394

RETURN TO ISLINGTON.

Taking leave of our obliging Host and Hostess, at the SWAN INN, where we had been comfortably and reasonably accommodated, I was not unmindful of the well-known lines of Shenstone

Whoe'er has travelled LIFE's dull round,
Where'er his various tour has been,

May sigh to think-how oft he found
His warmest welcome at-AN INN!

We drove off cheerily in our two post-chaises, and returning through Brentford, Hammersmith, Kensington, by Hyde Park Corner, reached, in the evening, our plain uncastellated mansion at ISLINGTON, with renovated satisfaction.

I am,

My dear young Friend,

Your affectionate Tutor,

JOHN EVANS.

A

SAIL

DOWN THE MEDWAY,

FROM

MAIDSTONE TO ROCHESTER,

AND FROM

Rochester to the Nore,

ΤΟ

OPEN THE OYSTER BEDS,

During the Month of July, 1811.

IN TWO LETTERS TO A FRIEND.

The MEDWAY'S tide in wreathing volumes flows,

Still forming reedy islands as it goes,
And in meanders to the neighbouring plain,
The liquid serpent draws its silver train !

BLACKMORE.

Ór Trent, who, like some earth-born giant, spread
His thirty arms along the indented mead;
Or sullen Mole that runneth underneath,

Or Severn swift, guilty of maiden's death,
Or rocky Avon or of sedgy Lee,

Or coaly Tyne or ancient hallow'd Dee,
Or Humber loud that keeps the Scythian name,
Or MEDWAY smooth or royal-tower'd THAME.

MILTON.

QUITTING MAIDSTONE; DESCRIPTION OF OUR PLEASUREBOAT; DELINEATION OF THE SCENERY; NEAT BARRACKS AND ITS SOLDIERY; SOLDIER'S FUNERAL; GIBRALTAR; RUINS OF 'ALLINGTON CASTLE; NEW LOCK; AYLESFORD; VILLAGE; CHURCH AND CHURCH-YARD; COMMON LOT; MONUMENT OF THE COLEPEPPERS; PRESTON HALL; LEEDS CASTLE AND CURIOUS ROBBERY; MONUMENTS OF THE BANKS' FAMILY, AND OF SIR PAUL RICAUT, ENGLISH AMBASSADOR TO CONSTANTINOPLE; BURYING IN CHURCHES CENSURED; GROSS IGNORANCE OF A COUNTRY LAD; UTILITY OF SCHOOLS FOR ALL; THe friars, SEAT OF THE EARL OF AYLESFORD; BEGGING FRIARS AND MONKS; THE ALPHAT 3T AND ART OF PRINTING; MILLHALL BANK AND NEW HYTHE; PATRIOTISM; GROUPE OF CHILDREN; FLIGHT OF TIME; NATURE OF MILITARY GLORY; BURHAM AND SNODLAND, WITH ITS ROCKS; DANGERS INCIDENT TO YOUTH; BEAUCLIFF; HALLING; RUINS OF ITS PALACE; BISHOPS ATTERBURY AND PEARCE CONTRASTED; PERILS OF NAVIGATION;

DANGERS OF Rochester BRIDGE; SAFE ARRIVAL AT ROCHESTER; POPULATION OF CHATHAM, AND ITS Observance of the SABBATH; UTILITY OF RELIGION TO THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE COMMUNITY; POSTSCRIPT; MELANCHOLY CATASTROPHE AT ROCHESTER BRIDGE, WITH REFLECTIONS.*

DEAR SIR,

stern.

LEFT Maidstone at ten o'clock, having embarked in a neat PLEASURE-BOAT, with my four sons and four West India pupils. We had an awning stretched over our heads, with white fringed curtains hanging down on each side, and a small red flag waving at the No sooner were we seated in our vehicle, than our pilot began to row, and we glided along the river MEDWAY. Green meadows sloped down to the water's edge, and every thing around betokened serenity. The town of MAIDSTONE, with its venerable church tower, receded from our view, and the ADJACENT BARRACKS, marked by a beautiful uniformity, presented themselves to our attention. Marquees and tents were placed in long succession, and had a picturesque effect. The implements of WAR were harmlessly piled against each other, and the soldier, either stretching himself along the shore or

The MEDWAY takes its rise in the vicinity of Tunbridge, from which town it is navigable for barges to Maidstone and thence to Rochester. Its course is short, but the river widens and deepens on its approach to CHATHAM, where it becomes a depôt for the ROYAL NAVY. Twenty miles distant it empties itself, along with the Thames, into the German ocean.