142 A Journey to London in 1840. 



ably behind them. In addition to the names of the two authors 

 recently mentioned, that of Shenstone, the poet, Avhose place 

 Leasowe is within a few miles of Birmingham, occurred to my 

 raind. His Pastoral Ballad I can never forget, both for its 

 own sake and because it was one of my earliest poetical favourites, 

 I having read it in Barrie's Collection at school. Its sentiments 

 awaken an echo in ever)- breast. 



When forced the fair nymph to forego 



What anguish I felt in my heart. 

 Yet I thought but it might not be so, 



'Twas with pain that she saw me depart. 



She gazed as I slowly withdrew ; 



My path I could hardly discern, 

 So sweetly she bade me adieu 



I thought that she bade me return. 



I liked also, as I like still, the following verse: — ■ 



For he ne'er could be true, she averred, 

 Who could rob a poor bird of its young, 



And I loved her the more Avhen I heard 

 Such tenderness fall from her tongue. 



The poet, however, never married. He was a scholar and a 

 man of taste. He spent the latter years of his life in adorning and 

 beautifying his patrimonial estate, which, says Dr S. Johnson, 

 " he did with such judgment and such fancy as made his little 

 domain the envy of the great and the admiration of the skilful ; 

 a place to be visited by travellers and copied by designers." 



But Shenstone, who was fond of praise and admiration not 

 merely for his poetry but for his pleasure grounds and garden, was 

 sadly annoyed by the elegant improvements effected at Hayley in 

 his neighbourhood by his friend, George the first Lord L}ttleton, 

 the poet, historian, defender of Revelation (Observations on the 

 Conversion of St. Paul,) and eke a distinguished statesman and 

 parliamentary debater. Not only was Lyttleton an elegant and 

 skilful improver, but Shenstone alleged that his lordship and his. 

 friends and visitors deprecated his taste and improvements. 

 Thus, says Johnson, " where there is emulation there will be 

 vanity, and where there is vanity there will be folly." 



Having seen as much of the town of Birmingham as time per- 

 mitted, I started next day, Friday, 22nd May, at half-past 8 a.m., 

 per railway for T-ondon. The distance is 112^- miles, which we 



