scenery.

three small islands at the head, but they are too near the shore to add much to the other beauties of the The small lake called Lowes Water may also be visited. It is scarcely a mile long, and the scenery at its head is tame, but that round its foot is of a magnificent description.

From Scale Hill the Tourist may proceed to the town of Cockermouth, the birthplace of the poet Wordsworth, which is seven miles distant-visit Ennerdale Water by way of Lamplugh-or return to Keswick by the vale of Lorton, a distance of twelve miles. This vale, watered by the Cocker, a stream which, issuing from Crummock Lake, joins the Derwent at Cockermouth, presents many charming views. Four miles from Scale Hill the Keswick and Cockermouth road is entered, near the Yew-tree which Wordsworth has celebrated.

"There is a Yew-tree, pride of Lorton Vale,
Which to this day stands single in the midst
Of its own darkness, as it stood of yore,
Not loth to furnish weapons for the bands

Of Umfraville or Percy, ere they march'd

To Scotland's heaths; or those that cross'd the sea,
And drew their sounding bows at Agincour,
Perhaps at earlier Cressy or Poictiers.

Of vast circumference and gloom profound,
This solitary Tree !-a living thing
Produced too slowly ever to decay;
Of form and aspect too magnificent
To be destroy'd."

The road commences soon afterwards the long and steep ascent of Whinlatter, from the summit of which the spectator has a noble combination of ob

jects before him,-comprehending Derwentwater, Bassenthwaite Water, Skiddaw, and Keswick vale. The distance between Scale Hill and Keswick may be shortened by almost two miles, if the road under Whiteside and Grisedale Pike be taken. For the horseman and pedestrian the shorter route is to be preferred, as that part under the mountains forms a terrace, from which, views of Lorton Vale, of the neighbouring hills, and extending even to the Scotch mountains, may be obtained.

WHITEHAVEN.

WHITEHAVEN is a market town and sea-port, seated at the upper end of a small creek on the west coast in the county of Cumberland. It is situate in the parish of St. Bees, and contains about 15,000 inhabitants. This town has advanced rapidly from insignificance to its present state of prosperity, for in the year 1566 six fishermen's huts were all that bore the name of Whitehaven. This sudden progress in the scale of importance is to be attributed in a great measure to the munificence of the Lowther family, who, having large estates around the town, and valuable possessions in coal underneath it, have liberally come forward on all occasions, when opportunities have occurred, to promote its prosperity.

The chief manufactures are coarse linens, and articles connected with the fitting up of vessels ; shipbuilding is also carried on to a considerable

extent.

The port is the second in the county, there

being upwards of 200 vessels belonging to it trading with the sea-ports of Great Britain, and with America, the West Indies, and the Baltic, as well as almost an equal number engaged in the coal trade; large quantities of iron and lead ore, grain, and lime are exported. The harbour is spacious and commodious, having seven piers extending into the sea in different directions, and affording ample security for vessels lying within. At the entrance of the harbour there are two light-houses, and a third is situate on the promontory of St. Bees Head, three miles to the south-west. A machine, called the patent-slip, erected by Lord Lonsdale, into which vessels are drawn with ease and expedition when repairs are required, deserves a visit. The bay and harbour are defended by batteries, formerly consisting of upwards of a hundred guns, but lately suffered to fall into decay. These batteries received extensive additions after the alarm caused by the descent of the notorious Paul Jones in 1778. This desperado, who was a native of Galloway, and had served his apprenticeship in Whitehaven, landed here with thirty armed men, the crew of an American privateer which had been equipped at Nantes for this expedition. The success of the enterprise was, however, frustrated by one of the company, through whom the inhabitants were placed on the alert. The only damage they succeeded in doing was the setting fire to three ships, only one of which was burnt. They were obliged to make a precipitate retreat, having first spiked the guns of the battery, so that they escaped unhurt to the coast of Scotland, where they

E

plundered the house of the Earl of Selkirk. Since 1803 a life-boat has been stationed here,-which has been the means of saving many lives.

The streets of the town have a neat appearance, being straight as well as wide, and intersecting each other at right angles. A rivulet called the Poe runs underneath the town to the creek. There are three churches of the establishment,-St. Nicholas, erected in 1693, Trinity in 1715, and St. James in 1752; there are also many dissenting places of worship. The schools are numerous, educating more than 1700 children, nearly 500 of whom are taught at the National School. At the Savings Bank, the deposits amount to upwards of £60,000. The Theatre in Roper Street has a handsome appearance; it was erected in 1769. The Workhouse is a large building in Scotch Street. The Subscription Library, a neat edifice in Catherine Street, contains about 3500 volumes. The Harbour Office, in which the affairs of the harbour, docks, and customs are transacted, is a large structure on the West Strand. The Public Office, containing a police office, newsroom, &c., stands in Lowther Street. Two Newspapers are published weekly, the Cumberland Pacquet, and the Whitehaven Herald, both of which are largely circulated through the county. The town now enjoys the privilege of returning a Member to Parliament.

The coal mines are the principal source of wealth at Whitehaven. They are, perhaps, the most extraordinary in the world, lying underneath the town, and extending a considerable distance under the bed of the sea. They are 320 yards in depth, and such

vast quantities of coal have been excavated from them as to have given them the appearance of a subterranean city. At times of pressing demand, 1500 tons are frequently taken to the shore for exportation each day. In the early part of 1791, the ground underneath a portion of the town gave way, and eighteen houses were in consequence injured, but the occupiers fortunately escaped unhurt. The sea has not unfrequently burst into the mines, causing an immense destruction of life and property; the miners are also much annoyed with fire-damp and choke-damp. There are many short railways to convey the coal to the shore, and steam-engines of great power are in continual operation for the purpose of carrying off the superfluous water. The mines have five principal entrances, called Bearmouths, three on the south side and two on the north, by all of which horses can descend.

Whitehaven is in direct communication with Liverpool, the Isle of Man, Annan, Dumfries, and Wigton, by the packets of the Steam Navigation Company. A packet sails and returns twice a-week to and from Liverpool; and as this mode of reaching Whitehaven is much more economical and expeditious than the inland one, many persons avail themselves of it for the purpose of arriving at the lake country. All information relative to the fares and times of sailing may be ascertained upon inquiry at the office of the Company, 36, King Street.

The residences in the neighbourhood of Whitehaven are Whitehaven Castle, the seat of the Earl of Lonsdale, surrounded by fine grounds, on the south