Page:A tour through the northern counties of England, and the borders of Scotland - Volume II.djvu/91

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

[ 79 ]

declivity and pastoral appearance; and between them is caught another long reach of the river, finished by a promontory, one dark mass of fir tree shade from top to bottom.

Retracing our footsteps, we took the walk which exhibits the old decorations of the place, which keeping the side of the river, opens in succession, the cascade the temple, the excavated apartment, and a stair-case hewn out of the rock, affording a descent from its summit to its foot, a great idea and a bold piece of work, though, according to the correcter notions of modern gardening, out of taste. Corby, you see, is indebted for most of its beauty to the Eden, which flows through picturesque banks for many miles before it reaches this enchanting place. To another spot equally favoured with its charms we directed our course, after passing once more through, and bidding adieu to, Carlisle.[1] This was Armathwaite-Castle, the seat of Henry Milbourne, esq; quietly seated in the bottom on the margin of the river; it should seem that the mansion had rather been intended for seclusion than security, as its situation is altogether unfavourable for defence. But the scenery around it soon called our attention from the mansion, and embarking on the Eden we paddled up its stream,

  1. The population of Carlisle is about ten thousand.