the pencil of his wife into a charming little occa-sional residence. Here follows a description of it, from the pen of the latter : "It was situate at the bottom of a craggy mountain, support. ed by rocks of different hues, sloping towards a terrace of nearly a mile long, and within a bowsprit's length of the main ocean. The reason for ascertaining it to be precisely that distance arose from a laughable circumstance. The inhabitants of the cottage were very much alarmed early one morning on seeing a large Dutch ship of war lying close to the cottage, with the end of her bowsprit within the boundaries of the garden; nor was she able to be got clear off till it was high water. The entrance to the cottage was through a very large arch, built with stones taken from among the rocks at low water, many of which were of such a size that it required no less than ten men to lift one of them. Between the rock and the margin of the sea was a most beautiful green sod, that both in summer and winter had the appearance of rich velvet. Upon this sod grew many a purple thistle, and also the eringo, or sea holly. "When the arch was first built, a large quantity of shingles or small pebbles were sprinkled on the morter whilst it was wet, mixed with small pieces of looking glass and talc, which made, when the sun shone, a very brilliant appearance. With these were also intermixed small bunches of pinks, double-wall and gilliflowers, which greatly enriched and added to its beauty. From this arch was a serpentine walk that led up to the cottage by a gentle ascent, planted on each side with aromatic shrubs. Over the cottage door a small arch was turned, which was covered with woodbines, and branches of the vine that spread itself with great luxuriancy over great part of the cottage: in front of which was a large window, shaded with apricot-branches on one side and vines on the other. The room to which this window belonged was called the India parlour, being entirely hung with India paper, and furnished with chintz. Above this room, which jutted out from the main building, was a flat roof of lead, over which was a tarpaulin, whereon was placed some garden-chairs, the whole being sheltered by a green painted awning: from this roof roof there was an extensive view of the sea, which exhibited a most picturesque scene, from the infinite number of vessels hourly passing to and fro, of every description, from a man of war down to a fishing boat; and the setting of the sun afforded such a resplendent spectacle as is beyond the power of language to describe. No one can have any conception of the grandeur of that beautiful luminary that sees it only on land, for the sea glitters for a considerable distance around it, as if it were on fire, when it seems to sink majestically into the ocean. "The entrance to the roof was by a small door which opened from an inner room under the thatch. In the garden was a recess adjoining the cottage, about twelve feet in length and six in depth, ornamented with shell-work, and in which the spread, ing vines were fantastically twined about the lattice-work against the wall this recess possessed the character of L'Allegro, a small well executed figure being placed in a niche in the wall, representing Laughter holding both his sides." "At the entrance of the recess was placed a fine figure in lead, the size of a boy of fourteen, in a rustic habit, playing on the tabor and pipe, which was coloured after nature. Further on was a hermit's cell adjoining to a recess, which bore the character of Il Penseroso, from which a wicket opened into a cell, where sat at a table a figure representing a hermit, the head and hands of which were finely modelled in wax. It was dressed in a long brown cloth habit, tied round the waist with a cord, from which hung his chaplet: his hoary beard was of a most venerable length. The table was covered with green cloth, and upon it the best edition of MILTON, which opened at the following passage, to which the figare pointed with his finger: "A look that's fasten'd to the ground, "A tongue chain'd up without a sound, "There was likewise upon the table a small crucifix, a scull, and an hour-glass. The floor and sides of the cell as well as the benches were covered with matting. The south entrance into the cottage was also over-arched with wood bines, and opened into a small entry, the top and sides of which were lined with shells and shingles; this led into a room called the Roman parlour, from its its being entirely paved with Roman brick, taken from an old ruinous castle half-a-mile distance from the cottage, built by the Romans in the time of Julius Cæsar. In this parlour were two large windows which commanded a full view of the sea; the. top and sides were entirely covered with shingles, shells, talc, small pieces of looking-glass and spar, besides a great number of small copper coin, dug out of the ruins of the castle. "This room opened into a spacious dining-parlour, in which there was a large sash-window that looked into the orchard, wherein the apple-trees were sometimes so loaded with fruit that the branches dragged on the ground: this circumstance used to cause much wonder, being so near the sea. "A door led out of this room into a very elegantly furnished drawing-room, in which was a fine organ and a variety of musical instruments; there was also a very costly set of copie de perle, consisting of a pair of high candlesticks, a dish, ewer, and bowl, which had been used for the sacrament at a private catholic chapel. On another table was a mirror, the frame of which, as well as a set of dressing-boxes, was green and gold finely varnished, done by the hand of the Countess of Castlehaven, mother to Lady Elizabeth Thicknesse, and also a carpet of her ladyship's needle-work. "The furniture was chintz, and the room was hung with blue paper, festooned with flowers exquisitely painted: on the same floor was an apartment, the furniture of which was white muslin; the bottom of the window was nearly level with the floor, so that when it was open one could fancy one's-self seated in the shrubbery, which was filled with the most fragant aromatics. In the middle of the shrubbery was a small mount, where was fixed a flag-staff, on which, upon particular occasions, the King's colours were hoisted. The kitchen and out-offices were on the north side. There were four bedchambers above; two with a view to the sea, and the others towards the orchard. "At the end of the garden was a summer-house converted into an aviary, on the top of it was a pigeon-house. In another corner of the garden was a hut built with two large boats, one was the ground floor, and the other served as a roof. "In short, to describe all the romantic beauties and whimsi calities of this cottage would fill many pages: suffice it to say, that it was as delightful an habitation as nature and art could make make it, and in which the taste of Mr. Thicknesse was in every part conspicuous." Here they enjoyed the company of each other, and also of their friends; which, together with books and occasional excursions, prevented the approach of that ennui, so destructive to the happiness of many people who move in the first circles, and actually become cloyed with pleasure, and subjected to spleen and vapours at the bare idea of tranquillity! In this charming retreat they also received visits from several persons of fashion; and we shall seize this opportunity to describe an entertainment given to Lady Dowager Bateman, which appears to have been contrived in the true Arcadian style. It shall be given in the express words of the lady by whom it was projected: "On the lawn, between the entrance arch and the Roman parlour, was fixed a marquee, in which was a cold collation, consisting of ham, chickens, pastry, fruits, &c. but the greatest dainty of all was some fiue lobsters, caught that morning before the door; a fishing-boat being kept for that purpose. "When her ladyship was within sight of the cottage, the rustic scene commenced, which was as follows:-a pretty servant girl was seated near to the arch, employed at her spinning wheel, habited in a green stuff gown, faced and robed with pink silk, a pink and white check apron, and a straw hat with pink ribband. About the middle of the lawn sat Mr. Tudor's (Thicknesse's) eldest daughter, dressed as a shepherdess, in a white stuff jacket and coat, trimmed with pea green ribhand, a white chip hat tied with the same coloured ribband, and a band of natural rose-buds, a crook by her side fixed to the ground from which flowed a green ribband that held a young lamb. Miss Tudor was playing on the guitar, whilst her little sister danced; who was apparelled in muslin tied up with bunches of pinks and rose-buds, and a wreath of roses round her head. As "As soon as her ladyship's carriage was within an hundred yards of the arch, Mr. and Mrs. Tudor went to meet her, when her ladyship walked out, and saluted Mrs. Tudor with great cordiality her surprise is not to be expressed when she entered the gate, on viewing that which we have just described. The pleasure she felt at so novel and pastoral a scene was easily perceived by her look and manner, which is much more to be depended upon than merely complimentary speeches, which oftentimes mean nothing at all. "After taking a view of the cottage and its environs, the company sat down to the festive board, when her ladyship politely expressed her satisfaction, which she was pleased to say surpassed her expectation, though she had heard much of the romantic beauties of the cottage. When dinner was ended the company retired into the drawing-room, and left the servants to regale themselves on the lawn. Every thing being cleared away, the table was again covered with tea and other refreshments, when her ladyship was agreeably surprised to fiud a beautiful Alderney cow close to the marquee, whose neck and head were ornamented with ribband and natural roses. On her ladyship being seated, the maid began to milk the cow, while Miss Tudor held the bowl ready mixed for a syllabub, of which her ladyship partook, repeatedly expressing the plea sure she felt at the attention that was shewn to her. "Lady Bateman having expressed a wish to hear Miss Tudor sing, she sang the following well-known pastoral ballad, ac companying herself on the guitar : "What beauteous scenes enchant my sight, Does round that elm's stupendous height "Her ladyship then was preparing to depart, but on Mr. and Mrs. Tudor expressing a desire to accompany her a part of the way, they all walked to the village, when they took an affectionate leave of each other. But this mode of life, however charming it might seem, did not possess bustle and activity enough for the disposition of Mr. Thicknesse. He had by this |