us; for we met numerous pleasant friends, and were presented to many distinguished persons, whose names are, historic in England-to many literary people, whose works are as "household words" to us in the New World.

CHAPTER X.

July 18th. WE have just returned from a brief visit to Belvoir Castle. Our sojourn there was really enchanting. We went down by the Great Western Railway to Grantham, passing through a finely cultivated country.

At Grantham the carriage met us, and we soon drove through the neat little town, and entered the " green lanes of England." Trees were planted on each side of the road, and beneath them were hedges of the eglantine, mingled with jessamine and honeysuckle. The air was filled with perfume, as it came to us over the green hill-tops. Haymakers were abroad in the fields, and women and children tossing the hay into great wagons.

The day was of unusual brightness. The sky was dotted here and there with light fleecy clouds, serving as a delicate. veil to the too intense radiance of the sun. I realized the true and graphic pictures of English scenery, so sweetly described by Wordsworth. There was a soft serenity about them, imparting to the mind a gentle calmness. For five miles we drove through these scenes of rural life, until we perceived the turrets of Belvoir Castle, and soon after came to the domains of the Duke of Rutland. Passing through

ENTRANCE TO THE CASTLE.

73

a large gate, we entered a deep forest. For the moment we seemed in America, for the forests of the Adirondack or of the Alleghany mountains are not more wild and thick. The old trees, with their spreading branches, were like sentinels watching over the spot. We drove for some time through the deep, dark woods, and then emerged in the fertile farm lands of the Castle. About mid-day we reached the foot of a very high hill, upon which stands Belvoir Castle. We ascended a road winding along from terrace to terrace. The immense trees met over head, and formed a Gothic arch. At last we came out into the sunlight, and found ourselves at the gate of the Castle; a noble old baronial structure, built by the first Lord Manners de Ross, and called "Belvoir," signifying "beautiful view," from the glorious prospect beheld from the summit of the demi-mountain. The first Castle was built in 1500; the present one, however, is of more recent date.

From the great door-way we passed into the entrance saloon, or grand vestibule, around which are figures of knights in the armor worn by members of the family in the "ancient times." Upon the walls are hung the trophies of war taken by them in battle. From thence we were ushered into the reception room, which is exceedingly magnificent. It has Buhl furniture of antique form, inlaid with precious stones, with gold, with silver and ivory. The carpet is like a bank of fresh roses. The ceiling, painted in fresco, has the portraits of all the Rutland family, and also those of royal personages who were friends of the Duke. In this room there is a painting of the Duchess, and one of the Duke, taken shortly after their marriage. How wondrously handsome they both must have been! There is likewise a marble statue of the Duchess of Rutland by Wyatt-an exquisite specimen of female beauty.

VOL. I 4

This visit to Belvoir Castle was a perfect delight to me, and with what happiness did I follow my kind friends through all the gorgeous rooms and picture-galleries. At last I begged they would take me to Lady Emmeline's apartments, those occupied by her when she makes Belvoir her home; and there I seated myself to think of her, surrounded by the memorials of her elegant taste. How often had she spoken to me of these rooms, how often described the Castle to me; and now I was within its walls, but she was in the far north land. Blessings upon her, dear and precious friend!

Every thing about the Castle is grandly superb. Most gorgeous is the banquet-room, the green drawing-room, the crimson drawing-room, the Prince Regent's gallery, built by the present Duke to receive George IV. in when he came down to Belvoir to stand godfather for the first Marquis of Granby. The library is panelled in oak and hung with green velvet. The shelves contain many American books, among them the writings of Longfellow, and of Willis, and the speeches of Webster, Clay, and Everett. The ball-room is splendid, with rows of marble pillars, and a floor made of small pieces of wood, like a Mosaic. A long gallery extends around for those who do not care to mingle in the dance. There are immense mirrors, so arranged as to reflect and multiply the pillars in such a manner, one seems to look through a long colonnade. The ceiling is gilded and painted in fresco.

There are several picture-galleries, filled with the creations of the old masters, and of those of the more modern school. There are several rare and beautiful Murillos, Guidos, Correggios, Titians, Velasquez; paintings of Sir Joshua. Reynolds, Sir Thomas Lawrence, and of Lely; many landscapes by Zuccarelli, by Claude Lorraine, by Poussin; and gorgeous pictures by Rembrandt, by Rubens, and Van Dyke.

One gallery is devoted to the full-length portraits of the lords, earls, and dukes of the family.

The apartments occupied by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, when they visited the Castle, are magnificent. The furniture is satin, embroidered with gold, and the hangings of the chambers white satin, decorated with heavy gold fringe. The bedroom occupied by George IV. when he visited tne Castle, remains furnished in the same style as then.

very gorgeous.

It is

At evening we ascended the turrets of the Castle. The view thence was most beautiful. Twenty-seven villages were visible amid the rich waving fields of grain and wooded slopes of the hills. One town was pointed out to me, called "Walton." Our ancestors came from Middle England, and perhaps from this very region. Of course I looked upon it with deep interest. It is a fine picturesque village; with a population of five thousand inhabitants.

The hill upon which the Castle stands is terraced on every side save one, about a hundred feet. Then begins the forest, extending like a sea of green far below its base.

In the morning we drove to the village of Woodstock, where the tenants live. It was 66 Rent-Day," and multitudes of them were gathered in merry groups under the trees. They were dancing, and playing many games. The girls had the most lovely complexions and rosy health. The men were tall, strong, and stalwart. They seemed the very "bone and sinew of the land." The old men and women were seated beneath the elms, watching the sports of their children's children. It was a charming picture of rural life—there appeared such happiness, contentment, and plenty. The houses were all neat and comfortably furnished, each one with its. little garden around it, while the honeysuckle and rose-vines climbed up over the "front porch." The people of these