A visit to Drummond Castle at Crieff was considered necessary to see the ancient building and its famed gardens, now in the possession of Lady P——. The latter was known as a passionate admirer of the property, and took great pleasure in not only residing there, but, to Georgiana’s approbation, managing much about the estate. They returned through Edinburgh, viewing the splendid castle against the summer evening sky, continuing on to Northumberland to see the great wall of Hadrian. They turned south and visited Jedburgh, through the Yorkshire Moors, again eastward to the sea and the great Abbey at Whitby and the town of Scarborough, before turning back westward, to stay at York; they staid some days visiting the great Minster and the environs of the ancient city, before resuming their road through Doncaster, and thence, Derbyshire.

In the following spring, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy took Georgiana, Elizabeth’s father, and Kitty to see the northern part of Wales. Mr. Darcy wished to visit the noted stable at Gronant, with a view of making a purchase of some Shire horses of that breeding. Continuing west and then south along the Welsh coastline, Mr. Darcy viewed the place chosen by Mr. Telford for the great suspension bridge to be built at Menai. They stopt at Conwy, Caenervon, and Harlech castles, before returning to Derbyshire via the great glens of Moel Hebron and the pass through the peaks of Snowdonia. The route through the peaks of Wales was entirely in the pristine state of nature, very quiet and very grand. The desolate route required careful planning, as the inns were less numerous than any place they had previously travelled. This trip was graced with exceptionally fine, clear weather; the gentlemen were able to indulge themselves in fishing, and the ladies in reading, drawing, and watching the rustics tending to their herds of small black cattle and wiry mountain sheep. Georgiana spent many pleasant hours drawing the peak from the vantage of a seat beside the river near their inn, with the graceful three-tiered bridge spanning the water, the immense Snowdon reflected in its blue waters.

Wishing to see the modern wonders of the viaduct at Llangollen, Iron Bridge Gorge, and the great bridge across the Tyne at Sunderland, Mr. Darcy particularly found pleasure in viewing these marvels of human ingenuity, and canvassing the improvements to commerce and industry with his wife and sister, as well as his philosophical acquaintance. On these tours of improvements, more often than otherwise, Mr. Darcy would describe the latest wonders of the age, and his wife would often question him on some particulars or other, pleased at the end in finding their opinions, as usual, exactly coincided. Georgiana was the most moderate of the three, keeping her opinions to herself, pensive as to whether the hands of man were inevitably an improvement on the hands of God.

CHAP. 14.