Downham Reach, three or four miles lower down. This port is almost dry at ebb; but the returning tide, generally rising about twelve feet, converts it into a magnificent sheet of water. Here are two yards employed in shipbuilding; and though the number of vessels belonging to Ipswich is said to have declined from the decrease of the coal-trade, yet more than 30,000 chaldrons are an ually imported into this town.

Vessels fitted up for the accommodation of passengers, like the Gravesend boats at London, sail every tide from Ipswich to Harwich, and back again; an excursion that is rendered truly delightful by the beauty of the surrounding scenery.

In a word, the banks of the Orwell are, in general, highly picturesque, especially when it becomes the estuary at Downham Reach, about three or four miles below Ipswich; to which place it is navigable for ships of considerable burden. The banks there rise into pleasing elevations, clothed with a rich luxuriance of wood, and adorned with several good seats; and the rive: assumere feature of a large lake, being, to all appea oce, land-locked on every side. On the left, are the seats of Sir R. Harland, and Sir P. Boks; and on the right, that of Sir C. Burness, We must now leave Ipswich, but not without borrowing a tribute to

this highly-favoured town and its beautiful river, for which we must be indebted to the taste and industry of one of its ingenious inhabitants, though the tribute be only a simple flower from the richly variegated wreaths that composed The Suffolk Garland,

Orwell, delightful stream, whose waters flow,
Fring'd with luxuriant beauty on the main !
Amid thy woodlands taught, the Muse would fain
On thee her grateful eulogy bestow;

Smooth and majestic though thy current glide,
And bustling commerce plough thy liquid plain ;
Though grac'd with loveliness thy verdant side,
While all around enchantment seems to reign;

These glories still with filial love I taste,
And feel their praise, yet thou hast one beside
To me more sweet; for on thy banks reside

Friendship and truth combin'd, whose union chaste
Has sooth'd my soul, and these shall bloom sublime,

When fade the fleeting charms of Nature and of Time.

SAMFORD.

THE hundred of Samford is bounded by the Stour on the south, on the west by the hundreds of Babergh and Cosford, on the east by the Orwell, and on the north by the liberties of Ipswich.

The villages in this hundred are:

ARWERTON The lordship of this place belonged anciently to the family of Davellers, from whom it descended to sir Robert Bacon, by marriage about 1330. In 1345, he had the grant of a market and fair here. It came afterwards to the Calthorpes, and was purchased by sir Philip Parker, knt, of sir Drue Drury, about the year 1577. Philip Parker, was created a Baronet July 16th, 1661. It is now the property of Charles Berners esq. of Wolverston; Arwerton contains 157 inhabitants.

LITTLE BELSTEAD. In king John's time, or that of Henry 111. at the latest, William de Goldingham paid fines to Ipswich, for freedom from toll for himself and his villains, in Belstead. This same family continued to present to the church till after the year 1560; when the manor was purchased by Mr. Bloss, a wealthy clothier of Ipswich; it is now the property of

sir Robert Harland bart. and this parish contains 255 inhabitants.

BENTLEY. In the reign of Henry 111. the manor of Little Bentley belonged to the Tellemaches; ancestors of the Earl of Dysart.

This church was given to the priory of the Holy Trinity in Ipswich, by Henry of Dodneis. And the manor of Bentley, the rectory and advowson of the vicarage, with two woods, Portland grove and New grove, were granted as part of the possession of that priory to Lionel Talmage, 36 Henry VIII. This family removed from hence to Helmingham, in Claydon hundred.

At a place called Dodneis in this parish, there was a small priory of black canons, which had revenues valued at £42. 18s. 8d. It was suppressed by the first bull of Clement VII. and granted to Cardinal Wolsey. Bentley contains 366 inhabitants.

BRANTHAM. King William Rufus gave the church of Brantham, with the berewics of Bercold, Scotlege, Meelflege, and Benetlege, to the abbey of Battle in Sussex; and the advowson of this rectory, as late belonging to that abbey, was granted to John Earl of Oxford, 36 Henry VIII.

Within this parish is a hamlet call Cattiwade, where was formerly a chapel near the bridge, over the river Stour into Essex About

the year 1460, sir John Braham, of Brahamhall in Cattiwade, is mentioned. And afterwards William Lancaster, esq. of Cattiwade, who married a daughter of Braham's, Brantham contains 385 inhabitants.

BURSTALL,-Is called a berewic or hamlet of Bramford. The manor of Horrolds in Burstall was granted to Cardinal Wolsey, as parcel of the possession of St. Peter's priory in Ipswich, Burstall contains 203 inhabitants.

CAPEL. Here are three manors; Churchford-hall, Boitwell-hall, belonging to Queen's college, Cambridge; and another small manor, this parish contains 561 inhabitants.

CHATTISHAM. The manor, impropriation, and advowson of the vicarage, belonged formerly to the priory of Wykes, in Essex; and were granted first to Cardinal Wolsey, and then to the provost and fellows of Eton; this parish contains 231 inhabitants.

CHELMONDISTON,-Commonly called Chemton. Here is Chelmondiston-hall, the advowson of the church is in the crown. 366 inhabitants.

COPDOCK. The hall-house here is the property of lord Waldingham; who is also patron of the church, and lord of the manor. Copdock contains 278 inhabitants.

EAST-BERGHOLT. Henry 11. gave the templers all his lands in Bergholt, and a manor here was granted to John earl of Oxford, 36