( HO ) 



fcenes, through which it wanders. Under the 

 walls of the abbey it meets the tide, which 

 immediately gives it form, and dignity. Here 

 a bridge is thrown over it -, on each fide of 

 which, it fpreads into a lake, when the tide 

 flows, fhaping it's ample fweeps around rich 

 wooded fhores. Both thefe grand bafons 

 might eafily be kept conftantly full, if a head 

 were conftruded, as I have heard it might be, 

 acrofs the river, at the fecond reach below the 

 abbey. The tide, in all probability would 

 not obftrudl a work of this kind ; as it flows 

 here with little force, fcarce at the rate of four 

 miles an hour. 



The precindls of the abbey, which ftands on 

 the eaftern flde of the river, are, in circum- 

 ference about a mile and a half. The boun- 

 dary-wall is intire in feveral parts ; and viflble 

 almofl: in all. The area, w^ithin the boundary, 

 is nearly flat ; and might eafily be made a very 

 beautiful fcene. Along the banks of the river 

 the ground is a little varied, where a pleafant 

 walk has been laid out, which is now pidlu- 

 refquely marked by the ruins of time. The 

 bank is here fomewhat higher than the river ; 

 and was formerly, in this part, the foundation 

 of the boundary- wall of the abbey ; which, 



when 



