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beauty of its scenery has been often dwelt upon by the tourist; but its far more important qualities, as a winter residence for the delicate invalid, seem scarcely to have attracted attention, even from the medical philosopher."* This inattention, however, no longer exists within these last six or seven years medical men have turned their views towards that spot, and accommodations for invalids have been materially improved and increased. Dr. Clark, to whom the praise of much of this result is due, may live to see the accomplishment of his prediction, that " the Isle of Wight will have added to its title of the Garden of England, that of the British Madeira."

In this little strip of mild climate and dry soil, snow is rarely seen, and frosts are only partially felt. The myrtle, the geranium, and many other foreign plants flourish luxuriantly in the open air all through the In the winter months the mean temperature of the atmosphere, at eight o'clock in the morning, is about 45°. But it is time to leave this "happy valley," where we have tarried long.

year.

On leaving this magical place, we pass West Cliff House, the beautiful villa of R. Holford, Esq., and on the right appears the elegant cottage of Mrs. Vine. At a little distance stands Beauchamp, the retired abode of Mrs. Bennett: this neat cottage stands on the left of the road, and commands a fine sea view. On the right is Orchard Cottage, the elegant residence of Sir Willoughby Gordon; a very small part of this beautiful seat can be seen from the road. These delightful cottages and villas, which decorate this spot, have nearly all the same prospect, and are such as add to the loveliness of the scene.

"The Influence of Climate in the Prevention and Cure of Chronic Diseases, &c."

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Mirables, the residence of Mrs. Arnold, is one of the most attractive cottages in the road. Erected in the midst of scenery the most magnificent, its elegant construction and its rural architecture, give it a very imposing appearance. The whole country in this neighbourhood has a singularly striking aspect: the cliffs have an additional craggy appearance; and the summit is surmounted by a rough mound of earth, which, with the slope in some places covered with shrubs, give a softened beauty to the whole.

Just before reaching the church a narrow footpath is seen, which winds up the sides of the cliff, reaching to the top, and conducting to another path which leads. along the brow of the cliff to Niton. It will amply repay the visitor to go to the summit, and look at the magnificent prospect which lies below; as it affords. one of the finest views of the cottages, villas, and scenery, which are spread over this romantic spot.

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The secluded village of St. Lawrence now presents itself. The village is built on undulating grounds, and surrounded with rocks; the cottages are overshadowed with fine trees, and the whole offers to the view a most lovely scene, The church, which is

situated by the road side, is the smallest parish church in the kingdom. Its dimensions are twenty feet by twelve; its altitude, six feet to the eaves. There is scarcely a spot in the Island of greater attraction than St. Lawrence. Its small church, most romantically situated its scattered hamlets-its immense cliffsits stupendous masses of rock-its fine umbrageous trees its blue ocean-its narrow, winding, rugged paths the mildness and beauty of creation, mingled with the labour of the peasant, and the thatched cottage of the rustic, make it a place of magical enchantment. In a dell a little beyond the church is a singular echo; the spot is marked by a clump of ash

trees.

On a small cliff, jutting out to the sea, stands a neat little battery, and adjacent to it is a range of small white buildings, called the Coast Blockade, which are the residences of the men employed in the revenue service.

A steep circuitous road now introduces us to St. Lawrence Cottage, the elegant marine villa of the Earl of Yarborough. In addition to all the enchantment which nature has spread around this place, there are not wanting the beauties of art to add to its attraction. The entrance to the villa is by a gateway designed by Inigo Jones, and which formerly stood at Hampton Court. The grounds are adorned with a pavilion, after a model of the temple of Minerva at Athens; in which the celebrated Athenian frieze is preserved. The green-house is erected in the Grecian style, being a copy of the temple of Neptune at Corinth. In this beautiful garden a great horticultural experiment was attempted. In 1792 an effort was made by the proprietor, to raise a vineyard in this sunny spot; but after engaging a French Vigneron, and giving it all possible attention, it was not found to succeed in a

STEEPHILL.

103 manner equal to expectation. In the cliff is a small temple, called the seat of Virgil, adorned with a bust of the Roman bard. This classic beauty suffers by the erection of a modern fort, the guns of which, it is said, were cast out of the church bells at Nantes, having been taken from a French privateer that was captured opposite this spot.

We now pass on to Steephill, which was formerly a beautiful rustic abode, the seat of the late Earl of Dysart, who died at an advanced age in April, 1820. The grounds of this elegant villa are beautiful; and the romantic parts of the cliff are made tributary to its beauties, by the grottos and seats which are formed in the hollows of the rock. It is now the property of J. Hambrough, Esq. and has since been converted into a lofty building, assuming the air of a fine baronial residence, towering up amidst the surrounding scenery, and by its castellated appearance, produces a most imposing effect when viewed at a little distance; the impression is in some measure lost as it is approached, but there are still points of view, in which it presents a most magnificent aspect. Just below are cottages prettily mantled with roses, and near these is a turn-stile leading to a path which conducts us to the brow of a steep hill, and affords a magnificent view.

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Leaving this enchanting scene, and returning through Appuldercombe,* Newchurch, Knighton, and Ashey, we again reach Ryde, having had a fine circuitous tour, when evening spreads her grey mantle over the skies.

This beautiful tour extends over a tract of ground comprising in its circuit thirty-four miles. The distance from the Spring to the Chine is usually walked, so that the ride which this tour comprises, does not amount to more than thirty miles.

Appuldercombe, p. 87.

SECTION 3.

To Freshwater, the Needles, Yarmouth, &c.

In taking the western tour of the Island, we again pass Newport, and from thence through the beautiful and finely watered village of Carisbrook-famed alike for its loveliness and its historic remembrances.† We now pass the village of Clatterford, from which a road winding along the sides of the hill, and sometimes bending its circuitous path at the foot, shaded by the tall and reverend elm, conducts us to Northcourt. This fine old seat was commenced building by Sir John Leigh, in the reign of James I. and was completed by his son. The finely shaded grounds of this venerable mansion have a number of beautiful terraces, which appear like so many intrenchments, and give a very unique character to the spot; and an elegant rustic bridge crosses the road. In the midst of its umbrageous trees stands a mausoleum, erected by its late owner to the memory of a beloved daughter. We now approach Shorwell, a very delightful village embosomed in a beautiful valley. Its church adds to the beauty of the spot; it has a neat spire, and the interior has that rare piece of antiquity, a stone pulpit. Several handsome monuments of the Leigh family adorn its walls; and in the chancel is a fine old † p. 69.

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P. 63.

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