Journey from Carlisle to Maryport; through Wigton. On leaving Carlisle, we proceed in a south-westerly direction, and at the distance of five miles, pass through the hamlet of Woodhouses, about one imile to the north of which, is the village of ORION, containing 39 houses, and 173 inhabitants. The situation of this village is so remarkably pleasant, that from a small inclosure, a little to the west, called Parson's Thorn, 15 churches may be seen in Cumberland, besides several in Scotland. The entrances to this village were formerly defended by gates fastened with an iron chain, and a double ditch; that to the north being still very distinct; this defence was rendered necessary from the predatory excursions of the moss-troopers; and several of the villages in this part of Cumberland exhibit similar traces of defence. Returning to our road, at the distance of about five miles from Woodhouses, is the town of WIGTON, Situated 306 miles from London, in the forest of Allendale. The streets are spacious, and many of the buildings are handsome and modern. The Church, which was erected in the year 1788, from materials procured from the Roman station at Old Carlisle, is a neat structure. Here is an Hospital for six poor clergy man's widows, and a Free Grammar-school. It has a market on Tuesdays, and a fair on the 25th of March; and contains, according to the late returns, 566 houses, and 2,744 inhabitants. About one mile south from Wigton are the remains of that ancient Roman station Caer Leol, now called Old Carlisle, but by some supposed to have been the Olenacum of the Notitia, where the ala Herculea were in garrison. These remains are situate on an easy ascent, and commanding an extensive prospect towards Solway Frith and the Scotch borders; they are very extensive, founda tions of innumerable buildings being scattered over many acres, as well within the vallum as on every hand without the line, except to the westward, where the hill descends precipitate to a small brook. This station is an oblong square, 170 paces in length, and 110 in breadth, with obtuse angles, defended by a double ditch, with an aperture or approach in the centre of each side: the whole ground appears a confusion of ruined edifices. Within the vallum, towards the north, a well has been opened within these few years, of about three feet in diameter, walled regularly with stone, around which were scattered fragments of bricks, tiles, and earthen ware. Various inscriptions, sacrificing instruments, coins, altars, statues, and several other vestiges of antiquities, have been found at this station; and certain it is (says Camden) that the ala (wing), which for its valour was called Augusta, and Augus→ ta Gordiana, was here in the time of Gordianus, as appears from the following inscriptions, which I saw in the neighbourhood. I. O. M. PRO SALVTE IMPERATORIS TVSDRO SVB CVR NONNII PHI ATTICO ET PRAETEXTATO COSS. "This votive altar was erected for the happy. health of the Emperor Gordian the Third,, and his wife Furia Sabina Tranquilla, and their whole fa mily, by the troops of horsemen surnamed Augusta Gordiana, when Amilius Crispinus, a native of Africa, governed the same under Nonnius Philippus, lieutenant-general in Britain, in the year of Christ, 243, as appeareth by the Consuls therein specified." About one mile to the south of this station, on a well cultivated spot, but in the midst of an elevated and dreary moor, is Clea Hall, the seat of Sir Henry Fletcher, Bart. The northern prospect from this place is very extensive, the lower parts of Cumberland, the Solway Frith, and the borders of Scotland, being all comprehended in the view. At the distance of about six miles from Wigton, and on the left of our road, is Brayton Hall, the seat of Sir Gilfrid Lawson, Bart; the house, which is an elegant and commodious dwelling, has been much improved of late years, and the apartments are enriched with several good paintings. About one mile beyond the last-mentioned place is the village of ASPATRIA, containing 102 houses and 327 inhabitants. In the year 1790, a barrow was opened, which stood about 200 yards north of this village, in which a human skeleton was found, which measured seven feet from the head to the ancle bone, the feet were rotted off; on the left side was a broad sword, five feet in length, the guard of which was ornamented with flowers of silver, inlaid; and on the right side lay a dirk or dagger, one foot and a half in length, the handle of which was likewise ornamented with silver. Part of a gold buckle, an ornament for the end of a belt, a piece of which adhered to it; a broken battle axe, a bit in the shape of a modern snaffle, and part of a spur was likewise discovered in this sepulchre. 'About four miles to the west of Aspatria, is the town of ALLONBY; it is a neat and well-built town, Occupying a flat situation on the sea coast, and is much t much frequented in the summer season for the purpose of bathing. It is situated 309 miles from London, and contains 153 houses, and 726 inhabitants; a great number of whom are empf yed in the herring fishery, which has, however, greatly declined on this coast of late years, which is attributed by Mr. Hutchinson, to a singular circumstance in the natural history of this fish. "After remaming (he says) in this channel ten years, the wonderful shoals of this fish are said to leave it, to stay away ten years, and then return and stay ten years longer. These revolutions are described to be as regular as those of any of the planets, the flowing of the tides, or the vicissitudes of the seasons. Unaccountable as this circumstance confessedly is, it is confidently affirmed, and by very credible authority, to be a fact, and to have been observed of the herring for three successive periods yet within memory." Returning to the turnpike-road, at the distance of five miles from Aspatria, we pass through the hamlet of Crosby, belonging to the parish of CROSS CANNONBY, Situated about half a mile to the right of our road, and containing 520 houses, and 2,932 inhabitants, of whom 557 were returned as being employed in trade and manufacture. At the distance of about three miles from the lastmentioned village is MARYPORT, a sea port and market town, in the parish of Cross Cannonby, to which Maryport has a chapel of ease, erected in the year 1760. The town is pleasantly situated on the sea shore, on the banks of the river Ellen, which divides it into two parts, and in which is a fishery, The harbour will at present contain about 150 vessels, but it is capable of great improvement. It contains about 400 houses, and by a late survey, the number of inhabitants amounted to 2,625; a great proportion of whom are employed in the neighbouring coal mines, from which this town derives its origin and present consequence. There are however, however, besides a large cotton manufactory, lately established, a furnace for cast-iron, and a slatehouse. Its market day is on Friday. At the south end of the town, on an eminence called the Mote Hill, is an artificial mount; the base of which is 160 yards in circumference; it is protected by a deep ditch, surrounding it on all sides, except where the steepness of the hill rendered such a defence unnecessary. Near this town, on the north of the river Ellen,. are the remains of a considerable Roman station, generally called Ellenborough, though the village of that name is situated at some distance. This sta tion is supposed by Camden to be Volantium, where the first cohort of the Dalmatians were in garrison. There was also a town near this place, called Olenacum, where the first Herculean wing was stationed, in the reign of Theodosius the younger. At this place have been found more altars, statues, inscribed stones, and other remains of Roman antiquity, than perhaps in any part of this country. The principal of these remains is a Roman altar, with the following inscription: 66 GENIO LOCI FORIVNE RED ET FATO BONO MAVR CESA DOMVS ET ED On the back of this altar, and upon the upper edge, are the words. VOLANTII VIVAS, from which Camden conjectures, that the altar was votive for the life of G. Cornelius Peregrinus, who lived at K Volantium, |