The pleasure of such moments, when the heart is filled with every sentiment of benevolence, is frequently felt but can never be described: the imagination following, the eye is naturally carried to that part of the horizon which invelopes the habitation of those we admire and esteem; it takes its seat by the social fire-side or its place in the friendly evening’s ramble, it recalls past scenes of happiness, the amusements and the friendships of our youth and paints them with a force inimitable: in short such an unbounded scope is there allowed for the illusions of fancy, that I am not altogether certain but that such ideal enjoyments are more than equal to the majority of real ones which are anticipated with so much ardour. However if they do not exceed or equal, they must at least be allowed to approach very near them; and I am inclined to think that the number of those is not small who will concur with me in this opinion. Proceeding forward the sea again makes its appearance upon the right, and continues a most delightful companion till you come within three miles of Holt; the remaining part of the way is over a heath rather dreary and uncomfortable. Holt is a neat little town, with a market on Saturdays; there is an excellent free grammar school, founded by Sir John Gresham, with a salary paid to the master by the Fishmonger’s Company. The return from Holt may be agreeably varied by taking the lower road, and by which a very romantic view is obtained at Sherringham Hill. About two miles from hence are the ruins of Beeston Priory, the property of Cremer Woodrow, Esq. which will afford pleasure both to the antiquarian and the draftsman. A small tower and the whole of the west gable wall of the church are standing, and having its other parts well broken, of which a great deal remains, form a very antique and handsome ruin. It also affords ample materials for an admirable sketch from the west gable, through which the tower and the internal parts of the church are seen in excellent perspective. Its aspect too gives it every advantage it can possibly receive from the vivid illumination of an evening sun. This gable, one of the finest and most picturesque parts of the ruin, a few years since was ornamented with a profusion of the finest ivy, (probably the growth of a century) till unfortunately a thoughtless wight, employed on the spot, laid his sacrilegious axe to the root of this venerable appendage, to the great regret of the proprietor and of every admirer of the reliques of antiquity. The house to which it belongs, with the barn, stables and farm yard, have been injudiciously placed close under the walls of the Priory, in fact some small part of the ruins are converted into outhouses. Had they been suffered to stand by themselves the effect would have been much better—a ruin can scarcely be too much sequestered or too distant from the haunts of men. {33}