1810} 
the names of ‘*Tygeia House,” “ Mont- 
Lee Wells,” and 3 Montpelier Grounds,” 
vave already been imposed upon this in- 
viting assemblage of walks and waters. 
The direct road ‘hither, is through Cam- 
bray-street, beyoud which a raised cause- 
way 1s catried to the brook; and over this 
a brick bridge is thrown, nearly! opposite 
a structuré of singular appearance, known 
by the name of . Lady Mary 1. indsay’s 
Cottage.” It here passes some planta- 
tions, and @ piece of Water of- fantastic 
form, belonging to her ladysl vip, and then, 
taking a serpentine direction through 
some ‘delightful clumps of shrubs and sap- 
lings, leads at once to Hygeta House. 
T shall not perhaps find a more conve- 
hient opportunity than the present cne, 
to describe the residence of Lady M ae 
Tt is, upon the whole, ain elegant ed 
although disfigured by glaring incongrui 
tics. The Inttieed front and. projecting 
thatched roof, are the only characters of 
# Cottage that it bears, and these are 
completely outraged by the sheight of 
the building ; the neat portico filling ue 
and the spacious 
large recess in front, 
bows at the back of the house. 
fiaumediately above this “Cottage,” Mr, 
Thompson’s improvements commence, 
Plantations and walks every where sur- 
round Hygeia House,which, as the trees ine 
crease in size, will; in the course of time, 
be completely embowered. ‘This spa- 
cious and elegant structure is of white 
stone, and is desiened to be surrounded 
by stone pillars and a green. viranda, 
which cannot fail to have a most h lappy 
effect, Hither, it is said, the proprietor 
originally intended to have conveyed all 
the varicties of water m wooden trunks; 
but that plan, I presame, is abandoned: 
‘as other buildings have been erected in 
different parts of Montpelier spun 
near to the precise spots where the spring 
arefound. Thecommodious pomp room 
here, however, will afford a weak chaly- 
beated saline, a weak sulphuretted saline, 
and a simple chalybeate, but these are- 
“hot the waters that are most likely to at- 
tract the attention ef the public, From 
this spa, a path proceeds winding through 
shrubbery. to Montpeli ier grounds, which 
“are of many acres éxtent, and reagh quite 
-to the lane behind the old we ell; Round 
‘these is carried a gravel walk, skirted 
_with plantations, that also include a 
charming ride. On one side a hawthorn | 
hedge, of unusual luxuriance and beauty, 
between two gravel walks, affords either 
on the one side or the other, durmg the 
“whole of the- day, an inviting shade, and 
BE the opposite extremity, near to Sher- 
Letters from Cheltenham. 
19 
borne well, a new pump roem, and an oc- 
tavon stone turret, ofteran abundant sap- 
ply of approved water, that has already 
dyawn. numerous visitors to the ‘spot. 
The first of these contains a Chalyhe: ited 
and a strong andweak sulphuretted saline; 
the second, a chalybeated, a strong has 
lybeated, and a weak simple saline. 
Round Montpelier grounds, seats are 
placed in appropriate situations to com- 
mand lovely prospects, the town here 
and there peeping through the trees, cise 
tant. nelds pi rettily, decorated with ti inber, 
na sprinkled with cottages; while Cleeve 
Hill forms a fine back-yround to the pic- 
ture. . : 
~Mr. Thompson’s magnificent plans of 
improvement, include hot and cold baths : 
and a suitable buiuding has-been erecs ed 
for this purposé, upon a very extensive. 
scale, near Liveeia’ Mouse. tere baths 
of common or of mineral water, shower 
baths, sudatories, &c. can be procurea, 
with the greatest facility. 
Tt. bas lately » become a very gener ak 
practice, io Halchle the prevailing taste 
tur frequenting watering-places and drink. 
ing saline waters. To. these gay resorts 
of fashion and of ‘show, numerous indis 
‘viduals are certainly attracted by the va- 
“rious amusement which they cifer to the 
idle and the dissipated. Salutary relax. 
ation from the laborious cares of the 
professional man, and oe man of busi- 
ness, must however be allowed to be a 
sufficient inducement for exch: ansipe OC~ 
casionally the hurry, the smoke, and the 
intemperate habits, of the metropolis and 
Its vicinity, for rustic seclusion and ra- 
ticnal enjoyment, Where a periodical 
influx of visitors is expected, every requis 
site either for comfort or eratification 
will of course be prepared; and thither 
also many willvery naturally y repair, who 
altogether disregard the waters that Oris 
ginally gave celebrity to the place. Bat» 
the avidity with which saline waters are 
runk, wherever the bounteous hand of 
nature has bestowed them, seems to indi= 
cate an inthitive conviction of their be- 
neficial effects; and if we refer to the 
phe ieueated instincts of animals, we 
shall find that they also take a advantage 
of these indigenous medicinal aids, whens~ 
ever they are placed within their reach, 
It is a singular circumstance that m 
America, at certain seasons of the year, 
various tribes of animals assemb!} eat the 
“ salines;” or “salt licks,” which abound 
in many. parts of that. vast contwent, and 
after drinking copiously of the nauserug 
draught, © disperse: again quietly in the 
woods. The settlers ‘observing this, were. 
. . induced. 
