Page:A tour through the northern counties of England, and the borders of Scotland - Volume II.djvu/127

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principal one is Bella island, about one mile and three quarters round, the property and summer resi- dence of Mr. Curwen. The passage to this, about half a mile, gave us a magnificent vi*v of the lake, its surface studded with islands, and its shores with gentlemen's seats, removed to such a fortu- nate distance as to prevent the bad taste with which most of them are built from being perceived: Rydale-Head, an august mountain, shuts up the scene to the north. The island was purchased about seventeen years ago by Mrs. Curwen, before her marriage, for the sum of 1 64c!. of the credi- tors of Mr. English, who had begun the house which Mr. Curwen now inhabits; the plantations commenced two years afterwards; but so much has the value of property hereabouts increased, and so elegantly has Mr. Curwen compleated the mansion and grounds, that within this present year 2o,oool. have been offered as the price of its pur- chase. Green-house trees form for the most part the belt of wood that encircles the island, which is made as thick as possible, in order to prevent its narrowness from being discovered; through this is a crave) walk, and within it anon! eighteen acres of lawn, with the house upon arise in the centre; an elegant classical build'ng, with a portico in front, and a domed roof. On ascending the lofty

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