Dear is the rural scene that Fancy loves, Where tuneful Rapture chants th’ enliv’ning song, In wildest warblings to the darkling groves, Pouring in wildest mood the strains along; While Echo, from the leafy bowers among, Gives a soft cadence to the songster’s tale, A mingled sweetness to the warbling throng, That comes in whispers on the balmy gale. These, Mareham, with thy spreading greenwood shade, Thy silent waters, and thy mossy cell, Breathe such a charm, that oft Delight has strayed, With ling’ring steps, ’mid scenes she lov’d so well; And when fond Mem’ry shall thy joys renew, She’ll tell with musing voice her sweet, her last adieu. The church consists of a tower, a nave with north and south aisles and a chancel. {49} In the chancel is a tablet to the memory of the Rev. Henry Shepherd, who was rector of this parish thirty-four years, and died in January 1764, aged 62. The advowson of the rectory belongs to the Bishop of Carlisle. CONINGSBY, In Domesday Cuningesbi, is a considerable village on the banks of the river Bane, about eight miles from Horncastle. The manor, which was once possessed by the Marmions of Wintringham, has for many years belonged to the Heathcote family, and is now the property of Sir Gilbert Heathcote, Baronet, of Normanton in Rutlandshire. The church consists of a tower of excellent masonry, a nave, two aisles and a chancel. {50} The rectory, which is in the presentation of the lord of the manor, was for several years held by the Reverend John Dyer, the poet. It was here that he finished his didactic poem of “The Fleece.” He died at this place in 1782, and lies buried in the church; but there is no inscription to perpetuate his memory. LANGRIVILLE AND THORNTON LE FEN. The lands composing these parishes were chiefly those sold by the commissioners appointed under the act for draining and enclosing Wildmore Fen; Langriville also contains the portion allotted to the Earl of Stamford and Warrington, in lieu of his manorial rights over Armtree and Wildmore. In 1812, an act of parliament was passed rendering these lands, with others, parochial, and approximating these two parishes to the soke of Horncastle. POPULATION. {54}