1821.] 



Picturesque Prninenade, near Dorking. 



luimerous and unseemly cxfrrsroncfs 

 which have .sjiriinij np since hi'; time ? 



It may not be useless to observe, that 

 <he Italian philanthropist supports his 

 own opinion on the subject, by the fol- 

 lowing apposite and strikinij citation 

 from (he writings ef Lucius Vultraris. 



'• Furttt/ti lion ctmimittilur, «pc fitrli 

 pcrim locum ka/iet, qitando eff'eclns se- 

 /jutitus non est., ita xi quis fiirti, faciendl 

 <-uu.'d dowui;} alic>!Jiis higressus es fncrit 

 snhiltamen furtitns faitf -non tcncb'tnr 

 defurte^nec dcjirrio pmiiri pnfest.^^' 



If by these few cursory remarks, I 

 -siiouttl ha fortunate euorgli to direct 

 the attention of some of our most en- 

 lightened legislators fo the subject, 

 more eiTecfiiany than hitherto, I shall 

 liave attained the objects I iiave in view, 

 by snbinltting these i-itrieturcs lo the 

 public. - D. M. — o. 



— " '* 

 For the Monthlij Mtii^raine. 



PICTURESQUE PRO;iI.i.\ ADE tisnr 

 nORKING. 



J IKE the diligent bee .sipping uec- 

 _A tar from the petals of the cLioicesfst 

 dm^crs, man may find among the 

 works of Nattire, an inexhaiistable 

 ibeme for his inquirj' and discussiou. 

 The contemplative may glean from the 

 •combined beauties of ■ivoods and groves, 

 i\\e purling of streams, the rippling of 

 l)rooks, and the luxuriance of hills and 

 dales, a diversifk-.i inliuity of scope for 

 the indulgence of his natural predilec- 

 tion, in successions of unsophisticated 

 charms which bafile the stratagems of 

 liunian art with tlieir inimitable per- 

 fection. On r. single survey, the live- 

 liesi coruscations of geiiius become 

 <dicifedwilh more than fiieir vronft'd 

 iervour ; the soul swells viith inspiring 

 awe. Iin:igiua(ive fancy recalls to our 

 memory the sylvans, flic iicrocs, and 

 the deities of the pastoral muse, while 

 (he wiwle phantasmagoria of ideal iu- 

 veiitiou becomes one busy scene i>{ 

 action. 



No feature is, however, more justly 

 calculated to excite tlu^ve inieresliug 

 sensations tlian that of the commence- 

 ment of day. The refiigerant mists are 

 cradualiy unveiliiig the summits of the 

 flistant iieights ; the warblings of un- 

 (■.is.scml)led joy I'eiterafing (hroughout 



• " 'J'lu-)i is iiot coiiunittyl, nor does (lie 

 puuisLiimnt ot tiiei'i ensue, when no effect 

 tollow.s tbu act : irilieri-l'oie .luy one enier 

 tlie house of iinother (jersjn, with the pur- 

 |)ose of ooniniittinj{ a lhef(, but shall sienl 

 aufi carry off iioihiiig; he shiill not be hebl 

 to be guilty of thefl, nor i)Ui!iv!ied for theft." 



123 



the latidscape ; and harmonizing wit 

 the extasy of responsive gratitude. The 

 tinkling monotony of the sheep-bell 

 proclaims the well-timed order of in- 

 dustry, and satirizes tlie enervating 

 habits of indolence and slotli. The 

 glorious sun, the master-piece of celes- 

 tial Omnipetence, gilds tiie horizon with 

 the gorgeous refulgence of his rising 

 Jjeams; the turmoil of rural industry 

 begins; and all nature appears bursting 

 iu(o illimitable activity. 



On my left I beheld the fir-crowned 

 heiglits, and verdant slopes of Bury 

 Hilt; at a distance, the far-famed 

 encliantmeuts of Nnrbunj, where art 

 has thrown her mimic ](encil m faulty 

 unison with the outstretched land- 

 caps; and-thc cheerless aspect of the 

 Sinter Ui.t^* on whose brow, the sym- 

 metry of stuccoed parapets dwindles 

 into unsocial oblotpiy, when compared 

 ^^•iih the fertility of the vale beneath. 

 No grassy lawns, no bowery clumps, nor 

 siiady groves to cheer the lengfiiened 

 liours of meditative melancholy ; to 

 shield the solitaire from the flaming 

 heat of solstitial suns ; the rage of 

 chilling wintry blasts ; or deck the scene 

 witli the gay liveries of vernal hue. 

 On the left of the town, appears the mag- 

 nificent hill, Denliie.i, on witose summit 

 stands the unostentatious villa of JUr. 

 Deiiisoti, M.P.JMsl emerging from the 

 wood. This spot was formerly de- 

 signed by Mr. Jonathan Tyers, the 

 ingenious contriver of Fauxhall Gar- 

 dois^ asjx contrast to that bewitching 

 routine of merriment ; and the ano- 

 maly was conducted Avith the most 

 scrutinizing adherence to that effect. 

 Here every object fended fo impress 

 the mind with grave contemplation, and 

 lead fo a conviction of the frivolity of 

 (ha( metropolitan resort. 



The principal sce.'ie was a wood of 

 about S tacres, vrhieh he denominated 

 II' Pemseroso. Instead of protracted 

 vistas of festal lamps, with their match- 

 less reflection ; instead of long rows of 

 boxes, with, groups of lively gallantry, 

 was the stillness of (!ie niazjr walk ! In- 

 steivd of the choral orchestra — a small 

 temple, on whicit were numerous in- 

 sicrij)tions, calculated to produce the 

 most gloomy efiect. Instead of capti- 

 vating glees, airs, ami ballads— the mo- 

 notonous solo d' .1 clock (concealed 

 from view) bioke the solemn silence at 

 the eml of every minute, and wiiich, for- 

 cibly proclaiming the rapid flight of 



Brockhani Hill. 



lime, 



