the date, 1572; but some parts of the house appear to be of an earlier age, and were probably erected several centuries antecedent to the above period.

This estate came into the possession of the present family, towards the middle of the fifteenth century, by the marriage of Sir Thomas Throckmorton, Knight, with the daughter of Robert Olney, of Weston. The 'Park was considerably improved by the grandfather of the present possessor. It was laid out under the direction of Mr. Brown, then famous as a landscape gardener, who, availing himself of the advantages of nature, by the aid of art, has produced, in the grounds of Weston Park, a lasting monument of his taste. Continuing our walk towards Olney, at a short distance from the house, the view we have given presents itself. In the centre, overhanging a boat-house belonging to Mr. Courtenay, stands a cluster of poplars, which Cowper calls

66

THE ELMS

surrounding the herdsman's solitary hut." In compliance with our intention to illustrate the poet, we have retained the name he has conferred, though

we were convinced, from ocular demonstration, it was erroneous; and have also received a communication from Mr. Courtenay*, who observes, that Cowper wrote the passage in the Task, which refers to these trees, under the influence of a mistake, and he had often told him of the circumstance. The trees stand on a broad level of low land, remote from any object of equal magnitude, and are, in every direction, prominent and conspicuous. The accompanying scenery is charmingly described by the poet in the following lines:

Here Ouse, slow winding through a level plain
Of spacious meads, with cattle sprinkled o'er,
Conducts the eye along its sinuous course,
Delighted.

While far beyond, and over-thwart the stream,
That, as with molten glass, inlays the vale,
The sloping land recedes into the clouds.

Proceeding still towards Olney, we come to the Spinnie,

or

* We take this opportunity to acknowledge our obligation to this gentleman, and several others of the town of Olney, who favoured us with some important information, and paid a kind and ready attention to our enquiries.

SHRUBBERY.

The entrance to this retired spot is by a gate on the left side of the road, whence a path conducts through the windings of a lonely alley, shaded by the stately sycamore and spreading oak, diversified with fir, beech, lime, and elm, to an ampler space, inclosed on either side by the pensive yew. Here stands the Moss HOUSE. This delightful retreat Cowper has celebrated in some verses of exquisite pathos, written, as he observes, "in a time of affliction;" and, surely, every reader must feel for the unhappy bard, who, when speaking of the beauties of this spot, says, they are such as

Might soothe a soul less hurt than mine,
And please, if any thing could please.

And though at this time the peculiar sensations of his mind permitted him no enjoyment whatever, yet, in happier moments, this lowly roof was often honored with his presence; and a few lines of his composition, which he caused to be painted on a board, and placed in the