376 



Blenheim was visited. After tl-ree bad agricultural years it was 

 refreshing to see the magnificent crops of Avheat and barley, peas, 

 beans and potatoes. The latter, with their long stalks and their 

 flowers, looked as they used to do fortj^ years ago. 



Having inspected the fine Rubens' and Paul Veroneses' in the 

 Palace, a noble building worthy of the half million of money that 

 Queen Anne's Parliament gave for the erection, the three hundred 

 acres of garden however seemed to have been the great attraction ; 

 oaks of the age of Canute, cedars of Lebanon eight yards in 

 circumference, tulip trees, catalpas, grand spreading beeches, 

 afforded so much admiration, that the lunch at the " Bear," 

 in Woodstock, had barely sufficient attractions to draw the 

 party away. After a pleasant drive back Oxford was left 

 at 5 p.m. 



By-Excursion to East Harptree and Lamb Cavern, ISih July. — 

 A rather exciting description of the discovery of some caverns 

 near one of the Harptrees appearing in the local papers about a 

 month ago, induced the members of the Field Club at their last 

 quarterly meeting to arrange an excursion in that direction. 

 Tuesday last being the day fixed a small party only, owing pro- 

 bably to the threatening appearance of the weather, met at the 

 place of rendezvous, the corner of Queen Square, at 10 a.m. 

 After a pleasant drive through country looking green and richly 

 luxuriant from the recent rains, and by the villages of Corston, 

 Marksbury, the pretty hamlet of Chelwood, Sutton Court and 

 West Harptree, the wagonette drew up at the Waldegrave 

 Arms, East Harptree, at 12.15. Here Mr. McMurtrie, of Radstock, 

 and Mr. Nicholls, the captain of the mines in these parts, 

 joined the party, and a few minutes' conversation with these 

 experienced masters of underground arcana revealed the fact that 

 some dirty and difficult work was to be gone through by those 

 who wished to go below ground. After a slight refreshment, pro- 

 vided by mine host, the party at once set out for the hills. 

 Unfortunately a heavy thunderstorm coming on made the walk 



