ribed as one of the finest pieces of land in all England； I knew that there were about thirty parish churches； standing in a length of about thirty miles； and in an average width of hardly a mile； and I was resolved to see a little into the reasons that could have induced our fathers to build all these churches； especially if； as the Scotch would have us believe； there were but a mere handful of people in England until of late years。
In steering across the down； I came to a large farm； which a shepherd told me was Milton Hill Farm。 This was upon the high land； and before I came to the edge of this Valley of Avon； which was my land of promise； or at least； of great expectation； for I could not imagine that thirty churches had been built for nothing by the side of a brook （for it is no more during the greater part of the way） thirty miles long。 The shepherd showed me the way towards Milton； and at the end of about a mile； from the top of a very high part of the down； with a steep slope towards the valley； I first saw this Valley of Avon； and a most beautiful sight it was！ Villages； hamlets； large farms； towers； steeples； fields； meadows； orchards； and very fine timber trees； scattered all over the valley。 The shape of the thing is this： on each side downs； very lofty and steep in some places； and sloping miles back in other places； but each outside of the valley are downs。 From the edge of the downs begin capital arable fields generally of very great dimensions； and； in