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A Tour in the Midland Counties of England.

lies through it. The new canal from the Trent to Chesterfield (of which I fhall fay more presently) is to pass by this place, and will undoubtedly be another advantage to it. Here is a handsome town-hall †.

From Retford to Workfop, part of the road lies over a common, but the reft is agreeable enough; on entering this fmall, but neat and well-built town, an object occurs, the only strik. ing one in the place, a part of an antient monaftic edifice, which is worth feeing, at least where little elfe that is curious is to be seen. Nature, however, has taken care to ornament Workfop, for the fituation is most delightful; and if art has not been fo profufe, it was only that the might beftow her favours the more plentifully upon its vicinage; for there are more noblemen's feats in the neighbourhood, than any other spót in the kingdom, as diftant from London, can boast of. Among those are (within fix miles the fartheft), the manfions of the Dukes of Norfolk, Newcastle, Portland, Kingston and Leeds. The Chesterfield canal is alfo to be conveyed through, or very near this town. Ata mile diftant is Workfop manor, a very magnificent new houfe, belonging to the first of the Peers above mentioned; the building, though large, is only one fide of a quadrangle, which, with two interior courts, constituted the original defign, a design, the execution of which (prevented by the death of the favourite heir) would have equalled any thing of the kind, as to fize, perhaps, in Europe. Near this palace (whofe architect was, I think, Mr. Payne,) is a beautiful pleasure. ground; but for an accurate defcription of this and other particulars, I fhall, to avoid repetition, refer my readers to Young's Tour in the North of England, Vol. I. p. 366. The farm-houfe in the park has a fingular front, the top of it finished with battlements, and the whole fomewhat in the castle ftile, whence its name, the castle-farm.

The park at Workfop is naturally very fine-a range of hills, within its extent, bound the view from the back part of the houfe, and are covered with a series of woods, hanging to the eye in a beautiful manner; one of these eminences in particular, near the farm, is a charming object; it rises in a bold manner, and is nobly crowned

† Called here the Moot-hall.

301

with wood; from its fummit there is
a pretty prospect over the adjacent
country. This park, already so beau-
tiful, might easily be made one of the
moft delightful fpots imaginable: to
effect the improvement, nothing more
would be neceffary than to erect a few
ornamental buildings in fome of those
delicious fituations among the hills,
which nature feems to have created for
the purpofe; to enlarge a fmall water
below the house into a noble irregular
lake; and finally to fcatter the banks
of it, as well as other parts of the vale,
with a few additional clumps of trees
of different hues. Though I may be
cenfured, perhaps, for introducing the
latter to fill up the Elysian group, in
oppofition to the rules of modern
tafte, yet furely fashion, potent as it is,
may give place to beauty; for my own
part, the wood-nymphs should not only
have admiffion into, but should occupy
a diftinguished place in my paradife..
I think Beatie has well expreffed him-
felf in saying

"The pomp of groves;".

for, furely, it must be allowed, that there are few objects, except mountains and water-falls, more magnificent than large spreading trees.

Continuing my journey toward Chefterfield, the country was very fine; from the hill before you defcend into Whitwell a most enchanting landscape opens at once to view; it confifts of a rich cultivated vale, cut into inclotures by hedge-rows, fcattered with forefttrees, and bounded irregularly by variegated hills, here covered with woods, and there with corn-fields, enlivened in this place with farms and villas, and decorated in that with flocks grazing upon their gentle flopes; beneath you is the village, overtopped by a boldiyfwelling hill of a beautiful verdure; two or three harp rocks sticking out of its fide, in a manner rather remarkable, add a variety to the whole. Was there a fmall proportion of water in this view, it would certainly be exceeded in beauty by very few in the kingdom.

Still keeping the Chefterfield road for three or four miles, and paffing over a black barren moor, I turned off upon the right on the turnpike leading to Rotherham; this part of the road was very agreeable, affording feveral fketches of rural elegance, one of which is enriched by a large natural pool on the fide of the road.

About two miles further the road enters another moor, afcending gradally

302

A Tour in the Midland Counties of England.

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ally to the top of an extreme high hill, from whence you command one of the moft fingular and beautiful profpe&ts I ever beheld. The declivity at your feet is very fteep, and the vale beneath is overlooked in a manner remarkably diftin&t and picturefque it is chiefly compofed of innumerable inclofures, feparated (as is common) by hedges, and exhibiting a fine contrafted variety of appearances; fome under culture, fome again, though applied to tillage, now lying fallow, and others converted to the purposes of grazing, fcattered with a few houfes and woods, and waving at fome diftance to the top of a line of hills which partly bound the view, but a break or two between them difcovers a more remote country: the village of Killimarth directly under you, and a large wood, filling the vale towards the North, are additions to this noble production of the pencil of nature. In a word, I have feen landscapes, which, confidered all together, were more compleat; but never met with one where the parts were fo diftinct, nor one that had more of the beauty refulting from peculiarity.

A little before I came to the seventh mile-ftone from Rotherham, I turned into Norwoodt, and, after riding above half a mile on a very intricate path, arrived at the object I was in fearch of, the mouth of the fubterraneous navigation under Norwood

hill.

The flope of the hill, near the foot of it, being cut down (in a proper fpace or channel) to a perpendicular, in the lower part of this is formed the mouth of the tunnel (or canal), which will be arched with brick, as will the whole of the fubterraneous part, except in a few places where rock of a firm fubftance may render it unneceffary. This mouth is at prefent closed up all but a fimall door way. Contiguous is a brick-clamp ‡, made of the clay dug from the work.

Upon enquiry at the ion at Eckington, I found that the length of the navigation under ground, when finished, will be a mile and a quarter; that it had not been long begun; but that at Harthill, two or three miles nearer

Norwood.

The proper road lies by Wales, but it is two miles about.

Brick-kiln is the grammatical term, brick-clamp the name in univerfal use.

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Workfop, a great number of hands were employed upon the open canal.

I fhould obferve, that at Workfop, Eckington, and other towns, where I afked the opinions of people I met with concerning the future utility of this navigation, their fentiments were univerfally thefe,-that it is undoubtedly a noble undertaking, and well calculated to promote an increase of trade in the country; but that the fums requifite for executing it are fo prodigious, that they are apprehenfive the tonnage arifing from the lead, coal, ftone, and a few other products of the neighbourhood navigated upon it, (and which will be almoit the only articles of its employment) will not pay the fubfcribers common intereft for their money.

A ftranger, like myself, whose stay in the country was very short, is not qualified to confirm or controvert this remark; and, perhaps, experience can alone be equal to fuch a decifion. I may, however, add, as an evident truth, that, could the navigation be carried further than Chesterfeld, into the centre of the Peak, (which, at the fame time, I believe to be impoffible) no expence could be incurred that would not be amply repaid by the immenfe traffic in minerals, which must neceffarily refult from fuch a conveniency.

From Eckington, proceeding towards Chesterfield, I foon found myself upon Bramley Moor, where the road paffes by feveral coal-mines, and, at the further end, a building from whence proceeded much fmoke, which I was told is a glafs-house. There is an extenfive profpect from feveral places on this moor, but much inferior in beauty to that of Killimarth.

I was informed, that not far from the glafs-houfe is Stavely forge, an ironwork turned by the Rother.

From the Moor to Chesterfield the country is pleafing; in one place a fine extent of woods Itretches along a range of hills to the right.

Chesterfield is a large town, in which, as I paffed through, I faw nothing worthy noice but the church, and this only for its ugliness; it is old, and built of bad ftone, but rendered most difcuting by its wooden fpire (covered with lead)

By the act, the proprietors were prohibited from beginning the work until 100,000 pounds were fubfcribed,

Grofs Mifreprefentation in Mrs. being fo much warped, that I discerned its crookedness at three miles diftance. I am furprized that any authors can affirm this appearance of crookedness to be only a deceptio vifus; its reality is fo obvious as to need no other teftimony than the opportunity of viewing it; whence I conclude that those who made the aforefaid ftrange affertion, either had bad eyes, or would not truft to the evidence of good ones, remembering the old adage, appearances often deceive us."-In the town is a manufacture of pots.-In the neighbourhood much camomile is produced.

Keeping the turnpike-road that leads to Derby, in about two miles a lane extends to the right, turning along which I found the road, for a few miles, truly beautiful; the hills bold, pretty lofty, and many of them cultivated to their tops; the whole affording a vari.ty of different agreeable fcenes.

As I approached nearer to the Peak the hills became rocky and barren, but began to rife with all that greatness, that fublimity, which, whilft it characterizes the works of nature, points out the impotency of thofe of art; and, indeed, the neighbouring vale of Matlock is an inftance (out of many that might be produced) which proves that we should never employ the latter any other way than as an imitator; at best, he never equals the models of her great mistress.

Before we reach this celebrated glyn, there are four miles of road over a very extenfive moor, covered with fern, and large ftones ticking out of the earth, and exhibiting a black, defolate, and melancholy appearance; fome of the hills are fo fteep as to oblige the traveller to alight and walk down, and at the foot of most of them, a brook, or rather a small torrent pours impetuously along. This moor is one of the few spots where nature feems to have placed an infurmountable object in the way of cultivation, by fixing upon it thofe prominent ftones. From one point of view in the road, a diftant hill appears on the left, which rifing abruptly, is terminated by a pointed rock, in a remarkable cone-like manner.

It is a very old remark, but holds good to this day, that ftone-walls are the ufual fences of inclofed lands in this country; however, hedge-rows generally fupply their place in the vallies.

[To be continued.]

Macaulay's Hiftory refuted. 303

Mr. URBAN,

MRS. Macaulay, in the fourth volume of her hiftory, fpeaking of the parliament army after the felf-denying ordinance had paffed the Houses, is pleated to tell us, that fighting with them was not a trade of blood, but an exertion of principie and obedience to the call of confcience, and their conduct was not only void of infolence and violence, but benevolent and humane. This is an affertion fo contrary to the truth of hiftory, and fo fully contradicted by the most eminent writers, that the fair hiftorian must excufe thofe who cannot implicitly credit the flattering account he hath given of men whofe horrid cruelties difgraced their country, their religion, and even human nature itself. Many inftances of their barbarity preceded the felf-denying ordinance, in order of time; but as the bulk of the pailiament forces certainly confifted of the fame men, and the difpofitions of fo!diers can only be gradually corrected by the most levere difcipline, we may reafonable prefume that no great alte ration could take place before the conclufion of the war. It would be endlefs to recite all the inftances of their inhumanity, for which reafon I fhall only mention the two following. In the year 1643, as the rebels marched through Chipping Norton, in Oxfordfhire, a woman of the town chanced to fay in the hearing of fome of them, God bless the cavaliers! which expreffion fo highly incenfed the rebels, that they tied her to the tail of one of their carts, and stripping her to the middle, for two miles march whipped her fo cruelly with their cart-whips, that her body in many places was cut as deep as if he had been scored with knives: the torment being fo great, (as much as her frait bounds would give her leave) fhe caft herfelf on the ground, to fhel. ter her body from their ftripes, but they dragged her along till her legs and feet were fo torn by the toney rough ways, that her flesh was bared in many places to the very bones. At laft they left her a difmal fpectacle of their cruelty. In this fad condition fhe lived fome few days, and then died of her wounds. At the battle of Nafeby, June 14, 1645, thefe bloody rebels murdered at least 100 women in cold blood, fome of whom were of quality, and

• See Mercurius Rufticus, p, 145.

wives

304

An Account of a new Experiment to live under Water.

wives of the commanders and officers.
Thefe foldiers, I fuppofe, acted in obe-
dience to the call of confcience, and re-
gulated their conduct by the dictates of
benevolence and humanity. How un-
fortunate it is that the parliamentarians
never followed the example of the
church of Rome, in canonizing their
votaries, elfe thefe worthies might have
made as good faints as St. Dominic, or
St. Ignatius! That the claffical faints
in Scotland were as confcientious and
humane as their congregational bre-
thren in England appears from their
good intentions, before the battle of
New- Biggin - moor, near Perth, in
Sept. 1644, where their pious com-
manders, the Earl of Tullibardin,
Lord Drummond, Lord Elcho, and Sir
James Scot of Roffy, gave for their
word, Jefus, no quarter; but the cove-
nanters being defeated, with the lofs
of 1200 faints killed, and 2000 made
prifoners, they had no opportunity to
act according to the call of confcience,
or to flew their benevolence and hu-
manity. Thofe, who defire more proofs
of the barbarities practifed by the re-
bels during the long civil wars, I refer
to the hiftorians of thofe fad times, ef-
pecially Mercurius Rufticus, and Wal-
ker's Sufferings of the Clergy, where
they will obtain full information of
their inhuman and diabolical cruelty,
in torturing and murdering their coun-
trymen and fellow.chriftians.
Newport, Shropshire, I am, &c.
July 2d, 1774. S. WATSON.
An authentic account of the rife and
confequence of a new experiment 10
live under water, as lately tried at
Plymouth.
MR. Day (fole projector of this

fcheme) employed his thoughts fome years in planning a method of finking; a veffel under water, with a man in it, who fhould live therein for a certain time, and then, by his own means only, bring himself up to the furface. After much study, he conceived that his plan could be reduced into practice. He tried his projects in the Broads near Yarmouth, and in a Norwich marketboat fitted for his purpose funk himfelf thirty feet under water, where he continued twenty-four hours. Elate with this fuccefs, he converfed with his friends; and the perfon in whom he moft confided fuggefted to him, that, if he acquainted the fporting gentlemen with the discovery, and the certainty of the performance, confiderable bets would

take place as foon as the project should be mentioned in company. In consequence of which Mr. B. in November laft, received the following letter:

"Sir, I have found out an affair, by which means thousands may be won; it is of a paradoxical nature, but can be performed with eafe; therefore, Sir, if you choose to be informed of it, and give me one hundred pounds out of every thousand you shall win by it, I will very readily wait upon you and inform you of it. I am myself but a poor mechanic, and not able to make any thing by it myself without your affiitance.

"Yours, &c.

J. DAY." Mr. B. returned for anfwer, that, if Mr. Day would come to town, and explain himself, he would confider of the propofal, and if approved, he should have the recompence defired; but if the plan fhould be rejected, Mr. B. would defray the expences of his journey. In a fhort time after Mr. Day came to town, and informed Mr. B. " that he could fink a fhip one hundred yards deep in the fea, with himfelf in it, and remain therein for twenty-four hours, without communication with any thing above, and at the expiration of the time rife up again in the veffel." After confidering the matter, Mr. B. defired fome proof of the practicability. Mr. Day added, that if Mr. B. would furnish him with the materials neceffary, he would give him ocular demonftration. A model of the veflel for performing the experiment was then required, and in three or four weeks was accomplished, fo as to give a very perfect idea of the principle upon which the fcheme was to be executed. The confequence was that Mr. B. agreeably to Day's defire, advanced money for the confiruction of a vessel for the purpose. Mr. Day, thus affifted, went to Plymouth with his model, and fet perfons to work upon it. The preffure of the water at 100 feet deep was a circumftance of which Mr. B. was advised; and on that article he gave the strongest precautions to Mr. Day, telling him, at any expence, to fortify the chamber, in which he was to fubfift, against the weight of fuch a body of water. Mr. Day, however, feemed fo confident of fuccefs, that Mr. B. made a bet that the project would fucceed, reducing, however, the depth of water from 100 yards to one hundred feet, and the time from twenty-four hours to twelve hours. By the terms of the wager,

the

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