126 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
Lerrenrs from the Wrst of ENGLAND. 
Lerter I. 
Lo Philip Sidney Arundel, Esq. 
Bath, August 10, 1824. 
bo is even as you predicted, my dear 
Arundel! Our fidgetty friend, 
Charles M., left this city the very mor- 
ning before our arrival, and is by this 
time on the opposite side of the Bristol 
Channel, pursuing his way to the an- 
cient mansion of his forefathers, not far 
from Chepstow, in Monmouthshire.— 
His departure has materially altered the 
arrangements which my brother and 
myself had made, respecting our pere- 
grinations ; and, instead of going into 
South Wales, we purpose to bend our 
steps towards Eeter and Plymouth, by 
way of Bristol, Wells, Bridgewater, &c.; 
and so to return to London vid Salis- 
bury, Southampton and Portsmouth. By 
the time we have accomplished thus 
much, winter will have, once more, 
wrapped the earth in the folds of its 
frigid embrace, 
Of a truth, this is a fine city, and 
Charles’s eloquent encomiums were not 
undeserved. To strangers, likeourselves, 
the effect of the fine buildings, which 
every where appear, is most striking. 
There is not in Europe a finer specimen 
of modern street-architecture, than that 
which is displayed in the Circus, at Bath. 
The houses are all perfectly uniform, 
and of one size: their fronts are adorned 
with three rows of pilasters, of three 
distinct orders. The first row is the 
substantial Doric; the second, the less 
massive Ionic; and the last, the more 
elegant Corinthian. Between the first 
row, is a border of very beautiful orna- 
ments, chiefly symbols of classical anti- 
quity: and the whole forms a tout- 
ensemble of very great beauty. These 
buildings, with others, which have been 
erected within these few years, are from 
a plan designed by the ingenious Mr. 
Wood, whose taste in such matters 
ought to put.to the blush, the ridicu- 
lous incongruities of some of our pre- 
sent architectural jobbers. 
The Crescent is, also, a fine pile, but 
not to be compared, in the elaborate 
beauty of its architecture, to the Circus. 
It is of an elliptical form, with a single 
order of Ionic pillars, supporting the 
superior cornice; and, from the beauty 
of its situation (which is on the northern 
brow of a hill, overlooking a consider- 
able portion of the city,) and the mas- 
sive magnificence of the houses them- 
selves, it has certainly a very imposing 
Letters from the West of England. 
[ Mar. 1; 
effect. It is on the broad pavement ‘of 
the Crescent, and on the walks round 
the “ Crescent Fields,” that the “ beau- 
ties of Bath” (and, I assure you, the 
ladies here are very beautiful) display 
their charms to the admiring beholders, 
It is at all times an attractive prome- 
nade; but it is only on a Sunday in the 
season, that it is crowded with rank and 
fashion,— Pulteney-street being similarly 
occupied during the other days of the 
week. I observed, growing in front of 
several of the houses, some of the most 
beautiful myrtles I ever saw: They 
were trained to the wall, as creepers, 
and were full of blossom, which scented 
the air with a most delicious perfume. 
I do not exaggerate when I say, that 
some of these plants were at least four- 
teen feet high. 
There is no place, in Britain, where 
nature and art have contributed so 
much to the gratification of man, as they 
have here. The city is surrounded by a 
spacious amphitheatre of verdant hills, 
from the summits of which may be ob-° 
tained the most extensive and magnifi- 
cent prospects,—the country, in every 
direction, exhibiting unnumbered and 
varied beauties. From the hills arise 
springs, which afford a constant supply 
of excellent water; and there are few 
places where the markets are so well 
regulated, or so abundantly supplied. 
With regard to lodgings, there is every 
possible accommodation, and the board- 
ing-houses are generally well-conducted. 
We have fixed ourselves, for the short 
time we remain here, at Mr, Gale’s 
boarding-house, in Chandos-buildings, 
to which we were strongly recommended 
by our friend M.; and we have every 
reason to be well pleased with our 
choice. Gale’s is not one of the crack 
houses,—but every thing is very com- 
fortable. We live exceedingly well,— 
. have excellent bed-rooms, and every 
possible civility and attention; and for 
a charge by no means extravagant.— 
The following is a copy of Mr. Gale’s 
summer and winter cards; and, by tran- 
scribing them, I shall afford you every 
particular as to the necessary expense 
of boarding at Bath. 
SUMMER CARD:— 
From the \st of June to the 1st of October. 
Board and lodging, tea and sugar 
included ......... bot tbeeaees £1 100 
Ditto, if a gentleman and lady, or 
two ladies, occupy one bed-room 
OML]Yit. . as veece leo Veleeeeleeet os 
Servant’s board and lodging .. .. 
