containing several pillars of great value, brought from Egypt by Lord Hill. The Library next presents itself—a noble apartment, containing a large collection of Books, and some valuable Paintings. The Sculpture Gallery is attached to the Library. Beyond is a magnificent Ball Room, ornamented in the style of Louis XIV., the ceiling and great part of the walls being richly ornamented and gilt; the Furniture is of the same gorgeous description. The Drawing Room is a noble apartment, similarly furnished and adorned, and containing several Paintings by the old Masters. Beyond it is the Banquetting Hall, containing also numerous admirable Paintings, and adorned in the most luxuriant and costly style. A number of other rooms, some of them enriched with Family and other Portraits, by the first Masters, are scattered in different parts of the Mansion. The Chapel is fitted up with much solemn splendour.

THE GARDENS

are laid out with the utmost taste; and the facility with which water can be introduced into any part of them, the variety of Views, Grottoes, Waterfalls, and Dens, with which they abound, render the whole an enchanting Abundance of wild and tamed Animals, from all parts of the world, are located in the gardens and ponds, and enliven them with their merry freaks, their music or their vivacity. The river Hawk, as it passes the Hall, expands into a noble sheet

scene.

B

6

of water, and is frequented by Swans, and other aquatic Birds. The Park is stocked with many hundred deer.

Leaving the House you proceed by an easy ascent through the side of a wilderness of lofty trees, chiefly beeches, till you arrive at the SUMMER HOUSE,

which is a building of Grinshill Stone* in the octagon form. The inside was painted in fresco, with a representation of the four seasons, &c. &c. From the windows, and the walk above it, you have a pleasing near prospect of a piece of water and some verdant meadows; and a distant one of Broxton Hills, and Delamere forest, in Cheshire. Under the Summer House formerly was a spacious cold Bath, with a solid stone table in the centre, and stone seats around. This room now contains a canoe, with idols, masks, &c. which formerly furnished the Otahetean Hut, described in a future page in this "Guide."

As few strangers have leisure to see more than the PARK,-which alone, would engage the attention of persons of taste for a whole day, or indeed for two daysthe walks being upwards of ten miles in length---we shall confine our description to The PARK; and shall pursue the order in which Parties are conducted by The Guides; our walk therefore, commences from

* Grinshill is situate in the vicinity; the stone from the Quarries is beautiful and durable, and easily quarried. With so fine a material near Shrewsbury, that town ought to be one of the handsomest in the Kingdom.

This is a spacious, elegant, and well furnished House: its accommodations, provisions, and wines, are proverbially excellent.*

NEPTUNE'S WHIM OR COTTAGE.

Entering a plantation, under two large whalebones, emblems of the Sea Monarch's territory, are the following lines :

*

Here, Friend of Taste, thy course begin,
And Nature's Charms admire :

Where varied Landscapes feast the eye,
The feet forget to tire.

HAWKSTONE INN and HOTEL, though secluded from the noise and inconvenience of a public road, is not out of a travel. ler's way to any of the neighbouring towns.-Parties travelling for summer's amusement into Wales, or to or from Buxton, Matlock, &c. will here find. most comfortable accomodation, both for themselves, their servants and horses; and will have the advantage of a very good road through the Park which comprehends views of HAWKSTONE HALL, the Water, and some of the finest scenes among the Rocks. Tourists, when on their route to North Wales and Ireland, need not return to Shrewsbury from Hawkstone, as the distances from the latter place to Chirk, Llangollen, &c. are exactly the same as from Shrewsbury.

From Shrewsbury.......

Watling Street

Newport

Miles

13

16

From Drayton...............

Miles.

9

9

14

Whitchurch.
Ellesmere

The reason of this place being named 'Neptune's Whim," is from a colossal statue of that god in stone, which is placed behind the building at the river's head. This figure has an urn under its arm, from which the water was intended to fall over some broken pieces of rock, while his Nereïds below threw up the stream. Here Neptune sits under a . canopy of laurels and trees, between two large ribs of a whale, upon which is this inscription:

While verdant laurels form my bower,

A slaughter'd whale proclaims my power:
My trident pierc'd the monster's side;
These bones are trophies of my pride.

The whimsical edifice, Neptune's Whim, is built in the exact taste of the houses in North Holland (with a Windmill on the opposite bank of the river, painted in the Dutch style), and its interior is ornamented with a number of Swiss prints, and curiosities. The stained glass in the windows has a very pleasing effect.

In traversing Neptune's demense, upon the margin of a calm and glassy piece of water, you pass a spreading oak, under which is a seat, and on the trunk of the tree are these lines :

While baneful Vice lays conscience waste,

With madd'ning joys of sense,

These rural scenes beguile the hours

In pleasing innocence.

In a retired nook, a little further onward, is a seat under two whalebones.

You now take a look at the Chinese Temple; and at Amphitrite's flower garden, which is in

perfect harmony with the place; in the middle of which a most curious tent (now decayed and removed) was formerly pitched, which was brought by Lord Hill (uncle of the present Sir Rowland) when he returned from Egypt. Over the entrance into the tent was the following inscription :

*

This tent was brought by Colonel Hill from Egypt to England. It originally belonged to the famous Murad Bey; was taken at the battle of the Pyramids by the French; and taken from the French when Grand Cairo surrendered to the English, June 25, 1801. Sir Sidney Smith assured Colonel Hill it was the same tent in which the Convention of El Arish was signed.

From hence you pass on to a more solemn recess, where in a sequestered mossy alcove, inade of knots and roots of trees, and Sacred to Contemplation, is the following inscription:

Tell me, dear Stranger, tell me true,
What sorrow swells thy breast;
'Midst all the joys the world can give,
Ah! why so far from rest?

Oft sad forebodings from within
Announce the hidden sore,

While fruitless arts the wound to heal
But make it fester more.

Yet call not Dissipation's aid

To lull or chase thy grief;

Let Contemplation's soothing balm
Afford thy Soul relief.

In Riot's din (Religion's foe)

Let thoughtless mortals live,
Be thine to seek those purer joys
Which Riot ne'er can give.

The first man's heart, by sin defiled,

The loss of Heav'n sustained;

But when sweet Peace her throne resumes
'Tis Paradise regain'd.

*The present Lord Hill now Commanding in Chief.