merged into the Orchard.  To neither the right nor the left did we swerve, but moved on, the chapel being directly is front of us; but in a few moments afterwards we found ourselves surrounded by myriads of pots and a mighty cordon of crates—­it was the pot fair.  Thinking that the Orchard was public ground, and seeing the chapel so very near, we pursued the even tenour of our way, but just as we were about sliding between two crates, so as to pass on into the chapel, a strong man, top-coated, muffled up, and with a small bludgeon in his hand, moved forward and said “Can’t go.”  “Why?” said we; “Folks isn’t allowed in this here place now,” said he.  “Well, but this is the town’s property and we pay rates,” was our rejoinder, and his was “Don’t matter a cuss, if you were Lord Derby I should send you back.”  We accused him of rudeness, and threatened to go to the police station, close by; but the fellow was obstinate; his labours were concentred in the virtuous guardianship of pots, he defied the police and “everybody;” and feeling that amid all this mass of crockery we had, for once, unfortunately, “gone to pot,” we quietly walked round to the bottom of the ground, for the crates and the pots swamped the whole place, came up to the chapel door, within four yards of the Lord-Derby-defying individual, and quietly went into the building.

There are about 300 “members” of the church.  In the Preston circuit, which until recently included Croston, Cuerden, Brinscall, Chorley, and Blackpool, and which now only embraces, Cuerden and Croston—­the other places being thought sufficiently strong to look after themselves—­there are about 400 “members.”  What are termed “Churches” have been established at all the places named; Preston being the “parent” of them.  A branch of the body exists at Southport, and it was “brought up” under the care of the Preston party.  Orchard Chapel will accommodate between 700 and 800 persons; but, like other places of worship, it is never full except upon special occasions; and the average attendance may be put down at about 400.  In the old chapel the father of the late Alderman G. Smith preached for a time.  The first minister of the chapel, when rebuilt, was the Rev. J. Guttridge—­an energetic, impetuous, eloquent, earnest man.  He had two spells at the place; was at it altogether about six years; and left the last time about a year ago.  Mr. Guttridge, who is one of the smartest ministers in the body, is now residing at Manchester, connected regularly with no place of worship, on account of ill health, but doing what he can amongst the different churches.  The congregation of Orchard Chapel consists principally of well-dressed working people—­a quiet, sincere-looking class of individuals, given in no way to devotional hysteria, and taking all things smoothly and seriously.  They are a liberal class, too.  During the past two years they have raised amongst themselves about 800 pounds towards the chapel, upon which there is still a debt, but which would