The images of the smoke and the travellers are taken from your picture; the rest were added, in order to place the thought in a clear point of view, and for the sake of variety.  I hope Coleorton continues to improve upon you and Lady Beaumont; and that Mr. Taylor’s new laws and regulations are at least peaceably submitted to.  Mrs. W. and I return in a few days to Grasmere.  We cannot say that the child for whose sake we came down to the sea-side has derived much benefit from the bathing.  The weather has been very unfavourable:  we have, however, contrived to see every thing that lies within a reasonable walk of our present residence; among other places, Mulcaster—­at least as much of it as can be seen from the public road; but the noble proprietor has contrived to shut himself up so with plantations and chained gates and locks, that whatever prospects he may command from his stately prison, or rather fortification, can only be guessed at by the passing traveller.  In the state of blindness and unprofitable peeping in which we were compelled to pursue our way up a long and steep hill, I could not help observing to my companion that the Hibernian peer had completely given the lie to the poet Thomson, when, in a strain of proud enthusiasm, he boasts,

I care not, Fortune, what you me deny,
You cannot rob me of free Nature’s grace;
You cannot shut the windows of the sky,
Through which Aurora shows her brightening face;
You cannot bar my constant feet to trace
The woods and lawns by living stream, &c.
(Castle of Indolence.)

The windows of the sky were not shut, indeed, but the business was done more thoroughly; for the sky was nearly shut out altogether.  This is like most others, a bleak and treeless coast, but abounding in corn-fields, and with a noble beach, which is delightful either for walking or riding.  The Isle of Man is right opposite our window; and though in this unsettled weather often invisible, its appearance has afforded us great amusement.  One afternoon, above the whole length of it was stretched a body of clouds, shaped and coloured like a magnificent grove in winter when whitened with snow and illuminated by the morning sun, which, having melted the snow in part, has intermingled black masses among the brightness.  The whole sky was scattered over with fleecy dark clouds, such as any sunshiny day produces, and which were changing their shapes and position every moment.  But this line of clouds immoveably attached themselves to the island, and manifestly took their shape from the influence of its mountains.  There appeared to be just span enough of sky to allow the hand to slide between the top of Snafell, the highest peak in the island, and the base of this glorious forest, in which little change was noticeable for more than the space of half an hour.  We had another fine sight one evening, walking along a rising ground, about two miles distant from the shore.  It was