92 AN AMERICAN FARMER IN ENGLAND. 



even growth of the outer twigs of the trees, than is common 

 in our drier climate. I think that our maple woods have 

 more resemblance to it than others. 



There is usually a much milder light over an English 

 landscape than an American, and the distances and shady 

 parts are more indistinct. It is rare that there is not a hazi 

 ness, slightly like that of our Indian summer, in the atmos 

 phere, and the colours of every thing, except of the foliage, are 

 less brilliant and vivacious than we are accustomed to. The 

 sublime or the picturesque in nature is much more rare in 

 England, except on the sea-coast, than in America ; but there 

 is every where a great deal of quiet, peaceful, graceful beauty, 

 which the works of man have generally added to, and which 

 I remember but little at home that will compare with. This 

 Herefordshire reminds me of the valley of Connecticut, 

 between Middletown and Springfield. The valley of the 

 Mohawk and the upper part of the Hudson, is also in some 

 parts English-like. 



Descending into a broad, low tract of dale-land, we came 

 at length to the farm occupied by a relative of our guide, 

 which we were going to visit. A branch of the lane in which 

 we had been for some time walking, ran through the r farm, and 

 terminated at the farm-house. It was more picturesque and 

 inconvenient, deeper, narrower, and muddier, than any we 

 had before been through. It was explained to us that it was 

 a &quot; parish road&quot; although leading to but one house and, 

 therefore, the farmer was not responsible for its bad repair.* 



* In the proceedings of a Parliamentary Commission of the last cen 

 tury, the following questions and answers are recorded : 

 Q. What sort of roads have you in Monmouthshire ? 

 A. None at all. 

 Q. How do you travel then? 

 A. In ditches. Survey of Momnouth. 



