t0 ^oiwnesei, 175 



can vary this route by taking the road which turns north- 

 wards at the Ferry House, sometimes rising through woods 

 and sometimes skirting the lake. These woods abound in 

 splendid ferns, rare orchises, and rich and various wild- 

 flowers. When the road turns down to the beach the whole 

 scenery of the opposite side, and of the head of the lake, 

 is spread out to view (see pages 37-40). At the distance 

 of three miles, the road passes the gate of~yS^XBV ©Tastle 

 and continues round Pullwyke Bay to Clappersgate and 

 Ambleside. 



If travellers make this circuit (p. 44), signs of good work 

 will meet their eyes. Two large proprietors in the neighbour- 

 hood are tiramincf the land extensively, and thus preparing 

 a healthy soil and atmosphere for a generation of residents 

 yet to come. The unheal thiness of many settlements is no 

 less a shame than a curse ; for the fault is in Man and not 

 in Nature. Nature has fully done her part in providing rock 

 for foundations, as well as the purest air, and ample supplies 

 of running water. But the people live as the poor of the 

 metropolis are too apt to be obliged to live — in bad smells 

 and huddled together in cabins without any sufficient supply of 

 water. This state of things shows a wilful neglect of oppor- 

 tunities which is almost incredible. There are several 

 causes for it, all of which admit of remedy. The great 

 landed proprietors are, in two many cases, utterly careless 

 about the way in which their humble neighbours live ; 

 and those humble neighbours need enlightenment about 

 sanitary matters. They are also too often at the mercy 

 of the rich, who may interest themselves about the build- 

 ing of handsome houses for opulent persons, but will 

 never raise a cottage, or dispose of their lands for sites. 

 The labouring class, therefore, suffer in health and morals 

 as much as the poor in great towns. In places where the 



