176 
of Bere* Court) A more convenient 
spot can scarcely be imagined, for the 
purpose of fasting; if the Thames failed 
to produce a regular supply of dainty 
fish, a trout-stream was ready with its 
finny treasure, at the distance of a little 
mile. 
The arms of Hugh Faringdon, the last 
Abbot, who, in spite of great submissions, 
was hanged at the Dissolution, by Henry 
VIII. are still to be seen in the hall of 
Bere-court. A portrait of the same 
Abbot, habited in pontifical robes, and 
kneeling before an altar, with a book in 
his hand, was till very lately preserved ; 
but this lingering relic of the once potent 
écclesiastic, has been unmercifully suf- 
fered to mix with the wreck of “days 
that are faded and gone.” 
On ascending the perilous ridge, termed 
Shooter’s Hill, the traveller is compelled 
to think of Wales and its inequalities. 
His pathrlies over the summit of an emi- 
nence, at whose base the Thames fiows 
with majestic. deliberation. A heedless 
step might produce serious consequences, 
as the declivity i is fearfully quick, anda 
_ straggling juniper alone interposes its 
‘nefficient aid to the falling traveller, 
Were the recital likely to be amusing 
divers anecdotes of fatal plunges, and 
“ hair-breadth escapes,” might be here 
presented to the reader ; but as every. 
daily journal contains too many nar- 
ratives of broken bones, and dislocated 
joints; I hasten from this declivity and 
its misadventures, to observe, that the 
pedestrian may escape from the incon- 
veniences of a noon-day sun, by entering 
the ranges of woodland, which’ skirt the 
park belonging to Basildon House. 
These pleasure-grounds (in the whole 
of which are comprised five tondred 
* Bere, the Anglo-saxon terfn for barley, 
aptly describes the. character of the surround- 
ing country; unless it can be supposed to al~ 
Yude to the good cheer constantly maintained 
at the Court, in the time of the patsy Ab- 
bots. ‘ 
+ Accident has probably caused this dilapi- 
dation; but what must be thought of the 
taste of Berkshire, when the following anec- 
dote is given as a literal fact ?—A person of 
Jarge fortune, and possessed of a venerable 
and magnificent seat, by some chance or other 
found a choice picture of the Muses, by an 
ancient’ master, among his paintings. Of- 
fended at the ple he er nudity, of these lovely 
sisters, Mr. -employed a certain artist 
(not quite an fpelles,) to dress the unseemly 
figures in such attire as would make them fit 
to be lovked‘at!! 
Watks tn Berkshires 
Meals 
[Sept. 1, 
ficres,) posse3s the diversities of hill and 
dale, of lawn and woodland. They are 
disposed with considerable judgment, 
though they are deficient in the grateful 
solemnity inspired by natural ranges of 
oaks. Beech and fir are to be seen in 
profusion, every stern of which was pre- 
served with as much care, as if a Hama- 
dryad’s life depended on it, by the late ~ 
Sir Francis Sykes, bart. who was long 
proprietor of the domain. The building - 
is a splendid instance of modern art, but 
has the formal and cheerless aspect of 
most large houses in the country.  Frret- 
ted columns, and Corinthian capitals, 
vainly endeavouring to lighten immense 
piles of Portland stone, ill assimilate 
with the playful wildness of Nature in her 
rural haunts. To me, stately mansienss 
in retired situations, ever wear an unite 
habited appearance. The heart turns 
unmoved from such objects, however 
superb they may be, to glow over the 
contemplation of the little white-washed* 
cottage, whose wicker-gate hangs on an 
easy hinge for the exhausted traveller, 
and whose chimney, emitting peaceful 
volumes of smoke, bespeaks a ftre-side 
replete with com/sorts, with freedom’,...+ 
with contentinent. : 
Basildon House. lately presented a specs 
tacle unusually dreary: three achieves 
ments on its spacious front, denoted 
a sweep of mortality impressively af=° 
flicting, When the old baronet paid the 
common debt of humanity, his son and 
grandchildren were in a distant part of 
Germany. News of his accession to the 
title and estate, had scarcely reached Sir 
Francis Willian, the heir, when a fever 
siezed a darling child, from whose bed of 
suffering no remonstrances could detain. 
a fond and anxious mother. Alas! the 
youthful lady imbibed the contagion, and 
the most deadly symptoms foretold. ber 
approaching fate. The husband had long 
been deemed too degenerate for any 
mention, save the sneer of fastidious re- 
proof ; ‘let his conduct, in the last trying 
hours of his life, restore his fair fame 
with the candid and compassionate! .... 
Though aware of the imminent danger 
he was incurring, he persisted in attend- 
ance on his hapless wife. His hand ad 
ministered the fruitless medicine, his lip 
inhaled her dying breath. . The sequel 
‘sil 
* Rousseau, in his Emilius, sighs fora 
whiteswashed cottage, with green window 
frames and paling. The ancient Welsh Bards, 
speak, most feelingly, of Glamorganshire 
and its white cottages, of 
