the Danes having assisted the Britons in the battle fought on Hengiston Down, between the Cornish Britons and the Saxons. There are several barrows still visible in this valley. We now regained our boat. Another sharp bend in the river brought us to Calstock, with its old church perched high up the hill. Our whole attention was arrested by the Morwell rocks grandly towering many hundreds of feet above our heads; masses of luxuriant foliage partially conceal their rocky sides, but every here and there the dark rock appears in striking contrast to the varied shades of the trees; paths winding in and out, now affording a glimpse of the river gliding on far down below, and again lost in the depth of the woods. These paths proved irresistible to the ladies, who insisted on leaving the boat here instead of at Weir-head, and as they always have their way, we soon found ourselves toiling up one of them, and after some time reached the topmost peak and looking down the giddy height into the river. The view was magnificent; and we were obliged to a knowledge the ladies' superior judgment. Harewood was pointed out on the opposite side of the river; it is supposed by some to have been the scene of the tragedy of King Edgar and Elfrida. Following a path towards Weir-head we were kept in a perpetual state of admiration, every peep between the trees out-doing the preceding one in beauty. The Tamar rushing and foaming over the rocks that form the Weir, and sweeping round a fairy-like island, is one of the most charming of the views. There was not time to visit Old Morwell House, which was a hunting seat of the Abbots of Tavistock, as we had hired a carriage to drive to Endsleigh, the sylvan Devonshire residence of the Duke of Bedford. The Cottage is most exquisitely fitted up, in perfect keeping with its rural character and surroundings; it is very irregularly built, and has many ornamental gables, which enhance its picturesque appearance, and is situated amidst the most exquisite scenery. "The hills Rock-ribb'd and ancient as the sun-the vales BRYANT. One path led us between walls of rhododendrons, which grew several feet above our heads; following this road we arrived at the Alpine garden and Swiss cottage, which was so complete in every part, even the old man and woman who lived there being dressed like Swiss peasants, that we almost fancied we had been suddenly spirited away from Old England into one of the valleys of Switzerland. The delicious coolness of the Dairy dell, with its stream of water running through it, rushing over miniature waterfalls and under ferny banks surrounded by the thick woods, delighted us beyond everything. The dairy itself is a perfect picture every part of the interior is of marble, even the milkpans, and round each runs a stream of the purest water. Days might be spent in exploring the innumerable walks and drives of this loveliest of lovely retreats, but our hours were numbered, and we were obliged to tear ourselves away, and hasten back down the broad river, to the haunts of men. The Tamar looked very beautiful in the calm moon light, and the dark woods of Cothele and the towers of Pentillie appeared grander than ever, seen in this uncertain light. It was nearly midnight before we reached Plymouth, but being one of those still warm nights which frequently occur at the end of summer the hours flew unheeded, and it was not until arriving at the hotel we discovered how late it was, and how tired we were after our long day. The morrow saw us on our homeward road, all the pleasant excursions being ended for that summer at least: feelings of regret stole over all, when we found ourselves seated in the train that was quickly bearing us far away from the sylvan scenes we had so delighted in; but all the beauty was not yet quite left behind, for soon we were passing over the viaduct near Ivybridge, far down beneath which the river Erme rushes impetuously over large rocks through a densely wooded valley. At Totnes we left the train, to pay a visit to the fine old ruins of Berry Pomeroy Castle. The town of Totnes is extremely ancient: the piazzas and over-hanging fronts of the houses give sufficient evidence of this. While luncheon was preparing at the Seven Stars (a thoroughly old-fashioned country inn), we walked to the Castle. The fine old ruin, covered with ivy, is very interesting; the remains of the Roman Fosscway, which began here and passed through Somersetshire, Gloucestershire, and Leicestershire, to Lincoln, is still visible in some places, though more than 1,400 years old. Totnes has always had the character of being a very loyal place. In the reign of George I., when a land-tax of four shillings in the pound was levied, in an address to the King the people said they would not only pay the four shillings, but the other sixteen also. It has been commemorated in these quaint lines "To show our loyalty we're willing To pay a tax per pound four shilling ; After lunch we drove to Berry Pomeroy Castle; the magnificent ruin stands on a rocky eminence, surrounded by thick woods; it was built by Ralph de Pomeroi, who came over with William the Conqueror, and remained in the family of the Pomeroys for 500 years; it then passed to the Seymours, to whom it now belongs. A solemn grandeur pervades the place; ivy clings to every part, and hangs in long festoons from the walls and windows. One side of the castle is close to the edge of the high rock on which it is built. Tradition says, that here Henry Pomeroy perished. He was requested by King Richard to surrender his Castle; but rather than yield, he and his brother mounted their horses, and leaped over the precipice: the dark-stained stones below still mark the spot where they fell. "Here princely men, in bitter need, Untaught to bow before a foe, Fast flying forth on fiery steed, Plunged headlong to the depths below. And far beneath the rocky floor, Still blood-stained, may the time recall When horse and rider, toppling o'er, The castled steep looks down in pride. In one part of the ruin is a wonderful echo. I called out," Alas! for Pomeroy!" the words were repeated four times, each more distantly and sadly than before; long shall we remember these melancholy sounds, and the grand old fortress, once so full of life, resounding with the clanking of armour and the neighing of steeds, now so silent and forgotten, buried amongst its ancient woods. "Fall'n Pomeroy! thy ruined towers And ivy-roofed turrets, bowers For the lonely owl, crumbling and grey; When from our own dear home away, We were once more seated in the train, and flying past Newton, Teignmouth, and Dawlish; soon the towers of Exeter Cathedral were in sight, and here our party was broken up. "Good byes" had to be said; for "Now the last of many days, All beautiful and bright as thou, SHELLEY. S. "Et nunc omnis ager, nunc omnis parturit arbor, which has thus been translated : There is something inexpressibly pleasing in the annual renovation of the world, and the new display of the treasures of nature. The cold and darkness of winter make us rejoice at the succeeding season, and every budding flower, every wood-note wild, are considered by us as messengers notifying the approach of more joyous days. The spring affords to minds free from cares an inexhaustible store of pleasure. The variegated verdure of the fields and woods, the succession of grateful odours, the voice of pleasure pouring out its notes on every side, the vernal flowers, the balmy breeze, throw over the whole earth an air of gaiety significantly expressed by the smile of Nature. During the last month the fisherman has been preparing for his spring and summer campaign against the finny tribe; and, now the May-fly has appeared, the follower of old Izaak Walton may follow his favourite diversion to his heart's content. At such a season what can be more delightful than to realise the scene so graphically described by Stoddart in the following lines: "O! waken, winds; waken! The waters are still, The angler is watching beside the green springs His rod is unwielded, his tackle unfreed, And the withe-woven panniers he's flung on the mead; For the low welcome sound of your wandering wings." To the angler, then, the following epitome of the whole art of fishing may be of use: Season. Time to Angle. Depth from Ground. Names. Where Found. or pond. rents under bridges. sunset. Barbel... Gravel banks in cur- April to August. Very early late. or Ditto. Bleak Sandy bottoms-deep May to October.. All day............ 6 inches from bottom. Carp rivers. Still, deep mud bottom May to August... Sunrise to 6, and 3 in. from bottom; hot pond or river. Chub ..... Ditto rivers. Gudgeon. Gravel shoals.......... gravel or weedy bot- part. 3 to sunset. May to October.. Ditto weather, mid-water. Ditto. 6 to 12 inches from Near or on bottom. May to August... Sunrise to 10, 2 Ditto. Roach... Sandy bottoms deep May to October.. Mid-day.. 6 to 12 inches from bottom. Midway to the bottom. Cold weather, 6 inches to 9; hot weather, top to middle water. Tench.... Mud bottom, river or All the year...... Sunrise to 9, 3 to Cold weather, 3 inches Grayling. Clay bottom, swift All the year...... All day........ stream. from bottom; hot weather, mid-water. Cold weather, 6 to 9 inches; hot weather, top to mid-water. From angling we turn to boating. The season has commenced with a splendid trial of skill between the Oxford and Cambridge crews, each anxious for fluvial honours, or, as it has been aptly said, all-desirous to carry off the blue riband of the river. The race has already been described by abler pens than mine-suffice it to say, that two finer crews never entered the lists; and, although the light blues did not come off victorious, their defeat was no disgrace. And here a brief account of the two Universities may not be out of place, especially when the conversation at the clubs and dinner parties still turns on the "Banners of Blue." The origin of the University of Oxford is unknown, but it is certain that Oxford was a place of study in the reign of Edward the Confessor, if not earlier. The first places of education in Oxford appear to have been schools for the instruction of youth. These schools were either appendages to convents and other religious houses, or secular, such as were kept by, or rented of, the inhabitants. When many of these secular scholars resided in one house, it got the name of “hall," or "hostel" (terms still in use), and governors were appointed to superintend the discipline of the house. The schools were divided into grammar schools, sophistry schools, schools for arts, medicine or physic schools, law schools, divinity schools, &c. It is difficult to discover any traces of a regular plan of education in Oxford before the foundation of the first college by Walter de Merton. The earliest charter of privileges to the University of Oxford is of the twenty-eighth of Henry III., which was followed by fresh privileges during the reigns of Edward III., Henry V., Henry VI., and Henry VIII. The last con. firmation of the charters, liberties, and privileges granted to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge was in the thirteenth of Elizabeth. This University has been long governed by statutes, made at different times, and confirmed by the charters of the kings of England. Those at present in force were drawn up in 1629, and confirmed by a charter from King Charles I., in 1635. The following are the colleges, with the dates of their respective foundations: University-college, said to have been founded in 872, restored before 1249; Merton, founded at Maldon, in Surrey, in 1264, removed to Oxford, 1274; Exeter, 1314; Oriel, 1326; Queen's-college, 1340; New-college, 1386; Lincoln, 1427; All Souls, 1437; Magdalen, 1456; Brasennose, 1490; Corpus Christi, 1516; Christchurh-college, 1525; Trinity, 1554; St. John'scollege, 1555; Jesus-college, 1571; Wadham, 1613; Pembroke College, 1624; Worcester, 1714; St. Edmund-hall, soon after 1269; St. Mary-hall, 1333; New Inn-hall, 1392; Magdalen-hall, 1487; St. Alban's-hall, soon after 1547. James I. granted to this University the privilege of choosing two representatives in Parliament. The first establishment of the University of Cambridge is involved in much obscurity, but it is generally supposed to have been a seat of learning in the seventh century. The first charter known to have been granted to the University is fifteenth Henry III. (1230). Charters were granted by Edward III. and Henry VIII. Queen Elizabeth, in the third year of her reign, granted a charter; and, by an Act in 1570, the University was incorporated under the title of the Chancellor, Masters, and Scholars of the University of Cambridge. James I., in 1614, conferred on the University the privilege of sending two members to the House of Commons. The University of Cambridge is a union of seventeen colleges. All these colleges possess equal privileges, are maintained by the endowments of their several founders and benefactors, and each is a body corporate, bound by its own statutes, though subject to the general laws of the University- St. Peters'-college was founded in 1284; Clare-hall, Pembroke-college, Granville and Caiuscollege, Trinity-hall, and Corpus Christi-college, between the years 1326 and 1351; King's-college, Queens'-college, St. Catherine's-hall, and Jesus-college, between 1441 and 1497; Christ's-college, St. John's-college, Magdalen-college, Trinity-college, Emmanuel-college, Sidney Sussex-college, between 1505 and 1588; and Downing-college, in 1800. The several orders in the respective colleges are classed as graduates and undergraduates, or students. The graduates consist of |