The Cieling of this Room is painted with the ftory of Jupiter and Semele.

In the State Chamber, over the Chimney is a picture of our Saviour and St. John Baptift, by Raphael.

In the State Dreffing Room the hangings are all of needle-work ; a prefent from the Queen of Pruffia.

The painted Gallery is adorned with many admirable pictures. At one end is K. Charles I. on a White Horfe, with the Duke D'Efpernon holding his Helmet.

At the other end fronting this is the fame King, with his Queen and two Children, Charles II. when a child, and James II. an infant in the Queen's lap. Thefe two by Vandyke.

Efther fainting before King Ahasuerus, by Tintoret.

The LEASOWES.

The Seat of the late WILLIAM SHENSTONE,

Efq.

HE Leafores is in the parish of Hales

fhire, but furrounded by other counties, and thirty miles from Shrewsbury.

In the road from Birmingham to Bewdley, about half a mile fhort of Hales Owen, you quit the great road, and turn into a green lane on the left hand, where defcending to the bottom of a valley finely fhaded, the first object that occurs is a ruined wall, and a small gate within an arch, inscribed the Priory Gate. Here' the company fhould properly begin their walk, but generally chufe to go up with their horfes or equipage to the house; from whence returning they defcend back into the valley. Paffing through a small gate at the bottom of the fine fwelling lawn that furrounds the house, you enter upon a winding path with a piece of water on your right. The path and water overshadowed with trees, form a fcene at once cool, folemn,

and fequeftered; which is fo ftriking a contraft to the lively fcene you have juft left, that you feem all on a fudden landed in a fubterraneous region. Winding down the valley, you pass befide a fmall root-houfe, where, on a tablet, are thefe lines.

Here in cool grot, and mofly cell,
We rural fays and faeries dwell;
Tho' rarely feen by mortal eye,
When the pale moon afcending high,
Darts thro' yon limes her quiv'ring beams,
We frisk it near thefe chryftal ftreams.

Her beams reflected from the wave,
Afford the light our revels crave;
The turf with daifies broider'd o'er,
Exceeds we wot the Parian floor;
Nor yet for artful ftrains we call,
But liften to the waters fall.

Would you then tafte our tranquil fcene, your bofoms be fetene;

Be fure

Devoid of hate, devoid of ftrife,

Devoid of all that poifons life:

And much it 'vails you in their place,
To graft the love of human race.

And tread with awe these favour'd bowers,

Nor wound the fhrubs, nor bruise the flowers,

So

So may your path with fweets abound!.
So may your couch with reft be crown'd!
But harm betide the wayward fwain,
Who dares our hallow'd haunts profane.

You now pass through the Priory gate, and are admitted into a part of the valley fomewhat different from the former; tall trees, high irregular ground, and rugged feats. The right presents you with perhaps the most natural, if not the most ftriking of the cafcades here found: the left with a floping grove of oaks; and the centre with a pretty circular landfcape appearing through the trees, of which Hales Owen fleeple, and other objects at a distance form an interefling part. The leat beneath the ruined wall has thefe

lines of Virgil infcribed:

Lucis habitamus opacis

Ripa umque toros, & prata

Incolimus.

recentia rivis

You now proceed a few paces down the valley to another bench, (a) where you have this cascade in front, which, together with the internal arch and other appendages, makes a pretty irregular

(4) These extempore rude benches feem intended as hints to fpectators, left.in paffing curforily through the farm, they might fuffer any of that immenfe variety the ¡lace furnishes, to escape their notice,

picture.