Monday 13
      James went a Coursing at 7 -- & returned to
      breakfast -- & went again as soon as that was
      over -- Mr. Dayvy came at ten & said it was a fine
morning for fishing & the Water in a proper state, so we went directly
We found the fish very cautious & not in the humour to take our
flies, however by dint of Perseverance & superior skill we
caught 30 -- Mr. Dayvy fished on horseback -- which by the bye is
downright poaching, as by means of his Horse he fishes every
part of the river & can throw his flies to the places where the
largest fish harbour -- Notwithstanding my disadvantage
I brought home half his Number & a blister or two -- We
caught several small fishes that are very like Trout &
are only the Inhabitants of the Ex & this part of it -- They
are very pretty & have a Van Dyke pattern on their sides
I will get the proper Names as there are two -- Dayvy dined here
& Mr. James returned with a Hare & a Leveret --
Tuesday -- At 8 I set out to go to Mr. Bere's of Morebath
A Man came at 7 to say he had a Child very bad & desired James
to christen it, which stopped him near Bampton Mr.
E. Bere's Servant met me to conduct me across the Country
which gave me an Opportunity of seeing the beautiful Scenery --
I was stationed at a Farm House, the Rendezvous -- & after
waiting half an hour I went into the Farm House & chatted
with the respectable looking Dame -- who told me that
Potatoes which were now sold at 4/ per Sack of 8 pecks
was so plentiful the Year after the great Scarcity that they
were sold at 2½ per Sack -- Mr. E. Bere came at 11 & we found a
few Birds & each killed one -- The Land lies so uneven & in many
parts is as steep of the Roof of a House that I cannot imagine
how they are cultivated unless they use Goats to draw their ploughs
for I could hardly stand on the side of some hills where Corn had

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grown & also where there were very fine Turnips -- James Parkin went
a coursing with Mr. Bere but had no success -- Mr. Badcock & Mr. Lucas
dined there -- Mr. Lucas is going to be married to a Niece of Mr. Bere --
a Daughter of his Elder Brothers who is dead, & Sister to Mr. E. Bere -- I
observed Mr. Bere always addressed Mr. Bedcock to soften as
much possible the asperity of the Name -- The Gentlemen went away at 9
& I would have given the world to have gone to bed -- I was tired by
running up & down those precipices & some parts of the day
had been excessively hot
Wednesday -- Mr. Lucas & Mr. E. Bere came at 9 & we sallied out
again -- Mr. Bere Mr. Lucas & I went a shooting -- the other two
a coursing -- We shooters found some Birds & killed two
Brace which were pressed on Me & also a Bird of a different
Description that Mr. Lucas shot the day before in his own grounds
& which he insisted on giving to me -- You must keep it at
home, as the first of October is the day fixed for putting
Salt on their tails -- We met the Coursers & returned at
2 -- had some Luncheon & though much pressed to stay another
day, we returned home -- laden, but not, heavily with spirit --
to dinner --
Thursday -- -- I shall send by a Messenger who is going, not on purpose,
to Tiverton 6 Bird's -- James & I had fixed to go out this morning
to kill if possible a Hare to send with them, but as the person
set out at 8 that can't be -- we shall however go out -- We
found the Times Newspaper here which Somebody had sent
detailing Bonapartes Success at Dresden, which dampens
hopes -- What a surprising Being he is -- Mrs. Parkin has the
same passion for a Garden that my Sister has -- She employs an
old Woman to pick up Weeds & gives her 4pence a day -- the old Woman
is an immense size & upwards of 80 -- Mrs. Parkin thinks it best to
give the Money for Work -- it contributes to the old Womans health
& she does something for the Charity -- The Soil here though stony

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is so favourable to Vegetation that Trees & Shrubs grow too fast & the Fruits
ripen here perfectly well though the Situation is very high -- at Mr. Bere's
there is no kind of fruit ripe -- though his place is in a retired Valley
his House is very pretty & the Garden &c as neat as possible -- he is a
great farmer & has beautiful Cattle -- Oxen are used in this
Country & the Drivers use a continual Noise in driving them which
has a melancholy tone -- they cheer the Beasts by calling out their Names
which are -- such as these -- Good Luck -- Forty -- Young & Tender --
& the whole ends with a plaintive Note that has a singular Effect,
& now the Country seems quite in motion as every body is busy
in taking in their Corn, it is heard on every side -- Last night We
walked into the fields to see the manner of driving & addressing the
Oxen -- Sledges are used in this Country & a kind of Ponies which
will contain a prodigious quantity of Corn or Hay & is used on the
precipices where no Sledge could be drawn up
the Steep -- these ponies are most formidable
Things to meet in a narrow Lane they are so
wide & so large & would terrify a foreign horse                they are
in this farm supposing this mark to be the saddle &                take up
a whole Lane when loaded -- Crook is the proper Name -- 9 O'Clock
it rains therefore there is an end to rural Sports -- The Barometer is as
high as it can rise therefore it may clear up at 12 which will
enable me to take a Sketch that I wish to present to Louisa & to
remember myself -- My Sketches required explanation Viz -- this is
meant for a Tree & so on -- but I will understand them --
We have some Company to dine here to day a Colonel & Mrs. Teale who live
in the Neighbourhood -- Others invited who were engaged -- we dine tomorrow
at Mr. Dayvys & Miss Parkin & I go on Sunday on purpose to hear him preach
I expect to be satisfied with the preaching & singing which I hear is excellent
Hayden Parkin had offered to attend me to Plymouth or give me an introduction
to some of his friends there -- I think I shall be in motion after
Monday therefore if You write on Saturday I shall have it on Monday
Poor Robert has been ill for some days -- he has got a bad leg from a kick
that a Boy gave him -- his blood is in a bad state -- it would be a great

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Blessing if it should please God to take him out of this World -- he is a sad object --
his Eyes cannot be fixed to enable him to read -- his hands are of little use to him --
he walks with great difficulty & speaks with more -- yet is very sensible -- he
has fits frequently -- There was a Stag Hunt yesterday -- They commenced

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about ten miles from Mr. Bere's -- I wished much to see it but could not
contrive it on account of Distance -- This is a unique Diversion, hunting
the Wild Stag & confined to their Country -- Mr. Lucas had a Haunch
that weighed 47½ pounds & the fat was near 3 Inches thick -- it is the Opinion
of the Country that its flavour far exceeds Pork Venison & a great fuss is made
about it -- The Hinds are hunted in October -- Adieu till 12 O'Clock as
probably may have a letter to day -- Most Affectionately Yours John Dickenson --
Best Regards from hence --
James spoke of a Mr. Coleridge's /a native of Devon/ examination at Oxford with prodigious Enthusiasm
his Examinations took up 2 days -- it embraced almost every Science Latin Greek & Hebrew -- in every
Thing he was perfectly at home & frequently was interrupted by universal Applause --
He says Mants Bampton Lectures were admired beyond any since White's --
½ past ten -- The day is clearing & is now fair I will go a fishing & shall
meet the old Lady --

                             Single
To
      Mrs. Dickenson
32 Devonshire Place
                             London