him, as the forest of Needwood was close to his door.

"If, therefore," continued he, " you will join me to-morrow morning at the prettiest inn in England, which is hard by, and ask for Mr. De Vere, I may probably in the evening have the honour to receive you at my house." I said I should be too happy, and we parted, on my side, with regret.

I was punctual to my appointment, and set out early with my interesting companion; who, however, but little relaxed from the thoughtfulness which seemed habitual to him. When we entered the forest of Needwood, indeed, his features became more complacent, and he was cheerful as he pointed out the different views, formed by glades of beautiful turf, dividing groves of old oak and elm, while the intervals were set off with thickets of thorn and beech, of the most grotesque shapes, forming the very revelling of forest scenery.

"All this, however," he said, with a sigh,

"will soon be cut down, and disappear in the progress of what is called improvement; and if increased happiness (the only real improvement I know) is the effect of increased population, for which of course food must be provided, I suppose it is rightly so called. Yes! I suppose it will be right, that these fine glades, and this green turf, which invite so much to healthful exercise; these extensive sheep walks, the only vestiges left to remind us of that pastoral life once so dear to England, and which charms us still in song and story; that all this," (he added with a lowering change of countenance)." should vield to the superior benefits conferred by the Cyclop's forge, and the weaver's shuttle. Yes! yes!" continued he, " I know I am wrong;" and he pushed on his horse, though the weather was sultry hot, as if to expel thoughts that were evidently not agreeable.

Soon, however, he resumed his previous manner, and seemed pleased to show the fine seats, or remnants of seats, in the forest; "the many parks, which Cambden talks of, wherein the gentry hereabouts frequently exercise themselves with great application, in the agreeable toil of hunting."

The evening now overtaking us, our ride was delicious, and we proceeded, not too briskly,

though in unbroken silence, till we came to a large park-like gate of seven bars, opening through a rough palisade fence which stretched across a broad avenue, (for it was too wide to be called a lane) which lay to the left. At this we entered. The trees seemed better timbered, and were more in line than the groups we had left. Every thing was grave and still; and the loud rebound of the gate in closing upon us, occa sioned an echo through woods and fields beyond, which appeared to my then humour peculiarly solemn and pleasing.

The trees on each side formed the skirts of a forest road, on either hand of which lay a horsepath, over turf of the same elasticity with that which had rendered the open woods so agreeable, spite of even meridian ardors. The dew had now begun to fall; the green hue of every thing was heightened, and there arose a coolness which was only the more delicious from the contrast it formed to the magnificent heat we had left. The freshness of the scene seemed caught by our horses as well as ourselves.

My companion's horse, indeed, began to neigh with pleasure, as I thought, at the agreeableness of the scene, and even quickened his pace, as if by secret impulse, till the trees which lined

the road, terminating on the right, let in a fair seat or gentleman's residence, which I immediately stopped to examine.

What I at first thought a sunk fence before the house, displayed every thing to the best; but I soon discovered that it formed part of a moat, which went entirely round themansion and offices. They stood in the midst of gardens laid out in a very old-fashioned style. Two immense gates of iron, of a very massive pattern, having barbs to their pikes, which had once been gilt, rose at each end of that part of the moat which fronted us. They were flanked by stone pillars of proportionate magnitude; on the top of one of which, the figure of a boar, cut in stone, supported a shield of arms of ancient simplicity, being quarterly gules, and or; while on the other, a talbot supported the same sort of shield azure, surmounted with the honourable distinction of a label of three points, and bearing a cinque-foil ermine.

The whole place looked so venerably interesting, that I could not help wishing a longer examination of it; but what chiefly struck me, was a large, and originally well shaped obelisk or column, which rose in the open space before the moat, fenced round with iron spikes. It was of yellowish stone, (at least made so with