in Somersetshire, Devonshire, and Pari of Cornwall. 533 



and the apple trees, which accompany every house and cottage, 

 laden with fruit. We passed through Kenton, and other vil-^ 

 lages or groups of cottages, and saw some churches with high 

 square towers, venerable and grand ; and many cottages with 

 cob walls, and thatched roofs. Rather too many of these and 

 of larger dwellings had the walls whitewashed ; which, though 

 good in a moral point of view, as conveying the idea of care 

 and cleanliness, is yet bad with reference to picturesque effect; 

 because white spots do not harmonise with the surrounding 

 colours, but remain for ever the same glaring objects, except 

 during twilight and night. " In any scene where harmony pre- 

 vails," says Sir Uvedale Price, " the least discordancy in colour 

 disturbs the eye; but, if we suppose a single object of a glaring 

 white to be introduced, the whole attention, in spite of all our 

 efforts to the contrary, will be drawn to that one point; if many 

 such objects be scattered about, the eye will be distracted 

 among them. Again, to consider it in another view, when 

 the sun breaks out in gleams, there is something that delights 

 and surprises in seeing an object, before only visible, lighted up 

 in splendour, and then gradually sinking into shade ; but a 

 whitened object is already lighted up; it remains so when every 

 thing else has retired into obscurity; it still forces itself into 

 notice, still impudently stares you in the face. An object of a 

 sober tint, unexpectedly gilded by the sun, is like a serious 

 countenance suddenly lighted up by a smile; a whitened object 

 like the eternal grin of a fool." 



The views of the sea, and of the scenery all along the coast, 

 are varied and beautiful; though the houses at Teignmouth and 

 other watering places convey more the idea of the temporary 

 residences of visitors and invalids, than of permanent abodes." 

 One of the handsomest newly built villas which we saw was one 

 in the Elizabethan style by Mr. Hayward of Exeter : the 

 situation is elevated, and the terraced gardens in front very 

 appropriate; the entrance is from behind, as it always ought to 

 be in such cases. 



Luscombe Castle ; Charles Hoare, Esq. Well known for its 

 beauty and the high order in which every thing, even to the 

 farm offices, is kept. The grounds are said to have been 

 originally laid out by the late Mr. John Veitch, father of the 

 present nurseryman of that name. The castle is placed on the 

 side of an ascending valley, and the two sides of this narrow 

 valley are beautifully varied by trees, which thicken into woods 

 as they approach the summits of the two ridges, so that the house 

 may be said to stand on the side of a valley surrounded by hang- 

 ing woods. There are a number of large magnolias and other 

 choice trees and shrubs, including the two largest plants in Eng- 



m m 3 



