pleasantly along the bottom of a fine valley, where verdure abounds on every side: and the rich prospects of corn and grass land are finely improved by the addition of the noblest oaks and elms sprinkled about the fields with incredible profusion.

Plains immense

Lie stretch'd beneath, interminable meads

Ànd vast savannas, where the wand'ring eye,

Unfixt, is in a verdant ocean lost."

THOMSON.

There is a well-built modern house among the trees at some distance from the road on the west side of the Avon; and further on, a large old mansion, which looks particularly venerable, being sheltered with fine plantations that extend up the slope of a very high hill. On the opposite side of the road are several houses of different descriptions and appearances; but they were chiefly situated at too remote a distance for me to observe them distinctly.

Fordingbridge is a small town, taking it's name from a bridge over the Avon which flows with a smooth current and forms several little islands. A

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manufactory of serge is carried on here, and we saw great quantities bleaching by the river side.

The improvement of floating meadows is said to have been first practiced in this neighbourhood, and it's beneficial effects, being soon understood, occasioned it to be imitated in other places. Beyond Fordingbridge is a large house in a paddoc adjoining the road, well planted with firs and beech.

Downton a venal borough six miles from Fordingbridge, and the same distance from Salisbury, is a poor mean town, remarkable however for several contested elections which have been held here. The houses to which votes are annexed, are numbered with large figures over the doors; but many of them are in a shocking state of decay. The Shaftoe interest (a Yorkshire family) was considerably lessened in this place some years since, by a very ridiculous circumstance. Mr. Shaftoe, the proprietor of one half of the borough, took it into his head to demolish nineteen houses, which constituted as many votes, and to erect instead of them

one single dwelling, the occupier of which, he supposed, would be invested with the power of giving as many votes as had formerly been attached to the eriginal number of houses standing there: but, to his great vexation as well as detriment, the succeeding election convinced him, that he had given his opponent an advantage which a little prudence might easily have prevented; but which it was now impossible to remedy.

Two or three miles from Downton is Longford Castle in Wiltshire, the seat of Jacob Pleydell Bouverie, Earl of Radnor, Colonel of the Berkshire Militia. The Castle stands on low ground in

a park of some extent on the right of the road leading to Salisbury. It appears of a very unusual shape, being triangular with a round tower at each angle. The present possessor has a design of enlarging the building, but one has no idea of what form it is then to assume. His Lordship seems also to have in view some improvement of the grounds about the house, but the alterations are going on very slowly.

Leaving the direct road to Salisbury, and turning to the right not far from Longford-Park, we came to Britford-Houfe, situated in a small Village of that name; (but which by the country people is called Burford) this was the residence of the late Tristram Huddlestone Jervoise Esq. and is a very comfortable mansion. It stands in a garden, around which a stream of water is conducted, well stocked with fish.

The easy distance it is from Salisbury, which furnishes either an agreeable ride or walk, and the advantage of society, which that city affords, are great additions to the interior comforts of the house. In the garden are some fine cypress trees, and from the windows of the drawing room, which is a very handsome apartment, is a pleasing view of Salisbury and it's Cathedral.

CHAP. VII.

Salisbury-the Bishop's Palace-Cathedral-Anecdote-the Council-House-Old Sarum-Return to Ringwood.

AT the entrance of Salisbury from Britford is a stone bridge over the Avon, not far from the Bishop's Palace; and as we must pass by that building and the Cathedral Church before we arrive at the town itself, I shall endeavour first of all, to give some idea of their situation and appearance.

The Bishop's Palace stands in a neat garden adjoining the Cathedral; there is a branch of the Avon conducted near the house, and though the ground is perfectly level, the walks about it are not unpleasant; and the whole being encompassed with a high wall, gives an idea of retirement and religious contemplation, which is not a little heightened