Travels in England in 1782

, 21st J

re, at least in the eyes of a foreigner, quite elegant, lined in the inside; and with two seats large enough

stly by ladies, there being only one more gentleman and myself. The conversation of the ladies among themselves, who appeared to be a little acquainted

he way houses on both sides, after you are out of the city; just as you may remember the case is with us when you driv

ast them, so provokingly quick. It appeared somewhat singular to me, when at a few miles from London, I saw at a distance a beautiful white house; and perceive

d of stories of robberies which had been committed on travellers, hereabouts; so that the ladies at last began to be rather afraid; on which he began to s

s for the merest trifle, of which they rob the person murdered. These are called footpads, and are the low

e generally well and handsomely dressed, so that you take them to be persons of rank; as indeed may sometimes be the case: persons who by

hemselves in possession of their purses. Among these persons, however, there are instances of true greatness of soul, there are numberless instance

illings, any unfortunate people who happen to fall in their way. Of this several mournful instances may be read almost daily in the English papers. Probably they murder, because they cannot li

nient to pay a full price, instead of the inside, sit on the top of the coach, without any seats or even a rail. By what means passengers thus fasten th

e and bustle, as sometimes almost frightened us. He who can properly balance himself, rides not incommodiously on the outside; and in summer time, in fine weather, on account of the prospects, it certainly is mor

e my travelling companions. They could not help thinking it somewhat preposterous that a Jew should be ashamed to ride on the outside, or on any side, and in any way; since as they added

h led me to wish, as I soon most earnestly did, to be released from this movable prison. Towards evening we arrived at Richmond. In London, before I set

d drunk my tea, I went out immediately to

d to me here more sociable and more hospitable. I saw several sitting on benches before their doors, to enjoy the cool breeze of the evening. On a large green area in the middle of the town, a number of

y as often as you pass over it. The bridge is lofty and built in the form of an arch, and from i

errace at Richmond does assuredly afford one of the finest prospects in the world. Whatever is charming in nature, or pleasing in art, is to be seen here. Nothing I had eve

in London, and I had vented a thousand bitter reproaches on my irresolution, that I

l that here you will be sure to find all those ideas realised. In every point of view, Richmond is assuredly one of the first situations in

ies walking arm in arm along the banks of the Thames. Everything breathed a soft and pleasing calm, which

d on the other the Thames, with its shelvy bank and charming lawns rising like an amphitheatre, along which, here and there, one espies a picturesque white house, a

I traversed to and fro thy meads, thy little swelling hills and flowery dells, and above all that queen of all rivers, thy own majestic Thames, I forgot all sublunary cares,

ty lands where my, perhaps a less indulgent, destiny has placed me, and where, in the due discharge of all the arduous and important duties of that humble function to which providence has called me, I must and I will faithfully exert

lk. Of the evening I passed at Richmond, I speak feebly when I content myse

en glistening with the morning dew! These fond hopes, alas, were all disappointed. In all great schemes of enjoyment, it is, I believe, no bad way always to figure to yourself some possible evil that may arise, and to anticipate a disappointment. If I had done so, I should no

uring hill, known by the name of Richmond Hill, which was the very same hill from the top of which I had just been gazing at

y sustain in England by their bad custom of rising so late, for as I was the only one in this family who was up, I could not get out of the house. This obliged me to spend three most irksome and heavy hours till six o'clock; however, a servant at length opened th

gentlemen's country seats. One does not wonder to see it thus occupied; besides the pure air, the prospect exceeds everything else of the ki

near a semicircle, in which it seems to embrace woody plains, with meadows and country seats in

e finest I had ever seen. But what is the reason that yesterday evening my feelings were far more acute and lively, the impressions made on me much stronger, when from the vale I viewed

, the only companion I have, and now again set out on this rom