about the same distance from the junction of the rivers Rothay and Brathay, where the Ambleside boats are usually moored. The Brathay, after several winding sweeps and exquisite openings to the country, enriched by the buildings at Clappersgate and Brathay, empties itself into the lake here rocks, splendidly crowned with trees, rise beautifully out of the water, and make excellent combinations with the craggy steeps of Loughrigg fell and the mountains of Ambleside and Rydal. Probably the island of Great Britain can scarcely present a sweeter little aquatic line, than that from the landing at Clappersgate to the head of the lake of Windermere. But the finest water view from the head of the lake of Windermere is about half a mile south of the river's junction with the lake; where the mountains of Coniston, Little and Great Langdale, Loughrigg, Rydal, Ambleside, and Troutbeck; the high grounds of Applethwaite, Orrest, Bowness, and Cartmel fell; and the lands above Wray, as from one station on the water, are seen to the greatest advantage.

Brathay House and Old Brathay, the property of Henry Law, Esq., the former the residence of John Harden, Esq., and the latter of James Dixon, Esq., are in Lancashire, and compose part of the Langdale picture. The Westmorland houses beginning with Housley Cottage, Mrs. Freeman's, which, with Croft Lodge and its fine grounds, the property of Miss Pritchard, are situate under Loughrigg fell.

Ambleside, in a line with Scandale fell, ex

hibits various detached and pleasantly planted houses, several of them built by Robert Partridge, Esq. Covey Cottage, which is one of them, is his residence. Near the Kendal road, and about two hundred yards from the head of the lake, stands a good house, the property of William Newton, Esq., and nearer the lake and at that place called Water-head, the comfortable family habitation of the worthy yeoman Mr.

Thomas Jackson.

Dove Nest, the property of Mrs. Benson, is inhabited by Messrs. Tupper. After the demise of the late Mr. Benson, it was successively inhabited by Sir Frederick Morshead, Bart., Edward Pedder, Esq., Ainsworth, Esq., and lastly, by Thomas Woodville, Esq., now of Yewdale Grove. Dove Nest was greatly improved by Mr. Pedder: it is a delightful place, and the house commands a very interesting view down Windermere, and one equal, if not superior in its kind, from an eminence in a field adjoining the gardens, of the head of the lake, having the Langdale pikes in distance. Dove Nest is a pretty object from the boat at the situation just spoken of. Low Wood, which appears close to the water, is the last house in Ambleside.

Elleray, erected by and the property of John Wilson, Esq., is on a fine elevation in Applethwaite. Bowness is the last cluster of houses observed on this side of the water: on the Lancashire side are High and Low Wray.

The Lands on the immediate borders of Win

dermere are fertile and richly decorated with a profusion of fine trees, many of which are of stately growth, and so disposed either by chance or intention, as to produce not only the grandest assemblages of massy woods, but shrubs in every imaginable and tasteful variety.

Windermere is a lake rich in its prospects from many points upon the public roads; but frequently of a higher description of beauty from the varied grounds adjoining them; it may be said to have five distinctly featured distances: First, the Langdale pikes, as seen between Water-head and Bowness, and from many delightful stands on each side of the road between those places: Secondly, the views of the islands down the lake, beginning on the elevated wood lands something north of Skelgill, and ending on that admired summit in the Rev. Mr. Fleming's lands between Rayrigg and Millar Ground: Thirdly, the head of the lake having the great and lesser islands in the middle, and the Rydal mountains in the extreme distance, from many sites on the side of the hill between Bowness and Bellman Ground; and of features a little varied all the way from Fellfoot to Bellman Ground: Fourthly, the view from the station-house looking over the great island, having Rayrigg and old and new Calgarth on the banks of the lake, with the Applethwaite and Kentmere mountains in the extreme distance: Fifth and last, the Rydal and Ambleside mountains, in an entire new combination to that from Bellman Ground, as observed from

many stands between Belle Grange and High Wray.

The views from the land and from the water afford each their peculiar delight. Open carriages are greatly to be preferred; for if the weather be fine, the party by changing places may see the surrounding objects in all direc

tions.

Some make a morning's aquatic excursion from Ambleside to the Ferry-house, the Station, the Great or Curwen Island; and perhaps to Bowness. And to see all these places to advantage will require the greatest part of a day.

Such as like boating, and may remain at one inn or lodging for a number of days, will be greatly pleased with the little excursions in their several neighbourhoods. From Ambleside the travellers may at pleasure ride or walk the three quarters of a mile to the boats at the landing; from which place to the lake the appearances have already been described; they may afterwards steer a short but fascinating course, by skirting the deeply indented coast at Brathay into Pull Wyke, a pretty bay surrounded by rich woods, over which peep the Loughrigg and other elevated summits, and from Pull Wyke by the grounds at Low Wray to the craggy and wooded promontory a little southward; from this place make for the inn at Low Wood in a direct line, and see the Langdale and Rydal mountains, in two several and distinct but most desirable arrangements, separated by the imposing heights

at Loughrigg. They may then return to the mouth of the Brathay by Holm point, and up the river to the landing place.

It has been observed that the best situation on the water for a view of the country lying round, is about half a mile from the junction of the Brathay with the lake, and the party in an excursion downwards will do well to pass in that direction, and from that point rather near to the Lancashire shore, by which the high lands at Rydal, Ambleside, Troutbeck, and Applethwaite, will be seen to the greatest advantage, particularly Hill Bell and the neighbouring Summits. That part of the lake between the two islands called the Lily of the Valley Holms, having the station-house about a mile from the eye, and as side screens the bold and wooded elevation above Harrow Slack on the right, and Curwen's Island on the left, has always been particularly delightful to the feelings of the author. A sweet retrospective view of the Rydal mountains, through the opening between Thompson's Holm and the craggy heights above Belle Grange, either from the water or the eastern Lily of the Valley Holm, is an admirable change of prospect; the latter furnishing a fine fore-ground of trees makes an excellent composition. Rather than first touch at the Great Island, it will be more pleasant to row direct for the ferry-house, thence to the station, and afterwards return to the ferry, and from the ferry to the landing place upon the island, erected by Mr. Curwen for the accommodation of strangers. A walk round the island presents to the