the solitude of decay nor the bustle of novelty; the houses were
old, but in good repair; and the beautiful little river murmured
freely on its way to the left of the town, neither restrained by
a dam nor bordered by a towing-path.

Upon a gentle eminence, nearly a mile to the southward of the
town, were seen, amongst many venerable oaks and tangled
thickets, the turrets of a castle as old as the walls of York and
Lancaster, but which seemed to have received important
alterations during the age of Elizabeth and her successor, It had
not been a place of great size; but whatever accommodation it
formerly afforded was, it must be supposed, still to be obtained
within its walls. At least, such was the inference which General
Browne drew from observing the smoke arise merrily from several
of the ancient wreathed and carved chimney-stalks. The wall of
the park ran alongside of the highway for two or three hundred
yards; and through the different points by which the eye found
glimpses into the woodland scenery, it seemed to be well stocked.
Other points of view opened in succession--now a full one of the
front of the old castle, and now a side glimpse at its particular
towers, the former rich in all the bizarrerie of the Elizabethan
school, while the simple and solid strength of other parts of the
building seemed to show that they had been raised more for
defence than ostentation.

Delighted with the partial glimpses which he obtained of the
castle through the woods and glades by which this ancient feudal
fortress was surrounded, our military traveller was determined to
inquire whether it might not deserve a nearer view, and whether
it contained family pictures or other objects of curiosity worthy