Ss6 Romaniic Scenery near Nunneiy, in Cumberland. [Nov. l 
was estimated at 300,0001. It unfortunate- 
]v coming on '.vet, I uas prevented seeing 
the fine gardens and terrace, or vamb- 
iing through the woods, w inch 1 had antici¬ 
pated. The former house,called Lowther- 
irali, was burnt down anno 1770. It was 
jn height three stories, and extended 337 
feet. It contained a number of stately 
apartments, conidores, large galleries, a 
noble library, and a chajtel. The win¬ 
dows of the middle story were dressed 
with pediments, in a handsome manner. 
The fabric was finished with a balustrade, 
figures, and vases, and a large pediment 
at each eitd, which had a good effect. A 
correct view of Lowtber-hail appeared in 
the Universal PtJagazine for May 1772. 
Tiie next morning (Friday the 30th) 
proving favourable, I determined to visit 
Kiinnery, for which purpose I took the 
Carlisle road for about tw'o miles, and 
then turned to the right, to Kirk Osward, 
distant eight miles and a half, the roads 
very bad. One mile and a half further I 
reached Nunnery, the seat of Mrs. Bam- 
ber, the object ofmy excursion. The gar¬ 
dener met me at the gate, to conduct me 
through this fairy dale. The house, front¬ 
ed with a beautiful red stone, in a plain 
neat style, is erected on the remains of the 
old house of Benedictine nuns, founded, 
ns Denton mentions, in the reign of king 
William Rufus. The situation is rather 
confined; and, though the vale spreads out 
in a beautiful manner from this point, the 
house commands but a contracted pros¬ 
pect. The grounds to the south-west lie 
on a descent along the little river Croglin, 
to its confluence with the Eden. The 
late proprietor, Christopher Aglionby, 
esq. (brother to IMrs. B.) attending to 
tiie natural beauties of the situation, 
formed walks on the banks of the tw*o 
rivers, and through the woods, where he 
iniglu enjoy the romantic scenes. We 
traversed two or three meadows before 
we entered the wood that fringes the 
border of the rivers. After passing groves 
of noble forest trees on one hand, and 
infant plantations on the other, a fine 
theatre presented itself, closed on every 
side by stupendous rocks, which begin 
hereabouts to show themselves in a thou- 
sand romantic sliapes, and beautifully 
clothed with woods, whilst the river 
Eden, in broken streams, wound through 
the vale. On the banks of the Crnglin- 
water, the road is gained by cutting away 
the rocky points in some places, in otiiers 
bv excavating the projecting clifis. Here 
vhe forest rises beautifully, shade above 
ihade, not crowded with brushwood, but 
the long stems of straight and lofty trees 
form a sylvan colonade. As we pro¬ 
ceeded up Croglin-water, I found the 
vale straiten, the clifis increase in emi- 
lienee, and hang over our heads in a tre- 
mendoDS manner, their sides and sum¬ 
mits supporting noble oaks. The least 
mishap in this part of our ramble must 
inevitably have plunged both into the 
abyss below. Here the water falls down 
a fine declivity, not so as to give surprise, 
but placidly flowing over each slielving 
rock, and, little agitated, glides away, 
till it murmurs through the pebbly chan¬ 
nel. As we advanced, the noise of a 
cascade struck the ear a few moments 
only before it burst upon the sight. The 
scene is noble and solemn: branches of 
trees are stretched and mingled from 
precipice to precipice; the water gushes 
in one entire spout through the parted 
rock. Every step we proceeded from 
this point had new and excellent beau¬ 
ties: I was enchanted. The sound of 
waterfals struck the ear on every hand ; 
on the path, (made by a vast flight of 
steps,) unexpectedly turning round a 
point of rock, I instantly stood on the 
brink of a deep abyss, where the water 
is precipitated thirty-five feet perpendi¬ 
cular, into a bason of eighteen feet in 
depth. The footpath continues running 
by the side of tlie river, and the dale 
is in some parts so narrow that there 
is little more than room for the patli be¬ 
tween the river on one hand, and the 
rocks on the other. In some places it 
spreads to a great width, in all it is a 
most romantic and beautiful walk. The 
river is sometimes hid behind trees, 
sometimes it glides smooth and calm, 
sometimes a distant fall is heard; here 
it tumbles over a ledge of rocks, stretch¬ 
ing quite across; there it rushes over rude 
traginents, torn by storms from the im¬ 
pending masses. Each side, hut parii- 
culaviy the farther one, is bordered by 
lofty rocks, generally clothed with wood 
in tiie most picturesque manner. In 
many places, wfieie they seem to be 
quite perpendicular, and witlrout any 
earth on iltern, underwood, ashes, and 
other trees, shoot up, growing to the 
commoti height. Language describes 
such subjects but weakly, and commu¬ 
nicates but a faint idea of scenes like 
these, w'here tiic pamter finds innumer¬ 
able lessons of will- nature, a thousand 
elegant views cf waterfals, rocks, and 
woods, mingled. 'J'hough too confinedj^ 
the views are v.'ild and picturesque. 
Romantic a.td unavalled bea’ii.‘«s, -exIiL 
