superstitious times was believed to blow at Christmas. It has been proved, however, to be only a variety of the common hawthorn, remarkable for its early blossoming. The vast Tor which almost overhangs Glastonbury gives the situation a very romantic appearance.

Next morning we arrived at the city of Wells, situated at the foot of the Mendip hills, in a stony, spungy soil, from whence it receives its appellation. The buildings in general are not inelegant; but the cathedral and the bishop's palace alone are worthy of particular notice. The west front of the former has been long admired for its ample display of Gothic imagery, and it is indeed unrivalled in this kingdom. The episcopal palace is fortified with walls and a mote, and would be a proper scene for a romance writer, to conjure up his ghosts, and to place his dungeons and dark passages.

In company with an intelligent friend, belonging to the church of Wells, we made an excursion, purely I believe to oblige me, to see Okey Hole, reputed one of the great

est curiosities in the island. It is a dreary cavern of vast dimensions, through part of which the river Axe flows; while the spars depending from the roof, appear like so many diamonds. I collected a few specimens of them, and one I intend for your toilette, my dear Louisa.

A few miles north-west of this, near the small town of Chedder, are large cliffs, and a stupendous chasm, which appears as if split asunder by some violent convulsion of nature; and near the entrance, as I am informed, for we did not visit it, is a spring of water so large and rapid, that it turns a mill within a few yards of its source.

Through a country uniformly rich, beautiful, and well cultivated, we now proceeded · direct to Bath, a city which I most anxiously desired to see; and if I may judge from the first impression it made on me, as we entered it, about an hour ago, the high expectations I had formed of its beauty and its elegance will be gratified to the full. Here I had the pleasure of finding a letter from you; and had I enjoyed this satisfaction even

in the mine of Poldice, I should have overlooked my situation, and felt myself completely happy, in hearing that all my beloved relations at Oxford were well.

Before I close my epistle, I must observe that our future route is at present undetermined. My father has reaped so much benefit from his excursion, hitherto, that he is advised to persevere a few weeks longer in travelling; and though I know with what affection you long to embrace him, you have too much consideration to think that delay tedious, which is likely to be productive of so much good to the best and most indulgent of parents.

In this manner, my dear Louisa, I argue and endeavour to reconcile myself to protracted absence from you, who next to the authors of my being, hold the first place in the heart of him who is ever your's.

H

74

LETTER VIII.

Bath, Bristol, and the Hotwells; Piercefield, Tintern Abbey, and Caerleon.

MY DEAR SISTER,

Caerleon, July 29.

THOUGH it was by no means the season for company, when we arrived at Bath, and its most fashionable promenades were empty, I did not contemplate it with the less satisfaction, or regret that the votaries of pleasure and dissipation were fled. We had seen some of them on the sea coasts; and it was easy to fancy thronged parades, and the bustle of ball nights, and pump room lounges. 'Still we had the good fortune to find among the resident inhabitants, some very kind friends and acquaintances; and what more can be wished for, or enjoyed in any situa tion!

Bath has indeed answered my most san. guine expectations. Its edifices, its rooms, its baths, and its streets are beyond any thing

I could possibly have imagined. Nor is its situation less singular than its interior is beautiful. An amphitheatric range of hills encircle it; and in a fine valley watered by the Avon, and on the slope of the hills that `front the south, stands this favourite abode. of pleasure and elegance.

I will not attempt to enter into a detail of its public edifices, and I am not qualified to, give you a description of its gay amusements. You will find it described in many publications; but no description can do it sufficient justice. It is certainly a place of great antiquity, as is evinced by many vestiges of the Romans, which are still preserved here; but till Beau Nash, the first King of Bath, brought it into fashion as a place of public resort, its hot springs were visited only by the miserable victims of disease, who unquestionably have felt from remote ages the healing efficacy of its waters.

The public baths in this city, are the King's, the Queen's, the Hot Bath, and the Cross Bath. The private baths in the same vicinity, are commodious and elegant to the