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of the most popular preachers of his time, and was admired for his brillant abilities and deep erudition, which recommended him to James I. who appointed him one of his chaplains; and, in 1620, promoted him to the deanery of Christchurch, where he had so successfully studied. He came out in this university, D.D. as grand compounder. In 1629, he was appointed bishop of Oxford, whence he was translated to Norwich, where he died in 1635, and was interred in the chancel of that cathedral. Bishop Corbet, was remarkable for private and public virtue, in his different stations of life; and the acuteness of his wit is sufficiently displayed in a volume of elegant poems, of which he was author,

EBBESHAM, vulgarly called EPSOM, was so denominated from EBBA, a relation of Alfred the Great, who retired here to perform works of piety; and among others built a nunnery, the remains of which were converted into a farm house, called Epsom Court, in Hudson's Lane.

This town has been long famous for its mineral waters, tinctured with allum, which come from a spring near Ashted, and which were discovered in 1618; though they are not in such repute as formerly, yet they are not impaired in virtue, and the salt made from them is famous throughout Europe, for their gently cleansing, cooling, and purifying quality. The hall, galleries, and other public apartments for the company who formerly used this watering place, are now quite in decay; and there remains only one house on the spot, which is inhabited by a countryman and his wife, who carry the waters in bottles to the adjacent places, and supply the demands of dealers in London. The reason the waters are in less repute than formerly is possibly owing, more than any thing else, to the place being too near London. The town, however, for the very reason that the waters are in less repute, is resorted to in the summer, especially during the time of the races, three days before the Whitsun week, by people of fortune; and may, perhaps, in the revolutions of fashion, be, once more, a place of amusement.

In

In the middle of the town is a clock at one end of the pond, railed in by the generosity of a gentleman, who provided for the public service what was greatly wanted, common water being scarce, especially in dry summers, when many of the inhabitants are forced to buy it of persons who get a livelihood by carrying it about for sale. The inns, shops, and bowling-greens, are not near so much frequented as formerly; but the market is on Friday; and the fair, July 25. The town is about one mile and a half in semicircle from the church to Durdans. Here are so many fields, meadows, orchards, gardens, &c. that a stranger would be at a loss to know whether this was a town built in a wood or a wood surrounded by a town.

The CHURCH is a very irregular building, with a low turret and spire; it is neat in the interior, and contains respectable memorials of the dead.

The seat called DURDANS, was originally built by George, first earl of Berkeley, with the materials brought from Nonsuch, when that celebrated royal residence was demolished. The first structure being destroyed by fire, was afterwards rebuilt by Mr. Dalbiac, and is the seat of Mrs. Kenworthy. It was once inhabited by Frederick, prince of Wales, his present majesty's father.

There are many other fine seats in the neighbourhood: PIT PLACE, SO called from its situation, being in a chalk. pit, was built by the late Mr. Belcher, and is a very whimsical but elegant retirement. The late proprietor, Thomas Fitzherbert, Esq. made several singular alterations and improvements in it: the drawing room, conservatory, and aviary, in particular, are supposed to be the most beautiful in Surrey. The present proprietor of Pit Place is

Mr. Jewdine.

The road between Guildford and Epsom is, perhaps, the most beautiful piece of inland road in the kingdom. The country through which it passes is beautifully adorned with woods, sheep walks, parks, gardens, and the seats of the nobility and gentry, in a most pleasing and delightful suc

cession.

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ASHTED,

ASHTED, near which the Epsom spring rises, is two miles from Epsom on the road to Dorking. It is one of the sweetest situations in England. Here is an elegant seat and park of Richard Bagot Howard, Esq. brother to lord Bagot, who took the name of Howard, on his marriage with the honourable Miss Howard, daughter of William viscount Andover, and sister of Henry the twelfth earl of Suffolk. In the church, which stands on the side of the park, are some good monuments. Here king Charles II. was entertained, and the table at which the company dined is still preserved.

Two miles from Ashted is LETHERHEAD, LEDERED, or LEDERIDE. The first account we meet with concerning this town is in Domesday Book, where we are informed that the church of Leret, with forty acres of land, to the value of 40s. was held by Osteo de Eu. In the reign of Richard I. Eustachius de Eya held lands in the town of Leddred, to the value of ten shillings, being a gift of the king; but we are not given to understand by what service the lands were held. Again, in the reign of king John, Richard Lewer held in the same town sixty shillings; a gift from the king, upon paying to him for one hostler. In the reign of Henry III. John de Shelesburg held half a knights fee in Leddrede, of the honor of Clare.

The next account we have of Letherhead, is in the reign of Edward III. when, by an inquisition taken in the thirtyeighth year of that reign, it was found that the priory of Ledes, in Kent, founded in 1119 by Robert Crevecoeur, and dedicated to St. Mary and St. Nicholas, held Ledred in Com. Surr. Next year, by another inquisition, it was also found that the prioress of Kelborne did homage for a tene-ment in Ledred. In the thirty-fifth of the same reign there was an elemosynary collected for the reparation of Letherhead Bridge.

Nothing more occurs of this place till the ninth of Henry IV. when Merton Priory did homage for lands in Ledred, Mickelham, Dorking, Pollesden, and Fetcham.

In

In 4 Edw. IV. an inquisition was taken of the tenements and lands held by the rector; but no account occurs of their value.

Thus Letherhead continued till the thirty-third of Henry VIII. when it was bestowed by that king, at the dissolution of monasteries, on the dean and chapter of Rochester, who at this day present to the living.

In the town was antiently a market, which has long since been discontinued; the market house was remaining in the seventeenth century. A fair is held on our Lady's Day, in three weeks before Michaelmas, but otherwise the town possesses no trade or privilege than what its being a great thoroughfare produces.

The only remarkables are the church and the bridge, which is a very neat structure over the river Mole, built of brick, and consisting of fourteen arches.

The roads to Guildford and Brighton lay through the town; but for delightfulness of situation, prospect, and healthfulness, very few places can vie with Letherhead;" besides the genteel neighbourhood which surround the parish, enliven and enhance the pleasure of its situation. The fishery also in the river Mole causes much resort to the town from London, from whence it is distant nineteen miles, which cannot be deemed considerable, when so many charms attract the attention. The approximity of Box Hill, at only three miles, is equally an inducement to the traveller into the neighbourhood. The prospects from this hill are so extensive, and its situation so romantic, that not to see and walk down it would be an error of judgment scarcely pardonable. Opposite to this hill are the heights of Norbury Park, where art vies with nature to make the prospect enchanting. Mr. Lock, whose elegant house meets the eye of the beholder on the brow of the park, much enlivens the scene; but it is not here alone the curious must be satisfied. Mr. Lock's saloon exceeds description; the whole is an admirable painting on stucco, by Barret, imitating the majestic scenery of the lakes and mountains of

Cumberland

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