Litchfield enquirer., 1855-09-27
Ridss and Rambles in Father Land.
CHArrrs V.

l nAEA R&
 From Huntingdon we diverged from the :. Great Norshern~ route, for the purpose oi visiting the < Eastern Coansies.' : Passing St. Ives. . fne old town. 70 celebrated in nursery rhymes, we were soon in Cambridge where we made brief stay, and then psss- ed on to New Market. This venerable town has long been famous as ,he stated re- sort of s.sporing charactess from all parts of the Kingdom. We found the races in full operation. The streets were filled with jockies and their nzgs each evidently vic ing wilh the other to show off 10 the bes, possible advantage. The nobility and aIis- tocracy from city and country were there, with their wives and sisters and daughters, to all apPearsnce mingling freely with tho owners. betters and riders of every grade. Indeed. understand that ..durine the races'' all social distinctions arc forgotten and those who will stake sheis money freest, treat the most liberally, drink oftenest and swear loudest, are tor the time beiag by common consent crowned as < kings Of tho turf" Horse auctions. srossins matches, and fast riding, seemed to De the principal sport throughout the town. New Market contains three or four handsome streets i; the remainder of the thoroughfares are mar row. dirty, and altogether unatisactive in their appearance. The middle and lower classes of the residents derive their chief subsistence. directly or indirecily. from the races. During sheir continuance. the stores and shops are threnged with customers, and almost every house is open for dodgers and boarders. Of course the highest prices arc asked and received. The time intervening between one of these gatherings and an other, Is chiefly occupied in talking about and preparing for the recurrence of a season so interesting and important to them. The Duke of Rutland has here mansion or hunting seat
 During the day. we hired young man with donkey and dog-cart to take us over to ihe pasisL of Wood Diiton. distance ot three or four miles. Au excellent macad. amised road, luxuSiant 6elds, fores,s and hedges, and sclear and insigorating atmos- phere, all contributed to give xess to our en- joyment. Our driver assured us that Lord Raglan had often accompanied the Duke Of Rutland in his shooting excussions through the woods and fields adjacent 10 us. Wood Ditton was tho birth.pIa6s of our pioneer ancestors. and their home up to the date of their emigrafing to the American wilderness. We visited the very church in which they were baptised--a venerable editice five os six hundred yeafs old. and bidding fair to withstand the rasages of many centuries yet to come. The surrounding country pre- senis to the eye a gently rolling sn,face, and, as have iniima,ed, at the time of our visit, was covered by luxuriant growth of vegetation. | could not help thinking how that emlgrant family must ofien and earn estIy have consrasied their wild forest-hom on the banks of the Connecticut with the lovely scenes that had surrounded them in land .hey left. But with the true spirit of that heroic age, they tainted not in the hour of trial and danger; but lived 10 see the :. wilderness and the solitary place. made vocal with the hum of industry and the song of praise.
 On our return 10 New Market. our obli- ging guide proposed to take us to ihe race- ground and, on our saying no, he gener- oGsly offered to drive ms tEere graiaiiousiy. aad seemed greatly pesr!exed that We should still persist In declining to accompany him. We were tho " first persons'' he ever saw in town. whoJid not come to zee the races !! Alas, fos the :. steady hahiis'' of New Mar ket! lf frumor does not greatly falsify the truth. the place presents not very hopeful feld Tor the labors of the missionary and moral.reformer. Compelled as we were to spend the night in this miserable locality. We telt ourselves fortunate indeed in finding respectable and comfortable quarters in sa privats house; and early the next morning we returned to Cambridge.
 Our stay in ihis celebrated town. on this occasion slso. was necessarily 90 brief as to preclude the possibility Of sccaraic os sys- senziic 0issefvsiion. did not even find time to deliver tho letsers of introduction po- lisely farnislsed me hy Mir Fell of Hunting .Ions who is himself ons of ihe Fellows of
 Isrinity College. Tie University embraces
 'eveaiesH catIeges, eseh of which has dis ainct name. a . St. Peirr's College z ,. King's College. !" Z. Pembroke College,' ' .lc. 'rhe sdifcrs of sevesslof .Isese coIle-
 ges ars ranged on both sides of oss q the
 principal streets, wtils oshers are detached ,ad seaslrsed through various pafts Of the fly Soma of them ara very ancient and asgnifeent stsuesases. Tlss river Cam, rpm which the pIaca deriv6e jes name,