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THE WILLOWS.

THIS delightful retirement is situated on the Berkshire banks of the Thames, between Bray and Windsor, and owes its immediate beauty to the last possessor, the late Henry Townly Ward, Esq. It has not indeed either extent or circumstance sufficient to rank it among those places, which are described as the boast of the river whose bosom reflects it: but so happily has taste exerted itself in improvement; such has been the consequent transformation from its original appearance, that it now offers a most pleasing object to the voyager of the river who gladly suspends the oar to regard it. The spot of which it consists has now attained an enrichment, with which those who knew it in its former state are agreeably astonished, from the interesting and unexpected novelty of its improved appearance, while those who view it for the first time, are sufficiently gratified to anticipate a pleasure when they shall see it again.

It was originally a cold swamp covered with osiers, which, by a skilful and effectual drainage, has been converted into a verdant sloping lawn, replete with rural elegance.—The ornamental ground is connected by a subterraneous passage, with a small farm, called Bullock's Heath, which not only adds to its extent, but encreases its accommodations as a country residence. Of literal description it will admit but little, but what it does admit the Engraving will more correctly display. At the same time it may be safely observed, that a spot, where the Towers of Windsor Castle are seen to rise in such splendid magnificence, from their elevated brow; where the Turrets of Eton College are beheld amid its surrounding groves; and where the Thames flows immediately before it, must receive the grandeur of distant prospect, in addition to its own native and tranquil beauty.

There are, however, circumstances connected with this villa, which cannot be addressed to the eye, but must have

THE WILLOWS.

reached the hearts of those who were admitted as visitors there. They were long felt, will be long remembered, and may be surely considered as a superior characteristic of it: we allude to the well-known and constant hospitalities which distinguished it. The annual aquatic festival of the Eton Scholars, which their Majesties have sometimes been pleased to attend, not only received an enlivening display to its show, but a most elegant addition to their pleasure, from the reception which The Willows failed not to afford them on the

occasion.

Some years have passed away since Mrs. Ward, whose mind and manners qualified her, in a peculiar manner, to enhance the pleasantness of the spot, has been regretted by her surviving friends; and all who knew her wished for that distinction:-and within the last year Mr. Townly Ward's generous and friendly spirit has closed its earthly

career.

It was bequeathed by him to his friend Patrick Crawford Bruce, Esq. of Taplow Lodge, who is the present possessor

of it.

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WINDSOR.

WINDSOR is situate at the east end of the county of Berks, on a rising hill, on the banks of the Thames, and has always had the additional title of New, to distinguish it from Old Windsor, a place of higher antiquity; and which is now a charming village beyond it. Camden conjectures, plausibly enough, that the winding course, or shore, of the river, gave rise to the name being, by the Saxons, called Windleyhopa. In ancient records it is called Windleshora; and, by Leland, Windlesore; and became famous, in succeeding ages, by the favour and residence of our princes, as well as from being appointed the seat of the most noble Order of the Garter.

The earliest, and most authentic notice of Windsor, is found in the instrument of donation which King Edward, the Confessor, made of it, among other lands, to the monastery of St. Peter, Westminster. It did not, however, continue long in their possession, as William the Conqueror, in the first year of his reign, being enamoured of its pleasant situation, prevailed on the abbot and monks of Westminster to exchange it for certain manors and estates in the county of Essex. Thus it again became the property of the crown; and, except the period of the usurpation, by Oliver Cromwell, such it has remained to the present day.

Edward the First constituted Windsor a free borough, and granted several privileges to its inhabitants, which were afterwards confirmed and enlarged by succeeding monarchs. It shared the fate of many other places, during the civil wars, by the loss of its franchises and immunities; but, at the restoration, a new charter was granted by Charles the Second, who loved the place, of which it was in a great measure deprived by his successor; but was restored at the revolution, and continues, in full force, to the present day.

The Corporation consists of thirty brethren, ten of whom

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