made, or are now in progress, tend to soften, embellish, and in point of convenience to improve the face of the country.  On this subject however it will be a question with many persons of good taste, whether any of these artificial operations are really improvements upon the native character of the island.  An artist would most probably decide in the negative:  but we know there are many nevertheless, who consider that whatever deterioration the island may experience in some of her more wild and romantic features, is amply compensated by the spread of cultivation and rural decoration, by the increased facilities of travelling, and the multiplied means of enjoyment now afforded to the pleasure-tourist.

* * * * *

A few particulars will suffice for the present, to prove the above assertions, and may perhaps be found

USEFUL HINTS TO STRANGERS

Purposing a visit to the shores of the Garden of England.  They may arrange to breakfast comfortably at the usual hour in London—­start by the rail-road, and reach either of the above ports at noon, or even earlier—­steam-packets are in readiness to convey the passengers across, and stage-coaches and other vehicles await their arrival at Cowes and Ryde:  our friends may then ride round one-half of the island, and return the next, or even the same night! but this of course is abridging the affair a little too much.  But allow a full week, and that will suffice to render it a very pleasant trip.  If, for example, you come to Southampton, sleep there, or at least tarry a few hours in the examination of it:  then take the last steamer to Cowes or Ryde, and sleep there the first night:  next morning commence the regular Tour of three days, dining and sleeping twice or thrice at one or other of the inns situated on the rocky side of the island, to enjoy at the same time the more unusual feast of a wide prospect of the sea, and the music of the foaming breakers thundering on the beach below.  Supposing you start from Cowes, as being opposite Southampton, the Route will bring you round to Ryde; where you cross to Portsmouth, and having gone over the fortifications, the dock-yard, and Nelson’s ship, return by one or other of the rail-roads.  But if you arrive by Portsmouth and Ryde, then return via Cowes and ’Hampton.—­For the details of the several routes, the reader is of course referred to the chapter “Tours,” at the end of the Work.

That part of the island immediately opposite Hampshire is generally well-wooded, with an easy descent to the shore—­populous and busy, as might be expected from the two considerable watering-places before named, and several excellent harbors.  But the south side (familiarly called the Back of the Island,) being washed by the impetuous tides of the ocean, presents a very different aspect, showing the resistless progress of the waves:—­and