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of them reached that state of maturity, when a polished neatness is less required, than it is during the early bloom of embellished places.

SECTION THE SIXTH.

ENVILLE.

FROM Hagley we proceeded to ENVILLE, the seat of the EARL OF STAMFORD, in the same picturable district; leaving with reluctance a lovely view of Shropshire, as seen from the inn garden at Hagley; one of the most pleasing views this district had afforded us.

ENVILLE, in situation, is similar to Hagley and the Leasowes. The immediate site is the precipitous face of an extended hill, broken into furrows, and watered by rills; of which there are two, as at the Leasowes, that unite near the house, at the foot of the slope. The site of Enville is the steepest, most lofty, and largest of the three containing several hundred acres, divided chiefly into sheep walk and coppice wood, with kept grounds near the house, and with meadows and arable lands round the church and village, in the plain below.

IN viewing these grounds, we were led to a summer-house-like building, at the immediate foot of the hill. It is situated upon the head of a small piece of water; beneath it, is a boat house; over it, a whimsical room; with a large painted glass window, towards the water. Finding nothing here to entertain, we signified a desire to proceed; but the guide (blockhead he for not amusing us better, or we for being in so great a hurry in so hot a day) informed us that a person had been sent to let off the cascade: a piece of information which, after what we had hitherto seen of cascades, was no great inducement for us to delay. Presently, however, the window was thrown open; and the most brillant scene we had ever beheld presented itself. A SHENSTONIAN CASCADE, in full flow and fury; foaming and bellowing, as if the mountain were enraged: pouring down a river of water, white as snow, and apparently so copious, as to render our situation alarming; lest the house and its contents should be hurried away with the torrent. Had this scene broken upon the eye, abruptly and unawares, our sensations might have been excited as strongly as they were, on the first sight of the rocks of Persfield.

THIS house should contain something which would amuse every one, until the waters were laid on. The pool should be better covered from the

walk, in approaching it, and the lower part of the window be darkened, so that no water might be apprehended. If the opposite end of the room were first opened, to let in a view of the meadows, and tame country on that hand, it would not only help to amuse, but the contrast would assist in rendering the cascade scene the more striking.

THE splendour of the water is greatly heightened by the laurels and darker evergreens, which stretch out their branches from the rugged banks of the furrow, or shallow dingle, down which the water is precipitated: the foam, and the spray which flies from it, here mixing with the foliage of the evergreens, and there spreading over stoney surfaces; the steepness, the height, and the happy exposure of this fall-with the well judged distance at which it is placed from the eye-unite in rendering it one of the most sublime productions the hand of Art has effected in rural Scenery.

ORIGINALLY, a chapel shewed itself at the top of this cascade, as the rotundo now does over that of Hagley. Fortunately, however, it is, at present, hid in wood; so that nothing but water, wood, and apparent rock, now enter into the composition of this fascinating scene. We could have looked on it long, with rapture, had not reflection brought to our mind, that the reservoir was emptying!

This mischievous idea broke in upon our transports, and had nearly turned the whole into ridicule; until mounting the steep, examining the channel, and perceiving that, in some places, the water rolled over the dear native rock, a gleam of admiration returned.

THIS wonderful piece of machinery (for such it may well be styled) receives its rapid movements from one small fountain; which also supplies a cold bath, reclusely situated above the reservoir, which stores up its treasures, for the liberal pose of bestowing them with greater profusion on the stranger who may ask so fair a boon.

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CROSSING the head of the dingle, above the cold bath from whence the miracle-working water issues, the viewer is judiciously led to the edge of the wood, where some lovely views break abruptly him; composed of the Clent, Hagley, and Wichbury hills;-with the finely broken country about Stourbridge-uniting with the grounds of HIMLEY, the residence of LORD VISCOUNT DUDLEY.

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RE-ENTERING the shade, we climbed a steep path, through an extensive tract of coppice, until we reached the upper sheep walk; a wide expanse of naked turf; saving some tufts of hollies

and a few scattered trees; containing some hundred acres, sufficiently extensive to maintain several hundred sheep.

TOWARDS the center of this fine down, stands a white building,—the shepherd's lodge; in which the shepherd and his family reside. The principal part of it, however, is fitted up as a lounging room and observatory, for which it is singularly adapted. Inelevation and exposure, it resembles Bardon hill, in Leicestershire; which hill, it seems, is discernible from this place: from whence, and from different parts of the down, may be seen, on the other hand, the Wrekin and the Welsh mountains, with the Malvern hills, and the hills of Gloucestershire, &c.

THIS building, however, does not appear with full advantage. It is too large, and too conspicuous, for a shepherd's hut; and too low and ill placed, as an observatory. A round tower, on a more elevated part of the down, would command no inconsiderable portion of the surface of this kingdom; and could not fail of being instructive as well as entertaining, to those who make geographical observation a part of their study, and one of their objects in travelling.

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It would be equally reasonable, in the admirers of recluse landscape, to cavil at the practical

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