BOOKS WRITTEN IN PRISON.

Borne of the most farnoub books in the world have been written in prison. Perhaps the most famous of all these is " The Consolation of Philosophy," written- by Boethius in the year 524, during his imprisonment at Pavia by order of Theodoric, the Ostrogotbic King of Italy. While this was being written sentence of death was hanging over the author, who at any moment might have been led out to execution. This work is read Veri little

pow, but during the Middla Ages it proved itself of great solace lo many an unfortunate feOttl.

Confining ourselves, however, to English literature, many of our best- known books and poema have been written during the imprisonment of their authors. To begin with, there is the poem called " The Kkigis Qaair," or "The King's Book," written in HJ&B by King Jamee I of Scotland while in p\ lat Windsor Castle. This poem has safest* a romantic origin. James had been a csptive nearly 18 years, when one morning, tfoanoteg to look from his prison into ths castle garden at Windsor, fae saw Lady Jane Beaufort, uisce of Henry IV. He at oc.ee "oeoaroe enamoured of her, and, like many another ardent lover, sought relief in poetry, »n<3 celebrated his love for her in the long poem, " The Kingis Quair." In the following year he was liberated, was married to Lady Jan?,- and was crowned King of Scotland. Thus, the lady who was ths inspiration of his poem became the partner of bis throne.

Passing over some of the minor poems of Henry Howard, Earl oi Surrey, written during his imprisonment at Windsor in the latter part of 1637, we coma to a omen better-known book, which was wr'tfesi* n>. l.ha Tower of London. This is i&q " History of the World " (from the Ore&tio?a co JSO Be ), by Sir Walter Raleigh. Bdeigh waa a prisoner in the Tower from 1603 till 1614, and his "History" was written daring f.he years 1607-1614. Everybody knows the lines : —

Stone walls do not a prison make,

Nor iron bars a cage— though everybody perhaps doas not know that these are from % poem oalled "To Alfchea, from Prison," which was written in tbs Gatehouse Prison, at Westminster, in 1612, by Bichard Lovelace. Lovelace, by '■;ho way, was the man who was made Master of Arts on account of his great beauty.

Less than 20 years after this we come across the best-known instance of all — fch* works of John Buayan. Bauya& wsfj r prisoner in Bedford Gaol from 1660 tili 1672. During these 12 years be wrote his immortal "Pilgrim's Progress," as well as his less known. " Grace Abounding " and the " Holy City." In addition to these he wrote several prose books or pamphlets, and four poems.

"Ths Ad ventures of Sir Launcelot Gra&veH " was written in tha King's Bsnch Prison by Smollett, who had got three months for libel. This was in ths year 1759. More than half a century before this a political newspaper, called tha Beview, which appeared cnoe, then twice, and afterwards tbrse times a week, was first started from Newgate in 1704. Its origina(.oi, Daniel Dsioe (the author of 11 Bobinson Cruses "), waa aect to Nswgate in 1703, where he wrote a "Oolleclioa of Casualties and Disasters," and began to write his newspaper.

It was in Bristol Giol that Savago wrota his laefc poetn, " London and Bristol Delineated." " Prison Asaus&oiesifcs," a saaall volume ol poeajH, v/as written in York Castle by James Montgomery dmiag his two imprisonmeuta there ifc 1795 and 1796.