confinement found out?

12. Who managed the affairs of the kingdom during the king's absence? 13. What was the cause of Richard's death?

14. How did the king behave towards the person who shot him? 15. Did Richard leave any children? 16. In what year did he die? 17. In what year of his reign?

MARY WILLIAMSON AND JANE MARSON.

WHEN Mary Williamson and Jane Marson were at Addington school together about fifteen years ago, they

often had a good deal of conversation when school was over; for their parents' houses were very near together, and they often came to see one another in the evenings, and would sometimes sit and work together, and very often play together. These girls were both good natured and were fond of one another, and yet there was a great deal of difference in their manners and behaviour. Mary was a diligent and attentive girl, and did every thing at school that she was bid. She felt very thankful that she had the opportunity of going to school, for she saw that there was a great deal to be learned there, and she felt that it would be for her advantage to try to learn as much as she could. Her mother could have made her useful to her at home, but she worked harder herself that she might let Mary have time to go to school, and improve herself; and Mary considered this, and was determined to make the most of her time, and try how much benefit she could get from the instruction of the school. When she was reading, she gave great attenon to what she was doing, that she