Went to Southampton
22 Miles from Gosport by Water, a pretty agreeable Navigation, with the Isle of
Wight on our left about 5 Miles, till you come opposite to South Sea Castle,
which is about 9 Miles from Southampton, which is a Water drinking place for
the Great and Idle. From Southampton to Romsey is 8 miles, and 16 from thence
to Salisbury, over a high Country and fine Road, with many pleasing Prospects.
Salisbury is a pretty Town on the Avon, famous for Woolen Manufactures and
Cutlery, within three miles of Wilton, where the Carpets are made, in the
Neighborhood of which is Wilton Abbey, a Seat of the Earl of Pembrooke's
whose Father was a great encourager of the Carpeting Manufacturies, which by
his Encouragement only was brought to the flourishing state it now is in.
Wilton Abbey was one of the Religious Houses Henry the 8th. laid his hands on
and gave to the Predecessors of the present Lord. It is of a Quadrangular form
of a Noble Approach. In the Area are several Noble Statues in Niches, and many
more in a Superb Hall, with a great number of fine Paintings that are shown
you, the Avon and Nadder both run near it, and supply it with plenty of Water
of which there are many Elegant Views. on the whole it is supposed to be one of
the most completely furnished Houses in England and the grounds about laid out
and Ornamented in the finest manner.
SOURCE: New York
Historical Society, Publisher, Collections of the New York Historical
Society for the Year 1883: The Kemble Papers, Vol. 1 1773-1789, pp. 15-6
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