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A SHORT TOUR THROUGH THE CLITHEROE CONFERENCE.

On the 4th of May I met with the Saints in Blackburn by request, on the occa-
sion of the opening a new room for worship. I addressed them in the morning and
evening, and elder Speakman in the afternoon. The room was filled, and we had
an interesting time with the Saints. I found a flourishing branch of the church
here; it being also the first time I had ever been privileged with meeting the Saints
in the Clitheroe conference.

On the 5th, in company with elder Speakman, I visited the ruins of Whalley
Abbey, situated in a most beautiful locality of hills, and woods, and streams. It
had originally been very extensive, but ruins alone existed, with the exception of a
small portion of building which is occupied by a few families. It appears to have
been founded in the year 1000.

On the 6th we were favoured with a most interesting visit to Stoneyhurst, a
Catholic college, and as I was informed, the most extensive establishment in Eng-
land. One large room was splendidly decorated with paintings of great value, by
the great masters. The museum did not contain a large collection either of the
natural or animal kingdom, yet a number of specimens were rich and costly,
especially some small sculptures in marble, of the Saviour, valued at a very high
price.

We visited the various apartments of this extensive library, which we found
enriched with most valuable works, many of great antiquity, especially a copy of
St. Paul's Epistles, upon parchment, which was said to have been in the hands of
the society more than a thousand years; besides it lay Queen Mary's prayer-book,
and sundry antique articles.

The lodgings, studies, and chapel for the boys, appeared convenient and comfort-
able; they have several hundreds passing through a course of education.

The principal chapel connected with the college is fitted up in a most costly
manner; the organ, altar piece, crosses, candlesticks, &c., were rich indeed, while
one window contained a representation of the thirteen apostles (including St. Paul),
in stained glass as large as life, got up at a great expense. They have also a beau-
tiful garden connected with the establishment, the separate compartments of which
are divided by yew-tree fences, about twelve feet high, four feet thick, and from
forty to two hundred feet long, as the case required; I suppose not equalled in
extent in England.

After leaving the college we travelled to Waddington, a village a short distance
from Clitheroe, over the Ribble on the Yorkshire side, where we partook of the
hospitality of friend Cottom. While here we visited the alms-house built and dedi-
cated by Sir Robert Parker, A.D. 1700, for the poor widows of the parish.

On the 7th we walked to Clitheroe and Chatburn, and visited the Saints in
those places. I was much pleased with the meek and quiet spirit manifested amongst
them. I walked through the village of Chatburn, of which elder Kimball speaks
in his journal, as walking through it with his head uncovered and blessing the
place, while the children had hold of his garments as he passed along. I felt the
spirit of God rest upon me while passing through the street where such scenes of
interest had transpired with elder Kimball and other servants of God.

During our travels on the 8th, we had the pleasure of witnessing father
Richard Smithies display his skill in beguiling some fine trout from the river Ribble