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above tier. Behind these are receding hills, spotted at wider intervals with gay and luxurious villas, each in its own enclosure, and surrounded by dark green foliage. The picture is in itself a beautiful and a striking oneand it is the more impressive from the associations and feelings that arise on looking upon such a scene of wealth and refinement.

Torbay is one of the finest and most beautiful bays around the whole English coast. It is bounded on the north by a bold headland, which bears the elegant designation of Hope's Nose, and it sweeps round in a splendid curve to the lofty promontory of Berry Head, which forms its southern boundary. The distance between the two extremities is above four miles; the depth, in the centre of the bay, is about three miles and a half; the coast line is upwards of twelve miles. Within its ample bosom a navy might ride at anchor. Considerable fleets have lain within it. From its surface, the aspect of the bay is of surpassing beauty. On the northern side lies Torquay, beneath its sheltering hills at the southern extremity is the busy town of Brixham, with its fleet of fishing-boats lying under the shelter of the bold promontory of Berry Head. Between these distant points are two or three villages with their church towers, and all along are scattered cottages or villas, serving as links to connect the towns and hamlets. The coast-line is broken by deep indentations and projecting rocks. The shore rises now in bluff and rugged cliffs, and presently sinks in verdant and wooded slopes: and behind and above all stretches far away, as a lovely back-ground, a richly diversified and fertile country; while to complete the glorious panorama, the bosom of the bay is alive with ships, and yachts, and numerous trawls.

Let us go ashore again, and look at the two or three spots that lie along the bay. Adjoining Torquay are a few vestiges of an old monastery of the Premonstratensian order, and which, according to Dr. Oliver, (Historical Collections relating to the Monasteries in Devon')," was undoubtedly the richest priory belonging to that order in England." It was founded in the reign of Richard I., and it continued to flourish till the general destruction of monasteries in the reign of Henry VIII. The priory stood in one of the most exquisite spots in this land of beauty; and its happilychosen site is a testimony to the community of feeling among the monks with what Humboldt (in his Cosmos') "traces in the writings of the Christian Fathers of the Church, the fine expression of a love of nature, nursed in the seclusion of the hermitage." The few fragments that remain of the old priory are in the gardens of the modern mansion which bears the name of Tor Abbey. They are almost entirely covered with ivy, and are so dilapidated that no judgment of the ancient architecture can be formed from them.

About the centre of Torbay lies the village of Paign ton, once a place of some consequence, as its large old church testifies. The bishops of Exeter had formerly a seat here, some fragments of which are standing near the old church. Paignton's chief fame till within these

very few years arose from its cider and its cabbages! The country around Paignton is very fertile, and the cider-apple is largely cultivated. A great deal of cider is annually shipped from Paignton to London and other places. About ten years ago a pier was constructed, at which vessels of 200 tons burden can load and unload. Of late, Paignton has greatly increased in size and altered in character. Torquay has no good bathing-place; and since the construction of the new road, the residents there have availed themselves of the sands at Paignton, which are well adapted for bathing. At first a few, and afterwards a great many, visitors sought for houses or lodgings here. To accommodate them, a good number of convenient houses have been erected; and the place is growing fast in size as well as reputation. It is not at all unlikely that it will some day have its full share of popularity. Paignton has many advantages as a watering-place; it lies in a pleasant and picturesque spot, almost in the centre of the splendid bay, over which the uplands command the grandest prospects: the sands are good and well adapted for bathing. The lanes and walks around the town are the pleasantest and most picturesque in this neighbourhood. Though not so sheltered as Torquay, Paignton is by no means exposed; and if not quite so warm, the air is less relaxing.

Brixham, which lies at the southern extremity of the bay, is one of the first and wealthiest fishing-towns in England. About two hundred and fifty sail of vessels belong to the town, besides some fifty or sixty of the smaller fishing-boats. The extent of the fishing trade is enormous, the largest, it is said, in England. In Norman times the town belonged to the Novants; and from them it passed in succession through several other noble hands. The present lords of Brixham are Brixham fishermen. The manor was purchased some time back by twelve fishermen; these twelve shares were afterwards subdivided, and these have been again divided. Each holder of a share, or portion of a share, however small, is styled 'a quay lord.' If you see a thickbearded, many-jacketed personage, who carries himself with a little extra consequence in the market-place, you may be sure he is a Brixham lord.

Brixham is a long, straggling, awkward, ungainly place. It stands in a picturesque position, and it looks picturesque at a distance. Not but what there are parts of it which, close at hand, are picturesque enough after a fashion. Down by the shore, Prout would make capital pictures of the shambling-houses, and the bluff weather-beaten hulls that are hauled on the beach or lie alongside the pier. The Upper Town, or ChurchBrixham, is built on the south side of Berry Head; the Church is there, and the better houses are there also. The Lower Town, or Brixham Quay, is the business part of the town the streets are narrow, dirty, and unfragrant,-a sort of Devonshire Wapping with a Billingsgate smell. There is here a Pier, which forms a tolerable tidal harbour. But the great increase in the trade (and Brixham is a port of some consequence apart from its fishery) has rendered the old harbour insufficient,

and a new Breakwater is now in course of construction, which will, it is expected, form a sufficient shelter for large merchant ships and frigates of war. (Cut, No. 8.) It was at Brixham Quay that William, Prince of Orange, landed on that expedition which gave to him the British crown, and secured to England its constitution. The Dutch fleet, after some misadventures, rode safely into Torbay on the morning of the 5th of November, 1688. The townsmen of Brixham welcomed their arrival by carrying off provisions, and proffered their boats for the landing of the troops. As soon as a British regiment was sent ashore, William himself followed, and superintended the disembarkation of the remainder of the army. Burnet says the Prince's whole demeanour wore an unusual air of gaiety. While William was busily engaged in directing the military arrangements, the self-important Doctor stepped up to him and offered his service in any way he could be of "And what do you think of predestination now, Doctor?" was the Prince's reply. Dartmouth says he added a hint about studying the canons,-which Burnet

use.

seems to have caught the drift of more accurately than of the question.

In the centre of the market-place of Brixham stands a monument, in which is fixed a block of stone, with this inscription engraven on it: "On this stone, and near this spot, William, Prince of Orange, first set foot on landing in England, 5th of November, 1688." When William IV. visited Brixham, the inhabitants presented him with a small fragment of this stone enclosed in a box of heart of oak.

The fleet which brought William to England was not the last that has lain at Torbay. In the following year the French fleet, after having defeated the combined English and Dutch squadron, sailed into Torbay, and lay there for several days. The fleet of Earl St. Vincent made Torbay a principal station. The Bellerophon, with Bonaparte on board of it, was anchored off Brixham for some time. The fallen Emperor is said to have gazed over the bay with undisguised admiration: "What a beautiful country! how much it resembles Porto Ferrajo in Elba!" was his exclamation.

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