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[Illustration: View of the Wye through a Gateway at Crickhowel.]
In Four Books.
By ROBERT BLOOMFIELD,
Author of The Farmer's Boy.
London:Printed for the Author; Vernor, Hood, and Sharpe, Poultry;and Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, Paternoster Row;
1811.
Printed by T. Hood and Co., St. John's Square, London.
To THOMAS LLOYD BAKER, ESQ.
Of Stout's Hill, Uley, And His Excellent Lady;
And
ROBERT BRANSBY COOPER, ESQ.
Of Ferwey Hill, Dursley, In The County Of Gloucester,
And All The Members Of His Family,
THIS JOURNAL IS DEDICATED,
With Sentiments Of High Esteem,
And A Lively Recollection Of Past Pleasures,
By Their Humble Servant,
THE AUTHOR.
In the summer of 1807, a party of my good friends in Gloucestershireproposed to themselves a short excursion down the Wye, and through part ofSouth Wales.
While this plan was in agitation, the lines which I had composed on"Shooter's Hill," during ill health, and inserted in my last volume,obtained their particular attention. A spirit of prediction, as well assorrow, is there indulged; and it was now in the power of this happy partyto falsify such predictions, and to render a pleasure to the writer of nocommon kind. An invitation to accompany them was the consequence; and thefollowing Journal is the result of that invitation.
Should the reader, from being a resident, or frequent visitor, be wellacquainted with the route, and able to discover inaccuracies in distances,succession of objects, or local particulars, he is requested to recollect,that the party was out but ten days; a period much too short for correctand laborious description, but quite sufficient for all the powers ofpoetry which I feel capable of exerting. The whole exhibits the languageand feelings of a man who had never before seen a mountainous country; andof this it is highly necessary that the reader should be apprized.
A Swiss, or perhaps a Scottish Highlander, may smile at supposed or realexaggerations; but they will be excellent critics, when they call to mindthat they themselves judge, in these cases, as I do, by comparison.
Perhaps it may be said, that because much of public approbation has fallento my lot, it was unwise to venture again. I confess that the journey leftsuch powerful, such unconquerable impressions on my mind, that embodyingmy thoughts in rhyme became a matter almost of necessity. To the partiesconcerned I know it will be an acceptable little volume: to whom, and tothe public, it Is submitted with due respect.
City Road, London,
June 30,1811
The Vale of Uley.—Forest of Dean.—Ross.—Wilton Castle.—Goodrich
Castle.—Courtfield, Welch Bicknor, Coldwell.—Gleaner's Song.—Coldwell
Rocks.—Symmon's Yat.—Great Doward.—New Wier.—Arthur's Hall.—Martin's
Well.—The Coricle.—Arrival at Monmouth.