the alimentary canal. The operation of this water is occasionally assisted by resorting to the warm bath. Cutaneous eruptions, of a chronic nature, are also much relieved by this mineral water, where their appearance is occasional and at periodical intervals.

The Harrogate water when first drawn appears perfectly clear and transparent, and sends forth a few air-bubbles, but not in any great number. It possesses a strongly fœtid smell, and has a bitter, nauseous, and very saline taste, which, however, is soon borne without disgust. After a few hours exposure the water loses its transparency, and becomes rather pearly, and somewhat greenish to the eye; its sulphurous smell abates, and that element is deposited in a thin film in the vessel in which it is kept. The volatile products of this water indicate the presence of carbonic acid, sulphuretted hydrogen, and azotic gas. The sensible effects which this water excites on being first drunk, are often a head-ache and giddiness, followed by a purgative operation, which is speedy and mild, without any attendant gripes; and this is the only apparent effect that the exhibition of this water displays. The diseases in which it is used with advantage are numerous, particularly those of the alimentary canal, producing irregularity in the bilious secretions. Under the use of this water, the health, appetite, and spirits improve; and from its opening effects it cannot fail to be useful in the costive habit of hypochondriasis, which requires, to render it soluble, a remedy of this mild operation. But the highest recommendation of this water has been in cutaneous diseases, and for this purpose it is principally used, both as an internal medicine and an external application. In this united form it is of particular service, even in the most obstinate and complicated forms of cutaneous affections, nor is it less so in those cases of disease supposed to arise from worms, especially the ascarides; but in order to prove successful in the latter, it should be briskly purgative.

At Ilkley, a small village six miles from Otley, in the West Ilkley. Riding, is another mineral spring, of the brightest transparency and the coldest temperature, which issues from the side of a high hill overlooking the town and the valley. It is much frequented

Petrifying
Spring at
Knaresbro'.

Rivers of
Yorkshire.

during the summer season, as the bath established there is highly salutary in relaxed and scorbutic cases.

The parish of Knaresborough has long been famous for its mineral springs, some of which are highly medicinal. Amongst these are the cold bath, named St. Robert's Well, half a mile from Knaresborough; the Dropping Well, or petrifying spring, opposite the castle; and Starbeck sulphuric spa, between Knaresborough and Harrogate.

The principal RIVERS of Yorkshire are the Ouse, the Don, the Calder, the Wharfe, the Aire, the Nidd, and the Ribble; these may be said to belong to the West Riding; the others have connexion for the most part with the North and East Ridings, and are the Hull, the Humber, the Tees, the Derwent, the Swale, the Ouse, and the Eske. Besides those already named, there are the Greta, the Wisk, the Leven, and the Dove.

The OUSE, (which takes that name at York, being before its arrival there called the Ure,) rises near the borders of Westmoreland, and after collecting many tributary streams in the North Riding, flows on to the Humber. The DoN has its source near Barnsley, and passing by Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster, and Thorne, empties itself into the Aire at Snaith. The CALDER originates in the county of Lancaster, and running eastward, passes Wakefield, five miles below which town it falls into the Aire at Castleford. The WHARFE springs from the foot of the Craven hills, and after a course of more than fifty miles across the county, discharges itself into the Ouse, a little above Selby. The AIRE is a large river issuing out of the mountain Pennigant, in the West Riding, and in its windings to Snaith, where it joins the Don, it visits Leeds and Castleford. The NIDD rises in Netherdale, near the source of the Aire, and passing Ripley and Knaresborough, becomes tributary to the Ouse a few miles above York. The HULL descends from the eastern edge of the Wolds, and falls into the Humber at Kingston-upon-Hull, The Hum- contributing to form the port. The HUMBER, which not far from its junction with the Trent, is not more than a mile broad, on approaching the town of Hull is gradually increased to two or three miles in width. Below that port the Humber takes

ber.

a south-easterly course, and opening into a noble estuary of
between six and seven miles in breadth, joins the ocean between
Spurn Head and the coast of Lincolnshire. The Humber is
navigable up to Hull for vessels of the largest burthen. The
TEES has its source between the counties of Westmoreland and
Durham. Through its whole course it divides the latter county
from the North Riding, and is navigable for craft of thirty tons
from the ocean to Yarm. The DERWENT springs from the eastern
Moorlands, and passes the town of Malton, to which it is navig-
able from the Humber. The SWALE rises in the district of
Swaledale, on the borders of Westmoreland, and flowing east by
Richmond, adds to the waters of the Ure below Aldborough.
The URE originates near the borders of Westmoreland, and col-
lecting during its course through the beautiful vale of Wensley,
numerous tributary streams, loses its name in that of Ouse near
York, which, in its turn, is lost in that of the Humber.
Foss is an inconsiderable river, which rises near the western
end of the Howardian hills, in the North Riding, and unites with
the Ouse at York. The ESKE descends from the northern dis-
trict of the eastern Moorlands, and runs into the North Sea at
Whitby, after forming the inner harbour of that port.

The

The Canals with which this county abounds are still of vast Canals. importance to its manufactures and commerce, notwithstanding the powerful aid afforded them by railway communications, as by their means communications are formed between the Irish Sea and the German Ocean, as well as with its great and navigable rivers. The Canals of the West Riding are the Leeds and Liverpool, 130 miles in length; the Barnsley canal, which joins the river Calder below Wakefield; the Dearne and Dove, commencing at the cut of the Dove navigation, between Swinton and Mexborough, and communicating with the Barnsley canal; the Stainforth and Keadby, which joins the river Trent, and is about fifteen miles in length; and the Huddersfield canal, which unites with the Ashton and Oldham canal, on the south side of Ashton. But the most important improvement of this mode of transit was that effected by the Aire and Calder Navigation Company, who, in 1698, made the Aire navigable to Leeds, and

Aire and vigation.

Calder Na

Mountains of Yorkshire.

in 1760 extended the navigation of the Calder to Salterhebble, subsequently extending it to Halifax. This wealthy and spirited company also cut the Knottingley and Goole canal, which branches from the Aire, and saves a distance of seventeen miles in the navigation from Leeds to Hull. The Calder and Hebble Navigation commences at Cooper's Bridge, and terminates in the Huddersfield canal, near Huddersfield.

The Canals of the North and East-ridings are the Foss Navigation, thirteen miles in length; the Market Weighton Canal; and a canal from Great Driffield to Hull, about seven miles in length.

The Mountains of Yorkshire are amongst the most elevated in the north of England, and rise to a great height above the level of the sea. The most remarkable of these are in that division of the county called Craven. Pennigant rises to the height of 3,930 feet; Ingleborough, 3,987; and Whernside, 4,052 feet. The last is the highest mountain in either England or Wales.

On the summit of the latter, the ascent to which is not difficult even to ladies, stands a pile of raised blocks of gritstone, from which exalted observatory may be scanned nearly the whole of Yorkshire, a considerable part of Lancashire, Westmoreland, Cumberland, and Durham. Between Whernside and Ingleborough appears the beautiful valley of the Lune, with the winding river of that name stretching westwardly to the sea. From the same elevation Lancaster may be easily traced thirty miles distant. Morecambe Bay and the Irish Channel are to be seen for many leagues; and to the left of Ingleborough, towering in majesty, is seen the lofty Pennigant. Looking back in the direction of Wensleydale, the dark peak of Shuner-fell is visible, whilst the sweet little secluded lake of Simmerwater becomes discernable, by directing the eye down the oblique valley of Simmerdale. Hambleton Hills and Roseberry Topping may also be seen from this elevation. In short, when the atmosphere is favourable, nearly the whole breadth of the island from the Irish Sea to the German Ocean is open to view.

The soil of the West Riding varies from a strong clay, or loam, to the worst peat earth. The face of that division of

the county is also very irregular, the northern and western parts of it being hilly and mountainous, interspersed with numerous vales.

tures.

The western division of Yorkshire is noted for the extent of its Manufac manufactures, especially in the production of cutlery and hardware, earthenware, steam engines, and machinery; stuff goods, in every variety; and woollen and fancy fabrics.

Great as were the facilities afforded to the mercantile world by means of inland navigation, those facilities have been largely increased by the construction of railways. Almost all the market Railways. towns in this important county have railways, either in progress or completed. The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (until recently called the Manchester and Leeds) enters the county from Lancashire, near Hebden-bridge, and passing by Elland, Brighouse, Dewsbury, and Wakefield, joins the Midland at Normanton, and proceeds to Leeds. The Leeds and Selby line runs from Leeds by Whitkirk, Sherburn, and Hambleton, to Selby. The Hull and Selby Railway commences at the former town and terminates at the latter, a distance of thirty miles, passing by Howden and Hessle. The Midland line enters from Derbyshire, five miles to the east of Sheffield, and passing Rotherham, proceeds northwardly on the east of Barnsley, and terminates at Leeds. The York and North-Midland Railway commences at York, passing to the south-east of Tadcaster, and under the Leeds and Selby line; it joins the Midland at Normanton, about four miles to the westward of the town of Pontefract. The Leeds and Bradford Railway, which has been recently transferred to the Midland Railway Company, commences at Leeds and terminates at Bradford; but at Shipley, about two miles from Bradford, a branch turns off through Bingley and Keighley to Skipton, where a junction is formed with the East Lancashire and North Western railways, thus directly communicating with Liverpool and Carlisle, or Edinburgh. The Leeds and Dewsbury Railway, from the former to the latter place, passing through Morley, Batley, and other populous manufacturing villages, has been incorporated with the London and North Western Railway Company, thus forming another railway facility to