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Page 12
"How picturesque the view, where up the side
Of that steep hill, the roofs of russet thatch
Rise mix'd with trees, above whose swelling tops
Ascends the tall church-tower, and loftier still
The hill's extended ridge, crown'd with yellow corn--
While slow beneath the bank, the silver stream
Glides by the flowery isles and willow groves."
* * * * *
NEWPORT.
>>_To form an idea merely of the Town, it will be sufficient for a
stranger to pace two or three of the principal streets--the High-st. of
course from one end to the other; he will then see the_ TOWN-HALL: _the
old_ PARISH-CHURCH, _situated in the Corn-market; the public_ LIBRARY
_in the Beast-market; and the ancient_ GRAMMAR-SCHOOL. _The most
inviting short walks are over_ MONTJOY'S _to Carisbrooke_--_to the top
of_ PAN DOWN--_and to Hurststake, on the banks of the_ RIVER, _at high
tide_.
* * * * *
NEWPORT is allowed by most travellers to be as clean and pretty a
country-town as any in the kingdom. The houses are of a modern and
respectable construction: the streets regular and well paved, with
sufficient descent to be always clean; and two copious streams water it
on the east and west.
Being closely surrounded by an amphitheatre of lofty downs, beautifully
checquered by pasture and cultivation, cottages and villas,--the
environs are of the most agreeable and inviting character, and the
climate mild and salubrious; to those therefore who love to blend social
intercourse with the pleasures of a cheerful yet quiet retreat, Newport
presents many decided attractions. Years ago it was observed, that
"there were few provincial towns which could afford independence more
sources of rational enjoyment:" and since then there has been a great
accession to the local means of intellectual pleasure, in respect of
philosophical and literary institutions, private and professional
reading societies, a Mechanics' Institution, circulating libraries, &c.
&c. The places of public worship too have equally increased; being three
episcopal (two of recent erection), two for Independents, two for
Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists, a Bible-Christian, a Roman-catholic,
a Unitarian, and a Particular-baptist. There are five respectable inns,
in the town (see the List), and two assembly-rooms.
From its central position, it is well calculated for being the principal
market-town, and, as it were the metropolis, of the island. On the
Saturdays in particular, it presents a very animated scene: being
frequented by all classes who are obliged to attend for the purposes of
business, or upon judicial affairs; which would naturally induce many
other parties to visit in favorable weather, were it only for the sake
of a pleasant jaunt.
These advantages of course give it a steady trade in almost every branch
of business; and latterly the shops have exchanged much of their
antiquated country appearance for the more imposing style of the
fashionable towns,--where dazzling glare is resorted to as the chief
attraction.
Though Newport does not depend, like the watering-places, upon the
annual influx of visitors engaging their lodgings for a season, yet
many of the best situated and most convenient houses are handsomely
fitted-up for the purpose; and should the river be ever
sufficiently deepened to admit a passage steamer to ply at regular
hours without regard to the state of the tide, Newport might defy
all competition, by the rapid improvement of its various local
capabilities which would necessarily follow.
The River (called the Medina, from dividing the island in the middle,)
is navigable from Newport to Cowes for vessels of sixty or seventy tons
burthen, during high water. The banks are beautifully dressed with
scattered groves and copse-wood: and interspersed with the arable fields
and meadows are several churches, seats, villas, farms, and cottages, on
either side: and as the lands rise rather boldly, the while scene is
viewed to advantage from the water, and will be found to afford a very
delightful trip on a summer's day, to or from Cowes; the party leaving
by the returning tide after about two hours' stay at either place.
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