piled with rushes in a stack-like form, on the top of
which sat two men holding two huge nosegays. This was drawn by a
team of Lord W----'s finest farm-horses, all covered with scarlet
cloths, and decked with ribbons and bells and flowers. After this
came twelve country lads and lasses, dancing the real old
morris-dance, with their handkerchiefs flying, and in all the
rustic elegance of apparel which they could command for the
occasion. After them followed a very good village band, and then a
species of flowery canopy, under which walked a man and woman
covered with finery, who, Lord W---- told me, represented Adam and
Eve. The procession closed with a _fool_ fantastically dressed out,
and carrying the classical bladder at the end of his stick. They
drew up before the house and danced their morris-dance for us. The
scraps of old poetry which came into my head, the contrast between
this pretty picture of a bygone time and the modern but by no means
unpicturesque group assembled under the portico, filled my mind
with the pleasantest ideas, and I was quite sorry when the rural
pageant wound up the woody heights again, and the last shout and
peal of music came back across the sunny lawn. I am very glad I saw
it. I have visited, too, Hopwood Hall, an enchanting old house in
the neighborhood of Heaton, some parts of which are as old as the
reign of Edward the First. The gloomy but comfortable oak rooms,
the beautiful and curious carving of which might afford one days of
entertaining study, the low, latticed windows, and intricate,
winding, up-and-down passages, contrasted and combined with all the
elegant adornments of modern luxury, and the pretty country in
which the house is situated, all delighted me. I must leave off
writing to you now; I have to dress, and dine at three, which I am
sorry for. Thank you for Mrs. Hemans's beautiful lines, which made
me cry very heartily. I have not been altogether well for the last
few days, and am feeling tired and out of spirits; if I can get a
few days' quiet enjoyment of the country at Heaton, I shall feel
fitter for my winter work than I do now.

MANCHESTER, September 20, 1830.
MY DEAREST H----,

I did not answer your letter which I received at Heaton, because
the latte