Account of Corhy Castle, 
1812.] 
5 . 5 . 
The general heads, which I have briefly 
sketched above, comprehend many other 
topics retjuiring and deserving investiga¬ 
tion. ~-On these, liowever, time will not 
allow me to animadvert in this paper; 
but they will claim my notice, and re¬ 
ceive adequate illustration as they succes« 
.sively come in the way in the course of 
iny prelections. 
The manifold and, in truth, capital de¬ 
fects of this St/7wpsis, hastily drawn upon 
the spur of the occasion, and amid the 
pressure of other literary pursuits, I rea¬ 
dily and candidly acknowledge and deeply 
regret. Sensible, therefore, of these 
errors and deficiencies, I explicitly re- 
ierve to myself the privilege of altering 
tlte order or arrangement of the subjects 
of my lectures, of correcting and of sup¬ 
plying imperfectioirs, in proportion as a 
more extensive course of reading; more 
close and accurate habits of thinking; 
more extensive acquaintance with the 
subjects which it will be my province to 
teach and to illustrate; and a longer ex¬ 
perience in the discharge of my acade¬ 
mical duties shall point out to me the 
weakness of my arguments, the fallacies 
of my conclusions, and the defects of my 
arrangements.—To stipulate for this duly 
is but justice to myself, and to the credit 
of my future labours; it will t})£refore, I 
trust, be readily conceded to me. 
College of Edinhu7'gk, 
August 4, 1804. 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine, 
SIR, 
N your last, by way of continuation of 
the Watuierer^s descriptions of the 
beauties of this county, you have printed 
a very neat and appropiiate account of 
the beautiful scenery at Nunnery. If it 
would not be trespassing too much on 
the pages of your truly valuable Misce!- 
Jany, I would take it particularly kind if 
you would insert the following descrip- 
' tion of a scene equally celebrated for 
picturesque beauty; which, though 
known to numerous travellers, yet may¬ 
be still a novelty to many of your intelli¬ 
gent readers. 
Corby, the much-admired seat of 
-Henry Howard, esq. is situated on the 
river Eden, five miles east of Carlisle. 
The ground which composes the princi¬ 
pal part of this admired residence, con¬ 
sists of an aclivity of considerable extent, 
profusely covered by the most luxuriant 
forest-trees. This is on the eastern bank 
of the Eden, along the verge of which a 
broad green walk U conducted; tlie sp ice 
of nearly half a mile, over-arclierl by the 
branches of various kinds of trees, resem¬ 
bling, in a great measure, the aisles of a 
Gothic catheiiral. I’hrough the branches 
of the trees, on the riglit, the water 
sparklesNn a variety of pleasing streams. 
This walk is entered principally from the 
north, by a flight of steps hewn out of 
the solid rock. The southern termination 
is a portico of the Ionic order, ascended 
by a flight of steps. No building in t!!e‘ 
kingdom ever merited more the following 
beautiful lines of Cooper than this; 
“ Yet notaii its pride secures 
The grand retreat from injuries impressed 
8y rural carver.s, who with knives deface 
The hannels, having an obscure ruJe nanae^ 
In characters uncouth, and spelt amiss.” 
Many of your readers who have vf. 
sited Corby can witness the truth, of the 
above, when applied to the Tempietro. 
It is indeed covered by the offerings 
of the unlettered Muse. A more un- 
embellished walk now receives the vi¬ 
sitor, and he accompanies the winding 
of the noble river Eden, which flows as 
his feet on the right, while on his left the 
scene is beautifully diversified by a foresS 
of beautiful silvery branches, overtooped 
by almost perpendicular rocks. This 
walk extends to the southern limits of the 
domain, near which it ascends and re¬ 
traces the same ground, but higher, till 
it loses itself in the forest of pines and- 
oaks, whicli occupies the immediate vi« 
ciniry of the house. 
No lover of his country can hehohl 
these sylvnn scenes with indifference 
when he is told that the improvement* 
were partly planned by that inflexible 
friend tp parliamentary independencey 
Mr, Shippen, who so long resisted tiis 
baneful influence of a corrupt ministeiv 
Sir It. Walpole, in the reign of George 
II. MV. Shippen was the intimate 
friend of Thomas Howard, esq. grand¬ 
father to the present proprietor of Corby 
and we may safely suppose that the same 
generous principles of patriotic virtue 
animated th.em both; and the only reason 
tlrat we never heard Mr. Howard’s 
name celebrated as a virtuous senator, 
is, that his religious creed debarred him 
from taking, an active share in the admi¬ 
nistration of the public affairs. In pri¬ 
vate life he carried those virtues into 
practice, which are the greatest orna¬ 
ment of human nature. Though only 
possessed of a limited fortune, he 
adorned his house with rmmerous paint¬ 
ings; au'-l the taste which he manifested 
fer tiie fine arts hai happily distinguished 
