to the Hall; but I should first tell you there are two ways; one is the coach road, and the other a bridle-way through the Narrow Dale; and this laft is the shortest.

Angler. I incline to whichfoever Mr. Cotton travels by, when he is on horseback, because that was the road he took with VIATOR, when he pointed to the house, and said, 'This is now ' like to be your inn for want of a better.'

Painter. If I may choose, let it be whichever will give us the best prospect over Beresford Hall. Angler. You are in the right, brother: I yield me to your better opinion.

Hoft. Well, then, Gentlemen, you shall both have your defires, if you will take to the right hand path, which leads to Narrow Dale.

Angler. Now we are out upon the hills, what a spacious prospect is before us! and here's a sweet-scented morning, fit for honeft anglers.

Painter. But what a rocky barren place! and what lines of stone walls, that have coft more money to build than the land is worth!

Hoft. Give me leave to tell you, Sir, the pasturage hereabouts is very fertile; and you may remember how Mr. Cotton declares 'thefe hills breed and feed good beef and mutton.'

Angler. Aye, and make the best cheese that goes to Derby market.

Painter. But you will not deny this to be a lone country of moorish mountains, and no ornament of woods to give them a relief?

Hoft. Very true, Sir, when you are upon the hills; but down in the dales and glens, and by the banks of our trouty streams, I may undertake to find you some rich landskips, so grown over with shady sycamore, and all kinds of trees, that you will not think it tedious to walk along them.

Angler. And forget not, brother, these are the very scenes, where the two great masters of my art have loved to wile away their cheerful hours, in the most excellent of all recreations, and have been poffeffed with thofe happy thoughts which they have recorded in the first and second parts of the Complete Angler. And fo long as truth and virtuous inclinations have any power to move the affections, their book fhall continue to be embalmed in the judgments of men. Who that has read those pages can wander on the banks of never-ceafing Dove, where they have whispered their filent joys, or tread the paths they have trod, linked in a generous friendship, without fome touch of a mutual feeling! But come, Mr. Marsh, we are ready to follow you.

Hoft. Gentlemen, so please you to turn down

top of

this lane; and now we are come to the Narrow Dale, look through the opening of the hills, and there is Beresford before you.

Angler. There, Sir, there! what say you now? Painter. Indeed, a goodly manfion in the diftance and thofe mountains which bound. the prospect rise up with a natural variety, and blend themselves into an harmonious landskip. Angler. And does not the house stand pret'tily?'

Painter. Aye, truly and now, brother, as we approach so near to the object of our happy pilgrimage, I glow with a part of your zeal.— Forgive me that I have been merry against anglers, and couched my doubtful meaning beneath fome quips and quibbles. But now I open my heart to you, that I may participate in all your pleasures, and therefore do you guide and govern me, for I am wholly yours.

Angler. And there's my hand in teftimony that I return all your friendly thoughts and I doubt not you will be better entertained on a nearer acquaintance with Beresford Hall.

Painter. But, methinks, there is something of a Tower.

Angler. Nay, I see it not.

Painter. There, above the woods, to the right of the mansion.

P

Angler. At the top of the hill?

Hoft. The fame; and it is called the Flambeaux Tower.

Painter. It is all a choice fubject, therefore give me leave to make a hasty design.

Angler. In this, brother, you show your love for me. And pr'ythee, mine hoft, is the Tower of Mr. Cotton's building?

Hoft. Aye, Sir, and of free-stone, brought from the quarry that lies a few miles off. But I shall not here enlarge to particulars, because a closer view will testify how it is done by the clearest rules of order.

Angler. But wherefore the name of the Flambeaux Tower?

Hoft. Sir, I am to tell you that is a fancy of Mr. Cotton's; for he will often ride a distance from home, to vifit the Earl of Devonshire at Chatfworth, or to Haddon Hall, and other great houses, that he may take the paftime of hunting the red deer, and hawking, and fuch like diversions, as gentlemen in England love to exercise themselves in fo you may believe he will sometimes return to the Hall by night.

Painter. Methinks he should be a skilful rider to trust his neck over these precipices and hills in the dark.

Hoft. Sir, you may truft my master's well

bred fteeds, and if you could but once fee him on horseback, you would have no fears about him for he has learned to ride the

great horfe in the schools; and no bounds or faults can move him. And when he is mounted for the field, in his close doublet and large round hofen, with his high boots, he is like a part of his horse, and you would presently ask, 'what noble cavalier is yonder?' and I have but this more to say, when I was once in attendance upon him at the Earl of Derby's with his caft of hawks, I heard the loyal Duke' of Newcastle,* that excellent judge of horsemanship, declare before a great company of gallants that he knew no gentleman who carried himself more gracefully in the manage of a horfe than Mr. Cotton. And thus it is, when he is expected home o' dark nights, my lady will cause the beacon to be lighted at the top of the Tower, that he may have a fure guide across the hills, and an early

William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle, a finished gentleman, and a most distinguished patriot, was author of the well-known work on horfemanship, originally published in French at Antwerp in 1658, fol., and afterwards in English under the title of A new Method ' and extraordinary Invention to dress Horses, and work 'them according to Nature, as also to perfect Nature by 'the Subtilty of Art.' 1667. fol.-ED.