Some to the York-Hotel resort, And drown their cares in sparkling port, For recreation seeking; There talk of politics and dress At length, grown weary of excess, Break up-when day is breaking. The Subscription-House also, at York-Buildings, is considered equal to any establishment of the kind in England. It is founded upon the plan of similar institutions in London; and the members are elected by ballot. The terms are six guineas and a half yearly. Newspapers, &c. are furnished in abundance for the use of the subscribers. Mr. Knubly is the proprietor. EPITOME OF ANCIENT AND MODERN BATH: A PRELUDE TO THE WALKS THROUGH THE CITY. BATH, to the most fastidious admirer of taste and elegance, can scarcely be refused the claim of being one of the most fashionable and superior places of resort out of the Metropolis of England. Its first glance upon the mind of the visitor is truly enchanting; and upon a more minute investigation of its classic buildings, and picturesque scenery, it still fastens with rapture and delight upon the attentive spectator; but even, when quite au fait with all its attractions comforts -- cleanliness its variety of amusements-its well-managed police-the restorative quality of its baths-and the efficacy of its waters, which this Epitome of the Beau Monde affords, not only to the rich declining valetudinarian, but to the highest votary of fashion, BATH, taken for "all in all," almost bids defiance to meet with "its like again!" Sweet BATH! the liveliest city of the land, Where health and pleasure ramble hand in hand, Realms of the gay, where every sport can please! In describing the above splendid city as it now is, it may be naturally expected, that in descanting upon the virtues of its springs, and the efficacy of its baths, it must be impossible to pass over its ANCIENT HISTORY without retaining some small portion of its traditionary account, however romantic and delusive it seems, if not altogether viewed, at the present period, as totally fabulous. This might prove a most excellent subject for the investigation of modern students, who have a taste for exploring the hidden stores of antiquity, and who are in want of employment to kill time; but our "WALKS THROUGH BATH" are of so extensive and diversified a nature, embracing such numerous, more profitable, and entertaining objects, that our limits prevent us from observing little more, in this place, than whether the City of Bath is of Roman or British origin the most learned historians are at a loss to decide, however anxious the true BATHONIAN is to insist upon the latter as being the fact: but poetic invention, it should seem, has given to Bladud, the Sage, the first "Who on a purblind antiquarian's back, A founder'd, broken-winded hack, Rides out to find old farthings, nails, and bones— On darkest coins the brightest legends reads, On traceless copper sees imperial heads, And makes inscriptions older than the stones." discoverer of the hot water, and made him the founder of the city. It has occupied the attention of LELAND and SELDEN: and the healing and restorative qualities of the Bath waters is thus asserted to have been first ascertained, from the following fragment of ancient records: Bladud, eldest son of Lud Hudibras (then King of Britain, and the eighth from Brute), having spent eleven years at Athens in the study of the liberal arts and sciences, came home a loathsome leper, and for that reason was shut up, that he might not infect others. Impatient of his confinement, he chose rather a mean liberty than a royal restraint, and contriving his escape in disguise, went very remote from his father's court into an untravelled part of the country, and offered his service in any common employment, probably thinking he was less likely to be discovered under such reduced circumstances than greater; he therefore entered into service at Swainswick, a small village three miles from that city, where his business (among other things) was to take care of pigs, which he was to drive from place to place, for their advantage in feeding upon beech-masts, acorns, haws, &c. the hills thereabout then abounding with such trees, though now few of the two former remain: yet there is a hill close upon the south part of this city that still retains the name of Beechen-cliff, though there is scarcely a beechtree left upon it. "Here the rising sun, breaking through the clouds, first saluted the Royal herdsman with its comfortable beams; and while he was addressing himself to the glorious luminary, and praying |