[Picture: River Dee, and Groves] But see; “our bark is by the shore,” and the boatmen are awaiting us; let us, then, take our seats beneath its awning, and launching out into the stream, cast a momentary glance at the landscape behind us. In the foreground is the DEVA, “our marine Hotel,” half hidden from view by yon rich Grove of trees stretching along the river’s edge. Behind, and far above it, the tower of ST. JOHN’S CHURCH proudly shows its rugged form. To the left is the Queen’s Park Suspension Bridge, more particularly noticed in our “Walk round the Walls.” Away under the Bridge we can see a small portion of the WALLS near the Wishing Steps; and beyond that, again, the DEE MILLS and BRIDGE, of ancient fame. Talking of the Dee Mills, of course you know the song, the rare old song, of the “Miller of the Dee,”—that “miller hale and bold,” the burden of whose song For ever used to be,— I envy nobody, no, not I! And nobody envies me! How few millers there are, who can say as much nowadays! At length we are off, at a stately pace, for “steady’s the word,” in a Chester barge, and soon we leave the GROVES and the Queen’s Park Villas behind us in the distance. Having rounded Aikman’s Gardens, we are opposite the grounds of the ROYAL CHESTER ROWING CLUB. We take a pride in our rowing, we citizens of Chester,—and not without reason, for in 1855, our “crack crew” were twice victors at the Henley Regatta, and then and there acknowledged “Champions of the Isis and the Thames!” Whew! there go the “Royals”—the champion crew, old Chester’s pride!—at a spanking pace, which nought but sterling metal could possibly maintain! They are out for their daily exercise, under the care of their trainer; the smile on whose face betokens the delight with which he views their performance. They are bad ones to beat, are those amateurs of Chester! Here is _Billy Hobby’s Field_, with its Well of pure water, bearing the same obscure but euphonious name. The meadows on our right were anciently known as the _Earl’s Eye_, and used to be covered with water at every tide. A few more strokes of the oar, and we are scudding it past a second grove of trees, overshadowing the river for a considerable distance. The DEE here forms a magnificent crescent, its left bank studded with handsome villas,—foremost among which, “embosomed in foliage,” stands DEE HILLS, the residence of Mr. Titherington; while, farther on, we see the new and elegant range of villas, recently erected by that gentleman, called SANDOWNE TERRACE. To these succeed Richmond Villas, and Barrelwell, the sloping gardens of which form a pleasing object in the landscape.