We should not have
taken this journey just now, but I had an official engagement which it
was convenient to combine with a pleasure-excursion. The first night we
arrived at Chester, and put up at the Albion Hotel, where we found
ourselves very comfortable. We took the rail at twelve the next day, and
went as far as Milnethorpe station, where we engaged seats in an
old-fashioned stage-coach, and came to Newby Bridge. I suppose there are
not many of these coaches now running on any road in Great Britain; but
this appears to be the genuine machine, in all respects, and especially
in the round, ruddy coachman, well moistened with ale, good-natured,
courteous, and with a proper sense of his dignity and important position.
U----, J-----, and I mounted atop, S-----, nurse, and R----- got inside,
and we bowled off merrily towards the hearts of the hills. It was more
than half past nine when we arrived at Newby Bridge, and alighted at the
Swan Hotel, where we now are.
It is a very agreeable place: not striking as to scenery, but with a
pleasant rural aspect. A stone bridge of five arches crosses the river
Severn (which is the communication between Windermere Lake and Morecambe
Bay) close to the house, which sits low--and well sheltered in the lap of
hills,--an old-fashioned inn, where the landlord and his people have a
simple and friendly way of dealing with their guests, and yet provide
them with all sorts of facilities for being comfortable.
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