Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-11-12

stately Minister, and above and beyont
you on little hill is work Of art.
wandered in the little woods. survey
ed the mansion, the chapel and its Iodg
es. took another view Of the
distant Minister, TO obtain which the
branches Of the intervening trees have
been Topped oG,-and the Minister ,her
seemed to spring up as from the wood
But all this delight was but trilling ir
comparison with the more delicious view
that soon opened upon US. We passed
the lodge Of the pleasure grounds lin
England almost all the estates have
grounds laid out in walks highly adorn-
ed and cultivated as pleasure grounds)
and after inscribing our names in an
album, where observed the names of
many other Americans,-we entered
what was indeed fairy land. Such
beauty my eyes never behcld. Here
was little mountain of laurel trimmed
in the form Of a pyramid. Now the riv-
er Skell branched out into a lake in
whose waters were gliding the pike and
trout, anon it murmured over an artific-
ial waterfall. About me were the trees
Of many climes, and with others the A.
merican fir. Here was a hedge thickly
grown, and skillfully trimmed. There
was an opening in the little forest that
opened to other forests still, or to a
mother peep Of the little river, or the lit
tie lake, with the green islets in its bo-
som. Here was lawn shaded by some
lofty oaks, s. there was thick ct too wild
to penetrate. Here was a ledgy preci-
pice Of fearful steepness-and through
this vista, some marble statue Of some
Roman god. Now ! am on a little Hill,
seated with come wide view before me,
and anon, am in a vale Of luxu.ant
wealth. The birds are about me warb-
ling their sweetest melody-the wind
sighs plaintively through the thickly
branching trees-the ripping ofthe riyu-
let over its bed Of stones is heard-and |
hear from this mound, Qhe Gothic seat,
il is called and see through this vista,
sounds, things, never heard or saw be-
fore the note Of the cuckoo-and the
cav Of the jackdaw, as it futters about
the ruins Of an Abbey in the distance
the time-worn sides Of which can al
ready see embraced in ivy.
A ruin! all my fancy was aroused at
the thought, and hurried my guide
from the seat here prepared to give the
spectator the first view in the distance,
toward the lone walls Of Fountains Alb
bey. l had never seen ruin of any
magnitude Beforehand oh, how awful
are such first impressions when first look
ing at the :ime-worn, and crumbIing
walls and arches Of such religious nsti-
tutions. l hurried rapidly down the
paths winding under thickly shadowed
branches. l came to bridge over the
Skell, already in ruins, in which were
growing stout trees, indicating its age and
SO thick with earth and vegetation as to
be concealed but for the water that is
heard gurgling by the stones, that have
fallen from the arch; and soon | came to
the lone Abbey in the glen, so far from
the road-all hidden by woods and crags,
all silence and desolation, as if here the
very genius Of solitude sat brooding in
moody sovereignty. What a scene was
about and above me! Loud was the
croak Of the rooI and the jackdaw. This
quiverins arch hangs in thre eatening alti-
tude. l am watching the little lad that
is gathering pink seed to transplant to
the pinnacles Of the tower. look with
surprise at the grass and the trees high
in air on the battlements Of the wallis
Here is the stony figure of Norman
Baron on coffin Of stone, which his
friends iain believed would give him i'm
mortality and peace,-but his bones are
gone, and he is forgotten long ago. The
covering has been wrenched from anoth-
er colfin,-and the very name ofthe once
proud Nobleman is known no more. O.
yer the earth where Abbot and Monk
once trampled, the grass is growing, as
if it had never been disturbed but by the
shears Of the scythe. The swallow is
twittering in the cloisters, and the ivy
twines amid fantastic device, and sculp-
tured arch. Aittoo, and man have done
their best to add romance to this scene.
An inner court is full Of flowers, there
cultivated within the walls, and thus by
the very contrast, making even romance
more romantic.
But | shall weary you, and cover
sheets of paper, were to attempt fully TO
describe this which know must be the
most beautiful spot on earth. i'll were
Poet, would beg of the owner, for a
habitaiion-even nook in the corner of
the monstrous kitchen-fire place yet left
standing, and if l had none of the pocti-
cal soul, the very inspiration Of the scene
about would give me one.
II 81 do love these ancient ruins;
II We never tread upon them, but we set
| Our foot upon some reverend history"
II H., 40, tha,L C.J 49,. - -. ...k