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page 114:-
[per]formed, were they occasionally to alight and "range the
fields," either as directed, or at pleasure, where, on some
commanding knoll, they might watch the progress of the
clouds upon the face of the mountains, or their inverted
summits as reflected in the crystal mirror; or see the
declining sun with his warm rays, gilding the rocks and
trees, which, gradually losing their brilliant hues, sink,
at length, into complete obscurity.
What enjoyment can be derived by such as, lolling in their
coaches or their chariots, are confined to the vision of
their windows! Many so bevehicled have passed from Keswick
to Ambleside, and from Ambleside to Penrith, uniformly
leaving the finest views behind them.
A sociable is a better conveyance, unless it be on the
barouche seat, than a coach or a post-chaise; and as heavy
carriages are unfit for rough roads
page 115:-
the lake innkeepers ought to accommodate their guests with,
not only sociables, but carts on the sociable construction;
the carts to be drawn by single horses, and managed by
drivers well acquainted with the country.
Human ingenuity cannot devise a method by which the
monotonies of life would be more pleasantly diversified than
by such occasional jaunting: On any little eminence, a tent
might be planted in a moment, and from the larder and bins
of the cart refreshment procured; at the pleasure of the
party, plaintive solos on the clarionet or flute would have
a fine effect among the rocks, which, during intervals of
rest, would echo back in soft reverberation, the melancholy
notes, and produce on the mind an union of the most pleasing
sensations.
For such excursions, ten or twelve hours would be little
enough for most people.
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