Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 7.djvu/35

 12 s. viz. JULY 10, i92o.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 23 but the grandeur of its cathedral "makes amends. A large pile, of pure and simple gothic architec- ture, in good condition both within and without. Noble aisles and magnificent choir, with an altar- piece by West the resurrection of Lazarus. A plain stone coffin of William Bufus. Others of several Saxon kings. But the tombs of great clergymen are the glory of this cathedral, many enclosed in most beautiful tabernacle work. Cardinals Beaufort and Langton, Bishops Fox, Gardiner and Wainfleet, William of Wickham, &c. National religion must always be attached to such edifices and the associations accompanying them. Saw the college, or school, a sensible place, well calculated for inspiring sentiments favourable to antiquity. Many scholars walking about, some in black gowns. Winchester seems to abound in remains of antiquity, the study of which might agreeably occupy one's leisure. The King's house is a large pile with little to engage the attention lately a prison, now a garrison. This city, like almost all the places we have viewed, is 'crowded with soldiery. Probably no towns on the continent have a more military appearance than those of England at present such are the times we live in ! The extreme dearness of inns probably caused by this. Proceeded over naked downs, which even fine weather could scarcely prevent from looking bleak and comfortless. Country mends towards Alresford. Beached Alton early in the evening. Its approach delightful ; and its situation, in the midst of hop gardens and cornfields, extremely pleasant. Enjoyed a walk in its environs. True rural softness in the views. We are not sorry that we have left the coast and got into a milder climate but perhaps the weather makes the chief difference. Green boughs at the doors of the public houses, in honour of a visitation held this day. Some characteristic clerical figures jogging homewards from their festival. I thought I recognised the rough and wooded scene of Selborne at some distance on the road classical ground to me !* June 12, Saturday. A sweet ride from Alton to Farnham. On the right a little stream running through meadows, beyond which rose a bole range of high ground all richly covered with sloping woods, sometimes nearer, sometimes more remote and stretching to the distant country The course of our road, a fertile and well cultivated tract, with hop-grounds, cornfields and clpverec meadows. Several gentlemen's seats and villages I know not whether the scenes would be deeme< picturesque (though several of the views among the woods seemed strictly so) but they were delightfully pleasant, and inspired the mos agreeable emotions. A few driving showers, bu ground implies that he already knew the place that he knew Gilbert White's writings is borne ou by his ' Calendar of Nature,' a work which wen into several editions. As " Mr. Aikin of Warring ton " he is mentioned in the last paragraph o White's * Natural History,' as having lately published something similar to what White proposed to add, namely, " an Annus Historico Naturalis, or the Natural History of the Twelve Months of the Year."] aving been aguerris to rain, we did not regard hem. " Such are the uses of adversity ! " Farnham quite buried in hop, which, at the eason of their prime, most afford a striking and rerdant prospect. At present, the bare poles (the ower part only being half covered) give a grey Lusky hue to the landscape. Visited the Bishop of Winchester's palace, rowning a brow above the town an ancient tructure, with a ruined castellated part still more- ancient. Within, it is a large comfortable modern mansion, presenting much more of the nobleman ; ,han the bishop. A very elegant drawing-room, vith silk furniture a sofa much larger and wider han any bed in my house. Small library of mostly modern books, and smart chapel. Had a delightful walk in the park. A long avenue of old elms running along a terrace, which overlooks the- country. A fine velvet lawn, on which was feeding a large herd of beautiful deer, and some foreign* spotted sheep. Some of the deer ran spontaneous races and showed off all their light airy motions. ?he whole scene was extremely pleasant. Upon-, ny word, it is no bad thing to be Bishop of Winchester ! From Farnham to Guildford ; the greatest part of the road over a singular elevated ridge jailed the Hog's-back, a narrow summit of a chalk bill, just broad enough for a wide road and declin- ing sharply on each side. It affords extensive- views of the country each way, but not very agreeable much black moor. High wind on the- top, and it must be very bleak in bad weather quite solitary and houseless but good road. A long descent to Guildford. After tea, took a walk to a remarkable chalk quarry, a striking scene, with a fine view of the river and up the valley towards Godalming. Home draws strongly as we approach it. Travelling offers many pleasures ; but never to see a face one knows night after night to lodge in new places, where not a soul cares about you to be without employment, books and the many little comforts of one's own house, becomes at length very tiresome. We therefore resolved to push ten miles further in order to be within one easy day of Newington ; and we got very well to Cobham. First part of the road a close country, with parks and cultivated fields. Then- black moorish commons, interrupted, however, with plantation. Cross the Mole close by Cob- ham, on a bridge whence is a very striking near view of a gentleman's house on an elevation, in a finely wooded park, beautifully laid out and declining to the water.* > ^-4 This has been a very amusing day and^the horse has performed beyond expectation." June 13, Sunday. From Cobham to Kingston,- a good deal of black common, but enlivened with- seats. 'Tis a lucky thing when gentlemen chuse to fix their residence in a barren country, as they alone are able to improve it, and they leave better land for more useful purposes. Surrey abounds in these instances. Greeted the Thames near Kingston and recognized its great superiority to all the streams we had seen. Took a walk to Hampton Court, a most dull< disagreeable road between two park walls, royalty Painshill.
 * [Aikin's reference to Selborne as classica
 * This we afterwards found to be the celebrated