226 AN AMERICAN FARMER IN ENGLAND. 



The bed-chambers and dressing-rooms were furnished to 

 look exceedingly cosy and comfortable, but there was nothing 

 very remarkable about them, except, perhaps, the immense 

 preparation made for washing the person. I confess if I had 

 been quartered in one of them, I should have needed all my 

 Yankee capabilities to guess in what way I could make a good 

 use of it all. 



There is a story told of two members of our legislature 

 that came together from &quot; the rural districts,&quot; and were fellow- 

 lodgers. One of them was rather mortified by the rough ap 

 pearance of his companion who was of the &quot; bone-and-sinew&quot; 

 sort, and by way of opening a conversation in which he could 

 give him a few hints, complained of the necessity which a 

 Representative was under to pay so much for &quot; washing.&quot; 

 &quot; How often do you shift 1&quot; said the Hon. Simon Pure. 

 &quot; Why, of course I have to change my linen every day,&quot; he 

 answered. &quot; You do ?&quot; responded his unabashed friend. 

 &quot; Why, what an awful dirty man you must be ! I can always 

 make mine last a week.&quot; 



Among the other bedrooms there were two with their beds 

 which had been occupied by kings. I do not recollect any 

 thing peculiar in their appearance. 



The ball-room, or ancient banqueting-room, was a grand 

 hall (120 feet long, I should think), with a good deal of inter 

 esting old furniture, armour, relics, &c. It also contained bil 

 liard-tables, and other conveniences for in-door exercise. A 

 secret door, cut through the old oak wainscot which lined its 

 wall, admitted us to the private apartments. 



We peeped into a kind of broad well into which prisoners 

 used to be lowered like butter for safe keeping, and ascended 

 to the battlements of one of the towers, from which there is a 

 very extensive and beautiful view, extending it is said into 

 sixteen counties. A gauzy blue swelling on the horizon was 



