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ancient oratory. It has now the appearance of a fine old farm house, and retains only a few vestiges of the sacred purpose to which it was originally applied. A fragment or two remains, to tell that it was once the retired abode of some ancient religious order. In the route from East Cowes to Newport we pass the retired parsonage at Whippingham. This elegant residence is situated in a scene of ineffable beauty; having the river winding before it, with a faint view of the town of Newport, and the ruins of Carisbrook Castle; these, with the lofty heights of St. Catherine's in the distant back ground, make this sequestered place inconcievably enchanting. The church is very imposing in its appearance; and its quiet cemetery, and white steeple towering to heaven, add very much the interest of the scene. A little beyond we pass Padmore, the seat of C. B. Roe, Esq. On proceeding in this direction Fairlee appears before us, with its beautiful cottage and its noble villa, the elegant and delightful abodes of R. G. Kirkpatrick, and R. Oglander, Esqrs. adding an ornament to the rural spot in which they are placed; and commanding a view of scenery both soft and picturesque.*

* Should the visitor feel inclined to alter his route in returning to Ryde, he may have his vehicle and horses conveyed across the ferry to East Cowes: and he will then pass through this very pleasing tract of country, characterized principally by its rural beauty, till at length he will enter the Newport road, about two miles from Wootton Bridge. This excursion includes a distance of twenty-one miles.

CHAPTER IV.

Description of the Tours.

THE Island furnishes a variety of the most beautiful scenes imaginable; each of these lying at the distance of a day's journey from either of the watering places, furnishes a pleasant ride, and affords the visitor the most delightful prospects both by land and by water. The grand southern tour is perfectly unique. It is scarcely possible in any other spot to find such an assemblage of objects, which give us the impression of softened grandeur, as are to be found within the compass of a few miles in this direction. The road narrow, winding, undulating, and passing over the fragments of rock and cliff on every hand, is exceedingly beautiful. The tour, which stretches to the western point, has a fine bold and barren appearance as we approach the extremity of the Island, while the intermediate road is adorned with lovely rural villages. The ride through the centre of the Island, over the downs, commencing at Arreton Down, and terminating at Nunwell Down, is very commanding, from the extensive view of the land scenery which opens, and the beautiful expanse of water, which seems to spread beneath; while the intersections of hill, and the occasional peep of the deep blue ocean, render the prospect most enchanting. The romantic tour of the Island is that which lies from Shanklin to Black-gang Chine; this tour is but seldom performed in one day. For the accommodation of the visitor, who may be disposed to take it at two different periods, we shall give a distinct description of each route.

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SECTION 1.*

To Shanklin and Bonchurch.

On proceeding to the eastward, we pass through the ancient town of Brading and the village of Sandown, whose wide spreading bay in this journey lies before us with great magnificence, then through the small village of Lake, which is adorned with one or two beautiful cottages, covered with woodbine, and at length reach the delightful village of Shanklin. In this sequestered spot are two good inns, fitted up for the accommodation of visitors. The object of attraction at Shanklin is the Chine,† which is situated at about ten minutes' walk from the inn. This phenomenon of nature is a combination of beauty and grandeur; it is formed by the separation of a lofty cliff, whose height is two hundred and eighty feet perpendicular, and one hundred feet wide at the top. On entering the Chine from the shore, we pass along one side, rugged and barren, through which a winding path has been cut by a poor fisherman; while below, the rippling stream urges its way to the ocean, which pours its rolling waters at its feet, and spreads its boundless expanse before it. On the other side the cliff is fertile, covered with hanging wood and bushes,

*It may not be unsuitable to remark, that the drivers sometimes commence this journey by way of Ashey Down; in which case the route here is just reversed.

"Chine," says Worsley, "may be thought expressive of a high ridge of land cleft abruptly down." He conjectures that it is probably derived from the Greek chaino, to cleave asunder.

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