ST. CLARE, another delightful residence:  the house built in the castellated style:  and the pleasure-grounds and very extensive gardens, truly exquisite.

PUCKPOOL, a sequestered Swiss Cottage.

SPRING-VALE, a pretty hamlet composed of lodging-houses.—­A carriage-road hence by the back of St. Clare.

SEA-VIEW (two miles), another pleasant hamlet, containing several lodging-houses:  and having near it the beautiful villas of SEA-FIELD, FAIRY-HILL, SEA-GROVE, &c.  A road hence to Nettlestone Green.

The grounds of the Priory extend eastward for about a mile:  the sandy beach the whole of the distance is remarkably fine.

>> From the above it is apparent, that a Party may have a very pleasant saunter just as far as may prove agreeable, according to their ability for walking; as there is a choice of roads by which to return, thus making a circuit of any extent they like.

* * * * *

We now start by the regular carriage-road for the rocky coast (commonly called the Back of the island), and first reach a hamlet on the rise of the next hill, named OAK-FIELD, and then ...

ST. JOHN’s, a first-rate seat,—­mansion plain, but admirably situated for prospect, and screened by beautiful wood, as will appear in the road making several sudden turns, over-arched by lofty trees, especially the silver fir.  Shortly the tower of St. Clare appears on our left:  WESTRIDGE in a valley on the right; and several other minor seats are successively passed,—­some partially seen through the woods and shrubberies, and others quite secluded.

>> From the hamlet called Nettlestone Green (about two miles from Ryde,) a carriage-road leads down to Sea-view, by which the party may on another occasion return on the beach to Ryde, passing the back of St. Clare.

THE PRIORY is three miles from Ryde:  it takes its name from having been the site of an ancient monastic cell—­is a spacious, plain mansion, and ranks among the finest seats in the island:  here too, much of the wood is uncommonly fine, notwithstanding its exposure to the sea-air.  Arriving at ...

ST. HELEN’s GREEN,

We are presented with a beautiful view of the Peninsula of Bembridge, Brading Haven, and the British Channel.  The houses are mostly scattered round a large verdant square (which gives the name):  and a spacious building, to answer the purposes both of a parish school and chapel, has been lately supplied by the liberality of a resident gentleman.  But the chief object of curiosity here is THE OLD CHURCH-TOWER, standing now at the water’s edge, and still struggling against the further “encroachment of the sea,” which in the year 1719, was such as to oblige the parishioners to build another place of worship in a more secure situation:  this we passed near the Priory.  The old tower was strengthened with a thick facing of brick-work, and painted white; for it was required to be preserved as a landmark to ships entering the roadsted.  There is something extremely tranquil and pleasing in the whole of the scene,—­and though the composition is simple, forms an excellent subject for a sketch.