the eye range over the wide expanse, that eagerly passing over the rocky scenery in front, it embraced a full view of the majestic current of the Severn, which seemed but as it were scarce parted from the Wye. The whole is further bounded by the Gloucester, Devon, and Somerset hills, on the steeps of the latter of which lay interspersed, towns, churches, villages, and country seats, and particularly Sodbury and Dundry Tower were distinctly to be seen.

Musing on this infinity of objects, I gazed with unabated delight on a picture that suggested rather the idea of art than reality, 'till I felt my very eye fatigued by the sight; yet thought I,

"Here I could sit

"At morn-at noon-at eve-by lunar ray, "In each returning season, each magic spot again "Could seek and tell again of all its charms."

And who is there my friend, seated on such a pinnacle of elevation, that feels not a kindred spirit within him? Who can behold such a mixed variety of nature-such an expanse of

land and water, and multiplied villages and habitations, which appear like so many anthills on the surface, but must wonder, that such an insignificant insect as man should dare to arraign and call in question the intentions of the Founder of that creation, of which he is so minute a part. But the rapid advance of evening hastened my departure, and rising from my seat, I turned to retrace my steps, but not without many a longing look at scenes I was about to lose perhaps for ever.

I soon re-entered the dark walks, and as I passed along, a short survey was sufficient to discover the truly delicate taste of the projector -Here was no frivolous or ill-judged exhibition of statuary, but as a man of refinement, he seemed to have studied the grand maxim of life, the union of the useful with the delightful. But I was approaching the termination, a circumstance which awakened in my mind regret at taking farewell of so enchanting a spot. The gardener seemed to anticipate my thoughts. "These spots," says he," which were once to me so attractive, are now become so familiar to my eye, that I have lost all that

pleasing surprise they seem to awaken in a stranger." I nodded my assent, and felt the justness of his observations. Those appropri ate lines of Cowper immediately recurred to my mind, and seconded the remark,

"Prospects however lovely may be seen,

" "Till half their beauties fade, the weari'd eye, "Too well acquainted with their charms, slides off "Fastidious."

Yes, continued he, things and objects have indeed lost their attraction, since the unhappy end of my old master. I inquired the history. The account was short, but heart breaking, for alas! He lives no longer, except it be in the honours of a distinguished character, and the bleeding remembrance of his acquaintance. After many years spent in the arrangement of these unequalled scenes, and in the unrestricted exercise of a liberal spirit, which he carried to excess, Mr. Valentine Morris found it necessary to leave behind him these objects of his fond attention, and to take a last farewell of Piersefield. He passed in his way Incog, through Chepstow. The shops were closed,

and as the chaise crossed the bridge, the Church bells, muffled, were tolling a mournful peal; he stopped, and asked of a passer-by the cause, "the loss of Valentine Morris," replied the man! In agony he closed the window of the carriage, and burst into tears. His wife accompanied him in his misfortune, 'till the confinement of a gaol closed his existence, and grief deprived her of reason..

I left the Beaufort Arms early on the following morning, and proceeded towards New Passage, after having experienced from Mr. Thatcher, at the inn, "the magic there is in kind attention, and willingness to oblige."

Meeting the Picton Coach proceeding into Wales, I mounted as a passenger on the roof, and soon found myself, from their bold and expeditious travelling, quickly hastening out of Monmouthshire, and I can assure you it not a little surprised me to meet with such dispatch, in a conveyance of this nature, and especially with their small breed of horses, which however soon exceeded every expectation ignorantly formed of them. The road lay through

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a country which stretched in a flat towards the sea, and may be termed a Savannah. As we proceeded, the fertility of the meadows afforded a rich treat to the eye, whilst the novel sight of the Welsh mountains, and especially of the famous peak of Abergavenny, which overtopped the whole, and kept always in view, bounded the prospect to the right. We early came in sight of Caldicot Castle, standing on a plain in sullen and forlorn majesty ;—darkened as it was with the ivy which hung heavily from its walls, it seemed to cast around it an air of proud magnificence and singular wildness, peculiarly characteristic of these ruins.

From an intelligent fellow traveller, I found I was passing by spots of particular interest, Caerwent, Caerleon, and Llanvair, all abounding with their ruins of towers, tessellated pavements, and other marks of Roman origin.

In a country of such antiquity, how many thoughts rush into the mind, contrasting the present state of things with former magnificence, and how improving are such associations, when thus awakened. We had now