*

_Saturday_, _September_ 24_th_.--Rose very early and travelled about nine
miles to Longtown, before breakfast, along the banks of the Esk. About
half a mile from Langholm crossed a bridge. At this part of the vale,
which is narrow, the steeps are covered with old oaks and every variety
of trees. Our road for some time through the wood, then came to a more
open country, exceedingly rich and populous; the banks of the river
frequently rocky, and hung with wood; many gentlemen's houses. There was
the same rich variety while the river continued to flow through Scottish
grounds; but not long after we had passed through the last turnpike gate
in Scotland and the first in England--but a few yards asunder--the vale
widens, and its aspect was cold, and even dreary, though Sir James
Graham's plantations are very extensive. His house, a large building,
stands in this open part of the vale. Longtown was before us, and ere
long we saw the well-remembered guide-post, where the circuit of our six
weeks' travels had begun, and now was ended.

We did not look along the white line of the road to Solway Moss without
some melancholy emotion, though we had the fair prospect of the
Cumberland mountains full in view, with the certainty, barring accidents,
of reaching our own dear home the next day. Breakfasted at the Graham's
Arms. The weather had been very fine from the time of our arrival at
Jedburgh, and this was a very pleasant day. The sun 'shone fair on
Carlisle walls' when we first saw them from the top of the opposite hill.
Stopped to look at the place on the sand near the bridge where Hatfield
had been executed. Put up at the same inn as before, and were recognised
by the woman who had waited on us. Everybody spoke of Hatfield as an
injured man. After dinner went to a village six miles further, where we
slept.

* * * * *

_Sunday_, _September_ 25_th_, 1803.--A beautiful autumnal day.
Breakfasted at a public-house by the road-side; dined at Threlkeld;
arrived at home between eight and nine o'clock, where we found Mary in
perfect health, Joanna Hutchinson with her, and little John asleep in the
clothes-basket by the fire.

* * * * *

SONNET

COMPOSED BETWEEN DALSTON AND GRASMERE,
SEPTEMBER 25TH, 1803.

Fly, some kind spirit, fly to Grasmere Vale!
Say that we come, and come by this day's lig