100 
From S T O U R T O N. 
ments of your own houfe, muft neceffarily enjoy a pleafure in 
this way, as much beyond common mortals, as my lord knows 
the fmack of the choiceA wines, better than his groom who 
afpires no higher than porter. 
This morning the Iky lowr’d, and threatned an interruption 
of our pleafures ; but as foon as you appeared, the fun began 
to fliine again with the fame benignant influence. 
Mr. h * * * * gave us a frefli proof of his politenefs, and hu- 
manity, by inflfting on our taking his fervant as a guide to 
wiley. This place lies nine miles diftant, within the limits of 
Wiltshire* the road to it is by white sheet hill, and the 
greateA part of the way is over downs. The beautiful mixture 
of woods and corn-lands, with downs covered with numerous 
flocks of iheep, animate the views, and at once gives us the 
higheA idea of the oppulence of this nation, and of the various 
enchanting fcenes with which this ifland abounds. 
The place of moA confequence near the road, is hindon, a 
market- town, near which Aood the famous feat of the elder 
Mr. b* ******, which was lately deAroyed by fire. I am told, 
that when the news was brought to this gentleman, he faid no- 
thing, but took out his pocket-book ; and being alked what he 
meant, he anfwered, with a philofophical indifference, tc I am 
u reckoning how much ’twill coA me to rebuild my houfe.” 
Wiley is but a mean village, and lies on low ground. You 
remember our walking on the caufeway, the road which led to 
the inn being deep and full of water. We were not accommo- 
dated 
