Description ^ AMBRESBURY. 123 
am the more obliged to our landlady who gave occafion for my 
thoughts on refentment, a fubjeCt more interefting than whether 
a battle was fought at this, or any other place, five hundred 
years ago. 
The objedt which next invited our eyes, was ambresbury- 
abby, the feat of the duke of queenborough. This manfion 
adjoins to the village, and is fituated on the river avon, whofe 
waters meander through the gardens. 'The duke has inclofed a 
hill, and planted it in a beautiful manner. The afcent on the 
fide towards the river is very fleep, and part of it is formed into 
a terrafs, one fide of which is thirty or forty feet, almoft perpen- 
dicular : but there feems to be an impropriety in a narrow walk 
fo fituated without rails. Above this, the ground ftill rifes, and 
the fummit affords feveral grand and delightful views of a rich 
and fertile country. The defcents from this ground towards the 
houfe, are eafy, and form many pleafing walks of moffy turf. 
There is a bridge over the river, and alfo an imitation of a 
Chinese houfe, which is well fhaded, and agreeable, but it 
confifts only of one room, and is yet unfinifhed. Here is great 
fcope for the improvement of the neighboring meadows, and 
the canals which border the avenue to the houfe, are very foul. 
Thus they appear without form or beauty ; whereas, if the 
banks were made into an eafy defcent, and the canals cleanfed, 
they mud afford that delight which the affemblage of other ob- 
jects would then add to them. I think, Madam, our curiofity 
flagg’d in not vifiting the palace of a duke, built by the famous 
Inigo jones ; but indeed it has no great reputation. Farewell. 
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