The magnificent and old residence of the Grenville family, called _Stowe_, in this parish, has been pulled down many years, and the park dismantled. It was one of the most superb residences in England, and the beauty of the grounds and scenery adjacent, have been frequently eulogized. John Grenville, Earl of Bath in the reign of Charles II., erected it. It stood on an eminence, overlooking a well-wooded valley; but not a tree near it, says Dr. Borlase, to shelter it from the north-west. That writer speaks of it as by far the noblest house in the west of England, and says that the kitchen offices fitted up for a dwelling-house, made no contemptible figure. It is a singular circumstance, that the cedar wainscot, which had been brought out of a Spanish prize, and used by the Earl of Bath for fitting up the chapel in this mansion, was purchased by Lord Cobham at the time of its demolition (the house being then sold piecemeal) and applied to the same purpose at Stowe, the magnificent seat of the noble family of Grenville in Buckinghamshire, where it still remains. Kilkhampton is noticed in history, as the place where the renowned and pious Harvey conceived his Meditations among the Tombs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ EXCURSION III. _From Stratton to Bodmin; through Launceston, Callington, Saltash, St. Germains, and Liskeard._ The country between Stratton and Launceston, a distance of 12 miles, does not present anything requiring particular notice, except perhaps, within a few miles of the latter place bordering on Devon, _Werrington Park_, the seat of his Grace, the Duke of Northumberland. The house is rather a low building, and in point of architecture, is by no means imposing. The situation of the park, however, is particular fine, being highly diversified and embellished with some of the finest trees and foliage in the kingdom. On entering St. Stephen’s, the attention of the traveller is immediately arrested by the handsome appearance of its _Church_, which is embellished with a handsome _Gothic Tower_, of great height. This edifice was rebuilt in the sixteenth century, and before the Conquest, was made collegiate; but suppressed through the influence of William Warlewast, Bishop of Exeter, who founded a Priory of Austin Monks in the adjoining parish of St. Thomas. This continued until the dissolution of religious houses in the reign of Henry VIII., when its annual revenues were valued at 354£. 0_s._ 11½_d._; yet not a vestige of it has been in existence for many years. A most interesting view of Launceston presents itself from the bridge of Newport, and the _Keep_ of its venerable castle rises with awful dignity over the surrounding houses. The accompanying view is taken from the position alluded to.