CHAP. IV.

Lord Moira's Camp-Stoneham-Park-Views-Catherine-Hill-River Itchen-St. Cross-Hospital.

WE

E had business at Winchester, which compelled us to deviate from the road we at first intended to pursue; and obliged us to take that city in our way to Ringwood.

The first part of the road presents a wild but pleasing scene, in part of the New Forest on the left; while, in an opposite direction, the eye is regaled with a rich and luxuriant prospect over highly cultivated fields.

The inhabitants of Southampton deserve great credit for the pains they have taken to improve the approach to that town; which must, however, have been always naturally beautiful. Beyond the avenue of trees already mentioned, clumps of

Scotch firs are planted on each side of the road, which afterwards passes over Nursling Common, where the troops designed for the unfortunate West-India expedition were encamped: and it was near this place where that army, with the Duke of York at the head of it, was reviewed by the Prince of Wales in the autumn of 1795.

Mr. Fleming has a fine seat here, called Stoneham-Park; and, on the verge of the Common a white summer-house, which is seen from a great distance on every side.

Taking a serpentine course through the woods and forest, you come to an eminence; from whence, looking back to the south, there is a fine view of the Sea and the Isle of Wight: and, descending the hill, you pass the village of Otterborn, four miles from Winchester.

The country, now becomes perfectly changed: instead of the rough scenery of the heath and forest, the eye wanders over immense fields, and swelling

downs of vast extent; till, gaining the summit of one of the hills, which overtops the rest, you are suddenly presented with a view of Winchester, to whose venerable appearance the unfinished Palace, on a distinguished elevation westward of the town, in no small degree contributes. Near it is CatherineHill, to which the College boys daily resort, in obedience to the will of the Founder. The ditch thrown up here, is visible for many miles; being of great depth, and enclosing all the top of the hill, in the centre of which is a plantation of fir trees.

From this bulwark it is more than probable the City suffered much in Cromwell's civil war, to which she principally owes the diminution of her former grandeur and importance.

"Then too, her sacred rites she saw prophan'd, "When Charles was exil'd, and the Tyrant reign'd; "Her plunder'd shrines the common fate partake, "And fall for Charles's and Religion's sake.”

The river Itchen winds it's silver stream at the

foot of Catherine-Hill, and about two miles beyond

it, beautifully adorns the grounds of Mr. Shakespear of Twyford, who has a charming house with a large conservatory adjoining.

One mile from Winton is the village of St. Cross; remarkable on account of it's Hospital (built and endowed by Henry de Blois, bishop of this diocese in the reign of King Henry the first) for the maintenance of poor decayed tradesmen, who live in small habitations not unlike the rooms in college. There was formerly an established table, for the daily support of one hundred persons from the neighbouring parishes, who resorted hither and were hospitably entertained: for many years, however, this part of the charity has been altered; and the money which had before been expended in this manner, appropriated to the establishment of the Master, the Chaplain, and other Officers, who enjoy a very easy life and comfortable salaries.

There is a custom retained here to this very hour, which originally sprung out of the ruins of good old English hospitality-that of affording

the relief of a piece of bread and a horn-full of beer, to every traveller, stranger, and pilgrim, who knocks at the gate and demands it: and there are not a few, who, from motives of curiosity, are induced to make the application; which must always be attended to, be the applicant of what rank or quality soever, or his visits never so frequent.

Doctor Beilby Porteus, since Bishop of London, was formerly Master of this Hospital; and it is now in the hands of the Reverend Doctor Lockman, who has given great disgust to some of the officers belonging to the establishment, by several alterations which he has made. One of them is the demolition of an whole wing of the building, to improve the profpect from his own apartments; and this indeed appears to have abridged the comforts of the Pensioners, without producing any kind of benefit to the Charity.