formed its eastern limit; the Stour may be regarded as its western; to the north it reached as high as Salisbury, where it was bounded by a range of bold and lofty hills of chalk.

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Cranborne Chace reverted from the estate of Gloucester to the Crown, and by James I. was granted to the Earls of Pembroke, from whom it has passed to the Lords Rivers. Its forest growth is rapidly passing away, and large enclosures are yearly being effected; but even in 1830 it was inhabited" by nearly 11,000 deer, and divided into six "walks," each under the care of a keeper. Along the neighbouring hills ran the old British road or RIDGEWAY (compare "the Ridgeway" at Wimbledon, Surrey), and a "barrow" occasionally rewards the investigation of the curious tourist. For the artist there are many "nooks of greenery," and picturesque combinations of ancient trees, and leafy landscapes of a romantic character, which, in a few years' time, will live only on his magic canvas.

After quitting Cranborne we plunge into a region of hill and dale-the wooded heights of the Chace rising at some distance on the left-and pass through a countryside dotted with farms and wayside cottages, but absolutely unoccupied by any large or busy settlement, until SALISBURY (11 miles) itself is gained. At 7 miles from Cranborne we cross the line of the GRIMS-DITCH, or GRIMS-DYKE, already referred to; the entrenched height of CHABURY rising abruptly in the east, and the long range of the Wiltshire hills running from east to west, before us. Still following the course of the pleasant Avon, we pass, in succession, on our right, LONGFORD CASTLE (Earl of Radnor) and its charming grounds, and BRITFORD (population, 604), 1 mile from Salisbury, on one of the numerous branches into which the Avon here divides. On our left lies NUNTON (population, 276), 2 miles from the cathedral city. [Of these places, and of the environs of Salisbury generally, we shall speak at length in our "Guide to the Western Counties-Wiltshire, Somersetshire, and Gloucestershire.]

BRANCH ROUTE-WIMBORNE TO BLANDFORD.

Few pleasanter roads may be found in England than that from Wimborne to KINGSTON LACY-the first point of interest

on the route to Blandford. vigorous elms, through whose branches the most delightful vistas imaginable are opened up of the winding Stour on the left, and the green hills which rise beyond the Allen on the right, like a cloud-crowned and apparently impenetrable barrier. COLE HILL, on the east, is notably conspicuous. Fair green meadows and smiling uplands stretch away on either side of the fertile valley through which the wayfarer pursues his leisurely pilgrimage.

It is bordered by tall, leafy, and

At 2 miles we come upon the leafy masses of KINGSTON LACY (Mrs. Bankes), which skirt our road for full six furlongs, and while hiding from our view its old and stately mansion, fling the most delicious shadows across the crisp green sward, and present at sunset a peculiarly interesting alternation of Turner-like colourings. Kingston (Konig's or King's town) formerly belonged to the Norman Lacys, but has been in the possession of the Bankes family for many centuries. The house, originally built by Sir Ralph Bankes in 1663, was restored by Sir Charles Barry, during the lifetime of the late Right Hon. George Bankes, and retains an imposing air of almost feudal grandeur. Its PICTURE GALLERY boasts of a fine collection of the chefs d'œuvres of the British and Foreign masters. Observe

[By Sir Peter Lely-Portraits of Betterton, in the character of "Tamerlane;" Sir Ralph Bankes, Lady Jenkinson, Lady Cullen, Mrs. Gillies, and Mrs. Middleton. By Gainsborough-The great Earl of Clarendon; Sir John Bankes, L., C. J.; the famous James, Duke of Ormond, one of the most loyal and chivalric of the adherents of the Stuarts (died at Kingston Lacy, 1688-see Macaulay's eloquent sketch of his character); and the Duke of Gloucester, son of George II.

By Vandyck-Richard Weston, Earl of Portland; Sir John and Lady Borlase; Princes Rupert and Maurice; Princess, afterwards Queen, Mary II.; James II. (when Duke of York); Charles II. (as Prince of Wales); Henrietta Maria; and Charles I.

By Velasquez-Cardinal Borgia, Archbishop of Seville; Philip IV.; and Philip IV.'s children, with the figure of the Artist in the background.

By Murillo Santa Rosa and the Infant Jesus.

By Morales-Christ being scourged.

By Orentes-Moses and the Burning Bush; David and the Lion.

By Rebatta-Virgin and Child, with Angels surrounding them.

By Raffaelle-Virgin and Child, with St. John. Brought from the Escurial for Charles I., whose private mark it bears.

Here, too, are specimens of Greuze, Lawrence, Cornelius Jansen, Giorgione, Rubens, Zurbaran, and Spagnoletto. The key and governor's seal of Corfe Castle are preserved among the heirlooms of the family.]

On our right, 1 mile beyond, rises distinct and conspicuous, the fir-crowned height of BODBURY (bod, a dwelling), or BADBURY

RINGS,―a British camp, though probably made use of in turn by Roman and Saxon, and commanding the great highway to Sorbiodunum (Old Sarum). The view of sea, and cliff, and hill, and glen, of deep obscure grove and gleaming river, which may be obtained from this natural watch-tower, is one of great and varied beauty. The camp is formed of a triple vallum and fosse, -the exterior one being 1738 yards in circuit. Here Edward the Elder stationed his forces when the rebel Ethelwald seized and occupied Wimborne; and the said Ethelwald "obstructed all the approaches to him, and vowed that he would do one of two things, or there live, or there die. But notwithstanding that oath of his, he stole away by night, and sought the army [Danes and Mercians] in Northumbria "- (Saxon Chronicle, A.D. 901.)

To

Keeping along the hills which overlook a succession of bold and striking landscapes, we next arrive at TARRANT CRAWFORD (population, 77), 1 mile left, the birthplace of Bishop Poore, the builder of Salisbury Cathedral; while on the right rises the swelling barrow-dotted tract of BLANdford Down. the left lies TARRANT KEYNESTON (population, 321), a picturesque village with a pretty church; and passing the pleasant shades of ASHLEY WOOD, right, and the camp-planted hill of BUSBURY; passing MONKTON DOWN, and the BLANDFORD RACECOURSE, left, and LANGTON LONG (population 183), and LANGTON HOUSE Farquharson, Esq.), about 1 mile right, we reach Blandford at 12 miles from Wimborne.

(

[The lower or new road traverses the valley of the Stour, and passes through a less romantic country than the hill route which we have just described. The first object of interest is MERLY HOUSE, and next, at the junction of the Poole road, we reach CORFE MULLEN (population, 763), where the CHURCH is probably worth examination. KNOWLE COURT (W. Lambert, Esq.) stands on our left. Soon afterwards HENBURY HILL (Hen, old, and byrig, an enclosure) rises into view; and next we come to the point of divergence of the direct Poole road. STURMINSTER MARSHALL (population, 872) is a large and considerable village, with a goodly Early English CHURCH, and about 1 mile south-east on the Wareham road is situated CHARLBOROUGH PARK (W. Erle Drax, Esq.),-Charl, i.e., ceorl, husbandman,—the old manorial seat of the Erle family; "a very knightly and ancient family, which held large lands in Somersetshire on the tenure of pouring water into the king's hands on Easter and Christmas days," and which is now represented by the Right Hon. Sir William Erle, the distinguished Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and his brothers. The house has no considerable architectural pretensions, but the grounds are delightfully arranged. Upon an artificial mound in the Park is raised an obelisk, which, to all the countryside, becomes a conspicuous landmark, and perpetuates the remembrance of the secret council held in a small adjacent building in 1686, when the great whig lords determined to invite the aid of William of Orange.

Returning from our "diversion" into the high road, we reach, at 3 miles from

Blandford, the British entrenchment called SPETTISBURY RINGS, and by way of CHARLTON MARSHALL (population, 463), a small and uninteresting village, pass into BLANDFORD ST. MARY (population, 367), the birthplace of the laborious antiquary Browne Willis. Blandford now lies in the valley beneath us, 1 mile northeast. The tree-covered uplands of BRYANSTONE PARK (Lord Portman), and the winding reaches of the silver Stour, lend a peculiar grace and beauty to the picture now brightening before the tourist's gaze.]

BLANDFORD (population, 3948. Inn: The Crown. Bankers: National Provincial, and Wiltshire and Dorsetshire Banking Company), 103 miles from London, and 11 miles from Wimborne, is one of the airiest and pleasantest of towns, stretching up a gently-swelling hill, whose base is watered by the Stour. The town was burnt to the ground in 1731, but has risen from its ashes repurified, and greatly enriched and embellished. Its main streets are Salisbury and East Streets, the former running north and south, the latter west and east,—both meet in a large open market place, which is agreeably bounded, eastward, by the fences and fine old trees of BRYANSTONE PARK. The houses, of red brick, are of good proportions, and have high-pitched roofs and ornamented fronts. The town is well-paved and lighted, and, altogether, is one of the best in Dorsetshire.

Its church, classical in style, was built in 1731. It is dedicated to St. Mary; has a tower 80 feet high; and is 120 feet long. Under an adjoining portico stands a pump erected by John Bastard in 1760, and designed (as an inscription tells us) to commemorate the fire of 1731, and to guard against the recurrrence of a similar catastrophe.

Christopher Pitt, the translator of "The Æneid," and of Vida's "Ars Poetica," was born at Blandford in 1699, and lies buried in Blandford Church, with a simple epitaph inscribed upon his tomb:-"In memory of Christopher Pitt, Clerk, M.A.; very eminent for his talents in poetry, and yet more for the universal candour of his mind, and the primitive simplicity of his manners. He lived innocent, and died beloved, April 13, 1748, aged 48." Creech, the translator of "Lucretius,”

"Plain truth, dear Murray, needs no flowers of speech,
So take it in the very words of Creech "-(Pope),

and Archbishop Wake (of Canterbury) were also natives.

BRYANSTONE HOUSE (Lord Portman), erected by Wyatt, stands upon rising ground in a beautiful and richly-wooded park, which is watered by the Stour. Sir William Portman became possessed of the estate in the reign of Charles II.

Of DAMOREY COURT (west of the town) the remains have been embodied in a farm-house. It derives its name from Roger d'Amorie, constable of Corfe Castle, who erected it, temp. Edward II. An old chapel, Early English, dedicated to St. Leonard, is now used as a barn. The famous DAMOREY'S OAK, 68 feet in girth, was felled in 1755.

MILTON ABBEY (Baron Hambro) lies 7 miles south-west; HOD HILL, and its camp, 3 miles north-west; HAMILTON HILL, also entrenched, faces Hod Hill, on the north, and a narrow defile runs between them; BADBURY (the Roman Vinadocladia), 6 miles south-east. The hill road from Blandford to Shaftesbury furnishes a succession of agreeable landscapes.

MAIN ROUTE RESUMED-WIMBORNE (BY RAIL) TO WAREHAM.

The railway from Wimborne to the Poole Junction Station (6 miles) runs through a country of little interest-broad bleak heaths skirting it on either side. After passing MERLY HOUSE, on the right, it crosses the Blackwater, and about a mile further, the old Poole road. It then approaches, with an abrupt curve, the shore of HOLES BAY, and keeping near it, leaves, on the right, the notable landmark of LYTCHET BEACON, crossing, just beyond, the direct road to Poole. Into the tongue of land which projects between Holes and Lytchet Bays it strikes in a direct line, and throwing out a short branch to Poole (1 mile), turns suddenly westward; crosses, on a long bold viaduct of timber, the waters of Lytchet Bay (observe LYTCHET MINSTER (Sir J. Scott), 1 mile, right), and "hugs" the shore very closely until within a couple of miles of Wareham.

At WAREHAM (population, 3078. Inns: Red Lion, Bear. Bankers National Provincial. Market-days: Tuesday and Saturday) we are 125 miles by rail from London; 7 miles by rail from Poole; 5 miles from Corfe Castle; and 15 miles from Dorchester.

WAREHAM (i.e., Varia-ham, from Varia, the ancient name of the Frome) stands upon a slight ascent between the rivers Frome and Piddle (Ang. Sax., pidl, a thin stream), and is still partly sur