trasted strangely with the slow and painful movements of a few individuals scattered amongst the throng, who however were generally found to prefer the low instead of the high ground of the Cliff. But all seemed inspired with confidence, every countenance gave indication of blooming hope.-There is something so spirit-stirring in the earlier part of the day which seems to set despair at defiance and give buoyant hope to every heart, and greater elasticity to every foot even to the feeble and infirm. The elegant equipages moving to and fro, from the Crescent, added a grace and interest to the scene altogether forming such a picture of life and energy as could hardly be expected to be found amongst the barren heaths of the Peak. We obtained the first view of this inspiring scene shortly after passing the Eagle Inn, on reaching the top of the Bank.

THE SERPENTINE WALKS.

Along the course of the Wye, towards its source, northward (here reduced to a small but beautiful rivulet) these walks have been most judiciously formed, and afford an agreeable ramble to the Buxton visitor.-The stream is made highly interesting by being deepened in places to give a greater expanse of water, and banked up in others to form miniature cascades. At suitable

and convenient distances seats, alcoves, or rustic sum. mer-houses, are made for the comfort of the invalid. The whole is admirably laid out, and enriched with shrubs and luxuriant plantations.

A short ride may be taken by the Church, and past the Cottage once occupied by the Rev. Mr. Spencer, to Beat.-Near this point there is a tunnel of the High Peak Railway.

The Duke's Drive is one of the most varied and interesting in the neighbourhood of Buxton, and, as its name imports, was wholly made at the expense of the Duke of Devonshire, who studies to accommodate the Buxton people, and to render this highly-favoured Watering-place

66

as interesting as possible.--This drive quits the Bakewell road about half a mile from Buxton, branching off to the right, and winding over the high ground, it skirts the top of the Crags that bound Wye Dale, and in which is the Rocky chasm called the Lover's Leap. From hence it leads through an open valley, and after a circuit of about three miles, it joins the old London road (now the Ashbourn and Dovedale), and enters Buxton by the Cheshire Cheese, affording at different points throughout the drive some views of deep interest and wildly romantic." The drive for about four miles along the Bakewell road, to the vicinity of Topley Pike, is ex-. ceedingly rich and beautiful, through Ashwood Dale and Wye Dale.*-In this direction Miller's Dale (about seven miles) may be reached, and also Chee Tor, if the stranger has no objection to walk (and clamber sometimes over rocks) the latter part of the distance, the scenery is so rich and beautiful that it will amply repay the toil and trouble.-Monsal Dale, already described, is not a great way below this latter Dale.-Both these Dales are objects of great attraction to the Buxton visi

tor.

But perhaps the most interesting drive is yet to name, and that is through the pleasant village of Fairfield to Wormhill and Chee Tor. At Wormhill a guide may be obtained to lead the stranger to view this magnificent rock, which can only be visited by pedestrians.† As the author has never personally visited this huge mass of Limestone, he begs to transcribe the description, with little alteration, of one who has.

CHEE TOR.

"Among the remarkable features which render the romantic county of Derby the resort of scientific in

* Passing up the fissure or chasm, called Shirbrook dell, under the Lover's Leap, we come to a slight waterfall, which, when the streamlet is swollen with heavy rains becomes a cascade of some magnitude and of considerable interest.

† On proceeding from Wormhill to the Tor, the road and footpath leads by the seat of William C. Bagshaw, Esq.

quirers, are those immense elevated projections, de-
nominated Tors, and which geologists describe as being
formed by broken and displaced masses of the limestone
strata. One of these, well known to persons fond of
investigating the manifestations of the violent changes
caused by natural disruptions in the coats of the earth,
is the High Tor already described (page 52) and another
perhaps more remarkable still is Chee Tor, which pro-
trudes its stupendous mass, resembling a lofty sea-cliff
above the translucent waters of the small and meander-
ing stream of the Wye, near Wormhill. It rises from
the bottom of the dale to the height of about three hun-
dred and sixty feet. The channel of the river at its
base is confined by massive rocks of limestone, that ap-
pear to have been portions of the Tor; and these dis-
play, in picturesque variety, groups of the mountain-
ash intermixed with the hazel, and other samples of
scattered vegetation, that heighten the beauty of the
scene, as they, and the stream below, are contrasted
with the barren outline of the enormous rock.
stream, itself, at this place, with a course nearly circular,
almost surrounds the Tor and its dependent masses, and
has a beautiful effect, particularly as the height of the
chief projection of the cliff has in this spot an extent of
little less than six hundred yards, while from a strong
spring* in the neighbouring village a large quantity of
water flows here into the Wye with great impetuosity,
and some plantations on the surrounding elevations add
to the richness of this unusual prospect, relieving sen-
sations arising from the solitariness with which this
gigantic and misplaced cliff is involved."

"There were the Wye, with brightly sparkling wave,
Chafes 'gainst th' encumbering rocks, no sound
Save when the martlett from the beetling cliff

The

There are two in number and very powerful, called Wormhill Springs, they issue from beneath the rocks close by the narrow footpath leading down into Chee Dale. It appears that this body of water is engulphed at the Water Swallows near Fairfield and after traversing a subterranean channel for about three miles emerge into day at this point.

Utters its shrill cry in its rapid flight,

Breaks the wide stillness; there the high CHEE TOR
Lifts up its head, in solitude, to hear

His distant brother cliffs, who, as they guard

The southern coast of Albion, howl aloud
Responsive to the winds that, mid their rocks,
Roar as they hurl the freighted waves on high
'Gainst their white bulwark, and beneath them sinks
Many a vessel with its shrieking crew.” *

HAMMOND.

And Mr. Rhodes observes,t-"In some places this semi-circular rampart of rock beetles considerably over the base, leaving a spacious alcove beneath; and every where the summit is fringed with trees, and the sides adorned with pendant branches." "The two extreme ends of this crescent rock are of lesser elevation than the middle," and they approach so closely to the step-like and richly wooded masses of the "opposite side of the dell as to leave but a narrow channel for the river.". Considerable fragments toppled from the heights, covered with lichens and mosses, are scattered over this area. "It is scarcely possible to imagine a place more abundantly stored with picturesque materials and studies for the artist than this secluded dell."

A friend of the author's, who on visiting Monsal Dale made his way by Cresbrook Dell into Miller's Dale, near to this "giant rock," was in ecstasies with the inimitable scenery on the banks of the Wye, which present a rich series of intervening rock and crag, woody knolls, and mountain glades, with immensely steep acclivities. The Wye here stealing its way gently amongst them, reflecting the numberless images which bound and adorn its course, and there fretting and foaming over the pebbles or huge fragments, which intercept its flow. All these objects sometimes combined together with a felicity and power forming a picture of incomparable grandeur and beauty.

* Fisher's Picturesque Illustrations.

+ Tourists Guide, page 205.

AXE-EDGE.

To those who delight in scaling the mountain peak, and luxuriate in beholding an almost boundless prospect, the summit of this lofty hill will afford a rich treat-From its top may be seen on a clear day the mountains of North Wales, and the light-house (with a good glass) beyond Liverpool, fifty miles distant. The lower and beautifully wooded vales, and fine undulating eminences of the Saliferous formation, which range over an immense intervening portion seem to be laid out at the spectator's feet; including a great part of the counties of Stafford, Cheshire, and Lancashire, lying to the west and northto the east the bleak Derbyshire peaks appear. its giant base proceed four Rivers-the Dove, the Wye, the Dane, and the Goyte. The two former track their way and fall into the eastern estuary (or Humber) and the latter into the western, or Mersey. Its elevation is about 2100 feet above the level of the sea. It is nearly three miles west of Buxton.

From

We need hardly observe that Dovedale (17 miles) affords an interesting tour to the visitor of Buxton, who may enter the Dale from the north by descending into it, not far from Newhaven House, and proceed down the Dale, and then to Ilam Hall, where the carriage may be ordered to meet the party. See page 136 and 148, where this Dale is amply treated of.

The ancient Military works on Combe's Moss, about three miles northwest of Buxton, might prove of some interest to those who are fond of thinking on the past. They consist of two deep trenches running parallel to each other, to the extent of about 200 yards. That which lies nearest to the edge of the hill is carried down the declivity by two traverses, and reaches nearly a quarter of a mile, and is much wider than the other.