magnificent rock, worthy of observation. Had the road to Buxton been taken up these Dales it would have presented some of the finest scenery, and formed one of the finest drives in the world, at the same time avoided a long and formidable hill. Either point may be gained in a quarter of an hour's drive from Ashford, but the view from the top is decidedly the most enchanting and easily approached. For here the traveller may sit in his carriage and enjoy its almost unexampled loveliness and beauty and if he should come upon it unexpectedly and unapprised, which he can scarcely fail to do, on taking the upper road all the better, as the effect on the mind is then more powerful and touching. The author can well remember the first time he saw the Dale from this point, when on passing over Longstone Edge on his road from Castleton and rapidly descending into the beautiful vale of Ashford, having attained a slight sweep of the road, this fine Dale instantly bursts upon the view. A friend who accompanied him at the time in astonishment exclaimed what is this? Surely this is a second Paradise! The sudden transition from barren, sterile moors, bogs and bleak hills, to a view of one of the most lovely and verdant spots in creation, was inconceivably powerful, and might well justify the comparison. But lest we should be considered as overcharging the picture, we shall quote the following beautiful remarks from a fair tourist :

"The Wye," observes this elegant author, "seems to have changed its characteristics under the influence of this sylvan vale, and no longer foams over a rocky channel, or forces its way through narrow defiles, but expands its glossy surface to the smooth banks of the beautiful meadow-land that divide it from the base of the mountain. Two or three rustic dwellings, in perfect harmony with the scene, diversifying the level of the valley; they are shaded by the finest ash-trees that grow in Derbyshire, whilst their descendants grace the rising hills in little groups, or single trees, and throw their shadows on the bright green turf from whence they spring; the mountains rising above them, from which the rocks start in light pinnacles, or rounded turrets; the shining ivy, at all seasons of the year, decking their silver sides with its ever-green beauty. The river, after having spread itself in beautiful expanse, winds eastward out of the Dale, its termination hid by the projecting headland. Across the broadest part of the river, the very sort of bridge that unites with the features of the scene communicates with the opposite bank; large blocks of native marble tagged together by their own inequalities, through the apertures of which

the water glides, their surface blanched by the sun, and polished by the frequent overflow of the rapid stream; their little hollows and interstices covered with moss of the greenest hue, and the impetuous Wye, even there, in its chosen repose, fretting and bubbling around them, as if to resent its interruption. In the provincialism of the country these stones are called lepping (leaping) stones, thirty-two of which form this rustic bridge. The sweet solitude of this valley, this Derbyshire Temple, has no gloomy abstraction. A fine road leads down the side of the mountain, and continues along the Dale, meeting the course of the river; few would choose to descend its steep declivity in a carriage, but no one would regret alighting to walk with such objects around. The most seducing quietness pervades the soft domain; the water steals along so gently, that scarce a murmur meets the ear; the birds select it for their early nests; the lambs sport upon its narrow sheltered meadows; in its bright waters the heavy fleeces of their dams are washed, and upon the banks, one who loves the calm and quiet recreation, that in which old Isaac Walton most delighted, may there be seen in solitary enjoyment. I cannot imagine that any stranger who first surveys the pastoral beauty of Monsal Dale from the heights above its deep yet smiling seclusion, but feels a passing thought, if not a wish, to become its resident; for there the fury passions of mankind, the vultures of the mind,' sink to rest, and the all gentler ones are soothed to balmy happiness; there it would seem that hatred should cease its malignity, and pride its folly, and ambition its aspirations; feeling that all it had hitherto considered great was, when compared with the majesty of nature and the soft joys of rural repose, but little; whilst love would erect its temple in Monsal Dale, and contemplation think down hours to minutes, and mark them all for wisdom."

6

From Monsall Dale we returned to Ashford, and as it was our purpose to visit the Marble Works, we took the right hand road after descending the hill--before we reached the village, a fine section of the shale is laid bare on the road side, exhibiting innumerable thin plates piled up on each other like regular layers of masonry. The regularity and minuteness of which, where the bank has been cut down, has a striking effect. The shale is very soft and crumbles to pieces in the fingers when wetted.

ASHFORD

Is a Chapelry, in the parish of Bakewell, and is chiefly the property of the Duke of Devonshire. The Hall, and the Rookery where the Clergyman now resides, both belong to his Grace.-It contains about 700 inhabitants, employed in the cotton manufacture, agriculture, and the marble works. We proceeded to examine these old and interesting works-the first of the kind

ways

established in this county, which took place in 1748.Mr. Henry Watson, of Bakewell, has the credit of constructing the ingenious mode of sawing and polishing the marble by water-power. The works were conducted some time by the Watsons, the descendants of the celebrated Samuel Watson, who was distinguished by his wood carvings in Chatsworth House.-The works subsequently came into the hands of a Mr. Platt, then Mr. Brown of Derby-and the present occupiers are Oldfield & Co. The trade has been considerably increased of late. The sawn slabs are sent to all parts of the kingdom, and chimney-pieces, monuments, &c. extensively manufactured of the black marble, the rosewood, the grey or entrochi, as well as foreign marbles, all which take a beautiful polish.-Here also the Duke of Devonshire had his massive marble door for the new building at Chatsworth executed, as well as all the gritstone balustrades and vases for the stairs, walls, battlements, &c. &c.,-which ornament the new part. We were exceedingly amused and delighted in beholding the process of sawing, grinding and polishing the marbles by the massive wooden machines, driven by powerful water wheels.-We then proceeded across the Wye (here a turbulent stream) by a plank to the marble quarry which is close by the works; and where the finest and purest black marble in the world is obtained. The present quarry has a bearing of at least 40 feet above it of bad measures, as they are called, and the good black consists of nine beds, varying from 3 to 9 inches in thickness, with thin alternating beds of shale and chert, or black flint, sometimes also existing in large nodules. -It is difficult to raise a perfect slab of more than 6 or 7 feet long, and from 2 to 5 feet wide.-In this village, Mawe of London and Matlock, have private workshops, where they execute some of their finest goods in black marble for their several rooms, and the greater part of the inlaid tables, &c., which almost excel the Italian, are done here. There is a good Inn (the Devonshire Arms) where parties may be accommodated with comfortable quarters and a ready attention

paid to their wants. The fishing in the Wye is freely granted to all frequenting it.-Many resort to this delightful village for this purpose in the summer months.

Having seen all we wished here, our next point was to Bakewell, we had a good view of Ashford Hall on leaving; and a beautiful peep down the fine sheet of water in front of the Mansion on attaining the bridge.About a mile and a quarter from Ashford, on the high ridge to the left, opposite the Cotton Mill, the Trap or Toadstone measures are laid bare, which are interesting to the Geologist. The Cotton Mill, now in the occupancy of Mr. Mason, gives employment to more than 300 hands. On proceeding a few hundred yards more, just before entering Bakewell, to the right above, is the extensive Chert Quarry belonging to the upper Measures of the Limestone.-Many hundreds of tons of this is annually sent into the Potteries, to be converted into the beautiful porcelain,* &c.-We now reached the fine old Saxon Town of Bakewell.

BAKEWELL

Is in the Archdeaconry of Derby and forms one of the largest parishes of Derbyshire, extending from northwest to southeast more than 20 miles, and about eight miles wide-it contains nine chapelries, besides several large hamlets. The town is of high antiquity, being known even to the Romans, who had Baths here, and who occupied the loftiest positions of the Peak and worked the mines throughout the whole district. The Baths which still exist gave the name to the town, derived from the Saxon word Baddecanwell, and Baddecanwyllen. The former is derived from the Saxon term applied to the Baths, and the latter means "Bathing

* This is a silecious or flinty material, which when burnt, pulverised, sifted, and repeatedly washed, through all which manipulations it goes in the Potteries, it forms the purest clay for the purpose required in existence. It is sold at 15s. per ton delivered at the Canal, Comford.-The chert often contains Entrochites, and is called Screw Stone where the entrochite is so decayed so as to resemble a screw.

well" now degenerated into "Bakewell." The water is a tepid chalybeate not exceeding 60° of Fahrenheit. It is the principal market town of the High Peak and from the beauty of its situation and its central position from all the objects of interest in the Peak of Derbyshire, as well as for the fine fishing in the Wye, is visited by numerous parties during the summer months. The Rutland Arms, kept by Mrs. Greaves, one of the most extensive and best conducted Inns in the kingdom, proves also a great attraction to this interesting town. All parties visiting this Inn and the Baths, which belong to the Duke of Rutland, have free liberty to enjoy the sport of angling in the beautiful Wye. The church is in the Gothic style of architecture-the spire, which once peered loftily over the town and dale was obliged to be taken down, owing to the foundations giving way. This has materially destroyed the beauty of the church, which stands on a bold eminence and is remarkably interesting from containing the tombs of the Vernons and Manners' families, with the figures rudely sculptured in marble, alabaster, &c., and other monuments with curious inscriptions exceedingly interesting to the antiquary.* There is a fine old cross in the church-yard supposed to have been brought from some other place. The marble works here are excellent, belonging to the Duke of Rutland and possessed by Mr. Lomas. From the marble quarry in the neighbourhood some of the finest black marble is obtained, which possesses a superior degree of hardness and durability to

* Near the vestry in the centre is the Altar-tomb or Cenotaph of Sir George Vernon, Knt. and his two wives, enriched with figures in bas-relief of ladies holding Shields of Arms; on it lies the effigy of a knight, in plate-armour and surcoat, with straight hair and a long beard, having a double chain about his neck with an inscription indicating that the body of "Sir George" formerly called the King of the Peak "lyeth" here. It bears the date of 1561.-On the right is the Monument of the famous Sir John Manners and his wife, the beautiful Dorothy, the circumstances of whose loves, elopement and marriage, throw such a romantic interest over Haddon. -Sir John died 4th June, 1611, and his Lady long prior to this in the 26th year of the reign of Elizabeth, 1584.-The font in the Church is of great antiquity.-Bakewell is first mentioned in history, shortly after the termination of the Heptarchy.