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EXCURSION THE TENTH.

MILTON-ABBOT, ENDSLEIGH, CARTHAMARTHA, &c.

"Upon the eye

Arise the village, and the village spire,

The clustering hamlet, and the peaceful cot,
Clasp'd by the woodbine ;-and the lordly home
Proud peering 'mid the stately oak and elm
Leaf loving."

CARRINGTON.

UR most attractive excursion we have reserved for the last in the immediate neighborhood of Tavistock. The name of Endsleigh suggests so many pleasant reminiscences, so many home beauties, that we have willingly hastened over our ground, to dwell once more in its sequestered retreats. An easy access is gained to this favored spot, by turning near Milton-Abbot from the high road to Launceston.

A stranger will pause, where the roads meet, to observe the neat and appropriate structure erected by the munificence of the late John Duke of Bedford, for the purpose of a free school for the children of the poor in the neighboring village. The village itself is also to be admired. A superior taste has evidently directed the construction of the pretty rustic cottages, which beautify the place.

The love of flowers seems also to have been

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cultivated; honeysuckles and roses contend for mastery in the cottage fronts, and even fling their blossoms into the very latticed windows. Every garden displays a neat border of flowers.

gay

"With marigolds and gilliflowers

And pinks of richest beauty:"

That of the school is the admiration of all beholders. The Church is a simple edifice, kept in nice repair, and altogether presenting just the aspect a country church should wear. A barrel organ is used to conduct the vocal choir of the village worshipers. The parsonage house, near the church, has been recently built in the Tudor style of Architecture of solid granite, much after the manner of the Grammar School in Tavistock. The interior corresponds in every respect with its external appearance, and does equal credit to the taste and ability of the Architect. A foot-path through the fields near the parsonage, conducts to a gate near the lodge, which opens to the fairy precincts of Endsleigh. Carriage passengers must of course pursue the road which turns near the school. It is necessary to exhibit a ticket at the lodge, which is obtained at the Bedford office in Tavistock, to admit as many as six persons to view the place. A drive of a mile and a half in length, through beautiful shrubberies, leads to the Cottage. But those who wish to save themselves much additional labor, in climbing the ascent near the Swiss Cottage, will dismount by Mr. Forrester's pretty dwelling, and send on their vehicles with a message to the gardener, desiring him to meet them at the gate by the grotto. Having thus secured ingress to the properly guarded domain, the ramblers must follow a green path through the shrubbery, and across a field towards a rustic porch, where the sound of a bell will announce their approach to the inhabitants of the Swiss Cottage. This pretty edifice is a perfect model of one of the Swiss Chalets,

and its situation on the brow of a rocky eminence well corresponds with the character of alpine scenery. From an opening tastefully cut in the trees, a sweet view is obtained of Endsleigh Cottage, with the sloping lawn and a romantic wood, through whose verdant glades commodious roads have been formed. On the opposite side another opening displays the windings of the Tamar between its leafy banks. The furniture and decorations of the Swiss Cottage, are suited to its simplicity of construction. Colored drawings of the costumes of various Swiss Cantons, and some sweet sea-side sketches, ornament the small sitting apartment. In a room at the back are a dinner set and kitchen utensils, made like similar articles in the primitive times of our own country, entirely of wood; probably of beech, which was so used by our forefathers. In the small plot belonging to the Swiss cottage, the garden and field flowers florish together in "gay companie," yet not without regard to their proper disposal. A well-directed taste has so arrived at the perfection of art, that the scattered seeds appear only to have been flung by the hand of nature. Leaving this fairy spot by a small wicket, we descend a winding path by above a hundred steps, and passing a rustic seat beneath the projecting rock, take the road on the right through the wood, to the "garden gate.' Beneath a "living gallery" of forest trees are planted American shrubs; the rhododendron, azalea, and gum cistus intermingle with our own dog-rose and sweet briar. The hawthorn also grows here in profusion, and if we prefer Endsleigh at one time more than another, it is in the month of May, when the snowy blossoms of the thorn are diversified by the rhododendron and yellow furze.

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In autumn the varied hues of the trees win our admiration. Occasionally a hare or rabbit scuds across our path, and the pheasant and partridge rise from the

preserves, and wheel their rapid flight across the valley. As we proceed, the hand of cultivation is more apparent; arches of twisted osier entwined with the wild clematis and woodbine, shade the walk; wooden bridges cross small rivulets, and at length the garden gate opens upon the desired paradise of sweets. A grotto on the left is the first object to be seen. This, perfect in its kind, is ornamented with beautiful specimens procured from the various mines in the neighborhood, as well as other more distant regions; while shells and corallines help to fill up the interstices. Seats of polished marble from Plymouth, are placed in the recesses; a gurgling stream swelling from a small fountain in the centre, enlivens the place with its ever chiming music. If we may find fault with this pleasant retreat, it is in observing a glass door at the entrance, which to a certain degree destroys the natural effect of the whole. A noble terrace near the grotto winds before the house; some bold rocks at one end are covered with trailing vines, interspersed with graceful wreaths of the wild hop and other creeping plants. The sloping nature of the ground has admitted the formation of a double terrace; on the upper is a long alcove of bent wire, over which sweet peas, clematis, and creepers of every description are trained. In the wall which supports this terrace, are recesses for geraniums, which flower with much beauty in the open air. There is indescribable pleasure in treading the elastic turf on the lower terrace, and gazing on the wilderness of beauties around. It has been justly remarked that the perfect solitude and retirement of Endsleigh forms its principal charm. It offers a delightful and soothing retreat from the busy world, presenting such an enticing home scene as England alone can boast; and gladly must the wearied statesman and active noble retire to this spot to enjoy the quiet of such undisturbed seclusion. The house (designed by Wyatt,) possesses every comfort

which its dimensions will allow. Strangers who expect to find the magnificence and grandeur of Woburn Abbey, or of any other seat of a British nobleman, will necessarily be disappointed. The good taste of the proprietors has retained throughout a perfect accordance with its rural style of architecture.

Rustic

The contour of the building is irregular, gradually receding from the front towards the wings. verandahs adorn the front, containing odoriferous plants and flowering shrubs, and supported by trunks of oak trees as columns, around which cling the clustering scotch rose, the ivy, and the honeysuckle, forming natural festoons above the windows. One portion of the wall (which is of wrought stone,) is covered with a farspreading magnolia; every year this plant unfolds its rich blossoms, and sends a delicious fragrance through the air. By its side blooms the flowering myrtle and scarlet geranium, while the flaunting passion flower, sends down its brilliant petals to meet them from above.

A granite porch at the rear of the house conducts into a neat entrance hall, whose wainscoted sides have appropriate ornaments of various implements of industry used in primitive times. A handsome bracket supports the bust of Francis Duke of Bedford, the eminent patron of agriculture, whose early demise was deeply lamented by all who were sensible of his worth. A circular oak table, of extraordinary dimensions, and exquisite polish, stands in the centre of the hall. The chimney-piece is of polished granite of a handsome dark grain.

The anti-chamber to the dining and drawing rooms contain some fine water-colored paintings of Cintra. Around the dining room, are the arms of the Russell family with their various inter-marriages, beautifully painted on a miniature scale. The panels and furniture of this room are entirely of oak. The window is

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