258 



treble frieud more, if it please God : and be ever hereafter able to do the like for another. 

 We have somewhat to do, and I cannot write much. Commend me to Mr. Howarth 18), 

 tell him if he can help us it shall be a worthy friendship. Tlierc must be horses sent to 

 Oxford, to be there on St. Thomas' eve to bring down William and Uennet Hoskyns (2'. 

 They mean to keep O-ismas witli us. There must be a hogshead of sacke from Monmouth 

 or Hereford to walke with our coach. Take care for the coach horses to be had at this time, 

 and go presently about it day and night : the rest we have more time to do. Study the 

 coach way; where to break hedges, and how to avoid deep and dangerous ivays. So God 

 Bpeede you. 



J. Hoskyns. 



" Mistake me not — no man resisteth me. We want nothing but coach and horses. 



To Mrs. Bourne (3), 



at Morehampton (9), in the Golden Vale." 



(See Appendi.x II., to wliicli the figures apply.) 



Bad as the roads may have been in this district, scarce as was the timber 

 two centuries ago, it is the very reverse in these days — IMoorhampton has fallen 

 and Whitfield has arisen within this time ; and on the hills and vales that now 

 form the fine estate of 'NVTiitfield, the timber is suificiently abundant and good 

 as to attract thither a Commissioner from the Woolhoj)e Club, and easy and 

 pleasant be it added he found "the ways" of getting there. It is not that there 

 are there as yet any very remarkable trees, though there are some, but that the 

 estate itself has been so well attended to, the ground so well drained, the trees 

 so well cared for, that it has taken upon itself a new character, and only 

 requii'es time still further to develope itself. A careful siu-vey now cannot 

 fail to be interesting in years to come. 



There are three entrances to Whitfield. The soxith entrance from the 

 Abergavenny and Hereford turnpike road leads to the mansion by a drive a mile 

 and a half in extent. It completely threads the valley and presents scenery 

 well diversified. Beginning with an avenue of mixed trees it becomes more and 

 more parklike as it proceeds until passing the keeper's house it reaches the 

 richly wooded expansion of the vale in which the house stands. This lodge 

 was built in the year 1S.30, and the trees, which consist of oak and beech trees, 

 many of the latter having been replaced by oak, were planted about 40 years 

 since. A tape thrown around a dozen of the finest gave these dimensions : — 

 Oak, 4.4; 4.3; 4.6; 4.2; 5.3; 5.1; and Beech 4.10; 4.6; 4.9; 4.4; 4.2; 4.8. 

 The second lodge or keeper's house, was built about 1830. This approach is by 

 far the best. It was the original, and indeed the only entrance until 1821. 

 It has since been supplanted by another, but now by the formation of the 

 railway it has again become the chief entrance, and it deserves to be so. It is 

 abeady very good, but will become still finer as years pass on and as the 

 opportunities for improvement which its great length afifords are taken advan- 

 tage of. 



The second or Thruxton entrance affords the most direct approach from 

 Hereford, and since 1821 the bye-roads have become so good (better by far at 

 this time— 18G9— than the high roads), that it has virtually been the chief 

 approach to ■\\Tiitfield for many years. The drive is pretty throughout, and 

 from Thruxton takes the character of an approach to a good estate. The view 

 from the first lodge (built 1850) is park-like and pretty, and gives some idea of 



