many of the old inhabitants for his eccentric habits. The fine picture of the descent from the cross, which is said to be the production of Annibal Caracci, and now adorns St Peter's Church, formerly belonged to him. He originally intended it to have graced the altar recess of St John's Church; but, however, by some secret manœuvre, he was frustrated in his intention of placing it in the situation he had fixed upon, by those in authority; and being displeased with their conduct, he withdrew his donation altogether; and some years after his death, it was placed in St Peter's Church, where it now remains. Several years previous to his decease, he had engaged Mr James Bottomley to engrave the present plate, (with the exception of the dates,) which is now placed over his remains; and this he kept as a memento in his room, until the day of his death". Sapiens, qui, dum vivat sibi monumentum parat. He was the son of Mr William Dawson, an apothecary of Manchester, and was baptized at the Collegiate Church, March the 23d 1720-1. By his will he bequeathed the greatest part of his property to William Cooper, one of his household servants, and constituted him his sole executor; and dying at his house called "the Cottage, near the Mount," in Manchester, on Thursday, August the 17th 1780, was interred on the ensuing Sunday, in the following dress," agreeable to his request before his death," says Mr Barritt, in his MSS. in "a ruffled shirt and cravat; a night cap of brown furr; and a morninggown striped." The following is the inscription on the plate :

Here are deposited the Remains of William Dawson, Esq., who died the 17th Day of August 1780, and in the 60th Year of his Age.

He desired to be buried with the above named lady, not only to testify his gratitude to the memory of a kind benefactress: although he never reaped any of those advantages from her bounty to his family she intended.

But because his fate was similar to her's. For she was disowned by her Mother. And he was disinherited by his Father.

Arms: Erm. on a chevron between three leopards' heads, gules, a bezant.— Crest, out of a ducal coronet or, a horse's head erm. Mr Barritt in his MSS., on the authority of Sir John Prestwich's Republica, assigns these arms to the Rev. Isaac Allen, Rector of Prestwich, who died in 1634. It is very probable that Dawson was maternally descended from him, and from that circumstance adopted his armorial bearings.

" From the information of his son, Lieut. James Bottomley, of Cheetwood, Gent.

IN THE VAults.

The vaults are a modern erection, and occupy the space beneath the choir, from the end of the stalls, to the partition behind the communion table. They consist of an arched avenue, immediately below the space between the iron gates, and in length the width of the choir; having three arched vaults on the west, and three on the east side, the ends of which open into the avenue; but those on the east side, in length, are again divided into two by a cross partition, two of which are partially filled up with brick-work, and the one in the north east corner is entirely closed; the others are all open to the avenue; and here the spectator may behold the relics of mortality, released from the cares of this world, resting peaceably by the side of each other. These mansions of the dead are constructed with brick-work, and were completed about the middle of the last century, as appears from a memorandum in the registers: "Buried April 24th 1755, Mrs Margaret Downes, in the middle vault under altar, the first that was buried in the new vaults."

The grave-stones which covered the remains of those who had been interred in the east end of the choir, previous to excavating the vaults, were taken below and laid, we presume, over the places where their former inmates were re-deposited.

Near the centre of the avenue lies the stone which covered Huntingdon, the first warden, and what now remain of its ornaments has been engraved in Plate VII. of this work, and that portion of the inscription which has been obliterated we have supplied from an ancient manuscript.

Hic iacet Joh'es Huntingdon Bacalauzeus in Deczetis Primus Magifter live cultos illius Collegii, Dui novo conßzurit istiam cancelam, qui obiit rio menlis Novemb' Anno Dni mill❜mo eeeelviii. Cur', a’ie p’pitietuż Deus Amen. And on the circle over his head, ont dileri decoze' tuae.

Adjoining Huntingdon's stone on the south, is this inscription:

Alex. Radcliffe, son of Tho'. Radcliffe, of Leigh, Gentleman, and Grandson to the Reverened Mr Rich: Herrick, late Warden of y Collegiate Church of Manchester, was interred y 15th of April 1718. Helena, wife to Thos. Radcliffe, and daughter to y Revd. Mr Herrick, &c. buried March 28, 1722.

Arms: RADCLIFFE. Two bends engrailed.--Crest, a bull's head erased, and ducally gorged.

On the north side of Huntingdon, this :

Hic Sep. jacent Exuvia Johannis Birch, A. M. Coll. Christi apud Mancu... Nuper Socii, 14° Die 7bris, 1670.

Adjoining the last, on the north, this

Here resteth y body of Tho. Walley, of Stanthorn, in the county of Chester, Esq. buried October 24th, 1727, in the 60th year of his age.

At the foot of the steps on entering the vaults.

Here was buried the body of the Reverend George Ogden, Fellow of Christ's College of Manchester, July the 27th, 1706. Tho. his son, dyed 13th March 1718.

Within the vault on the right of the entrance.

Hic jacet Theophilvs Howorth, de Howorth, Medicinæ Doctor, qui Excessit Apr. 9, Sepvltvs 12, Anno Dni 1671, Ætatis suæ 57.

In the vault opposite to the last.

Depositum Rogeri Kenyon de Peele, in com. Lancastrensi Armiger.

On a stone leaning against the wall at the south end of the avenue.

Here resteth ye body of Waterhouse, son to Willm. Heginbotham, burd. Jan. 25th 1740. Ann, his daut. burd. Dec'. 5th, 1744. Sarah, his dau". burd. May 18th, 1746.

INSCRIPTIONS ON BRASS PLATES FIXED TO THE COFFINS.

In the centre vault, on the east side of the avenue, are three coffins: the one on the north side is thus inscribed "The Rev. Wm. Purnell, A. M. Died Apr. 16, 1764, Aged 63." On the centre coffin, "CAROLUS LAWSON. A. M. obiit die 13o. ante Kalendas Maii Æt. 79. A. D. M.D.CCCVII." On the one on the south side." Ann Clarkson, Died Decemb. 11th 1785, Aged 90 years.' -In the vault at the east end of the last are three coffins: the one on the north side has initials, which are done in brass headed nails, " M. D. 1755, Aged 75." The initials on the centre one are gone, but the date remains, " 1760 aged 77." The one on the south side has a Calvary cross on three grieces, engraved on a brass plate, and inscribed " Eleanor Downes, died Dec'. 20th 1770 aged 90.”—In the vault on the south side of the last, is a coffin thus inscribed with brass nails: "Elizth. Pigot, ob. May 13, t. 77. 1768." On a coffin lying on the top of another one; “Katherine Pigot died April 22, 1792, aged 84 years."-In the west vault, at the south end of the avenue, "William Higginbotham, Esq. died May 10th 1777 Aged 68 years." In this vault are the decayed remnants of two coffins, and the bones which they once contained are now rapidly returning to dust.-In the centre vault, on the west side of the avenue, this, "James Shipley, died Aug'. 12th 1762, Aged 62." In this vault is another coffin, the sides of which having nearly

gone to decay, are lying prostrate on the ground, and the lid sunk down; on removing the latter (on which still remain the initials " J. W. 1761") a perfect skeleton presented itself, which consisted of nothing but naked human bones, and dry dust.

IN THE NORTH AISLE OF THE CHOIR.

Against the back of the stalls, in the second compartment from the iron gates, are two brass plates for the Mosley family. On the one is inscribed :—

HIC ADIACET CORPVS ANTONIJ MOSLEY, MERCATORIS, QUI OBIJT 25 MARTIJ ANNO D'NI 1607, AN'o ÆTATIS SUÆ 70, HABENS TEMPORE MORTIS SUÆ P'ALICIA' VXOREM SVAM SVPERSTITE' 5 FILIOS, VIZ. OSWALDV', FRANCISCV', EDWARDV', RICHARDV', ET ROWLANDV', ET TRES FILIAS, VIZ. HELENAM, ALICIAM, ET ANNAM. Arms: MOSLEY. A chevron, inter three mill picks.-Crest, an eagle displayed. On the other plate :

HIC ADIACET CORPVS OSWALDI MOSLEY,DE ANCOATES ARMIGERI, QUI OBIJT 9° DIE NOVEMBRIS AN° D'NI, 1630 ANNO ÆTATIS SUE 47°, HABENS TEMPORE MORTIS SUÆ PER ANNAM VXOREM SVAM SUP'STITEM, 5 FILIOS, VIZ.: NICHOLA', EdWARDUM, OSWALDV', SAMVELE', ET FRANCISCV', ET TRES FILIAS, VIZ. ANNAM, MARGARETA', ET MARIAM.

Arms: MOSLEY, as before; quartering-a fesse, between three eagles displayed.-Crest, ut supra.-See Plate 10.

Against the mouldings of the pillar, on the south side of the window, at the east end of the aisle, is a mural monument of statuary and dove marble, with a pyramid and sarcophagus above the cornice, and on an oval tablet is this inscription:

Sacred to the Memory of ADAM OLDHAM, Merchant of Manchester, who died 27th Jan. 1784. And MARY his wife, who died 4th June 1772. And also of HANNAH their daughter, wife of the Reverend John Oldham, M. A. Rector of Stondon, Essex, who died 15th Feb. 1792.

As a mark of respect to her beloved relatives, this monument was erected by MARY, daughter of the said ADAM and MARY OLDHAM, and wife of Henry Owen Cunliffe, Esquire, of Wycollar Hall, in Lancashire, 1794.

ON FLAT STONES.

Opposite the Mosley plates this inscription occurs :

Hic Jacet Corpus Nicholai Mosley, de Ancoates Armigeri, qui obiit Vicesimo Die Octobris Anno Domini 1672, Anno Ætatis suæ 61. And also Jane Mosley, wife of y said Nicholas, who died y 25th of June 1707, And in y 90 year

of her age. And also Edward Mosley, their Grandson, the youngest Son of Oswald Mosley, Esq, who died the 20th day of December, 1714, and in the 26th year of his age. Also Oswald Mosley, Esq. his son, and Father of Edward, bur. Sep. 2, 1726, aged 87. And Mary, wife to Oswald Mosley, Esq. bur. Oct. 16,

1728.

On the upper end of the stone are the arms of Mosley, but they are nearly obliterated.

At the north-east corner of the last one.

Here Lieth the Body of Elizh, Daughter of Nicholas Mosley, Esq. of Ancoats, burd Nobr ye 14th, 1708, in the 66 Year of her Age. W 3d Son of Oswald Mosley of Ancoats, Esq. aged 6 years, buried y 21 April 1687.-The inscription on this stone is nearly illegible.

At the south-east corner: this:

Margaret, the wife of Francis Mosley, of Manchester, Esq. died the 18th day of May, 1768, aged 38 years.—At the foot of this stone are neatly carved the family arms of MOSLEY, with a crescent for difference.-Motto, Mos LEgem regit. Between the two last stones this:

Exuvias hic deposuit Johannes Lever de Manchester Armiger, mensis Decemb. Die 11 do.

Katherine, Daught' of John Lever, of Manchester, Esq. April the 16th 1706, In the 10th year of her age.

Exuvias ita hic deposuit Johannes, filius Johannis Lever de Manchester Armigeri, mensis Aprilis Die XIV to.

Also Dorothy, Daughter of John and Mary Lever Ob'. June 6th 1763, aged 3 years and 3 months.

Arms: LEVER. Two bends, the upper one engrailed.

North of the Mosley stones, and close under the screen of Stanley's Chapel, this:

Hic jacet Lucas Cotes, A.M. Decanus de Middleham in Com. Ebor. Vita Functus Die Decemb: 22 Etatis suæ LXXX. A.D. M.D.ccxli. Luke Cotes of