mains of any other that is well afcertained, except that at Sylchefter.

The fituation of Dorchester is pleasant. It ftands on a high bank of the Frome, and is furrounded with dry fheep-downs, on which, however, the plough has lately made large encroachments. The town is clean, and well built ; and round it is a variety of pleasant walks, which, to a certain degree, I think, fhould always engage the attention of the magiftrate.

In the neighbourhood of Dorchester are many gentlemen's feats, well worth vifiting. The woody dips among these downy hills afford naturally very fine fituations. The only one, however, which we regretted our not being able to fee, was Milton-abbey, the feat of Lord Milton, which lies about three miles from Dorchester. The day which we had laid out for seeing it was rainy, and we had not time to wait for a better. The capital feature of the landscape, we were told, is a valley winding among hills of various forms, and covered with woods, which fometimes advance boldly on projecting knolls; and fometimes

2

times retire in bays and receffes. We heard alfo the ruins of the abbey-church commended, as remains of the pureft Gothic. All these materials are in a high degree picturesque; and if they are happily united, Milton-abbey must be a very interesting scene. To make a good picture, compofition, however, is as neceffary as pleasing objects.

U

SECT. XXXII.

BLANDFORD, our next stage, lies about

fixteen miles from Dorchefter; and, though not a place of such renowned antiquity, is perhaps a still more agreeable town. It lies within a curve of the river Stour, and is pleafantly feated among meadows and woods. If a person wished to retire from business, where he might have the conveniences and pleasures of the town and country united, his choice might waver between Barnstaple, Dorchester, and Blandford. If he wished to be near the fea, he will find a pleasant fea-coaft at Barnftaple. If airy downs, and open country pleased him, he might fix at Dorchefter. But if he loved meadows and woodlands, he must make choice of Blandford.

This town has been twice burnt almoft within the memory of man. The laft fire, which was in the year 1731, destroyed it fo completely, that only twenty-fix houfes remained ftanding. Here we cannot help bemoaning the fingular fate of these weftern

towns.

towns. This is the fourth of them we met with, (Dorchester, Crediton, and Honiton were the other three,) which have been totally, in a manner, destroyed by fire. To these might be added Wareham, and very lately Minehead.

Near Blandford ftands Eaftbury, the seat of Lord Melcombe; but it did not much attract our curiofity; as it is more celebrated for the splendor of the house than the scenery around it.

Brianfton, Mr. Portman's feat, which is near the town, I fuppofe, is a much more pleasing place. We were not at his houfe; but faw enough of his woody hill, and the variety both of its steep and eafy flopes, together with the vale and winding river, over which it hangs, to regret the closing in of the evening upon us, before we had finished our walk.

From Blandford the country ftill continues wild and uncultivated, yet full of antiquities; among which the most celebrated is the found

ation of a fort, called Badbury-ring. It makes a confiderable figure, as we rode paft; and feems from its elevation, its dimenfions, and complicated works (for it has been fortified with a triple ditch) to have been a place of uncommon ftrength.

Some parts of these downs are very picturefque. They are finely spread, and form elegant sweeps, with many pleasant views into a woody country, which stretches away to the right. They poffefs indeed all the variety taken notice of by the poet, when he speaks

of the

pure Dorsetian downs

In boundless profpect spread; here fhagged with woods, There rich with harvests, and there white with flocks.

In the last epithet he is rather unhappy; for the sheep, which graze these plains, are so far from being white, that they are universally washed all over with red-ocre, which greatly injures both the pastoral and picturesque idea.

Winborn was our next ftage from Blandford; appearing, as we approach it, to stand in a wild vale furrounded with wood. This town takes its name from one of the most celebrated