240 . ENCOMBE. 



In the following spring or summer, I 

 revisited this spot with a few friends of 

 both sexes, in a carriage, and entering 

 by the same white gate, I found it 

 required some little experience and care, 

 as we drove down the steep declivity, 

 planted on either side with thriving trees 

 of every variety, that completely enveloped 

 the mansion, from whose chimneys no 

 smoke issued to tell of its whereabouts, 

 so that we did not discern it till we were 

 fairly in the stable-yard. Leaving our 

 carriage and horses to the care of an 

 attendant, after viewing the house, which 

 was an unpretending specimen in the 

 Grecian style of architecture, very 

 meanly furnished, we walked through the 

 grounds. They lay in a deep ravine, 

 formed by two hills or heights one of 

 which is called St. Alban's head, pro- 

 perly St. Adhelm's and are terminated 

 by a slight iron pallisade, from base to 

 base, which the tide constantly washes, 



