The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-04-15
a Few Haours On the Coansry.
AN ENGLISH SKETCH

The he1ameters Of Southey will serve as
well for the commencement OF this chap
ter as any syllables which present them
selves 10 our pen on tie spur OF the mo-
ment for really and truly, as the bard OF
The VISION expressed it, "Pensive and lost
in thought, We sat in our chamber musing.
Our thoughts, wave-like and devious, now
rolling along like billows- then tossed like
straws upon them, moved onward as chance
directed Ideas, fraught with ancient feel
ings, held willing sway for the moment
and now dashing along full freighted; anon
floating with times bright bubbles, or flow
ing mid currents unending, kept wander
ing with pointless purpose. Bah! truce
TO hexameters and all their "gouty feet. "
Why should We Try the Pegasus of poor
Southey, which limPs under our weight,
most conlouDdedly, and threatens to throw
US hesdlone 10 the earth at each step We
can push along much more quickly in the
humble conyeyances of modern times. In
sober prose, We were thinking Of revolu-
tons, railways, dishonored bills, electric
telegfaPhs. dePosed kings, humbled princes,
fugitive ministers, depressed consols, spend
thrift republics, extrayagant governments.
oppressive taxation, curtailed incomes,
speedy intelligence, and all the curiosities
and inventions of modern times, I'LL, the
mind taking backward leap from the pres
ent to the past, We unused on the decay OF
ancient customs, the manners Of our fore
fathers, and the pleasures Of primitive SIM
plicity, OF old hospitality, baronial grand
eur, and a thousand things long passed
away. We were in what is called 8
brown study, when our mad-cap Cousin
Joe burst in upon us, and boisterously in.
sisted that We should leave our books and
papers and go forth 80 oil the springs Of
life, as he expressed it, which he insisted
were creaking for want Of lubrication.
What do you proposef We asked.
Oh, said he, there is a fete, this week, al
Garden, in Cheshire; let US away to Brox
ton, take up our quarters at the Egerton
Arms there, the pleasantest inn in the three
kingdoms, Jolly Landlord, a smiling host
ess, sweet, pretty daughters, and a view
from the windows enough to make all
Cockneydom fall in love with fields and
pay no more worship to the smoky town.
What sort Of fete is this you speak Of?
The squire, ycelpt Hurleston Leche, ha.
Just emerged from what the lawyers call hi
infancy, and attained the right TO spend
10000 a-year, free from the trammels o
his guardian, the Marquis of Westminster
and 50 he is about TO feast mobiles in his hal
and tenants on his lawn, to crafty the poo
with strong ale, stronger cheese, and roast
ed oxen, and to give the whole county side
treat of bonhres, rockets, Roman candles
blazing wheels, and in short, fun, feeding
and fireworks, Of all descriptions.
And there are to be rustic sports, ant
races, and chases, and | know not what,
said cousin Joe.
Say no more; have with you, we repli
ed; I'VE will forthwith oil those springs q
which you Just now made allusion.'
And so we went and proceed We witt
the speed Of the modern railway to say a
much as may prove amusing anent tw
DAYS on; of the six that were devoted Ia re
joicing for the majority Of Squire Leche.
Railways make short work Of Journey
nowadays. We took tickets at Monk
Ferry; and, after three-quarters Of an hou
of clatter, bang, clang, whizz, fzz, screect
rumbling, trundling, shaking, and joltinf
we were discharged at the ancient city {
Chester. Here we chartered gig, and
with a spanking bay before us that woul
have delighted Charles Goldfnch, set off a
a glorious trot, over one Of the best roads i
the country, for Broxton. We expected {
find the Egertm Arms in a roar with nlerr
farmers, Jolly rustics, and smiling dairy
maids; but, no, that most respectable {
inns was as peaceful as the hut Of hermit
Its oaken staircases and polished floors, fc
it was whilom one Of the stately famil
halls Of Cheshire, were all unstained by tn
feet Of yeomen or plough-b boys, and its rut
dy hostess, its sole occupant, presided ovs
deserted mansion. All the country ha
gone to Garden. As it was early we reso
we'd TO be spectators.
We were lust too late for the prelinin,
~ procession and the reception Of the ie,
sntry at the hall, but we were assured III,
we missed nothing, as the party, contrary
their expectation, were received, not by Il
young squire himself, but by his agen
They were left to enjoy themselves as the
best could in the park, and, as the wealth,
was somewhat gloomy and the groun
damp, complaints Of cold feet were hume
Gus. We found the party thus. and AM
thing but merry or comfortable. A fine 4
of rural blossoms were those same farmer
Of Cheshire, jolly, muddy. bnghteyed. broaf