these "safe retreats of health and peace;" for we know that wealth and splendour and affluence do not impart such real happiness as that arising from innocent and easily-procurable pleasures. But I was going to tell you that the road was lined on each side with orchards for miles together, and the boughs of the apple-trees were loaded with such abundant crops of beautiful fruit, that they bent to the earth, as though unable to support their weight; the labourers were busy in the fields, for the corn was just being put into sheaves; the hedges were overhung with large clusters of wild hops and the white cups of the bindweed, which formed a fine contrast to the bright green leaves around them; and not unfrequently we could discern a village spire among the trees, pointing its "silent finger" into the clear blue sky, as if to remind us of Heaven. All

these little things contributed to form a beautiful tout ensemble, and we enjoyed the ride exceedingly.

All that I can say will give you, but a faint idea of the scenery that has pleased me so much; so you, my dear, must add your own quota of fancy to make up for my deficiency.

We were much amused with the simplicity of the church at Nuneham, but papa says we shall be still more so with those in Wales: it looks just like a sort of pigeon-house, having a conical roof, and being white-washed all over.

We were also much amused with watching a boat across the Severn, which is of considerable width at this place. You will perhaps smile and say, "What of that?-there is nothing particular in watching a boat." But there was something very particular in it, for it was loaded with passengers intending

to land on the opposite bank; but, alas! no sooner had they reached the middle of the river, than a sand-bank, caused by the low tide, interrupted their progress, and being nevertheless determined to gain the shore, their attempts to do so by paddling along up to their knees in the wet mud, some upon one another's shoulders and some upon horseback, some in one direction and some in another, formed a most ludicrous scene and a novel one too!

We travelled from Nuneham to Lydney through such a romantic country, that I was almost ready to start from the chaise with delight at every turn in the road. Lydney is a little black town amidst salt marshes, and the country just around it is so barren and unproductive, that you could scarcely fancy it near such charming scenery as that of Chepstow. However, we enjoyed the

ride very much, as it formed a contrast to the delightful views the morning had afforded, and every scene is heightened by contrast. Variety and novelty pos sess a never-ceasing charm, and, to a young and ardent admirer of nature, are particularly welcome. We passed through part of the forest of Dean, which is many miles in extent, and before the sun had sunk behind the western mountains, a turn in the road brought us within view of Piercefield House in the midst of its beautiful park. I cannot describe what I felt when I first gazed upon the spot that was once gladdened by the presence of one whose memory I revere and love, and whose example I would wish to follow as a model of all that is good.

I talked of romantic scenery about Nuneham ; now it became of a more grand and sublime nature. We beheld

steep and precipitous cliffs rising above each other, some of them more than three hundred feet in perpendicular height; the river Wye lay below them, winding its serpentine course at the foot of the woods with which they are embowered, and which possessed a peculiar interest for my cousin Lucy, who is now with us, and myself, as we were assured by papa that they were the woods of Piercefield. Yonder was the alcove in which Elizabeth had so often sat, and there was the very grove in which her Llewellyn ap Gryffid was slain !

As we proceeded, the little town of Chepstow appeared in sight: it is built upon the side of a steep rock, and celebrated for the ruins of an old castle, which, being situated on the cliffs just above the river, form a grand and striking object. We crossed an elegant iron