66 which were the original supports of these upper masses, now prostrate and commingled in one fearful ruin. The Limestone having intermediate beds of clay, always moist, when forced into an inclined position the instant these supports, or great dog shores" (if we may use the phrase) were struck away, all the upper measures, like a stately vessel, but with the noise of tenfold thunders, would slide down into the open space left by the upheaving and retirement of the rocks.-This supposition is considerably strengthened by the appearance of the slip which advances into the Dale answerable to the curve of the rocks, forming its flatter portions; and giving birth to the stupendous rocks above, and also to the Cumberland Cavern, with its long flat passages, arches, &c., which will be noticed in due time. This event, whenever it did occur, doubtless, laid open the springs which supply the Old, and New Bath, and which rose to day considerably above their present apparent point of emergence, and running and spreading irregularly over this ruinous part, their very warmth nourishing and rapidly forcing forward a wild and luxuriant vegetation of mosses, ferns, lichens, &c., and being charged with an access of lime and carbonic acid gas obtained by infiltration through the upper beds, encrusted and enchained this incipient vegetation by the deposition of their calcareous matter. This effect is the consequence of the escape of the access of carbonic acid gas on exposure to day; and the rapid evaporation of the hot water, which as this process goes on, the minute particles of lime contained in it are precipitated; and thus giving rise to that vast mass of tufa, forming the beautiful terrace on which the two principal inns stand, both of which are considerably below the original source of the springs. Fine sections of this tufa are seen on the several roads leading to these houses.* As this has accu * The fertility of the soil above Tufa is astonishing. In Italy, as well as Matlock, it more particularly favors the growth of vines and creeping plants, especially where water can be conveyed to it: hence the great demand for Tufa for rock-work in gardens, ornamental pools, and reservoirs, mulated by such slow and inappreciable means, it shews that these depositions must have been going on undisturbed for ages and afford a strong proof of the simultaneous production of this fault or slip with the upheaving of the rocks. That in fact they had one common origin. It would also appear most consistent with truth to suppose, that the slip in the northern curve or half portion, is of the same age with that series of rocks; and it is highly probable that the toad and limestone measures slid underneath the Tor wherever cavernous openings and spaces occurred, and this might take place to a considerable extent, giving rise to the prevailing opinion of the existence of two beds of toadstone; which is now considered wholly unsubstantiated by facts, as only one bed uniformly occurs throughout the measures. We have in the causes which excavated this beautiful vale and elevated its mountain masses, a remarkable instance of the wisdom and goodness of God to his fallen creatures. These causes, though they clearly indicate his just displeasure at man's fearful and daring rebellion, as Milton forcibly expresses it— "Earth from her centre heaved;" All nature seemed convulsed, participating in an event pregnant with such vast consequences to our world; yet He graciously over-ruled these, making them subservient to His creatures' benefit and pleasure, and answerable in all respects to its strangely altered condition. One consequence is obvious, for while the sublime mountain peaks arrest the clouds in their career, and oblige them to deposit their rich and fructifying stores to nourish vegetation on the earth, they serve to beautify and adorn the &c. Many tons of it are annually sent out of Derbyshire. The Tufa here varies from a foot to 20 in depth, according to the acclivities over which the water run, and the direction it took. The following lines are much to the point on this subject : "Water restrained gives birth To grass and plants which thicken into earth; Dilates its drops and softens into air." causes. face of the world, and furnish that endless variety of ever varying and beautiful scenery to meet the constant and increasing desires of the human mind for novelty and incessant change; thus making earth, while man tenants it, in some measure commensurate to his vast capacities, as if their maker had given them a voice and a tongue to proclaim aloud, behold, admire, and wonder!! But this is a small part of the benefit resulting from these The immense stores laid up within the earth's crust, which form the chief wealth of nations, and administer every moment to man's comfort and wants, from the coal that warms him and sparkles on his hearth, to those things that ornament his dwelling, never could have been made available to his purpose but for these. Also the elevated escarpments of mountains drinking in the rain of heaven furnish the source of springs-from hence brooks and streams, and ultimately the noble river majestically flowing throughout the provinces of an empire, nourishing, enriching, and fructifying the soil; rendering its most distant parts accessible to the interior, as well as to the world;-giving facilities to commerce and the intercourse of nations, and tending to bind man in one common brotherly and holy compact. Nor must we overlook the fact, that owing to these causes, man in every locality, by digging, may obtain water, which is absolutely essential to his present existence. Thus these apparently untoward events bring to the surface the riches of a world, making available its hidden stores to man, and furnishing incessant employment to its vastly increasing population; and thus the Creator unites the "dulce" with the "utile"--the ornamental-the beautiful, with all the necessary material of our being, in order to remind us, in all our investigations of nature, and during every stage of our present existence, of his infinite goodness and wisdom, so evidently and impressively exhibited, in all the beautiful adaptations of the external world to our happiness and well-being. B THE CLIMATE Of Matlock Bath is generally admitted to be most salubrious and healthy. The currents down its stream perpetually clearing the valley, keeps the air pure; while, on the other hand, the Bath, being deeply embosomed amongst the hills on the southern side chiefly of the Heights of Abraham, and screened effectually by them, the High Tor and Riber Hill from the North and East; and catching every gleam of sunshine from the South, it enjoys a climate equal to many places in more southern latitudes. In the Winter this is experienced to a considerable extent, hence it has been, and is still, recommended for consumptive patients and persons of extremely delicate constitutions; while the healthy and robust may scale the Heights at any moment, and inhale the keen, invigorating, and bracing air of a more northern sky; or on choosing to reside in one of its habitations situated on the more elevated points, may possess a climate of a considerably lower temperature. A sail on its beautiful waters in the heat of Summer, to enjoy the fresh breeze constantly moving with more, or less force along the course of its stream, when perhaps not a leaf stirs in the upper parts of the dale, is another source of healthy recreation to the more active visiters of Matlock, and consequently it has been much resorted to of late years. And were a spirit of enterprise to awake, and more private lodging houses built, doubtless the Bath would become at all seasons a favourite place of public resort, from the numerous natural advantages it possesses.* * A Medical Gentleman, who resided some years in Matlock, made the following remarks on its climate:-" From the position of this mountain, (the Heights of Abraham) great shelter is afforded, and which does most essentially contribute to the well-known salubrity and healthiness of Matlock-and considering the limited number of its inhabitants, there may THE WATERS, Which originally obtained for this retreat the distinction of a watering place, are slightly tepid as they issue from the springs, being about 68° Fahrenheit, and therefore extremely agreeable at all seasons for bathing. Their chemical properties are similar to the Buxton waters, which are well known, but the temperature is lower than the Buxton; and this is considered to be owing to the escape of the additional caloric before they emerge to the light, or by mixing with a stream of cold water which exists somewhere near the source of the springs. In a publication of this kind it would be quite out of place to give an elaborate disquisition on the properties and origin of hot springs, about which many theories have been started and as often refuted, or at least shewn to be unsatisfactory. And no wonder if poor limited humanity is at fault on subjects so abstruse and so remote from actual observation, and which is clearly intimated in the following passage, derived from a source infinitely higher than the creature can lay claim to:-" Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea, or hast thou walked in the search of the depth."+ But it may be observed, that amongst the ever varying 66 not, in all probability, be found so remarkable an instance of longevity as the following fact: that of six persons, inhabitants of Matlock Bath, living within two or three hundred yards of each other, in the year 1817, their united ages amounted to five hundred years." And the eloquent Author of the Peak Scenery makes the following remarks-" The cold winds of the North and East spend their violence on the huge eminences that environ Matlock Bath, and but rarely sweep through the Valley: hence it is that, during the colder parts of the year, the air is comparatively mild and admirably adapted for invalids. At this place, even winter is shorn of its terrors; the very frosts are embued with an exhilarating temperament." * An attempt has been made to get to the source of the Springs to try to obviate this, but without success, and indeed it has not only proved abortive but extremely dangerous to those who attempted it. They are said to be nearly two thousand feet within the mountain. + Job xxxviii. 16. |