NOTITIA TOPOGRAPHICA BATH BRISTOL DEVON . A Tour Through Somersetshire & Devonshire in the Year 1828

RESEIGH, T

Date d'édition : 1828

A propos de cet article

A manuscript account of a Georgian tour from London to the West of England. Fine calligraphy over one hundred and twenty-six pages, supplemented with various engraved plates [from books]. Contemporary half calf with contrasting morocco label, rebacked and recased preserving the original spine. This journal of a Westcountry tour by a man of some means (perhaps derived from his professional capacity) is characterized by his enthusiastic and detailed descriptions of the architecture - see his accounts of Bristol Cathedral and St Mary Redcliffe, for instance - and his extravagant search for the picturesque, so that we often find him waxing lyrical on the fine views out of the window of his stagecoach. (And in certain places this disciple of William Gilpin, Warner et.al even intrudes his philosophical thoughts on that subject.) The journey begins from London in the Summer, on July 10th, and travelling along the western road, he first describes Devizes, and then his favourite of all cities, which has ' rather declined in fashionable estimation' : Bath. Here amongst numerous other sites, he visits Beckford's Tower, newly erected. Then on to Bristol where he meets his host and guide, Mr Parry of St Pauls. In the very long description of the second city of Britain, he has many pleasing digressions including how the terrible rains prevented his rambling to the village of Ashton with a large party of ladies ' to which the Bristolians repair in Summer time to ruralise and partake of fruit and cream, al fresco.' [P15]. At St Mary Redcliffe (church) he is by the subject of this building led into a disquisition on the poor poet Chatterton whose forgeries of genius and tragic death became a cause celebre a half century before the author's time. [Pp 31-2]. He is overwhelmed by the loveliness of Clifton and discusses at length the Hot Wells and the rocks round about, which when broken up consist of a red-brown marble, hard and close grained, and capable of ' a strong sulphureous smell.' [P49] At Mr Parry's brother's house he is treated to the rendition of a skilled flute-player, but a disordered stomach drives him early to bed [P57]. So on he goes, with a short description of Bridgwater, Taunton, and Cullumpton. He is now in Devon, but Cullumpton does not altogether impress him, since he considers that the ' vacant curiosity ' of many of the inhabitants ' is powerfully excited by the approach of any object that tends to interrupt the listless tranquillity of their little town.' [P62]. He continues to Exeter and travels along the coast via Dawlish, Teignmouth, Torquay and Brixham to Kingswear and Dartmouth, where he hires a boat and visits a vast cavern at the mouth of the estuary [P99]; then up the estuary via Dittisham to Totnes, stopping on the way for his boatman to have some Devonshire cider, which he considers ' one of the vilest potations I ever passed between my lips.' At Totnes, he stays at the Seven Stars and has some interesting observations not only on the town's cleanness but its narrow, dark and gloomy streets. Onwards to Plymouth via the newly built 500 ft Laira Bridge. He stays at the Globe Inn, a resort of commercial travellers and explains how travel in England is both the best and most expensive, commercial inns offering the best value. At the Globe he bumps into the author F.W. Stockdale and gives us a highly amusing account of their interaction [Pp116-119].Stockdale is a flamboyant character who talks to everyone at table. He announces to all that he is engaged upon ' a very splendid and extensive topographical work ' about Devon and is collecting information around the County and making drawings. The work will soon be published by subscription at four guineas, and he reads out a list of names of some of the Devon nobility and gentry who have subscribed. The writer decides that this character, whose ' fanfaronade and egotistical vanity ' had excited his curiosity, he must talk further with; and as if.

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Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: NOTITIA TOPOGRAPHICA BATH BRISTOL DEVON . A Tour Through Somersetshire & Devonshire in the Year 1828
• Date de parution: 1828
• Langue: anglais
• Reliure: Hardcover
• État de l'article: Fine.
• Catalogues du vendeur:
  • CATALOGUE 100