第 25 节
作者:西门在线      更新:2021-02-20 18:43      字数:7471
  only。
  The house is built since these gardens have been finished。  The
  building is all of Portland stone in the front; which makes it look
  extremely glorious and magnificent at a distance; it being the
  particular property of that stone (except in the streets of London;
  where it is tainted and tinged with the smoke of the city) to grow
  whiter and whiter the longer it stands in the open air。
  As the front of the house opens to a long row of trees; reaching to
  the great road at Leightonstone; so the back face; or front (if
  that be proper); respects the gardens; and; with an easy descent;
  lands you upon the terrace; from whence is a most beautiful
  prospect to the river; which is all formed into canals and openings
  to answer the views from above and beyond the river; the walks and
  wildernesses go on to such a distance; and in such a manner up the
  hill; as they before went down; that the sight is lost in the woods
  adjoining; and it looks all like one planted garden as far as the
  eye can see。
  I shall cover as much as possible the melancholy part of a story
  which touches too sensibly many; if not most; of the great and
  flourishing families in England。  Pity and matter of grief is it to
  think that families; by estate able to appear in such a glorious
  posture as this; should ever be vulnerable by so mean a disaster as
  that of stock…jobbing。  But the general infatuation of the day is a
  plea for it; so that men are not now blamed on that account。  South
  Sea was a general possession; and if my Lord Castlemain was wounded
  by that arrow shot in the dark it was a misfortune。  But it is so
  much a happiness that it was not a mortal wound; as it was to some
  men who once seemed as much out of the reach of it。  And that blow;
  be it what it will; is not remembered for joy of the escape; for we
  see this noble family; by prudence and management; rise out of all
  that cloud; if it may be allowed such a name; and shining in the
  same full lustre as before。
  This cannot be said of some other families in this county; whose
  fine parks and new…built palaces are fallen under forfeitures and
  alienations by the misfortunes of the times and by the ruin of
  their masters' fortunes in that South Sea deluge。
  But I desire to throw a veil over these things as they come in my
  way; it is enough that we write upon them; as was written upon King
  Harold's tomb at Waltham Abbey; INFELIX; and let all the rest sleep
  among things that are the fittest to be forgotten。
  From my Lord Castlemain's; house and the rest of the fine dwellings
  on that side of the forest; for there are several very good houses
  at Wanstead; only that they seem all swallowed up in the lustre of
  his lordship's palace; I say; from thence; I went south; towards
  the great road over that part of the forest called the Flats; where
  we see a very beautiful but retired and rural seat of Mr。
  Lethulier's; eldest son of the late Sir John Lethulier; of Lusum;
  in Kent; of whose family I shall speak when I come on that side。
  By this turn I came necessarily on to Stratford; where I set out。
  And thus having finished my first circuit; I conclude my first
  letter; and am;
  Sir; your most humble and obedient servant。
  APPENDIX。
  Whoever travels; as I do; over England; and writes the account of
  his observations; will; as I noted before; always leave something;
  altering or undertaking by such a growing improving nation as this;
  or something to discover in a nation where so much is hid;
  sufficient to employ the pens of those that come after him; or to
  add by way of appendix to what he has already observed。
  This is my case with respect to the particulars which follow: (1)
  Since these sheets were in the press; a noble palace of Mr。
  Walpole's; at present First Commissioner of the Treasury; Privy…
  counsellor; etc。; to King George; is; as it were; risen out of the
  ruins of the ancient seat of the family of Walpole; at Houghton;
  about eight miles distant from Lynn; and on the north coast of
  Norfolk; near the sea。
  As the house is not yet finished; and when I passed by it was but
  newly designed; it cannot be expected that I should be able to give
  a particular description of what it will be。  I can do little more
  than mention that it appears already to be exceedingly magnificent;
  and suitable to the genius of the great founder。
  But a friend of mine; who lives in that county; has sent me the
  following lines; which; as he says; are to be placed upon the
  building; whether on the frieze of the cornice; or over the
  portico; or on what part of the building; of that I am not as yet
  certain。  The inscription is as follows; viz。:…
  〃H。 M。 F。
  〃Fundamen ut essem Domus
  In Agro Natali Extruendae;
  Robertus ille Walpole
  Quem nulla nesciet Posteritas:
  Faxit Dues。
  〃Postquam Maturus Annis Dominus。
  Diu Laetatus fuerit absoluta
  Incolumem tueantur Incolames。
  Ad Summam omnium Diem
  Et nati natorum et qui nascentur ab illis。
  Hic me Posuit。〃
  A second thing proper to be added here; by way of appendix; relates
  to what I have mentioned of the Port of London; being bounded by
  the Naze on the Essex shore; and the North Foreland on the Kentish
  shore; which some people; guided by the present usage of the Custom
  House; may pretend is not so; to answer such objectors。  The true
  state of that case stands thus:
  〃(1)  The clause taken from the Act of Parliament establishing the
  extent of the Port of London; and published in some of the books of
  rates; is this:
  〃'To prevent all future differences and disputes touching the
  extent and limits of the Port of London; the said port is declared
  to extend; and be accounted from the promontory or point called the
  North Foreland in the Isle of Thanet; and from thence northward in
  a right line to the point called the Naze; beyond the Gunfleet upon
  the coast of Essex; and so continued westward throughout the river
  Thames; and the several channels; streams; and rivers falling into
  it; to London Bridge; saving the usual and known rights; liberties;
  and privileges of the ports of Sandwich and Ipswich; and either of
  them; and the known members thereof; and of the customers;
  comptrollers; searchers; and their deputies; of and within the said
  ports of Sandwich and Ipswich and the several creeks; harbours; and
  havens to them; or either of them; respectively belonging; within
  the counties of Kent and Essex。'
  〃II。  Notwithstanding what is above written; the Port of London; as
  in use since the said order; is understood to reach no farther than
  Gravesend in Kent and Tilbury Point in Essex; and the ports of
  Rochester; Milton; and Faversham belong to the port of Sandwich。
  〃In like manner the ports of Harwich; Colchester; Wivenhoe; Malden;
  Leigh; etc。; are said to be members of the port of Ipswich。〃
  This observation may suffice for what is needful to be said upon
  the same subject when I may come to speak of the port of Sandwich
  and its members and their privileges with respect to Rochester;
  Milton; Faversham; etc。; in my circuit through the county of Kent。
  End