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self might expire the moment the breath of life quitted the body of his fricul to that their souls might wing their flight to Heaven in company.

Near the ruins, the late Sir Wilfred Lawson, (to whose representative the island at present belongs,) erected a few years ago a small cottage which, being built of unhewn stone, and artificially mossed over, has a venerable appearance. There are three or four other islets, the largest of which is Rampsholm. At irregular intervals of a few years, the lake exhibits a singular phenomenon in the rising of a piece of ground, called The FLOATING ISLAND, from the bottom to the surface of the water. Its superficial extent varies in different years, from an acre to a few perches. It is composed of earthy matter, six feet in thickness, covered with vegetation, and is full of air-bubbles, which, it is supposed, by penetrating the whole mass, diminish its specific gravity, and are the cause of its buoyancy. This natural phenomenon is situate about 150 yards from the shore, near Lowdore.

The walks in the neighbourhood of Keswick are numerous and interesting. From Crow Park and Friar Crag, two places situate on the east shore, near the foot of the lake, beautiful views of the lake, vale, and surrounding mountains are obtained. From a wooded eminence called Castle Head, standing on the left of the Borrowdale road, about half a mile from Keswick, there is an enchanting prospect extending on the south into the "Jaws of Borodale," in which Castle Crag appears like a prominent front tooth. Cat Bells, on the other side of the lake, are fine objects, as well as other mountains which tower over the vale of Newlands. From a summit, called Castlerigg, one mile from Keswick on the Ambleside road, there is a most extensive view, comprising the lakes of Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite, the fertile vale through which the Derwent winds on its passage from the one lake to the other, and the heights of Skiddaw. Gray declares that, on leaving Keswick, when he turned round at this place tc contemplate the scenery behind him, he was so charmed " that he had almost a mind to go back again." A walk over Latrigg, “Skiddaw's Cub," will furnish the stranger with innumerable delightful prospects; and, in fact, it is impossible to stir in the neighbourhood of Keswick, without having scenery of the finest description before the eye. One mile and a-half from Keswick, on an eminence to the right of the old road to Penrith, is a small Druidical circle, measuring 100 feet by 108, consisting of forty-eight stones, some of which are 7 feet high. Perhaps an excursion exhibiting more beautiful prospects of rock, wood, and water, than that round Derwentwater, does not exist in the vicinity of the Lakes. It is not more than 10 miles in length, if Grange Bridge be the limit of the ride in that direction; but if the excursion be extended to Bowder Stone, two miles must be added. Leaving Keswick by the Borrowdale Road, Castle Head, Wallow Crag, and Falcon Crag, are successively passed on the left. A hollow in the Bummit of Wallow Crag is visible from the road. There is a tradition curre in the country, that, by means of this hollow, the Countess of Derwentwater

fected her escape when the Earl was arrested for high treason, carrying with her a quantity of jewels and other valuables. It has ever since borne the name of the Lady's Rake. Barrow House stands two miles from Keswick, on the left of the road. Behind the house there is a fine cascade 124 feet in height, which may be seen on application at the lodge. A mountain road strikes off at this point to the village of Watendlath, two miles from the deflection. The road, after passing the village, near which there is a tarn, re-enters the Borrowdale road a little beyond Bowder Stone. In making the ascent to the village, splendid views of the lake and Skiddaw are obtained. One mile beyond Barrow, the road having passed under Thrang Crag, is LOWDORE HOTEL, behind which is the celebrated Lowdore Waterfall. The grandeur of the rocks around the stream render the scene impressive, whatever may be the state of the weather, but the cas cade is dependent in a great measure for its effect on the quantity of water. After heavy rains, the noise of the fall may be heard as far down the lake as criar Crag. Gowder Crag rises on the left, Shepherd's Crag on the right, of the waterfall. One mile further, Grange Bridge, spanning Borrowdale Beck, is attained. Should the tourist desire to see the curious mass of rock called Bowder Stone, the road into Borrowdale must be continued for a mile further. This immense block, which has evidently rolled from the heights above, stands on a platform of ground, a short distance to the left of the road. A branch road has been made to the stone, which rejoins the Borrowdale road further on. It has been computed to weigh upwards of 1900 tons. Its summit may be gained by means of a ladder which has been affixed to it for the use of strangers.

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Close to Bowder Stone, but on the opposite side of the river, from the bank of which it suddenly rises, is an elevation clothed with wood called Castle Crag. so termed from a Roman fortification having once occupied the summit, the faint traces of which still remain. Some of the relics found here are shown in one of the museums at Keswick. Returning to and crossing Grange Bridge, the village of Grange is passed, and, one mile beyond, are a few houses called Manesty, near which is a small medicinal spring. Passing under the summit styled Cat Bells, the road enters the pretty village of Portinscale, 4 miles from Grange Bridge, near which are many elegant villas. Keswick is but a mile and a quar'er beyond.

An agreeable excursion of thirteen miles and a half may be made from Kes wick into the famed VALLEY OF ST JOHN. The Penrith road must be pursued for four miles, to the village of Threlkeld. This road, lying almost the whole way on the banks of the Greta, passes under the mountain-masses of Skiddaw and Saddleback, (more poetically called Blencathara.) In a recess of the later

mountain, deeply embosomed in huge cliffs, there lies a piece of water called Scales Tarn, which exaggerating travellers have described as an abyss of waters upon which the sun never shines, and wherein the stars of heaven may be seen at noon-day.

In the same tarn, tradition asserts that two immortal fish have their abode. Amongst the acknowledgments which the Minstrel, in his " Song at the feast of Brougham Castle," states had been made to the secret power of the good Lord Clifford, when a shepherd boy in adversity, was the following:—

"And both the undying fish that swim

In Bowscale Tarn did wait on him,

The pair were servants of his eye

In their immortality;

They moved about in open sight,
To and fro for his delight."

The old hall at Threlkeld has been long in a state of dilapidation, the only habitable part having been for years converted into a farm-house. This was one of the places of residence of Sir Lancelot Threlkeld, a powerful knight in the reign of Henry VII., and uncle to the Lord Clifford above-mentioned, who was wont to say that "he had three noble houses-one for pleasure, Crosby in Westmorland, where he had a park full of deer; one for profit and warmth, namely, Yanwith, nigh Penrith; and the third, Threlkeld on the edge of the vale of Keswick, well stocked with tenants to go with him to the wars." These "three noble houses" are now the property of the Earl of Lonsdale, and are all occupied as farm-houses.

A short distance on the Keswick side of Threlkeld, the road leading into the Vale of St John branches off on the right. A branch of the river Greta, called St John's Beck, runs through this valley, which is narrow, but extremely picturesque, being bounded on the right by Nathdale or Naddle Fell, and on the left by Great Dodd, a hill at the extremity of the Helvellyn chain. The chapel occupies a striking situation on the right, at the summit of the pass between St John's Vale and Naddle. Though standing at such an elevation, the sun never shines upon it during three months of the year. There are tine retrospective views of Saddleback, and the peculiar conformation of the summit which gives its name to the mountain may be clearly perceived. The high road to Keswick

is gained four miles and a half from Threlkeld. From the end of Naddle Fell, in the Vale of Thirlspot, near to Thirlemere, some sweet glimpses of that lake may be obtained. The rock which has given celebrity to the valley stands near the extremity on the left. The resemblance to a fortification is certainly very striking. It is the scene of Sir Walter Scott's Bridal of Triermain, in which there is the following description of the appearance which the rock presented to the charmed senses of King Arthur:

"With toil the King his way pursued

By lonely Threlkeld's waste and wood,
Till on his course obliquely shone
The narrow valley of ST JON.

Down soping to the western sky,
Where lingering sunbeams love to he.

Paled in by many a lofty hill,
The narrow dale lay smooth and still,
And, down its verdant bosom led,
A winding brooklet found its bed,
But midmost of the vale, a mound
Arose with airy turrets crown'd,
Buttress, and rampire's circling bound,
And mighty keep and tower;
Seem'd some primeval giant's hand
The castle's massive walls had plann'd,
A ponderous bulwark to withstand
Ambitious Nimrod's power,
Above the moated entrance slung,
The balanced drawbridge trembling hung,
As jealous of a foe;
Wicket of Oak, as iron hard,

With iron studded, clench'd, and barr'd,
And prong'd portcullis, join'd to guard
The gloomy pass below.

But the grey walls no banners crown'd,
Upon the watch-tower's airy round
No warder stood his horn to sound,
No guard beside the bridge was found,
And, where the Gothic gateway frown'd,
Glanced neither bill nor bow.

when a pilgrim strays,

In morning mist or evening maze,
Along the mountain lone,

That fairy fortress often mocks
His gaze upon the castled rocks

Of the Valley of St John,"

Keswick is nine miles and a-half from Threlkeld by way of the Vale of St John. The ridge of Castlerigg, whence there is the splendid prospect already noticed, is crossed one mile from Keswick.

A drive round the lake of BASSENTHWAITE is frequently taken by tourists whilst making Keswick their head-quarters. This lake lies three miles to the north of Derwentwater, from which it is separated by low meadows, that in wet weather are flooded to some extent; it is four miles long, and about one mile broad. The pleasant village of Portinscale is a mile and a-quarter from Keswick. Two miles beyond, the road which must be pursued quits the old Cockermouth road near the village of Braithwaite,-between the two villages the tourist has Grisedale Pike directly before him. The road then becomes elevated, forming a fine terrace whence the beautiful vales of Thornthwaite, Braithwaite, and Keswick, are beheld, with all their luxuriance of wood. Skirting the base of Lord's Seat and Barf, and after making many ascents and descents disclosing delightful views of the lake, backed by Skiddaw, Ouse Bridge is crossed nine miles and a-half from Keswick. The bridge spans the Derwent soon after it issues from the lake. A quarter of

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a mile beyond is Armathwaite Hall, the seat of Sir H. R. F. Vane, Bart. The Castle Inn, where refreshment may be taken, is ten miles from Keswick, which town the tourist reaches by a road eight miles in length, passing under Skiddaw. Bassenthwaite Church is seen on the right near the margin of the lake.

The last excursion from Keswick which we shall detail is that by way of Borrowdale to BUTTERMERE, CRUMMOCK, and LowES WATER. The road has been already described as far as Bowder Stone, a little beyond which it joins the road from Watendlath. A mile below Bowder Stone is Rosthwaite, where there is a small inn. A short distance farther a road strikes off on the left through Stonethwaite to Langdale, passing over the ridge called the Stake. One mile from Rosthwaite the road into Wastdale, by the pass of Sty Head, continues up Borrowdale on the left. Near the deviation is Seatoller, the residence of Abraham Fisher, Esq., in the neighbourhood of which is the celebrated mine of plumbago, or black lead, as it is usually called. It has been worked at intervals for upwards of two centuries, but, being now less productive, the ore has been excavated for several years consecutively. This is the only mine of the kind in England, and there are only one or two places in Scotland where plumbago has been discovered, but the lead obtained there is of an inferior quality. The best ore procured at the Borrowdale mine sells for L. 1, 10s. a pound. In the vicinity of the lead mine are four yew trees of extraordinary size.

At Seatoller the ascent of Buttermere Haws is commenced. This hill is steep It is and the road rough, private carriages, therefore, should not be taken over. eleven hundred feet in height, and commands noble prospects of the receding valley of Borrowdale. Helvellyn may be descried over the Borrowdale Felis The hill called Glaramara is on the left. With a little stretch of fancy the streams may be heard

"Murmuring in Glaramara's inmost caves." On the right of the pass is the hill named Yewdale.

The road descends rapidly into the head of Buttermere dale; Honister Crag, presenting an almost perpendicular wall of rock, rising on the left to the height of fifteen hundred feet. In the face of the rock, a considerable height above its base, large chambers have been cut, tier above tier, in which roofing-slates are excavated. The flates are shaped in the quarry, and brought down by men on > wooden hurdles. These quarries belong to General Wyndham. Two miles below Honister Crag, and four from Seatoller, is a farm house near the head of Buttermere Lake, called Gatescarth, whence a mountain road crosses by the pass of Scarf Gap, into the head of Ennerdale, and reaches Wastdale Head by means of another pass called Black Sail. Hasness, the residence of General Benson, occupies a pretty situation on the left near the margin of the lake. series of mountain summits tower over the opposite shore of the lake. T Hay Stacks, so termed from their form, are the most eastern; then follow i Crag, High Etile, and Red Pike, A stream issuing from a small tarn Les between the two last, makes a fine cascade, bearing the name of Sour

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