ing an important service without any other aid than the power of gravity.

My companion proved to be a pleasant man, and contributed not a little to the pleasure of my ride. He discovered a strong disposition to know something of my history, and I was disposed to gratify a kind of curiosity which I found was not peculiar to New-England. Nor had I any reason to regret that I had not adhered to that cautious reserve, which is more safe than amiable, and which, although it may sometimes secure one from imposition, may also prevent him from forming those transient intimacies which contribute not a little to the enjoyment and instruction of a traveller. I frankly gave my companion all the information which he appeared to desire, and in return he gave me his name and residence, and invited me to share the hospitality of his house in Nottinghamshire, when I should visit those parts.

He seemed much astonished that an American should take so much pains to visit curiosities, which he had passed by, for more than thirty years, without once looking at them, and now wisely determined that he would go and see them.

He was a warm friend to the American revolution, and a great admirer of Washington.*

Our roads soon parted, we shook hands, and I reached Buxton soon after nine o'clock at night.

*This gentleman admired Mr. Jefferson also, and considered his last speech in particular as an admirable thing. I have frequently heard this speech highly extolled since I came to England. It seems to be the general impression here that Mr. Jefferson has conducted with magnanimity and impartiality in his treatment of foreign nations, and the English are charmed with the idea of a state of things where "tax gatherers" are so rarely seen.

No. VIII.-BUXTON TO LEICESTER.

Buxton-Situation-Climate-Its mineral waters-Ride to Ashburn-Singular hills-Sudden contrast-Leicestershire-Great beauty of the country-Curiosity-Leicester-Bosworth fields —Richard III.—Singular use made of his coffin.

BUXTON.

May 17.-Buxton is a neat village, situated in the valley, in the edge of Derbyshire. It is surrounded by lofty hills and mountains, in some of which are numerous lime pits. It was a Roman station, and its celebrated warm springs are believed to have been known to the Romans. It was one of the residences of Mary, queen of Scots, during her long imprisonment in England.

The country in which Buxton lies is dreary and barren, except the valleys, which are verdant and beautiful, and generally have a stream of water running through them. The climate here is rainy and tempestuous, yet Buxton is much resorted to for health by invalids, and still more for amusement by the nobility and gentry, many of whom spend the summer at this and other watering places. For their accommodation, the Duke of Devonshire has erected a magnificent crescent of stone. It is a very extensive range of houses and shops, with a grand colonnade and piazza extending along the front, so as to form but one whole, which strikes the eye of a traveller very forcibly, when descending from the neighbouring hills. In the crescent is every accommodation which real suffering can need, or the caprice of idleness, health, and affluence de

mand. There is also a vast appendage of stables, which forms another crescent scarcely less magnificent than the first.

The water hardly deserves to be ranked among mineral springs, because its impregnation is extremely weak. A gallon of it does not contain more than fifteen grains of saline matter, most of which is common lime stone; there is also a small proportion of plaster of paris, and a still smaller of marine salt. It contains no gaseous matter, except one part in sixty-four of azot. Its solid contents are therefore such as are commonly found in spring water, and I could not perceive any thing peculiar in its taste. Yet this water is used with great benefit by invalids, especially by rheumatic, dyspeptic, and nephritic patients, and it is probable that its efficacy is derived principally from the temperature, at least in cases of external application; for the water is invariably at the temperature of 81° or 820, and as there is a copious supply, fine baths may be constantly had at Buxton. They are both private and public; some of the latter are magnificent, and sufficiently large to swim in. The Buxton waters can hardly be denominated hot; they are rather tepid.

Dr. Saunders (Treatise on mineral waters, p. 141,) remarks: "As the temperature of 82° is several degrees below that of the human body, there is a slight shock of cold felt on the first immersion into this bath, but this is almost immediately succeeded by a highly soothing and pleasurable glow over the whole body, which persons often express to be, as if the skin was anointed with warm cream, and is entirely the effect of temperature combined with that of simple moisture."

He informs us also that the term Buxton Bath, has now become generic, being used as a general expression for tepid baths.

At nine o'clock in the morning, I resumed my seat in the stage, and proceeded to Ashborn, where our party dined. Our route, for the first twelve miles, lay through a country as dreary and barren as I have ever beheld.Bleak sterile hills, destitute of verdure, and, excepting a few recent plantations, without a tree or a shrub, attended us continually. Many of these hills were lofty, and might properly be denominated mountains. They were extensively covered with a dark brown furze, which gave them an appearance as desolate as if they had been swept by the blasts of a polar winter, and arid as though they had been ́scorched by the lightning of heaven. But just before we reached Ashborn, the scene was completely reversed. As we descended into the charming vale, through which flows the river Dove, on whose banks Ashborn stands, we were gratified with an exhibition of extensive meadows, and all the beauty, which clear streams, green grass, and exuberant foliage, could bestow.

The same scenery continued to Derby, which is thirtythree miles from Buxton. The town was full of soldiers, and not a bed could be procured at the public-houses. I was therefore compelled to abandon the design which I had entertained of remaining there a day or two, and immediately proceeded in the stage for Leicester.

Derby is a handsome, although ancient town, containing about ten thousand inhabitants. It is celebrated for its

The Scotch rebels in 1745 made no farther progress south than this place. The celebrated Dr. Darwin resided here.

Our route to Leicester was through a most enchanting country. The distance from Derby is twenty-eight miles, and the scenery in every part of the way was beautiful in the extreme. The surface was generally level, adorned with frequent groves, neat hedge rows, and verdure so deep and rich, that it resembled rather green velvet than grass. The fruit trees were in many instances in blossom, and gave an air of gaiety to the villages and towns through which we passed. Among the chief of these were Loughborough and Mount Sorrel.

Leicestershire is a county of great agricultural wealth, and celebrated for an excellent breed of sheep; they arenot of the largest species, but very fat, with abundant fleeces of fine wool.

LEICESTER.

May 18.-I rose at 6 o'clock this morning, and having some little time to spare, before the setting out of the coach, I employed a part of it in walking around the streets of Leicester. I cannot, however, pretend, from such very limited observations, to give an account of the town. Most of those streets through which I passed, were narrow, but there was a tolerable number of good buildings. I regret that I had not time to see the remains of an ancient and very extensive castle, formerly belonging to the great Duke of Lancaster, and it would have given me still greater pleasure to have visited Bosworth Fields, near this town, where you will remember that Heary VII. then Earl of Richmond, gained the crown of England,