Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-08-08


recommend the family boarding house
of Miss Ann Williams, at No. 1853, Duke
street, Liverpool. A lady by birth and
edueat ton, she has met misfortune most
philosophically, and opens her house for
the almost especial accommodation OF
American families. She has been resi-
dent in the United States, and lcommit
no breach OF confidence in asserting her
deepest interest and sympathy With all
American affairs and people. The house
has wide reputation as being Mrs.
Blodgett's, "a deceased sister Of Miss W.
and the warm reception and most minute
attention to the comfort Of her guests,
especially from shipboard) must be
realized to be appreciated.
A days sojourn at Liverpool is all
that is required, so far as sightseeing is
concerned. st. Georges Hall, he public
Library, Merchants Exchange, and the
three miles OF the finest docls in the
world filed with shipping II every
name, nation or kind, are very nearly
all the objects OF general interest to a
stranger. The old town OF Ches,er, some
one and a half hours travel by ferry and
railway, was formerly most interest
ing excursion. But the place is so
modernized, that you require guide to
point out to you the few old houses and
relics OF antiquity, which have been the
subject Of preservation on account Of
old associations. Formerly, 1t was an
object of interest to find something new,
but now 1t is entirely reversed and
changed. The old cathedral is still of
deep interest. The Cloisters are 10 fine
preservation. The seats in the Choir
are more expressive in their peculiar,
mchaSte carvings of corrupt, sensual
clergy, than any l ever saw before.
What their worship was, or its effects
upon their followers and proselytes, can
be more readily conceived than properly
expressed. In fact, some of the carvings
upon the Oldest of the old houses, are in
keeping with that OF the stalls for the
Monks at the Cathedral. Virtue must
have been more immaculate and less as
sailable than now, if all Of what may be
seen did not tend to its corruption. The
stay at Liverpool, may however, be most
agreeably prolonged by an excursion to
"Speke- Hail." which, during the past
year has been opened to visitors 1t is
one of the finest old residences in Eng
land. And its notoriety has been limit
ed, from the fact Of its being heretofore
closed to public inspection. The family
Of its former proprietor IS extinct, ex-
Cept little girl Of nine years OF age,
(away at school, and whose guardian
has become almost public benefactor
in his liberality Of action In opening it,
1t is quadrangular building, one story
in height, of the "Moggin' style OF
architecture, and possesses more Of
gu aintness and popularity than is gen
orally found, even in this most quaint
manner of building. The term "Nog'
gin" applies to those structures when
the frame and timbers are exposed tC
view, and the interstices are filed ir
with brick, stone and mortar. In tn,
frame buildings Of the United States
with stills, plates, and perpendicular
studs or joists, the adoption of this style
would be anything but picturesque Of
agreeable. But in England and on thu
Continent, where the timbers and joistE
are placed diagonally, the structures
low, with high, sharp pointed gables
small lead sash of diamond glass win
dows, deep projecting caves, ivy and
moss. covered sides and roofs, with rook'
nests and sparrows, in auttering, chirP
ing harmony about them, these curiou!
halls and cottages, form one of the mos
interesting and pleasant features in thu
foreground and landscape. From an in
scription copied from the exterior, it ap
pears "Speke Hall" was erected Cor tina
part of it, by Edw. N. Esq, in 1898
The rooms are Of wainscotted blacE
walnut and oak, and the furniture sale
10 be as occupied for the past three hun
dred years. In the dining hall Their
was large four-feet log in the spacious
fire place and pair OF shovel and tong
as large in proportion, requiring mucI
muscle for their use. In the chambers
the tall, high post bedstead, massively
carved ward-robes and cabinets, mani
tested regal mode of living anc
familiarity of customs, which one fan
cies as identical with old baronial and
feudal times. One Of the chambers was
hung with wrought tapestry of worsteC
work, and a concealed door was showr
to US connecting with secret stairway
and subteranean passage to the rive
Mersey, near whose banks the mansion
was built. 1t was certainly curiou!
old place, and romance and fiction coulC
find most prolific source for the realig.
ton of the familiar scenes Of the Waiver
lv novels Tho drive IF caua, ord a,