paffes clofe under a thick hawthorn hedge, and stretches itself to a feat within the fhade of firs, which comprehends the beauty and riches of a grazing farm, interfperfed with the fineft diverfity; every diftant object is here fhut out, all is fylvan and paftoral. From the foot of this feat the land gently falls, and rifes again in a lovely fwell, adorned with a groupe of firs, and here and there a fpreading fingle elm, or ash, decks the intermediate fpace; this fwell forms, on the other fide of it, a deep narrow valley fringed with trees, fhrubby alders and willows; and the bold rifing lawn beyond, bounded by wood and detached light groves, with its Gothic alcove on a rifing lawn over the trees which furround the house, and other chearful objects, compofe the rural profpect.

Such fcenes as thefe, where various groupes of animals are feen feeding on the rich turf, dedicated to the uses of

life, give a pleafing warmth to the idea of the happiness of those who prefer the calm rational pleasure of retirement, and is a strong incentive to every thinking being, who perhaps moves in the gay circle of folly and diffipation, to quit it for thefe more commendable pursuits, and live as becomes a man, in the laudable exertion of his reafon and underftanding.

From the next feat in a clump of firs, which is dedicated to Lord Lyttelton, the eye faftens upon three or four falls of water, rushing precipitately among trees down the narrow vale, or dingle between the fwells of the lawn; the fine hanging wood's high front, with its Gothic building peeping through the glade, and the vivid fields around, give this fituation as much confequence as any before vifited. But this fcene, endearing as it is, is scarcely remembered, when, after paffing another feat, without any great variation,

the

the ftranger finds himself in the delightful

mazes of

VIRGIL's GROVE.

An exertion of the most lively and poetic fancy, discovers itself in every corner of this romantic and lovely folitude; it exactly marks the mind of the defigner, and proves to what extent the power of genius and good fenfe can arrive.-From the rude and infignificant hollow it once was, arises a thoufand charms, and carries with it fuch an idea of enchantment, that one is ready to think one fees the Naiads, Fairies and Fays, in their quick motions, gambol through the receffes of the grove.

The entrance into this delightful retirement, is through a fmall wicket, where the glimpse of an obelisk on the right first catches the attention; this in a fequeftered

Turning to the left, as the path gently falls among the trees, a seat appears which is infcribed to Mr. Thomfon.

CELEBERRIMO POETÆ,
JACOBO THOMSON;

PROPE FONTES ILLI NON FASTIDITOS,
G. S.

SEDEM HANC ORNAVIT.

Quæ tibi, quæ tali reddam pro carmine don
Nam

neque me tantum venientis fibilus auftri. Nec percuffa juvant fluctutam litora, nec quæ Saxofas inter decurrunt flumina valles.

That

That is,

To the celebrated Poet

JAMES THOMSON,

Near these fountains which he delighted in,
WILLIAM SHENSTONE

Raised this Seat.

What thanks, what recompence can my weak lay,
For fuch exalted strains as thine repay ?
Not from fresh whispers of the fouthern breeze,
Nor gentle dafhings of the calmest seas ;
Nor from the murm'ring rills fuch joys I feel,
That gliding down the pebly vallies steal.

WARTON.

From this feat the eye is ravifh'd with a full view of every object in the grove; on the extremity to the left, appears a bold cafcade, rufhing precipitately down the rude rock, which forms a fmall rivulet gently gliding, then rufhes down a fall and divides, forms a fmall ifland, again unites, and foaming swiftly tumbles down another abrupt fall, and lofes itself in the pool which appears under the arch of a bridge of the moft fimple conftruc