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left long streaks on the carringe windows, and small watery clouds hung 

 threateningly over the beautiful woods of the Chase. There was no time, 

 happily, for gloomy forebodings ; the train had arrived, and the bustle of 

 getting the ladies into the carriages and walking ofiE to the boats made every 

 one forget to be afraid. At Ross the honorary secretary, the Eev. G. H. 

 Cornewall, and many other gentlemen and ladies joined the party. TLe 

 boats were all in readiness, and as each received its passengers under the 

 immediate superintendence of the President, it started on its journey ; and 

 so went off the "Pyrene, " the " Niobe, " the "Jenny Lind, " and the 

 "Nightingale." As each boat left, a captain for the day was appointed, and 

 his paper of instructions, in all due form and fun, given him, " to be acted 

 upon" below Wilton bridge. The President remained to complete the 

 instructions, but in a smaller boat he soon overtook the party. 



The ruins of Wilton Castle, which form so pretty an object in the 

 view from Ross, were soon passed. Its solitary tower and grey walls are 

 now in the gardens of a private house, and may not be visited. Three cen- 

 turies ago the river flowed past them, but it is now, by a gradual change in its 

 course, nearly 200 yards distant, and apparently at a much lower level. 

 Immediately below the bridge the river is very shallow, and here it was 

 thought some of the heavily-laden boats might have got aground. There was 

 water sufficient, however, and making their way through wide beds of the 

 large water crow-foot, they passed safely over. This Ranunculus (B. FluitansJ, 

 with its fine white blossoms, is rather rare. It is peculiar to rapid streams, 

 and is nowhere more plentiful than in the Wye ; its flowers were very abun- 

 dant and pretty, and attracted universal attention. The weather had now 

 become everything that could be desired to enhance the natural beauty of the 

 river, a soft wind from the south, a clear atmosphere, and the absence of 

 the hot swnshine made the row down most agreeable — Goodrich Court and 

 Castle were soon reached. "May we land and see the ruins?" the President 

 was asked, as he passed one of the larger boats, and the request was sup- 

 ported by others, but he was inexorable, "certainly not" was the answer — 

 and it was right, for the ruins require and deserve a day to themselves, not 

 for the Woolhope club, but for a picnic party. The grand old castle stood 

 a memorable siege in 1646 under Sir Henry Lingen. From March 10th in 

 that year to July 31st it held out bravely against " Col. Birch with a party of 

 horse and foot from Hereford, with Col. Kyrle'a body of horse and dragoons, 

 and Captain Rumsey's firelocks from Monmouth." By battering guns, and 

 by mining, a breach was at length effected, and the castle taken. A small 

 garrison was left in it, but the following year it was ordered by the Parlia- 

 ment " that Gutheridge Castle be slighted. " Its fortifications were then 

 demolished, and it has never since been occupied. 



Time, Time his withering touch hath laid 



On battlement and tower ; 

 And where the banner was displayed 



Now only waves — a flower." 



