sandstone. Here, near Allestree, the church of which is seen to the left, if the traveller will take the trouble to look back, is a commanding view of the counties of Nottingham, Leicester, and Derby, stretching towards Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Charnwood Forest, Leicester, Melton Mowbray, and Nottingham, and the valley of the Trent, about equally dividing this fine landscape,perhaps a finer Champagne country nowhere exists, as it is beautifully watered by the united streams of the Derwent and Trent. On proceeding a little further the house and grounds of W. Evans, Esq. is seen, which, with its lake in the centre, ornamental timber, fine pastures, and park-like appearance-the house on the rising ground to the extreme left, and the whole assuming a semicircular form, is a fine object.* On reaching this point the bold features of the low peak are brought into view, and we soon gradually descend into the lovely Vale of the Derwent, with its rich pastures and sweet meadows, here about a mile broad, which gradually narrows on approaching Duffield, a very pretty village four miles from Derby; on entering which the OLD road to Wirksworth and Matlock branches off to the left, thus instantly quitting all the fine scenery through which the new road winds. The church with its spire, situated on the banks of the stream amidst some fine trees, is an interesting object to the right. To the left, is the house and grounds of the late Sir Charles Colvile.+ About two miles further on we come to Milford, where the noble stream is again made subservient to the pur

Darley (via Derby) where Mr. Evans has an extensive cotton and paper mill, is situated on the river to the right of this, the village spire is distinctly visible; also that of Breadsall, in a nook of the valley, as a sailor would phrase it, almost "right a-head." The prospect before descending the vale of the Derwent is extremely beautiful.

+ Duffield was once the residence of the "Ferrers," who were Earls of Derby, till the year 1264. The Castle stood on an elevated ground, at the northwest end of the Village, and like most of the Castles of the Barons in Feudal times, was a strong and splendid fortress, yet so completely was it demolished by the order of Henry the Third, that not a vestige of its ancient grandeur can now be traced. This took place in consequence of the rebellion of "Robert De Ferrers" against that Monarch-about the year already stated.

poses of the cotton manufacture and bleaching. Here the Messrs. Strutt have erected a fine pile of buildings for the manufacture of cotton as well as a bleaching mill, and an iron foundry a little above, where all their machinery is cast and formed for the use of their mills, between which the road passes, leading over a good bridge, erected on forming the new road, and looking to the right, down the stream, may be seen a pretty little suspension bridge made of iron, connecting two portions of the mills, one of the first of the kind erected. Here we first reach the outlying masses of the millstone grit, which coops up the road and river into a small space, and forms bold eminences on both sides, but on turning an angle of the rock a little further on, the valley opens considerably and Belper comes into view, which is soon reached. Here a difference in the colour of the road may be marked by the most careless observer, being kept in repair entirely with the slag from the Milford smelting furnaces, and by which the Messrs. Strutt judiciously dispose of these ever-accumulating masses.

BELPER

Is about 8 miles from Derby, and is become from a mere village a thriving and populous town, numbering nearly 10,000 people, chiefly employed in the manufacture of cotton; here the Messrs. Strutt have one of the largest and best managed cotton mills in the kingdom; where the cotton is manufactured from the raw state, passing through every process of cleansing, bleaching, dying, carding, and spinning into cotton thread of every quality and colour, and about 2000 hands are constantly employed. The author had once the extreme gratification of being allowed the privilege of going over the chief part of these mills in 1836, a favour seldom granted, because indiscriminate admission would prove a serious hindrance to the parties employed. These mills were visited, in 1832, by the Duchess of Kent and her present Majesty, then Princess Victoria, accompanied by his Grace the Duke of Devonshire, at the time their Royal Highnesses paid a visit to his Grace's splendid palace

of Chatsworth. With the sight of these mills the Duchess and Princess were highly gratified. Here also there are extensive manufactories of hosiery; which are situated to the right and left, immediately on entering from Derby, but the cotton works are situated on the stream at the north end, and are seen on going out to Matlock. Near by, there is a manufacture of earthen ware, where quantities of those brown glossy jugs, jars, and numberless little toys are made and sent all over the kingdom, Belper is more like a large straggling village than a regular built town, existing chiefly in detached rows of cottages, with the exception of the principal street, and a few good houses, belonging to the Messrs. Strutt, Wards, &c. It is finely situated in an expansive part of the vale, and on a gentle declivity of the hilly range, which bounds the right, and well wooded. The church (which is new) standing on an eminence, with its pretty tower, commanding a good view of the town and neighbourhood, is a beautiful object. A good road, leading to Wirksworth, passes between Strutts' mills, over an excellent bridge built by them, and where they have also formed a strong weir, elevating the river for the use of the mills, built of the freestone found in the immediate vicinity, above which the river assumes the appearance of a lovely, smooth, and expansive lake, made truly ornamental by the admirable condition in which both sides are kept, and where there is a good preserve for fish. The Matlock road inclines to the right on leaving Belper, at the back of the mills where the river and house of G. B. Strutt, Esq. is seen to advantage. This part is extremely beautiful. The noble mansion and grounds on the slope of the hill, amidst rich plantations, the highly ornamental stream, with groups of neat, comfortable looking cottages and sweet meadows, are grateful to the eye and refreshing to the spirits of the traveller. About half a mile out the hills to the southwest exhibit a fine undulating, or wavy outline which characterise the gritstone, but to the left of the road it is quite the reverse,-abundance of stone walls, or (as they are called) Derbyshire hedges, are the

most prominent features. On turning the angle about a mile from Belper the valley narrows considerably and begins to assume a bold and mountainous character, the road skirting a steep lofty cliff, covered with gorse and firs. In a low eminence, nearly opposite to this, commences the celebrated shining cliff, which bounds the fine valley to the southwest, as far as Hot Stanwell bridge, covered with the most luxuriant vegetation, and abounding with wild plants and flowers.

The

The scenery from hence becomes preeminently beautiful, rich in wood, water and mountain side—with hanging woods, reflected from the glassy stream flowing for the most part smoothly through the green mead, its quiet, soft beauty exhibiting a striking contrast to the wild cliffs bounding the narrow Vale. On taking a sharp turn, the old bridge and road over it to Alderwasley is seen, and Amber-gate, where a road diverges to the northeast leading to Buckland Hollow, through the Collieries and Ironworks, by Alfreton and Chesterfield, to Sheffield. road to Matlock continues still up the Valley and runs near to the Canal which is perceived just above to the right, a little further on. It passes through the wood and turns up the Valley before named into the Coal district, and towards Nottingham, London, &c.+ At Hot Stanwell Bridge we come into the old road from the north to Wirksworth, which descends by Crich and leads up by Longnor Woods to that town. Passing the Bridge, where the peeps up, and down the river are extremely romantic and full of beauty,-the Lodge-gate of Alderwasley House is seen,-the residence of Francis Hurt, Esq. The house is on the south side of the cliff, situated amongst fine scenery. The road now skirts the elevated and

* This wood has nearly a similar situation to that at Richmond, in Surry, formerly called the West Sheene, signifying Glittering, or Showy, which well agrees with the brilliant picture formed by these woods on the bosom of the river. Here the Blue Bell, or Wood Hyacinth, grows in such profusion as to cover the entire surface in places-the trees appearing to start out of a rich purple velvet carpet of the most brilliant hue.

+ Alderwasley Forge occupies the centre of the Valley at this point, a black and gloomy object amongst such scenery. Bar iron is made here from the Pig iron.

rugged cliff literally strewed with broken masses of grit stone, amongst which the noble oak, the birch, and trees of almost every kind, with abundance of underwood, find ample nourishment. The opposite side is somewhat similar; and here all traces of the lovely mead is lost-the river becoming a busy babbling stream, rolling amongst the broken fragments of the cliff,-above, on this side, to the extreme right, rises proudly Crich Cliff and Stand,* chiefly the property of Mr. Hurt. This cliff is an isolated mass of limestone, thrust up, if we may so speak, through all the overlying beds of the grit, and is by far the richest Mineral field for Lead Ore at present in Derbyshire. The scenery here is remarkably wild-the Valley taking a fine sweep northward lays it open to viewan immense Quarry of the grit stone being lately opened to obtain stone for the London and Birmingham Railway is a striking object on this cliff. Through the thick foliage, to the right, may be seen the Aqueduct by which the Canal is carried over the river. From hence we soon emerge out of the thick wood, and lofty Masson and the fine Heights of Abraham bursts upon the view,-beneath which are the woods and grounds of Willersley Castle. The Castle itself is seen, and is a fine object. This view is full of grandeur, being enclosed by the loftiest eminences of the low peak-Cromford Moor and Lee Woods rising boldly to the right and left of the road, covered with plantations, Masson towering in front, and the beautiful grounds and lovely Vale spreading out between them, the river and canal winding through itbeautifully wooded and clothed with the richest pastures, from the river's margin even to the loftiest summits. The rocks which in front of the Bath are perpendicular and precipitous appearing from this point but one continued line to the top of the Heights, being so blended

* It is said this Stand was built to enable Mr. Hurt to descry his distant property in Nottinghamshire-and from hence, on a clear day, Lincoln Cathedral can be seen-close by the river, on the same side, is the Canal and a Stone Quarry, where stone troughs, grindstones, &c., are formed and sent all over the kingdom.