CLEVELAND. 47 



rers 1 cottages, all betokening comfort and prosperity. 

 Teams loaded with corn, were seen in various 

 directions, while the sports of boys, the clamorous 

 noise of ducks and geese, flapping and diving in 

 the muddy pond, the droves of cows returning from 

 their pastures, and the * tripping milkmaid" with 

 her pail, furnished to my mind a pretty picture of 

 rural happiness. It was impossible to witness it 

 without feeling assured that here 



1 Peace and plenty cheer* d the labouring swain.' 

 As we rolled along, the snug parsonage was 

 pointed out to me, and close to it was the little 

 village church, with its taper spire, almost sur- 

 rounded by magnificent elm trees, over which a 

 vast flock of rooks were performing their aerial 

 gambols. After passing two or three houses which 

 seemed as if they belonged to the village surgeon 

 or lawyer, and at the windows of which some 

 females were enjoying the evening breeze, we 

 arrived at the lodges of the park. The gates were 

 opened by a deliberate grey-headed old man, and 

 we soon afterwards began to ascend rather a steep 

 hill, at the top of which we first had a view of the 

 house. It was a noble fabric, and as Dugdale 

 would say, ' for beauty and state much exceedeth 

 any in those parts.' Its centre was very spacious, 

 and with its projecting wings, enclosed three sides 

 of a court. A magnificent avenue of Spanish 

 chestnut trees, planted probably in the time of 



