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HURSLEY VICARAGE.

Nos. 16 and 17.

"Thus may Thy Church within her daily arms
Take me, and with her blessing let me go,-
But not with her depart her accents sweet."
(The Cathedral, p. 119.)

HE present Vicarage at Hursley, which is situated at the west of the church, between the churchyard and the park, is a picturesque building, begun by Sir Thomas Heathcote, the uncle of the present baronet, for a particular object which he had in view, but finished by the present baronet, who allowed it to be used as a residence for the Vicar, and afterwards gave it up to the living by a deed bearing date 10th of November, 1842, that it might henceforth become the vicarage instead of the old house, which was considered unfit for the Vicar to live in, although it is still attached to the living, as well as the new vicarage.

This new vicarage, (which was the Poet's home for nearly thirty years,) though small, is a very pretty house, and is well sheltered by magnificent cedars, elms, and other large trees; in this respect reminding us of his birth-place.

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The vicarage walls, which are chiefly composed of flint and brick with stone dressings, are tastefully adorned with Banksia roses, luxuriant ivy, and Virginian creeper. The grounds around the house were very tastefully laid out by the Poet himself, who also added considerably to the house.

"Voice of the meekest man!

Now while the Church for combat arms,

Calmly do thou confirm her awful ban,

Thy words to her be conquering, soothing charms "."

(Lyra Apostolica, p. 126.)

These are Mr. KEBLE'S own words, (in the Commune Doctorum,) written with reference to Hooker, whose works he edited, with a copious preface. They seem to apply to no one so well as to the Author of them himself, whose words are "soothing charms" in truth.

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