A guide-book, written by Mr. and Mrs. S. C. HALL--names held in grateful remembrance as authorities on Irish legends--describes climate of Tenby as being "for the greater portion of the year warm, dry, and bracing." May be; was not there "for the greater portion of the year." She "Halls by the Sea," further declare, when comparing Tenby with Hastings, Ventnor, and Torquay, that it, though "equally mild, is nevertheless invigorating." Shouldn't have thought it. But--very glad to hear it.
Oysters in plenty at Tenby. This being the first month with an "r" in it after the off-oyster season, we saw an ogre-like gourmand devouring a dozen or so of the natives of Tenby, with the magic aid of vinegar, pepper, and--and--_whisky!!_ Of such grand constitutions (should he be none the worse afterwards) are heroes made!
_From Ilfracombe to Lynton._--Pass Watermouth Castle. Lucky person the proprietor of this charming place. Lovely position this Watermouth; quite enough to make one's mouth water.
Near Coombe-Martin is Hangman's Hill, where a sheep hanged a man for stealing him.
In the character of _Mr. P.'s_ Own Inn-spector I venture to pronounce the Valley of Rocks Hotel at Lynton delightful. Here everything is unpretentiously English, and even the waiters are not all foreigners. The supply of certain articles of food may on occasion run short (which ought not to happen), and consequently you can only complain of what you _don't_ get, very rarely of what you do. The other hostelries may be equally good, but of these _Mr. P.'s_ Own Inn-spector, being un-ubiquitous, cannot speak from experience.
The Valley of Rocks Hotel is so-called because it is _not_ in the valley but high up, and thence you can go down by the easiest possible descent, _i.e._ _per_ water-worked tram-way to Lynmouth, and so remount. Here we go up up up, and here we go down down down O, all day at threepence a head per journey, reduction on taking a quantity of tickets, not persons.
And here comes in my complaint. I do not know what numbers this "_ascenseur_" will carry with safety, but that it can _not_ carry more than twenty, all told, inside and out, with anything like comfort, I, not being "Your Fat Contributor," will honestly affirm. Whether the proprietorship is in the hands of a company, or in those of Sir TIT BIT NEWNES is of no importance. If Sir T. B. N. has the sole management, he may be trusted in future to look after this "_facilis descensus_" well and wisely.