THE SMUGGLER. 55 



divided into fields; but still the character which its formation 

 had given to the neighbouring scenery had not passed away; 

 and the rich extent of old pasture, the scattered woods and 

 clumps of trees, the brawling brook, here and there diverted 

 from its natural course for ornament or convenience, all bespoke 

 the former destination of the ground, for near a mile around on 

 every side, when magnificent Archbishop Courtenay held the 

 castle of Saltwood as his favourite place of residence. 



Though, as I have said, grey ruin had possession of the 

 building, yet the strength of its construction had enabled it in 

 many parts to resist the attacks of time; and the great keep, 

 with its two lofty gate-towers and wide-spreading hall, was 

 then but very little decayed. Nevertheless, at that period no 

 one tenanted the castle of Saltwood but an old man and his 

 son, who cultivated a small portion of ground in the neigh- 

 bourhood; and their dwelling was confined to three rooms in 

 the keep, though they occupied several others by their imple- 

 ments of husbandry, occasionally diversified with sacks of 

 grain, stores of carrots and turnips, and other articles of agri- 

 cultural produce. Thus, every night, for a short time, lights 

 were to be seen in Saltwood Castle, but all the buildings ex- 

 cept the keep were utterly neglected, and falling rapidly into a 

 state of complete dilapidation. 



It was towards this building, on the night I speak of, that 

 the smuggler took his way, about a quarter of an hour after 

 having suddenly broken off his conversation with Mr. Wardo 

 and the young officer. He walked on with a quick, bold, care- 

 less step, apparently without much thought or consideration of 

 the interview to which he was summoned. He paused, indeed, 

 more than once, and looked around him ; but it was merely to 

 gaze at the beauty of the scenery, for which he had a great 

 natural taste. It is no slight mistake to suppose that the 

 constant intercourse with, and opportunity of enjoying the 

 beauties of nature, diminish in any degree the pleasures that 

 we thence derive. The direct contrary is the case. Every 

 other delight, everything that man has contrived or found for 

 himself, palls upon the taste by frequent fruition ; but not so 

 with those sources of pleasure which are given us by God him- 

 self; and the purer arid freer they are from man's invention, 

 the more permanent are they in their capability of bestowing 

 happiness, the more extensive seems their quality of satisfying 



