has been during our long loco-motive

scheme.

After visiting Tabart's Juvenile Library in Bond Street, purchasing some of his delightful books, and dispatching some necessary business here, which will not engage us above two days more, we mean to set out for Oxford; but with our usual tendency to make digressions, it is probable we shall take Stow in our way, though in consequence of this we lose the sight of Windsor. How my heart bounds with joy, dearest sister, at the thought of once more seeing the place of my nativity, the abode of all that I hold dear.-In fancy's eye, I already behold

Oxford mid the moss of time,

Majestic lift her brow sublime.

I shall continue my observations till we meet, but as they will be few, I mean to deliver them with the same hand that will tender the affectionate heart of your brother.

194

LETTER XVIII.

Journey from London to Oxford, Stow,

Blenheim.

Woodstock, September 29.

MY DEAREST SISTER,

com.

LONDON presents such a vast field for speculation, and contains so many attractions to a stranger, that weeks and even months might elapse before curiosity was pletely gratified. Yet with all its novelties, its bustle, and its amusements, I confess I was not sorry to quit it. I sighed for fresh air and green fields; and the nearer I felt myself approaching to the end of my tour, the more impatient I became for its close.

Having hired a post chaise, we left the metropolis early in the morning, and took the Uxbridge road, travelling over a champaign and fertile, but most uninteresting country, were it not relieved by masses of building and villages, which successively

line the road to the distance of some miles, and by the remote view of Harrow on the Hill.

Uxbridge is a considerable market town, agreeably situated on the river Coln. The old house was indicated, in which the commissioners on the part of Charles I. and the parliament met to discuss and settle differences, but broke up without coming to any agreement.

Crossing the Coln and the Grand Junction Canal, we pursued the Oxford road for a few miles; but soon took that which leads to Amersham. We passed on the left Bulstrode Park, the seat of the Duke of Portland, and in the same direction saw Beaconsfield, the residence of Waller the poet, and in latter times, of Edmund Burke.

Leaving Cheneys on the right, the burialplace of the noble family of Russel, and their abode before they settled at Woburn; in a short time we reached Amersham, an ancient borough town, but remarkable only for Shardeloes, the seat of the Drakes, which lies in its vicinity. The grounds here are

beautifully waved, and ornamented with plantations.

Passing Chesham Boys, and continuing our progress through a charming vale, whose bounding hills are richly feathered. with beech, we re ched Missenden, where stood a famous abbey, now converted into a farm house.

Three miles beyond this, we had a view of Great Hampden on the left, the seat of the Hampdens, an ancient and distinguished family, one of whom was the patriot, who lost his life in the skirmish of Chalgrave field, soon after the commencement of the civil wars. The male line has long been extinct. Both the son and grandson of John Hampden, were signally unfortunate.

Reached Wendover, an ordinary town, but possessing the privilege of sending two members to parliament, Here the hills assume a bold form, and the woods become extensive. In the vicinity, stands Claydon Hall, the seat of Lady Fermanagh, built by her relative, the late Earl Verney.

We now descended into the rich vale of

Aylesbury, and soon arrived at the town of that name, situated on an eminence, overlooking the surrounding champaign. It is an ancient and respectable town, and in the time of the Saxons was a place of strength.

Changing horses here, we drove through a continuation of the same rich vale, and passing through Winslow, a small place, arrived at Buckingham, the county town, pleasantly situated on the Ouse. Its church, a modern and elegant pile, occupies the site of the ancient castle, and forms a striking object from Stow Gardens. Lace is the principal manufacture of the place, and indeed of Buckinghamshire in general.

After making an hasty dinner at the Cobham Arms, we set out to visit Stow, the original creation of Lord Cobham, and which received many capital improvements from his nephew and successor Earl Temple. It is now the domain and residence of the Marquis of Buckingham, who has employed the skill of Wyatt to render the mansion suitable to the grounds, which owe many of their finest features to the taste of Brown.