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Winding yet further to the right, and crofTing 

 a woody vale, we mounted a. little hill, with a 

 tent on the fummit, in a very pidurefque and 

 agreeable fituation ; for you look down on a fine 

 winding lake, which floats the valley, furroundcd 

 by a bold fhore of wood rifing from its very b.mks. 

 In one part of it a green feat is feen, and an arch 

 in another. 



From this hill we were next conduced to 

 Fountaine's abbey, an exceeding fine ruin adjoining, 

 and in fight of his grounds, lately purchafed by 

 Mr. Aijlahie. The extent of the building was 

 very great, and many parts of it peifeftly 

 complete. The rubbifh is at prefent desiring 

 away, and all parts of it undergoing a fearch, 

 that no pavements or other remains of it may 

 continue hid. This work has, I apprehend, 

 rendered it necefiary to clear away all the rubbifh 

 from the court -, and to lay out that fpace with 

 ipore regularity than would otherwife liave been 

 done ; this is the cafe with fome of the apartments ; 

 and like wife, I fuppofe, occafions the new fir 

 doors in fo many of the old arches : thefe cir- 

 cumltances are at prefent deltru6live of the beauty 

 of the ruin, but when all the difcoveries are mjade 

 that are expe6led, and the building left in that 

 proper flate, which a gentleman of Mr. Aifiahie\ 

 taile will undoubtedly order, it certainly will 

 remain a very noble ruin. 



It may not here be impertinent to confider for 

 a moment what is the juil fbiie for a ruin to appear 

 in. We generally find them in retired, neglefted 

 fpots, half filled with rubbifli,* and the habitation 

 rather of bats, owls, and wild beafrs, than of m[;n : 

 This horrible wildnefs greatly ftrengrhens the idea 

 railed by falling walls, ruined column';, and 



imperfcdt 



