20 AN AMERICAN FARMER IN ENGLAND. 



frequently made. The habit of beer-drinking seems to weaken 

 the taste for more alcoholic stimulants. 



We remained about the inn, looking at some pretty model 

 cottages erected by Lord Clive, until C., who had made a 

 quick walk of nearly thirty miles to overtake us, arrived, and 

 then walked in to Ludlow. 



Ludlow is a neat, pleasant town, beautifully planted in a 

 bight of a broad, shallow, musical stream, amongst high, 

 bluffy hills. It has a ruined castle, celebrated in Royal his 

 tory, parts of which, half hidden by tall old trees among 

 which it stands, and adorned with ivy, are very picturesque. 

 There are fine avenues and public walks about it, and just over 

 the river, which is crossed by two bridges, is a very large 

 common, extending to the top of high and steep hills, which 

 is used as a public pleasure-ground. In the middle of the 

 town is a venerable old church, with richly-painted windows 

 and many curious monuments and effigies of Crusaders and 

 learned doctors sleeping with their wives. In it I also first 

 saw a beadle in the flesh, and a very funny thing it was, in 

 cocked hat, red nose, and laced coat. There are many cu 

 rious old houses, particularly one of the inns, (&quot; The feath 

 ers ;&quot;) and over the Ludford bridge there is a pretty little 

 rural church and a number of pretty cottages, both ancient 

 and modern, the modern being built in the fashion of the 

 timber houses that I described in Cheshire. 



Our chess-playing friend on the ship had given us a note to 

 a relative residing here, and having left it with our card at his 

 house, he very soon called upon us. He proved to be a gen 

 tleman of education and refinement, and was extremely kind 

 in his attentions and offers of service to us. C. had asked 

 with regard to the religious services which would be holden 

 in the town the coming day ; after replying to his inquiries, 



