The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-11 00:00:00

IN DORSETSHIRE.
THE GREAT AND PROUD FEATURE OF THE COUNTY, THE
FORD ABBEY ESTATE, WITH ITS EXTENSIVE DE.
MESNE, AND NEVER-ENDING DELIGHTS, THE IN-
VALUABLE FISHERY, ABUNDANCE OF GAME, AND
SPORT OF EVERY DESCRIPTION, AND, " THOUGH LAST
NOT LEAST IN OUR DEAR LOVE," THE MAGNIFICENTLY
FINE ABBEY, PRESENTING BY FAR THE MOST-J4LAS-
SICAL AND CELEBRATED MONASTERY THROUGHOUT
ENGLAND. THE PRESENT LOW RENTAL ARISING
ntom THIS FINE PROPERTY IS ABOUT 2,0001. A YEAR.
IS NEARLY 'ALL XI-THE-FREE. AND THE TENANTRY
BOTII TY-LAUD:it ANL RESPECTABLE. AN IMPERAI IVE
SALE. • •
ItR. GEORGE ROBINS feels much gratifica-
tion in having been preferred te, OFFER to PUBLIC COM-
PETITION, at the Auction Mart, Lorthm, on TIICRSDAY, the 9th
of July, at twelve o'clock, and in one lot, by direction of the trzs-
tees IZa• abs:Ante see, of me of

THE MOST MAGNIFICENT FREEUOLD INVESTMENTS
TUROUG lIOUT ENGLAND,
and in the description that necessarily must follow, Mr. Robins,
without the slightest affectation, fearlessly proclaims that ho sp-
preaches the task with fear and trembling. The only saving clause
he can well seek to soften the reproaches of the enlightened and
deeply-read community is alone to be found in the liberty the com-
poser will take with authors so highly gifted, that he must indeed be
a bold man who not yield assent to their rnearches. 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 he traced back to a very distant day, and it has ever since
maintained its prcud superiority over
ANY OTHER MONASTERY IN ENGLAND.
It is a splendidly grand and unique building, altogether realising
Lord Byron's glowing description of Norman Abbey.
An old, old monastery once, and now
Still older mansion, of a rich an,l r7re
Mix'd Oolitic, such as artists all allow
Few specimens yet left us can compare.
Its classic front

EXTENDS TO NEAR THREE HUNDRED FEET.
The present architectural order may be dated atout the time of
Henry VII. ; but to describe it as it deserves is felt to be far beyond
the reach of the lindted capacity of the composer, and even much
wiser heads would be puzzled in the attempt to do it justice—it is
indeed

TILE GREAT LEVIATHAN OF THE WEST.
Its fame has been held in the highest veneraticn from generation to
generation, end 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 AN'D CLASSIC PILE

the writer feels can never be obliterated from his memory ; his
rri;:ni on the instrtnt Was stibdttal into a meet devout and reli-
gious feeling —one of absolute worrier—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 in the length of au announcemt will not ad-
mit of more, 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 each as are well versed in our history;
end he is fortunately enabled, by the assistance of a very highly
talented lady, to aid in the historical account of Dugdale by selections
of her own, and guided by ajudgment and cleverness thathas never
beets held in doubt. Mr. Robins feels it is a perfect godsend to him
to have had the gratification of making the acquai: tance of this
gifted lady. To gratify the learned and the curious in distant parts,
it la proposed to append to the explanatory particulars of the Abbey
farms and lands a plan of the whole, with a beautiful drawing of the
abbey, to be ready six weeks antecedent to the sale.
The situation of this monastery is
,familiar to most of ,a. It is
15 miles from Taunton, about 50 miles from Bristol, and within a
deligls fill ride of 514 hours from London (and the approaching rail-
' way through Chard will reduce it to about 4 hours). The county in
which the abbey is placed will not yield to any other. The reader
need hot be retnind.d 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