Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-09-24
TIE GAZETTE.
PICTURES OF ENGLAND.
SATURDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER q. Is

PICTURES OF ENGLAND.
Georges. IIillardis travelling, in England,
and writes admirable letters to the Boston
Courier. We extract from u letter dated at
"Great Malvern. July 90" rs follows:
TALK WITH A BRlTIsH FARaER.--l found
myself seated near gentleman between nifty
and sixty, with one of those healthy complex
ions which show u lifelong acquaintance
with the sun and wind, aud but little Of that
cooked pistol expression Of defiance and re-
pulsion which so many Englishmen deem 1t
necessary to put on when they are ira, cling.
We fell into nyersatiOn, in the course OF
which revealed my nationality. | gencr-
ally do this under such circumstances; it
seems to excuse departure from the COM
mon usage of the country-Engiishmen very
rarely addressing stranger-and II lubriea-
ties the ways on which discourse is launched.
NV neighbor was farmer; probably not
landed proprietor himself, bat holding a con
siderable estate on lease. lie informed me
that the wages of agricultural labor III lamp
shire. where he lived, were about twelve shill-
inss a week; somewhat increased at harvest
and having time: that the price ofgood farm
ing land was from GO to $50 an acre; and
that the net return TO the owner was rather
less than five per cent, the legal interest on
money here. lie stated that one-third OF the
gross Weld of an acre Of land was absorbed
I'm various forms Of tax, including land tax,
income tax, tithes, road rates, and poor rates.
explained to him our own system OF levy
ing and collecting taxes; and he said ne
should pay what he did more cheerfully if he
4 - la al n W
ing it all ut one time, upon one bill, and TO
one officer.
The CEREMONY OF SHAKING HANDS
When We parted he held out lis hand to me,
and shaking mine very cordially, thanked me
Tor the information | had given him.
mention this little incident mainly tolllus-
trate point of difference between English
and American manners, which our country
men do not always apprchcnd. Shaking
hands in England is not = ceremony, but
asymbol Strangers, when introduced, do
not, as 4 general rule, shake hands; but
they often do when they part The act
shows that certain relation of friendship
or acouaintanceship has been formed; and
the hand is extended i'll pledge or ratihca-
ton thereof.
An ENGLISH Country ScENE.-l passed
by two or three stately mansions, embowercd
in foliage, and with green velvet lawns,
running up to the door. and several cottages,
one or two Of which might have been put
into an artists sketch-hook n perfect types
of the class Of buildings 10 which they be-
long. In front Of one oi them sturdy,
brown-cheeked little danlsel OF ten OF twelve
wears was tending a baby with a most mo
therly air, the twain making a pretty PIE
ture, relieved against a background OF roses
and hollyhocks. | spoke to the little girl.
but could get nothing but faintiy-nttered
monosylables in reply. She seemed so over
powered, with the consciousness, OF having
been spoken to by q gentleman, that her
mind had not room for any second Thought.
In the course Of my stroll had proof OF the
mildncss Of the climate in the shape OF two
myrtle trees trailed over the side Of the house,
starred with pearly blossoms, and musical
with bees.
TIE ISLE or WlGmT-I think the attrac-
tons Of this island are more felt by the
Americans than by Englishmen: and tins
because the scenery is 50 unlike what we are
accustomed to see at home. The beauty
which charms us here is a trimmed, dressed,
regulated, and cultivated beauty. All r.
IeRuIdIltlcS nave utCu pui Cu uO"h, ah 49,
places smoothed, and uniform air OF lin
ished neatness has been given to the whole
Not tree. not shrub, hardly Il blade "i
grass has been allowed to grow 9 ut its own
sweet will :" but everything has been made
to bend to a common result. From the small
size of the island. and the decorated
elegance which everywhere marks the scene
~, il looks as lift might serve as brooch 10
a giantcss if one were found big enough to
wear it. Every square foot Of the surface,
not dedicated to pleasure grounds, IS under
cultivation and the abundant harrests, now
ripe for the sickle, show the fertility of the
soil, and the care with which it has been
titled. The houses are generally cubic in
form, and built of a light brown stone. which
harmonzes well with the rich green of the
landscape. Flowers and Towering shrubs
roses, myrtles, .iessamines, hydrangeas,
fuchsas, grow in luxuriance: and pains are
taken to give each dwelling place, however
small an air of individuality and isolation.
The roads. which are very narrow, are
bordered by hedges 50 high that the tallest
man endeavOrs in vain to overpeer them.
One chafes sometimes nj being thus cribbed
and cabined. and pants for wide view and
broad horizon; but prettier prison walls than
these were never reared, and they arc now
pay with the finest tapestry of flowers.