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studying the Scriptures; and that they sometimes brought with them the Holy Virgin herself.

The other compartment of the picture represents Bonaventure, another of his friends, looking in at a door, which stands partly open, and observing Thomas deep in thought, and very busy in writing; while the Holy Spirit, in the shape of a dove, stands by his ear, and dictates to him. Bonaventure, perceiving how well his friend is employed, unwilling to disturb him, very considerately withdraws.

There are preserved also in this mansion, some curious and elegant velvet hangings, richly embroidered in gold and

and theology at Paris, where he acquired so much distinction in scholastic learning, that he was appointed to read public lectures, and was soon after created head of his order. Pope Gregory X. having previously given him a seat among the cardinals, invited him to the general council at Lyons; during the session of which he died suddenly, in 1274. He was buried with the highest honours; and after his death he was distinguished by the high appellation of "the Seraphic Doctor," and was canonized by pope Sixtus IV. Though Bonaventure was well acquainted with the scholastic philosophy, he chiefly addicted himself to mystic theology, and the enthusiastic worship of the Virgin Mary. It was his main effort, by the help of allegory and analogy, to spiritualize all human knowledge, and transfer it to theology.

The unlettered part of mankind admired their angelical and seraphic skill and ingenuity, little suspecting that the disputatious doctors were not, in their knowledge, many degrees removed above the most ignorant and vulgar. Some few there were, of superior genius and penetration, who saw through the sophistry of the fashionable learning, and cultivated a more reasonable mode of intellectual improvement. Among these, our illustrious countryman, Roger Bacon, stands pre-eminently distinguished. But he, and a very few others, shone in vain, except to themselves, in the firmament of knowledge. All feared, scarcely any aided, and very few understood them. Bacon himself, the glory of the British nation, was many years confined in prison, and was strongly suspected of dealing in magic.-See Enfield's History of Philosophy, Milner's History of the Church of Christ, Jortin's Remarks, and Aikin's Biographical Dictionary.

silver, which anciently belonged to Holy-Ghost chapel at Basingstoke, in this county, built by Lord Sands.*

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The site of Mottisfont priory, and the lands connected with it, came into the possession of the Mill family, from their ancestor lord Sands; who had it from Henry VIII. by an exchange, as Leland informs us. "The lorde Sannes, that lately died," says he, made an exchange with the king, and gave Chelsy by Westmistre for Motisfont priory in Hamptonshire; wher he began to translate the old building of the priory, and to make a fair maner place; but the worke is left onperfecte."+ The next possessor probably completed Lord Sands's design, which had been thus interrupted by his death.

MOTTISFONT is a small village, with a church. Some years ago, the following singular epitaph was to be seen, inscribed by a widow on her husband's head-stone:

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The population of the parish, in 1811, was 397 persons.

They who may be disposed to prolong their ride by following the road on the left, through Mottisfont, will be gratified with highly beautiful village scenery.

See an account of them in the Rev. Joseph Jefferson's Sketch of the History of that chapel.

+ Leland, vol. iv. p. 11.

Returning from Mottisfont to Romsey, we have the choice of two roads to Southampton; that which has already been described, and another, through Chilworth, about eight miles.

If the latter is preferred, we quit Romsey by the road through that part of it called the Hundred. We presently cross the Andover canal, and arrive at the turnpike gate; where we take the road on the right: that on the left leads to Winchester, through Hursley. The hedge rows are decorated with abundance of vigorous elms. The views are at first confined, till we enter a wide common, which is finely skirted with an extensive round of rising and falling country. In some parts, the isle of Wight is the back ground.

About three miles from Romsey, on the left, retired from the road, is the village of NORTH BADDESLEY. It has a chapel, not in charge, under private patronage. The population of the village, in 1801, consisted of 242 persons; in 1811, of 265 persons.

The next mile is cultivated country: at the end of it is the village of CHILWORTH. The church stands on a rising ground, to the left. It is a small elegant cruciform structure, with a spire, which has lately replaced one of the most wretched hovels that ever bore the name of a church.

Chilworth is a curacy, not in charge, under private patronage. The population of the village, in 1801, consisted of 132 persons; in 1811, of 150 persons.

Ascending from the village, we pass the enclosures of Peter Serle, esq. The house is not seen from the road. The clump of firs on this eminence is conspicuous many

a mile, in various directions. Extensive views open towards Romsey, Winchester, Southampton, and the Isle of Wight.

The road now crosses a common. The views become fine as we approach the upper end of North-Stoneham park, the seat of John Fleming, esq. who has lately converted the summer-house, which bore the name of Belvidere, into an arched gateway, as one of the approaches to his spacious domain. From this place, a gentle descent of three miles, through highly beautiful country, presenting enchanting views of the river Itchen and Southampton Water, which appears like a noble lake, brings us to Southampton. The last three miles of this road, are more particularly described in the following chapter.

CHAPTER VIII.

From Southampton, through Hursley, to Winchester; returning by the London Road.

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After quitting Southampton, on the left are seen the commodious buildings constituting the MILITARY ASY

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This Military Asylum is a branch of the Royal Military Asylum, instituted at Chelsea, in 1805. That institution having been found insufficient to accommodate all the children who were deemed objects of its benevolent design, the commissioners determined to fit up a building which had been erected here about twenty years before as a cavalry barrack; and, by making certain necessary additions, to render it capable of lodging four hundred boys. The Commissioners were in some degree influenced by its contiguity to the depôt in the Isle of Wight; in which infant children are nursed and prepared for admittance into this institution. It was opened Oct. 23,

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