xv RIVERSIDE LETTERS 121 



town on Saturday and we rowed out across 

 the river for quite half a mile from our 

 house, which looked at that distance more as 

 if it was on the banks of Southampton Water 

 than on the Thames. It is neither difficult 

 nor dangerous to navigate a small boat in a 

 flood to any one who is a tolerable waterman, 

 and who knows the ground well ; punting is, 

 however, out of the question, it being im- 

 possible to cross the deep stream with a pole. 

 The best boat to use is a small fishing punt 

 fitted with oars, as it draws little water, is 

 easily turned, and will go anywhere. I 

 rowed up to the bridge and even through it ; 

 the view from it was very fine, the river 

 being one vast lake right away to Streatley 

 Hill. 



.Yesterday, the iQth, the water had fallen 

 rather more than four feet, and I walked 

 over the tennis-court to inspect the state of 

 my flower-beds. I picked a large bunch of 

 monthly roses, which had been nearly but 

 not quite submerged during the high water ; 



