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THE JUNCTION OF THE THAME AND THE ISIS.

THE painter has the same liberty as the poet. Invention is an essential quality to them both. The former, therefore, is justified in describing with his pencil, what the fancy of the latter has dictated to his pen. The view of that part of the river where the supposed junction of the Thame and the Isis is formed, is perfectly correct as to the existing objects; but the Thame, which rises in the county of Buckingham, and is a very inferior stream, there pours its tributary waters into the Thames, as no such river as the Isis exists, except in the fabling of the poet, who most probably availed himself of the Latin appellation Thamesis, by which the river is described in the most ancient maps of England, to form the subject of the old Latin poem, named, The Marriage of the Tame and the Isis, which Camden's biographer attributes, among other poetical effusions, to the great antiquary himself.

The learned author of the additions to Camden's Britannia has fairly and fully decided that this river was anciently called the Thames, long before it receives the waters of the Tame, and produces the following authorities in support of that opinion.

"In an ancient charter granted to Abbot Aldhelm, of Malmsbury, there is particular mention made of certain lands on the east side of the river, cujus vocabulum Temis juxta ad vadum qui appellatur Somerford; and this ford is in Wiltshire. The same appears from several charters to the Abbies of Malmsbury and Evesham, and from the old deeds relating to Cricklade: indeed it never occurs in any charter, authentic history, or ancient chart, under the name of Isis. The common people from its head to Oxford, called it by no other name than that of Thames."

"The Saxon word Temeye, from whence the name of the river is derived, evidently proves that the supposed is a modern notion. But further,-All our historians who mention.

THE JUNCTION OF THE THAME AND THE ISIS.

the incursions of Wherwold into Wiltshire, in the year 905; and of Canute, in the year 1016, tell us, that they passed over the Thames at Cricklade."

Its source is universally known to all the country round it by the appellation of the Thames head. It is not only the traditional, but the geographical, and legal title, of the spot, as well as of the infant river. In the old maps laid down by the Monks, in which the titles of places are given in the Latin tongue, the course of the river is marked throughout by the term Tamesis Fluvius. To these notices it may be added, that the most ancient street in Oxford, is called Thames-street.

That a river, after a course of at least sixty miles, should lose the appellation of the parent spring, and at a considerable distance onwards resume and retain it to the sea, is an absurdity which could alone prevail from the beautiful poetry, by which it has been adopted.

The high ground which is seen in the view to rise above the river is Whittenham Hill, on which are the vestiges of a Roman encampment.

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Indon Published Dec 18 by Vaner Hood & Shape, Poultry & Woke 12 York Place. J'entenville

The rette House Bastiden Park.

THE GROTTO HOUSE,

NEAR BASILDEN PARK.

THIS house stands on an highly enriched bank on the Thames, on the Berkshire side of it, near Pangbourn, and at the foot of the declivities of Basilden park, from which it is separated by the road leading from Reading to Wallingford. It is a small spot, but very tastefully disposed, and luxuriantly planted: it is very ornamental to the river, and adds very much to the general richness of the landscape which surrounds it.

This pleasing retreat derives its name from a grotto which was the offspring of the late Lady Fane's taste and elegant industry, when this spot was the place of her residence. Though it remains a proof of her skill, and the great expense which must have accompanied the progress of her favourite occupation, as many specimens of the finest shells were employed in its construction, it is no longer seen in that state of perfection, when it was the boast of Basilden, and the wonder of that part of Berkshire. It will, however, live in recording praise of the muse, whose celebration of it is to be found among the poetry, so judiciously preserved in Mr. Dodsley's collection of fugitive verse.

The imitations of natural caverns find a place among the ornamental and characteristic objects of modern gardens. There are very fine examples of them at Stourhead, Pains Hill, and Park Place, where they give a very impressive variety to the scenery of those distinguished places. Many others also might be named, whose effect is equally pleasing; but the shell-room, whether above or below the earth, has long been disowned by an improved and purer taste, which, disdaining works merely artificial, professes alone to copy or improve nature. The only grottos which we recollect to be

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