180 A VISIT 



any success I might meet with in fishing, but I knew 

 that I should inhale pure air in the rich and ex ten- 

 Rive meadows which are to be found in the neigh- 

 Ixmrhood of Oxford, and enjoy distant views of the 

 stately public structures of that ' delicate and most 

 4 beautiful city.' As I wns acquainted also with 

 two or three fellows of colleges, and had some 

 young friends amongst the gownsmen, I felt pretty 

 sure of passing my time tolerably well. I delight 

 moreover in seeing old buildings, and in examining 

 those fine specimens of the taste and munificence of 

 our ancestors, which are to be met with in every 

 part of Oxford, Added to which I am an enthu- 

 siast in cathedral music, which is heard in such per- 

 fection at that place, and had a great desire to in- 

 spect the museum of Natural History. 



With these anticipations of pleasure I commenced 

 my journey. I found our coachman a sedate, re- 

 spectable looking man, who seemed perfectly master 

 of his business, driving us along smoothly and 

 pleasantly at the rate of about ten miles an 

 hour. He appeared a general favourite, which 

 I found was owing to his civility and good con- 

 duct, as well as to the steadiness and skill with 

 which he had driven the coach for many years. 

 Our present breed of coachmen is superior to what 

 it was in my younger days. I recollect sitting by 

 the side of a coachman, in a journey to the Sussex 

 coast, whose conversation shewed so much good 



