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town, however, was soon rebuilt in a more beautiful manner. I surveyed this place with attention, on account of the handsome epithets with which Mr. Gibbon, the historian, has honoured it. In his own life, when Captain in the Hampshire militia, he mentions his passing some time at "the hospitable and pleasant Blandford;" and afterwards remarks, "we again return to our beloved Blandford."

Our next stage brought us to Dorchester, a place of antiquity, and famous among the Romans. It consists chiefly of three streets, and the houses though old and low, yet are regularly built. St. Peter's church is a handsome structure, and there is a traditional barbarous rhyme, informing us that

"Geoffery Van,
With his wife Ann,

And his maid Nan,

Built this Church,"

The county gaol, in this town, is a large building, erected upon the plan of the late Mr. Howard, a man of extensive benevolence, and of an unparalleled philanthropy. It is surrounded by an high wall, and can boast of an healthy situation. At the time I visited it the convicts were few, not more than half a dozen, part of whom I beheld whitewashing the walls, and the remainder were weeding the yards, all in irons !

Here I saw the learned and patriotic Gilbert Wakefield, who was confined two years for a libel on government. He died soon after his release,

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September 19, 1801, and was buried at Richmond, where a neat monument may be seen erected to his memory. While we regret the intemperate warmth with which he wrote on political subjects, it is impossible not to revere his talents, admire his learning, and venerate his integrity.

The principal business of this place and its vicinity, at present, is breeding of sheep, of which it is said no less than 60,000 are fed within six miles of the town; the ewes generally bring forth two lambs, which fertility is imputed to the wild thyme, and other aromatic herbage, which grows upon the adjacent downs in great plenty.

Not far from Dorchester is Maiden Castle, the completest remains of ancient fortification in the kingdom. In the neighbourhood the Romans had an amphitheatre 140 feet wide, and 220 long, now called Maumbury, having a terrace on the top, which is still used as a public walk, and commands a prospect of the town and country around it.

Weymouth, about the distance of nine miles on the left of the Bridport road, is well known for the predilection which the Royal Family shew it, by whom, for some years past, it has been annually visited. It is a clean, improved, and well-frequented port, seated on the mouth of the Wye, and incorporated with Melcombe Regis, with which it communicates by means of a new constructed draw-bridge. Its port is injured by sand, from which circumstance, its trade, once considerable, is now much reduced, though it sends some

WEYMOUTH.

ships to Portugal and Newfoundland.

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Its fine

velvet beach, and soft air, render the place peculiarly fit for sea-bathing. Hence, in the season, it is crowded with company.

The history of all bathing places shews from what inconsiderable beginnings they have arisen to their present prosperity. Thus, with respect to Weymouth, the recommendation of the famous Ralph Allen, Esq. (the friend of Pope, and the patron of Warburton) about the year 1760, is thought to have first attracted the public attention. At that time, however, it was small and meanly built, though now it vies in beauty with any other watering place in the kingdom. Gloucester-Row, Chesterfield-Place, York-Buildings, ClarenceBuildings, Augusta-Place, and Charlotte-Row, are handsome residences, both for the gentry and nobility. The views from these spots are delightful. In its semicircular bay ships are seen continually gliding to and fro on the surface of the deep, beside pleasure vessels, which may at any time be engaged for aquatic excursions. During his Majesty's stay at Weymouth he often embarks at the extremity of the new pier, to visit ships of war which are hovering around their respective stations. Hence, to use the words of a modern writer- "This shore must be dear to Britons, from which their Monarch, wearied with the toils of state, has often returned in renovated health and spirits. Long may Weymouth be honoured with his summer visit, and may its tides and its breezes

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waft to him and the partner of his throne all their salutary influences!"

From Weymouth may be seen Portland Isle, in reality a peninsula, inaccessible, excepting at the landing place, where a strong castle first reared its turrets in the reign of Henry the Eighth. The peninsula itself is almost a continued rock of free-stone, of which 9,000 tons are annually exported! Whitehall, St. Paul's church, the piers of Westminster, and the whole of Blackfriars Bridge, are built with it. It is admired for its neatness and durability. Off Portland Isle it was that the Halswell East Indiaman, Captain Pearce, was wrecked, in the year 1786, with circumstances of peculiar aggravation! And here more recently was the Abergavenny East Indiaman, with the loss. of near four hundred lives, consigned to immediate destruction. Most of its valuable contents have been recovered from the deep, by means of an ingenious machine; and for this salutary effort of art, its author has been liberally rewarded.

Leaving Dorchester in the straight western direction, we soon reached Bridport, a long wellbuilt town, with the appearance of which we were particularly pleased. It is situated at the distance of 138 miles from London, upon a small river, near the coast of the English channel. The corporation are principally dissenters, who are here both numerous and of respectability. The entrance to the harbour was, formerly, choked by sands, which the tide threw

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up; and though an act of parliament was passed in 1722, for restoring and building the haven and piers, it was not for some time executed. The place is famous for ropes and cables: and by a statute, made in the reign of Henry VIII. it was enacted, that the cordage of the English navy should, for a limited time, be made in this town, or within five miles of it. The soil still produces as good crops of hemp as any in England.

We now set off for Lyme, which brings us near the end of our journey. Had the atmosphere been clear, we should have enjoyed a prospect of the sea; but a fog, common to this part of the country, so completely enveloped the horizon, that scarcely any object was visible around us. By this circumstance we were considerably disappointed. A view of the English Channel would have pleasingly relieved the eye after our long jaunt over the Dorsetshire downs, which, however ornamented by flocks of sheep, tire by their tedious uniformity.

A few miles before we entered Lyme, we passed through Charmouth, a village on an eminence near the sea, whence of course, had the fog permitted, we should have had a delightful survey of the wide and majestic ocean! It was a Fair, and of course characterized by that ludicrous bustle which is usual on such occasions. The honest rustics were assembled for the purpose of recreation; and merriment, in every form, seemed to be the object of pursuit. A country fair has been aptly described

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