THE ''ANCHOR" AT LIPHOOK 17 



on my mind by the beauty of this delightful scenery. I 

 have since often enjoyed it, and many others must have 

 admired it, but it is now for ever closed to the traveller 

 by rail. 



Proceeding at a more rapid pace down the descent 

 over what would appear, from the rich yellow flowering 

 of the furze, then in the fulness of its bloom, to be the 

 historical field of the cloth of gold, we reached the little 

 hamlet of Liphook, and stopped at the " Anchor " — a 

 well-known posting-house — half-an-hour to dine. Start- 

 ing from thence, we trotted briskly on an undulating 

 road, leaving the seat called Hollycombe, the property 

 of 'My., now Sir C. Taylor, on the left, with sight of 

 ^Yoolmer Forest, the scene of White's natural history of 

 Selbourne, on the right, and a most lovely romantic 

 valley, bounded by lofty hills in the distance, to the 

 town of Petersfield, a locality I have already mentioned ; 

 and then, after an additional two hours' ride through 

 and over the doAvns, occasionally catching a glimpse of 

 the element that has added so much to the glory and 

 safety of our country ; we enjoyed a most splendid view 

 from Portsdown Hill, comprising Portsmouth harbour, 

 Spithead, and the Isle of Wight — and at last amved 

 safely at Portsmouth. 



My father, having a very good house in the High 

 Street, was residing there during some addition or 

 repairs he was making at his place in the country. Some- 

 thing appeared to have disturbed him, for I had scarcely 

 had time to enjoy the welcome with which I was received 

 by other members of my family, -^vhen somewhat harshly 

 he intimated the necessity of my preparing at once to do 



VOL. I. 



