The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-14 00:00:00

THROUGHOUT ENGLAND.

And in the description that necessarily must follow, Mr. Robins,
without the slightest affectation, proclaims that he approaches the
task with fear and trembling. The only saving clause by which he
can well seek to soften the reproaches of an enlightened and deeply-
read community is to be found in the liberty the composer will
take with authors so highly gifted, that he must indeed be a bold
man who will not yield assent to his researches. Dugdale is no
mean authority, and with this, and a few introductory facts, the
herculean task must be approached.
THE FORD ABBEY DEMESNES

Are to be traced back to a very distant day, aiathe; have ever since
maintained their proud superiority over
EVERY OTHER MONASTERY IN ENGLAND,
- -

It is a splendidly grand and unique building, altogether realising
Lord Byron's glowing descriptioa of Norman Abbey—
An old, old monastry once, and now
Still older mansion, of a rich and rare
Mix'd Gothic, such as artists all allow
Few specimens yet left us can compare.

[ts classic front
EXTENDS TO NEAR THREE HUNDRED FEET.

The order of architecture is in the Tudor style, and may be dated
about the time of Henry VIII, ; but to describe it as it deserves is
felt to be far beyond the reach of the limited capacity of the com-
poser, and even much wiser heads would b 3 puzzled in the attempt
to do it justice—it is indeed
THE GREAT LEVIATHAN OF THE WEST.

Its fame has been held in the highest veneration from generation to
generation, and it is now avowed to have no successful rival amid
the vast variety of monasteries to be found throughout the country.
The first impression on beholding this

ANCIENT AND CLASSIC PILE
the writer feels can never be obliterated from his memory; his
mind on the instant seemed to be subdued into a most devout and
religious state—one of absolute wonder—mixed up with bound-
less admiration ; it was a joyous spectacle, but Mr. Robins cannot
too earnestly invoke all those who possess a soul congenial with ob-
jects of antiquity to go to the Abbey, and then judge for themselves ;
they will, with one accord, proclaim how absolutely impossible it is
to convey in suitable terms the panegyric which would be awarded
to it. However, these preliminary remarks must arrive at a conclu-
sion; the form prescribed to the length of an announcement will not ad-
mit of mere, but the writer promises, in his printed particulars, to
go into a little historical statement that will be acceptable, at least
to the learned, and all such as are well versed in our history ; and
he is fortunately enabled, by the assistance of a very highly talented
lady, to aid the historical account of Dugdale by selections of her
own, and guided by a judgment and cleverness that has never been
held in doubt. To gratify the learned and the curious in distant
parts, Mr. Robins has determined to append to the explanatory par-
ticulars of the several farms and lands a plan of the whole, with a
beautiful drawing of the Abbey.
The situation of this monastery is familiar to most of us. It is on
the borders of the three line counties of Dorset, Devon, and Somerset,
15 miles from Taunton, 3 from Chard, about 50 miles from Bristol
and Bath, and within a delightful ride of 514 hours from London,
which the approaching railway through Chard will reduce to about
4 hours, and also bring it within fifty minutes' rile of Exeter. The
county in which the Abbey is placed will not yield to any other.
The reader needs not be reminded that, in days of yore, the taste of
the monks in the selection of their lands was never questioned, and,
amidst all the good things of this world, they were remarkable for
the accuracy of their judgment.
In selecting the best of everything, even