Beyond the Castle are the bathing-machines; the villas of Earl Belfast and Lord Grantham; and behind these several others built in various tasty styles, and acquiring a picturesque effect from being more or less screened by the copse-wood on the steep slope at their back.  But the chief ornament of this quarter is the new Episcopal chapel, whether viewed near, or from a distance on the water,—­being a chastely-elegant structure in the Gothic style, in a most commanding situation:  it is private property.  Should the stranger feel disposed to extend his walk for about a mile further on the beach, which he would find very agreeable—­he will come to a gentleman’s residence distinguished by an air of antiquity, named Westcliff, though the neighbourhood is popularly called EGYPT.

We make this remark, because there is a lane close by, which turns up to the high-road from Cowes to Gurnard Bay, and by this road we would recommend the visitor by all means to return, for the sake of the magnificent prospect which it affords, and on the peculiar character of which the permanent attractions of the place so much depend.  But to do this justice, the reader must have recourse to his Map.  The most prominent objects are Calshot Castle, standing apparently isolated at the mouth of Southampton Water, and the tall tower of Eaglehurst, seated on the neighbouring shore.

By “permanent attractions,” we mean, that many landscapes of the most romantic character fail to attract our attention for any considerable time, on repeated visits, if destitute of those ever-varying circumstances which have in some degree the interest of NOVELTY such for instance as the rural, and more particularly the marine prospects of the Isle of Wight; these afford an endless source of amusement to the speculative eye,—­whether directed to the soft and gradual changes on the variegated face of Nature under cultivation, or to the more animated, and constantly shifting scene exhibited in a crowded sea-port, or where there are other safe and ample roadsteds for the heaviest ships of war.  In these advantages Cowes and Ryde stand pre-eminent.

    “Scenes must he beautiful, which daily viewed,
    Please daily, and whose novelty survives
    Long knowledge, and the scrutiny of years—­
    Praise justly due to those that I describe”

We are now supposed to have reached the top of the hill, where the old CHURCH is situated:  this is a spacious, plain building, having a very tall square tower, as destitute of beauty as anything of the kind can well be:  yet as it peers loftily above all the surrounding objects, is a great improvement to the outline of the hill, when viewed from any considerable distance.  Contiguous to the crowded cemetery stands ...

NORTHWOOD HOUSE, a large and elegant mansion in the Palladian style of architecture.  The PARK is an extensive demesne, and profusely planted; there are however comparatively few of those venerable sylvan honors which constitute the beauty of park-scenery.