The roads are very bad to Greatworth; and such numbers of gates, that if one loved punning one should call it the Gate-house. — The proprietor had a wonderful invention:  the chimneys, which are of stone, have niches and benches in them, where the man used to sit and smoke.  I had twenty disasters, according to custom; lost my way, and had my French boy almost killed by a fall with his horse:  but I have been much pleased.  When I was at Park-place I went to see Sir H. Englefield’s,(415) which Mr. Churchill and Lady Mary prefer, but I think very undeservedly, to Mr. Southcote’s.  It is not above a quarter as extensive, and wants the river.  There is a pretty view of Reading seen under a rude arch, and the water is well disposed.  The buildings are very insignificant, and the house far from good.  The town of Henley has been extremely disturbed with an engagement between the ghosts of Miss Blandy and her father, which continued so violent, that some bold persons, to prevent farther blood-shed, broke in, and found it was two jackasses which had got into the kitchen.

I felt strangely tempted to stay at Oxford and survey it at my leisure; but as I was alone, I had not courage.  I passed by Sir James Dashwood’S,(416) a vast new house, situated so high that it seems to stand for the county as well as himself.  I did look over Lord Jersey’s(417) which was built for a hunting-box, and is still little better.  But now I am going to tell you how delightful a day I passed at Wroxton.  Lord Guildford has made George Montagu so absolutely viceroy over it, that we saw it more agreeable than you can conceive; roamed over the whole house, found every door open, saw not a creature, had an extreme good dinner, wine, fruit, coffee and tea in the library, were served by fairies, tumbled over the books, said one or two talismanic words, and the cascade played, and went home loaded with pine-apples and flowers.—­You will take me for Monsieur de CoulangeS,(418) I describe eatables so feelingly; but the manner in which we were served made the whole delicious.  The house was built by a Lord Downe in the reign of James the First; and though there is a fine hall and a vast dining-room below, and as large a drawing-room above, it is neither good nor agreeable; one end of the front was never finished, and might have a good apartment.  The library is added by this Lord, and is a pleasant chamber.  Except loads of portraits, there is no tolerable furniture.  A whole-length of the first Earl of Downe is in the Bath-robes, and has a coif under the hat and feather.  There is a charming picture of Prince Henry about twelve years old, drawing his sword to kill a stag, with a Lord Harrington; a good portrait of Sir Owen Hopton,(419) 1390; your pious grandmother, my Lady Dacre, which I think like you; some good Cornelius Johnsons; a Lord North, by Riley, good; and an extreme fine portrait by him of the Lord Keeper:  I have never seen but few of the hand, but most of them have