272 A TRIP TO SELBORNE. 



ever, mine host of the Swan soon brought out a one-horse open carriage, and 

 after a delightful drive of some five miles, we came at once upon Selborne. 



One is apt to portray in one's mind's eye a vivid picture of what we take 

 a great interest in ; and I confess as I approached, most of these visions were 

 dissipated; for I had pictured to myself a wide sweep of undulating pastures, 

 ■with a ridge of chalk Down surrounding them, and the residence of the 

 historian somewhere near the centre, in the midst of fields and gardens. I 

 ■will not, however, do his memory the injustice to suppose that his descriptions 

 led to any such conclusion j the only thing that can be said is, that his 

 letters referred to general features chiefly, and when checked on the spot are 

 certainly uncommonly coi-rect, and show an intimate knowledge and long study 

 of the difierent branches of natural science involved in such a topography as 

 bis. Our way lay through stubble fields, and a deep lane, turning to the 

 left from the high road, led us by a short cut to the north end of, rather 

 the side of a steep acclivity of great altitude, and most picturesquely clothed 

 with beech trees; this was Selborne Hanger, and forms the foot, northwards, 

 of a series of hills of very much the same character, extending from Selborne 

 to Petersficld, and so on to the Downs towards Portsmouth. It reminded me 

 of Marlow Woods on the Thames, beyond Maidenhead and Cookham, more 

 than anything I had seen. The village lies in a little nook of a very broken 

 character, although the clothing of trees and hedges somewhat obscures these 

 inequalities; the houses are chiefly of the poorer class, with generally an up- 

 stair story, and built of the stone of the county, with a few brick dwellings, 

 forming an irregular kind of street, winding in a most picturesque manner, 

 and running south-east along the base of the Hanger; the soil being a mixture 

 of chalk and stone, of what Gilbert White very properly designates as of a 

 "rubbly character;" in fact little removed above the chalk in hardness, and 

 in appearance not unlike that now used much in England, and brought from 

 Caen, in Normandy, being a free-stone, and very good, it is gaid, for hearth- 

 stones. 



To describe the refts and slips of earth which appear to have taken place 

 at various very distant periods in every direction, would be impossible, but, 

 as might be expected, every turn produces new charms for the artist, and, 

 although I do not profess the art, I understand enough to enjoy the ocular banquet 

 with full zest, and to bring away some slight sketching memorials. We found, 

 for a village inn, excellent accommodation at Mr, Hole's of the Queen's Arms, 

 and after a mutton cutlet dinner, aided by Alton ale and pancakes, we 

 mounted the Hanger, almost as steep as a wall, but having paths executed 

 upon its face, of marvellous ingenuity and convenience; and more particularly 

 one at the southern extremity, aptly called the ^^Zigzag;" and as from this 

 point, a most magnificent view can be obtained of the country towards 

 Portsmouth, the summit bore marks of many a pic-nic, for which tents are 

 furnished by Mr, Hole. 



After a charming ramble, in spite of the heat, we returned and took our 



