THE SOUTHERN COUNTIES. 207 



uninterrupted green carpet of fine close grass. Under 

 this apparent neglect, however, and leaving of the land 

 to itself, this desolate-looking country, inhabited only by 

 sheep, is nevertheless the field of a skilful and lucrative 

 kind of farming. 



Kents in Surrey should be pretty much the same 

 as in Sussex, for the soil naturally is not better. The 

 southern portion of the county touches the Weald, and 

 partakes of all its disadvantages. On the west is an- 

 other kind of barrenness, consisting of unsound moors, 

 which farming has not yet everywhere ventured upon, 

 because it would not pay the expense of cultivation. As 

 for the north and east, London occupies the whole of 

 this with its environs and immense dependencies ; all 

 the right bank of the Thames at London, occupied by 

 the borough of Southwark, is part of the county of 

 Surrey. 



Surrey, therefore, is of no importance as an agricul- 

 tural county ; its large population is more urban than 

 rural. It is, besides, of no great extent, having an area of 

 only about 450,000 acres, about equal to one of our 

 arrondissements. It is, however, the county most visited 

 by foreigners, owing to its vicinity to London, and the 

 number of fine residences, regal and other, which it con- 

 tains. Kew, Richmond, Hampton Court, Twickenham, 

 Claremont, and Weybridge, are all within it ; and Wind- 

 sor, the Versailles of England, is quite close. The beauty 

 of Surrey has always been celebrated, and not without 

 reason. A few miles above London, the Thames is 

 neither more nor less than a park river, whose clear 

 waters, covered with swans, wind through green mea- 

 dows and under the shade of magnificent trees ; its 

 banks are studded with mansions and parks, interspersed 

 with elegant villas and pretty cottages ; well-kept roads, 



