standing; but very few vestiges of the monastic buildings remain; the Refectory has been converted into a barn, and part of the site of the Abbey is occupied by a farm-house, constructed with some of the ancient materials. In the Chapel, Cicely, daughter of Edward IV, was interred, as were several other persons of distinction. The road leading from hence to Wootton Bridge, a mile distant, passes through a beautiful wood, abounding with venerable oaks: the Bridge is a narrow causeway, more than 300 yards long. A little to the south of this place is Fern Hill, a singularly-built mansion, bearing some resemblance to a church, one end of the house consisting of a lofty tower, from which is a delightful prospect of the opposite coast, with the Channel, and the shipping at Spithead.

SANDOWN, a village which gives name to the Bay on the east side of the Island, bounded by Culver Cliff on the north, and Dun-nose Promontory on the south, was once the residence of the celebrated John Wilkes, whose villa, called Sandown Cottage, is still in existence, and, though small, is elegantly fitted up, and stands amid well-arranged grounds, commanding extensive prospects: in the immediate vicinity have been erected Barracks for 300 soldiers, a circumstance which would not have enhanced its value to the original owner. About half a mile to the east is Sandown Fort, a regular fortification, built by Henry VIII; which, after having been allowed to fall into ruin, was repaired, strengthened, and garrisoned, during the reign of George III, and is now the most considerable fortress in the Island. A mile from hence is Yaverland, a village with a small Church; and at a short distance a range of high land, called Bembridge Down, which is terminated on the coast by Culver Cliffs, rising to the height of 600 feet above the sea, and frequented by immense numbers of birds, who breed in their precipitous recesses: in 1780 an eagle's nest was found here by a man gathering samphire. On the eastern side of the Cliffs is a cavern called the Hermit's Hole, about 60 feet below the summit, and very difficult of access. The views from these Cliffs, and from Bembridge Down, are exceedingly fine and extensive.

SHORWELL, about four miles from Carisbrooke, is a pleasant village at the foot of Chillerton Down; the Church is an ancient building, and contains several handsome monuments, principally in memory of the Leigh family, one of whom, Sir John, built the mansion of North Court, near this village, some parts of which still retain their original and venerable form. The grounds also remain nearly in the same state as when first laid out, and exhibit a curious specimen of the taste of the seventeenth century.

UNDERCLIFF is a romantic tract, which stretches nearly six miles along the coast from Rocken End in the west, to Bonchurch in the east. The Downs above are terminated abruptly by steep precipitous rocks, which extend through the whole length of this district, almost without interruption, and have the appearance of an immense stone wall, from 90 to 120 feet high, and varying from one to three quarters of a mile in its distance from the sea." Through this interval of rock and water," says Mr. Wyndham, "colossal fragments of stone, torn from the precipice by some great convulsion of nature, lie scattered in the most irregular confusion. These masses are of such ponderous magnitude, that they form eminences of the most capricious shapes; while the intermediate spaces become deep valleys, in which houses are built, and even ash and elm trees are seen to flourish, sheltered from the storms and the spray of the sea, by the lofty shade of these fragments. Every spot of this land, that can bear the impression of a plough, is uncommonly fertile and well cultivated; but the fruitful patches are of all sizes and figures; and huge rocks, covered with briars, frequently arise from amidst an enclosure of two or three acres." The road beneath these Cliffs is stony and irregular, but the grandeur and beauty of the scenery afford an ample compensation for the inconvenience that may be experienced in obtaining a view of it: a distinct echo is returned from some parts of these rocks, even to the repetition of four syllables.

About two miles before we arrive at Bonchurch is the village of Steephill; here is a beautiful Cottage, -standing on one of the pieces of rock just mentioned; it was erected by H. Stanley, Esq. a former Gover

nor of the Island, and, though small, is elegantly fitted up, and the grounds are laid out with great taste. From this spot the precipitous wall, which has thus far bounded the road, is succeeded by a verdant slope scarcely less romantic in appearance, as it is of much greater elevation, and is trodden only by sheep, while the path lies along the edge of a tremendous precipice, and the traveller's safety is but slightly insured by a few wooden rails. Beyond this point lies the hamlet of Ventnor, which consists of a range of neat cottages, backed by noble woods, and commanding an uninterrupted sea view in front; a small stream, which rises about a quarter of a mile above the village, turns a mill, which stands in a most picturesque situation, and forms a cascade in its way to the beach.

YARMOUTH is situated on a bank sloping to the sea, on the east side of the mouth of the Yar, 10 miles from Newport, and commands fine views of the Channel, and the coast of Hampshire. It is a very small but neat town, still retaining its privilege of sending two Members to Parliament, which it has enjoyed ever since the year 1295. It was destroyed by the French in 1377, and does not appear to have ever recovered from this blow. The Corporation of Yarmouth consists of a Mayor, chosen annually from the twelve Burgesses; and these persons have the right of election. The population, in 1821, was 564. The Church stands near the centre of the town, and was erected in the reign of Henry VIII, in consequence of the demolition of a former one by the French, the site of which is occupied by a small Fort, mounting eight guns. The present Church consists of a nave and chancel, with a small Chapel attached, in which is a handsome monument in memory of Admiral Sir R. Holmes, who was Governor of the Island in the time of Charles II, and built a house shere (which is now an inn) purposely for the reception of that monarch, who paid him a visit. Yarmouth has a Quay, at which small vessels can unload, and a constant intercourse is carried on from hence with Lymington, which lies nearly opposite. On the shore, westward from the Yar, are the remains of Worsley's Tower, erected by Henry VIII; and Carey's

Sconce, built in the time of Elizabeth, near the same spot, in consequence of the decay of the former.

[As in some measure connected with Hampshire, it may be necessary to give a brief account of the Islands of GUERNSEY, JERSEY, ALDERNEY, and SARK, which are situated on the coast of France, and have long been the only relics of the Duchy of Normandy attached to the English crown: they still retain the greater portion of their ancient laws and customs, and are governed and taxed only by the " Assemblies" of the two first-named; a Governor of each Island is, indeed, appointed by the Crown, and he has the power of refusing his assent to the enactments of the Assemblies, but this privilege is never exercised except in cases where the interests of England are peculiarly concerned; nor are these Islands bound by any measures of the British Legislature unless they are expressly mentioned. GUERNSEY is 26 miles from Cape la Hogue, and 94 from Portsmouth; it is about 39 miles in circuit, is divided into 10 parishes, and contains about 22,000 inhabitants; its principal town is St. Peter's, which has a good pier and harbour, defended by two castles.—JERSEY is 75 miles from Weymouth, and 17 from the nearest port in Normandy; it is 12 miles in length, from five to seven in breadth, is divided into 12 parishes, and has about 30,000 inhabitants: the capital is St. Helier, with a population of more than 10,000 persons; beside this, it has another respectable town, called St. Aubin's, and several villages: this island having been occupied as a military depôt, is defended by various fortifications, of which Elizabeth Castle is the principal, and is encircled by a chain of martello-towers and batteries.—ALDERNEY is seven miles from Cape la Hogue, and 18 from Guernsey; it is about eight miles in circumference, has one small town, and about 1300 inhabitants; it is celebrated for a valuable breed of milch cows. The strait by which this island is separated from the French coast is called the Race of Alderney, and from the rocks with which it abounds is exceedingly dangerous in stormy weather.-SARK, Six miles from Guernsey, contains about 500 inhabitants. All these Islands are fertile; the climate is genial; and a considerable trade is carried on, especially by Jersey, with England and France. The dress, manners, and habitations of the people bear a much greater resemblance to those of the latter country than of the former, and the French language is almost universally spoken.]

END OF THE DESCRIPTION OF HAMPSHIRE.

Dorsetshire.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

THIS County is bounded on the East by Hampshire; on the North by Wiltshire and Somersetshire; on the West by the latter County and Devonshire; and on the South by the English Channel. Its form is very irregular; the extreme length, from east to west, is about 56 miles, and its average breadth is about 36; on the northern side is a considerable projection, while the southern runs out into numerous points and headlands, until it reaches the Isle of Portland; to the west of this the coast obliquely inclines towards Devonshire, with very few indentions: a small detached portion is surrounded by Devonshire, and the superficial area of the whole is estimated at 1129 square miles, or 711,270 acres, of which about 153,000 are arable; 300,000 meadow, common, and downs; 18,000 woodlands; and 10,000 orchards. It is divided into 56 hundreds and liberties, containing 276 parishes, 26,970 houses, and 144,499 inhabitants: it has 22 market-towns, nine of which are boroughs, and is represented in Parliament by 20 Members.

The general appearance of Dorsetshire is hilly; and it has very extensive Downs, covered with sheep: on the south-eastern side is a great extent of waste land, which, however, from the small portions of it occasionally submitted to cultivation, appears capable of great improvement. In the northern and western parts of the County is the Vale or Forest of Blackmore, sometimes called White Hart Forest, a tract about 19 miles long, and 14 wide, celebrated for the richness of its pasture land, on which great numbers of sheep and oxen are fed: in this district are also many orchards, and excellent cyder is made here; in the south-west are likewise many fertile valleys, and the waste lands are estimated at not more than one ninth part of the whole surface.