comparative inaccessibility, and testifying, visibly enough, to the strength and fierceness of the on-sweeping war which rolled its bloody waves to the westward, as the Roman gradually drove the Celt from his hilly fastnesses.

Now descending into the valley of the Stour, we reach the pretty and well-wooded hamlet of STOURPAYNE (population, 621), and passing at some distance to the right the luxuriant groves of BRYANSTONE (Lord Portman), arrive at BLANDFORD, after a pleasant ramble of 9 miles.

MAIN ROUTE RESUMED SHAFTESBURY TO SALISBURY.

At about half a mile from Shaftesbury the Great Western Road enters Wiltshire. As the remainder of our route, therefore, belongs to another county, we shall here treat of its details with considerable brevity.

WINCOMBE PARK (C. Gordon, Esq.) lies on our left, sheltering in its leafy shadows the "infant Nadder," which has here its source. Above it rises TITTLEPATH HILL (sticele, Saxon, steep), with an extensive camp on its summit known as CASTLE RINGS. We next pass in succession (and still on our left) the two villages of DONHEAD ST. ANDREW (population, 86), and DONHEAD ST. MARY (population, 1621). The Norman CHURCH of St. Andrew's is interesting. Donhead-i.e., dunhwed, the upheaving hill—is an elevation of the greensand.

From this point there is a pleasant ramble to WARDOUR CASTLE (Lord Arundel of Wardour), with its beautiful grounds and priceless collection of art-treasures. The main road skirts the park for some distance, and winds along the base of an elevated ridge until it passes between BUXBURY, right, and CASTLE DITCHES, left the summit of the latter is occupied with a camp, 23 acres in extent, defended by three ditches and ramparts 40 feet in height.

The next point of interest is COMPTON CHAMBERLAYNE (population, 352), and its old manor-house, formerly the residence of Colonel Penruddock, who, March 11, 1655, made a bold but rash attempt against Cromwell's power by seizing the Judges at

the Salisbury assizes, and proclaiming Charles II. But, after a moment's occupation of Salisbury, the royalists were dispersed "by a captain with only a few companies of infantry," and Penruddock, captured at South Molton in Devonshire, was tried and beheaded. There are some good family portraits by Lely and Vandyck at Compton Chamberlayne.

HURCOT HOUSE lies on the left. Turning into the Hindon road we may now proceed to SALISBURY through the ancient town of Wilton.

DEVONSHIRE.

"There

The sunshine in the happy glens is fair,
And by the sea, and in the brakes

The grass is cool, the sea-side air

Buoyant and fresh, the mountain flowers

More virginal and sweet than ours."

MATTHEW ARNOLD.

DEVONSHIRE.

ROUTE I.-ALONG the COAST-LYME REGIS to

Deep-meadow'd, happy, fair, with orchard lawns
And bowery hollows, crown'd with summer sea.'

TENNYSON.

I.-LYME REGIS TO DAWLISH.

[Seaton, 6 m.; Sidmouth, 8 m.; Exmouth, 10 m.; Topsham (for Exeter), 5 m.; Exminster, 1 m.; Powderham, 2 m.; Starcross, 3 m.; Dawlish, 7 m. about 43 m.]

We step into our "magic skiff," and quickly leaving behind us the pier and noble haven of LYME REGIS, commence our exploration of the Devonian coast. From hence even to Saltash, where the waters of the Tamar separate it from Cornwall, that coast is characterized by a grace and a beauty of its own. It boasts but little of sublimity or savage grandeur; but it exults in the tranquil loveliness of grassy valleys opening out upon the oozy shore, of happy meadows which pass almost imperceptibly into "golden sands," of quiet sheeny coves lying in the shadow of fair green hills!

We keep abreast of a wall of cliff-where the chalk rests upon the greensand, and both are superimposed upon blue lias— until we approach the mouth of the Axe, which rolls on its way into the sea through a hollow, or valley, of red marl. On the east bank of the river is situated AXMOUTH (population, 680.

(s.w.)

H