476° 
opens at leneth on a lovely lawn, at the 
extent of whichisseated the house; which 
has no imposing air of grandeur, but an 
inviting appearance of repose and com- 
fort. The lawn is richly skirted with 
trees of all growths, from fine elms to 
Jow twisted bushy oaks, feathered down 
to the grass, and uniting with if: 1t opens 
to the sea forty feet above high-water 
mark. This height is a steep bank, en- 
tirely covered with luxunant wood, of 
various sorts. Sumach, laurustinus, and 
other beautiful shrubs, are mixed wirh 
oak and hazel; and over their tufted tops, 
the view falls directly on the waves, mur- 
muring at your feet. Walks sweetly 
sheltered, wind through this rich foliage, 
and afford to pausing meditation a deli- 
cious retreat: no sound but the dashing 
wave meets the ear; and no object but the 
ocean stealing through the solemn gloom, 
arrests the eye. 
St. John’s, the seat of Edward Simeon, 
esq. is the favourite haunt most visited 
from Ryde. The grounds are extensive, 
and agrecably diversified ; amidst its fine 
woods, Taste has, with her magic wand, 
created a Paradise. On each side the 
gate by which you enter, is a beautiful 
and interesting cottage. The low, pro- 
jecting thatch, which forms a porch, 1s 
supported by pillars of elm, not stripped 
of its bark: round these the clymatis 
hangs its pufple bells, climbs the roof, 
and lines the simple arcade before the 
door; on each side of which rustic chairs 
are placed, and over one of these a pair 
of turtle-doves (which are natives of the 
Island) have founda shelter. A labourer 
and his wife inhabit one of these beautiful 
cottages: the other opens into a little ele- 
gant room with painted fioor-cloth, table 
and chairs. Simple shelves, suspended by 
aribbon, are enriched with a few interest- 
ing volumes; and this rooms, witha bene- 
volent hospitality, dedicated to strangers. 
The sweet-scented white clynatis creeps 
over the window, and mingles its feathery 
clusters with its purple relative on the 
roof. A deep shade of wood shelters 
these lovely retreats, through which a 
winding avenue slowly leads t scenes of 
varied and more enlivened be&uty. ~The 
ground gradually rises, and the shade di- 
minishes, till from a considerable emi- 
nence a charming view of the ocean 
bursts upon the sight; as you proceed, 
the grounds are more ornainented, and 
the shrubs more luxuriint. The unos- 
tentatious mansion is finely situated on 
€n eminence, commanding extensive 
views of the sea, while the intervening 
slopes are richly ornamented with bang- 
tx 
ty. 
Tour in the Isle of Wight. 
[June ly 
ing-woods. Beds of the most luxuriant 
shrubs, with wide extent, scatter perfume 
and richness on the scene. Groups of 
magnificent and venerable elms, throw.’ 
a rich shade around the opposite front; 
while beneath their umbrageous: cano- 
pies, seats of various forms and sizes in- 
vite the delighted Joiterer to linger till 
the last sunbeam warns him to depart. 
One of our enraptured party exclanned, 
that it was the spot*where one might 
fancy wood-nymphs and fairies met, to 
hold their revels. From this sheltered 
and lovely lawn, various walks lead to 
different parts of the grounds. We'soon 
crossed a carriage road, and entcred a 
spacious turf-waik, richly ornamented 
with tall shrubs. This leads to a éottage 
singularly beautiful; and through a sim- 
ple arcade at one end, a fine view of the 
ocean is aflurded. The pillars which 
support tls, are formed of saplings 
nailed to a piece of wood, which at a 
small distance produce the effect. of 
fiuted columns : round these the tea-tree 
flings its flexile shoots, and twining 
honey-suckles intermingle their sweets. 
At the back of the cottage there is a 
recess, whose thatched roof sweeps 
over a rustic seat, enclosed by a simple 
lattice of unpeeled branches ; round these, 
twining shrubs bloom in lavish luxury; a 
lovely little sloping lawn fronts the seat, 
bounded by hedges of sweet-briar; below 
this, rising woods meet the eye, and he- 
yond them is a fine view of the ocean. 
Winding through a corn-field, we enter 
the coppice, whose sequestered and shady 
walks lead in different directions to the 
Marino, an elegant castellated building 
near the coast. A little gallery over the 
arched gate-way leads to an apartment 
whose Gothic windows open on the sea; 
here the liberal owner permits tea-par- 
ties to be accommodated, and once a. 
week a band of music attends in the 
neighbouring wood.* ‘The grand view of 
the ocean in front, the tranquil gloom of 
the woods behind, the gentle rippling of 
* It is much to be regretted that the 
owner of this terrestrial Pafadise, who with 
unasual Itberality has studiously proryided 
for the gratulication of strangers, should have 
tempted to any violation of the sabbath, by , 
the addition of music on that day. The 
numbers which it assembles, and the convi- 
viality which it induces, are not likely to 
contribute to sanctity of manners; and the 
injunction, “ Remember the sabbath-day to ~ 
keep it holy,” issnes from an authority, which 
no man. however elevated or distinguished, 
C@ disregard with: impunity. 
the. 
