68 THE RIVER IRT. 



dinner is getting ready, take a stroll by the 

 river side, pay our respects to the worthy 

 gentleman, the proprietor of the Hall, and ask 

 his leave for our angling, which, knowing his 

 courtesy and kindness of old, I am sure will not 

 be refused. How well do I remember when I 

 first asked it ; it was in company, alas ! with the 

 same friend who was my companion at Bampton 

 Grange, and this was his last fishing excursion, 

 and a most pleasant one it was ; he died a few 

 days after his return from it, so near often, and 

 too often, are our pleasures and griefs, enjoyable 

 life and the cold grave. 



AMICTJS., I thank you for this our walk ; you 

 spoke justly of the scenery and of its sylvan 

 beauty. I shall not fail to advise any friend of 

 mine coming here to go where you brought 

 me ; first, to the pretty summer-house, near the 

 Lodge, looking down on the tumbling stream 

 raging amongst rocks in its rapid descent, par- 

 tially hid by its wooded banks, partially dis- 

 closed; and next to the terrace on which the 

 Hall stands, flanked, especially on the left, by 

 those noble trees, and overlooking the park-like 

 meadows stretching down to the river, here 

 winding quietly along, with occasional breaks, 



