to render the
conversation amusing; but the strangers seemed to look on the ladies of
the house with such gratitude and veneration, and were treated by them
with so much friendly politeness, as gave me pleasure. I found by the
various enquiries after different persons that these visitors likewise
lived in a large society. When they rose up to take leave Miss Trentham
proposed to walk part of the way home with them. No one objected to it,
for the evening was inviting, and they had designed to spend it in the
park, through which these ladies were to pass; for Lady Mary observed,
that after having shewn us the beauties of the place, they ought to
exhibit the riches of it.

The park is close to one side of the house; it is not quite three miles
round; the inequality of the ground much increases its beauty, and the
timber is remarkably fine. We could plainly perceive it had been many
years in the possession of good economists, who unprompted by necessity,
did not think the profit that might arise from the sale a sufficient
inducement to deprive it of some fine trees, which are now decaying, but
so happily placed, that they are made more venerable and not less
beautiful by their declining age. This park is much ornamented by two or
three fine pieces of water; one of them is a very noble canal, so
artfully terminated by an elegant bridge, beyond which is a wood, that
it there appears like a fine river vanishing from the eye.

Mrs Morgan stopped us in one spot, saying, from hence, as Lady Mary
observed, you may behold our riches, that building (pointing to what we
thought a pretty temple) which perhaps you imagine designed only for
ornament or pleasure, is a very large pidgeon house, that affords a
sufficient supply to our family, and many of our neighbours. That hill
on your right-hand is a warren, prodigiously stocked with rabbits; this
canal, and these other pieces of water, as well as the river you saw
this morning, furnish our table with a great profusion of fish. You will
easily believe from the great number of deer you see around us, that we
have as much venison as we can use, either in presents to our friends,
or our own family. Hares and all sorts of game likewise abound here; so
that with the help of a good dairy, perhaps no situation ever more amply
afforded all the necessaries of life. These are indeed our riches; here
we have almost every thing we can want, for a very small proportion of
that expense which others