BYFLEET. Rev. Jos. .to W. R. York E. Dereham .5 Reepham...5 Foulsham....4 .4 self at Chertsey in a fit of despondency, 1756. The Rev. Joseph Spence, a gentleman well known in the literary world, and the author of "Polymetis," was rector here; he was fellow of New College, Oxford, and first became known in 1727, by an "Essay on Pope's Odyssey.' Mr. Pope was so little offended with his criticisms, that he not only sought his acquaintance, but planted the foundation of a lasting friendship; and Dr. Warton, professor of poetry at Oxford, informs us that he was indebted to Mr. Spence for most of the anecdotes relative to Pope in his life of that author. In 1736, he published his " Gorboduc." In 1742, he was presented with the rectory of Horwood, in Buckinghamshire, and became professor of modern history at Oxford in 1742; the same year he published his "Polymetis," or an enquiry concerning the agreements between the works of the Roman poets, and the remains of the ancient artists. He also composed the life of his friend, the late Stephen Duck. In 1754, he became prebendary of Durham, and closed his literary career with remarks and dissertations on Virgil. He was found drowned in his own fish-pond, into which he is supposed to have fallen while under the influence of a fit, on the 20th August, 1768. It is rather a remarkable as well as a melancholy drowned, coincidence, that these two literary gentlemen and friends should have come to the same untimely end. Found 1768. * BEANE (The) rises near Cromer, in the hundred of Odsey, and taking a southerly course flows past Watton, and through Woodhall Park; thence continuing its direction, it meets with the Lea at Hertford. This river is sometimes called the Benefician. + BEAULIEU (The) rises amongst the unwooded heaths of the New Forest in Hampshire; but winds a mere brook until it arrives at the village from which it takes its name, when it suddenly widens into an important stream, highly picturesque, and richly wooded for about five miles, when it falls into the English Channel, a few miles from the Isle of Wight. BLACKWATER (The) of Essex rises near Saffron Walden, on the borders of Cambridgeshire, and flows toward the south-east, making a con Richly wooded scenery. BLACKWATER. siderable turn at Braintree to the east, and then to the south-west, after which it proceeds nearly southward to Maldon, where it unites with the Chelmer, with which from its origin near Thaxted, it has pursued nearly a the Chel- parallel course, after the union of these sister streams, the very considerable æstuary is formed where they fall into the sea below Maldon. Unites with mer. * BLYTHE (The) is a very considerable river in this county, rising from the Wetley moor in the northern district, flowing in a south eastward direction from the town of Leek till it meets the Dove near Rochester, its line of direction is nearly parallel to the Trent. + BOLLIN (The) has several heads in Macclesfield Forest; and after a course of about twenty miles it falls into the Mersey, at Rixton. This little river runs through the lower part of the town of Macclesfield, and is generally called the waters. The inhabitants are also supplied the waters. with water from the fountain upon the common to the east of the town, for which every housekeeper pays a small yearly sum to the mayor. Called Good harbour. shain. BRANDON or Little Ouse. This stream has its origin near Botesdale, Suffolk, and passing Thetford and Brandon falls into the Ouse, eight miles south of Downham, Norfolk; throughout its course it divides that county from Suffolk. § BRENT (The) rises in Hertfordshire, enters Middlesex near Finchley, and crossing the centre of the county falls into the Thames at Brentford. || BRENT (The) rises in Selwood Forest, and after receiving various smaller streams, falls into the sea near Bridgewater. ¶ BRIT (The). Two branches of this river unite below the town of Bridport, and falling into the English Channel, form a harbour which, by recent improvement, under the authority of an act of parliament, passed in 1822, has been rendered capable of receiving vessels of 200 tons burthen. ** BRUE (The) rises in Selwood Forest, and flows through Wilts by Bruton and Glastonbury. At first it flows south, and then to the northwest, meeting the British Channel near the mouth of the Parret in Bridgewater Bay. ++ BURE (The) rises near Dunmail Raise, and after forming the lake of Thirlmere, at the base of Helvellyn, pursues a rapid course along through the vale of St. John, and soon contributes its waters to form the Greta, which rushes along a narrow glen, passes Keswick, and falls into the Derwent. BURE (The) takes its rise on the north side of the county, near Navigable Hindolweston, and running by Blickling, becomes navigable at Aylesham. at Ayle Having received some tributary streams, is passes the site of St. Bennet's Abbey, at which place it is joined by the Ant. Further on, it meets the Thone, flowing thence under Acle-bridge, and increased by the superfluous waters of the marshes, it joins the Yare on the north of Yarmouth. length is about forty-two miles. Its Near the a fortifica. tion. * CADBURY (South). The neighbourhood of South Cadbury is remarkable for its peculiarly grand and picturesque scenery. village are the remains of one of the most remarkable fortifications in the Remains o kingdom. Leland supposes it to have been once a famous tower or castle; it is on a hill, to which there are two very steep ascents; the area at top contains more than twenty acres, inclosed by four deep ditches, and as many mounds or banks disposed between them. Many gold, silver, and copper coins of the Roman empire, chiefly of Antoninus and Faustina, have been found, and a silver horse-shoe mentioned by Leland and Stowe. A high work, within the fortifications, is called King Arthur's palace. Various camp utensils, and other remains of military equipage, have been discovered at the top, near the spring called King Arthur's well. Writers are not unanimous in their opinions respecting the origin of the place. Camden thinks it may be the Cathbergion of Nennius, where Arthur overthrew the Saxons; and Stukely attributes it to the Romans. Both may be right the high work at the top might have been the pretorium, and have also been occupied by Arthur. : + CADER IDRIS is a remarkable mountain in Merionethshire, about 1,000 feet in height from its base, and 2,850 feet above the green at Dolgelly. According to an ancient tradition, the name has been derived from an enormous giant. But the Bardic writings represent him rather great in mind than in stature. He is said to have been a poet, an astronomer, and a philosopher. Cader, or Cadair Idris, the seat of Idris, is thought to imply that he had an observatory on the summit of this mountain. The remarkable appearance of this stupendous mountain attracted the attention of Mr. Donovan about the year 1801; and he was led to consider from a variety of circumstances, that its original form has undergone very material alterations, occasioned, as he conceives, by the effects of a volcanic explosion, and since that period he has proceeded to a more complete examination, particularly in the summer of 1807, when he was at leisure to devote some time to this interesting subject of enquiry; and his observations, in the latter instance, tend entirely to confirm the idea first suggested. In support of this opinion Mr. Donovan added to his museum abundant examples of different kinds of lava, pumice, and other volcanic matters of the most unequivocal character, collected by himself from the sides and base of the mountain; and also a suite of the remarkable and singularly formed columnar crystals of basalt, which are scattered in profusion about the loftiest summit and cliffs surrounding the crater. The general aspect of King Arthur's palace Name de rived from giant. Genera! aspect. CADER crater. f the mounain. this crater is exactly that of Mount Vesuvius, except that one of its sides is broken down, by which means the abyss of this funnel-shaped excavation is more completely disclosed; and it is this side of Cader Idris which affords the most illustrative examples of porous stones, forming immense beds on the declivities, a few inches only, in many instances, below the surface of the earth. A considerable number of these stones exhibit evident marks of strong ignition and vitrification, and some are reduced to the state of slags, while others have all the cellular appearance and lightness of pumice. It is true the agency of water may have contributed materially to effect the changes which have taken place: but with respect Origin of the to the crater itself, it appears very clearly to have derived its origin from the violence of an explosion upwards, in which a very considerable portion of the highest eminence was torn from its native bed of rocks, and thrown over the other parts of the mountain. In confirmation of this suggestion it should be stated that the summit of the mountain is covered with an immense wreck of stones, ejected, as it is presumed, from the crater at the time of the explosion. It would be difficult otherwise to account for the vast profusion of those stones scattered in all directions round the loftiest elevations, and which, from the confused manner in which they are dispersed, must have been thrown into their present situation by no small violence. Myriads of these stones have borne a regular crystallized form, though from their great bulk and weight they have generally suffered material injury in the general convulsion. The usual length of the crystals is from three to six or ten feet in length; some even measure sixteen or twenty, and one in particular, which Mr. Donovan saw, was twenty-two Mr. Aikin's feet three inches long; they are a kind of basalt. Mr. Aikin proceeded xamination to the examination of this mountain on a fine morning after breakfast, and having arrived at a small lake on the road to Towyn, began his ascent from that place. When he had surmounted the exterior ridge he descended a little to a deep clear lake, which is kept constantly full by numerous tributary torrents falling down the surrounding rocks. From this station he climbed to a second still higher chain, up a steep but not difficult tract, over numerous fragments of rock, detached from the higher parts, and came to a second and more elevated lake, named Llyn y Cae, clear as glass, and overlooked by steep cliffs, in such a manner as to resemble the crater of a volcano. The water of this lake did not appear to differ in any respect from the purest rock water, though it was tried repeatedly by the most delicate chemical tests. A clear, loud, and distinct echo, repeats every shout which is made near this lake, the waters of which cover an extent of fifty acres, abounding with trout and other fish. He now began the last and most difficult ascent up to the summit of the mountain. Loose columnar stones were here seen lying in all directions, assuming in many places so regular an appearance, that they might be mistaken for Druidical remains: some stand erect, like Maen Hivion, and one is dignified with the title of Llech Idris. Nearer the summit, numerous masses of its regular figures present themselves, and gaining this ascent, a small plain forms the base to two eminences or rocky heads, of nearly equal height, one lying toward the north, called Tyrvan Mawr; the other to the south, named Pen y Gader; the latter, which appeared the most elevated, was preferred, and the tourist, after an ascent of three hours, seated himself on its highest pinnacle. He now found himself above all the eminences within a vast expanse, and as the clouds gradually cleared away, caught some grand views of the surrounding country. The huge rocks, before looked up to with astonishment, were now far below his feet, and many small lakes appeared in the valleys between them. To the north Snowdon and its dependants shut up the scene; on the west the whole curve of the Bay of Cardigan appeared bounded at a great distance by the Carnarvon mountains, and nearer, dashing its white breakers against the rocky coast of Merioneth. The southern horizon was Remarka ble echo. Elevated prospects. Names of Places. County. Number of Miles from Wrexham...5 Mold .7 Haworden...7 3 Dist. Popu Lond. lation 187 321 1117 Flint Llanrwst 5 Aberconway 5 Llanglynyn CADER Extensive 53 Caergurley * .......to 50 Caerhunt. bounded by Plinlimmon, the Bay of Swansea, the channel peeping through the openings of the Brecon mountains; and on the east, the eye glanced over the lake of Bala, the two Arenning mountains, the two Arrans, and the long chain of the Ferwyn mountains to the Breddin hills, on the confines of Shropshire; and dimly in the distant horizon was beheld the Wrekin, rising alone from the plain of Salop. Having satisfied his curiosity, and diver sified pros and being thoroughly chilled by the keen air of these elevated regions, Mr. pects. Aikin began to descend down the side opposite to that by which he had ascended. The first stage led to another beautiful mountain lake, the cold clear waters of which discharge their superabundance in a stream down the side of the mountain. All these lakes abound with trout, and in some is found the gwyniad, a fish peculiar to rocky Alpine lakes. Following the course of the stream, he came upon the edge of the craggy cliffs which overlook Talyllyn lake; a long and difficult descent conducted at last to the borders of Talyllyn, and to the Dolgelly road. of the name. Roman remains. * CAERGURLEY, or Caergwrle. The village of Caergwrle is contained in the parish of Hope; and, conjunctively with that place and Flint, forms a prescriptive borough, which deputes one member to the British parliament. The etymology of its name, which signifies the camp of the Etymology gigantic legion, is a sufficient ground to suppose its occupation by the Romans; and this is confirmed by indubitable remains of that people. A Roman hypocaust, or vapour bath, was discovered by a gardener while digging, some tiles of which were inscribed LEGIO XX.; and this legion is known to have been long stationed at Deva, in the neighbourhood. Large beds of scoriæ, the remains of Roman smelting works; and the vestiges of two roads have also been discovered. Hence Caergwrle appears to have been one of the outposts to Deva. A castle was built here, upon a lofty hill, prior to the reign of Henry II.; but it was burned down by accident, in that of Edward I., while he and his queen, who had recently visited it, were at Carnarvon. It was probably rebuilt in 1307, as the manor was granted to John de Cromwell, upon the express condition that he should repair the fortress. In its present state it is highly picturesque : consisting of a mutilated circular tower, and a few fragments of walls; but it was never large, and it depended for security on the precipitous nature of its site rather than on its own strength. On the demesne, called Rhyddyn, close to the river Alun, are two springs, the waters of which are strongly impregnated with muriate of soda, and are resorted to by scorbutic patients, to whom they are very serviceable. In the parish also are extensive lime quarries, in which are frequently found a species of the fossil called entrochi, in shape somewhat cylindrical, about one inch long, and formed of a number of sound joints. Fairs, Shrove Tuesday, May 16th, August 12th, and Oct. 22d, for cattle. Medicinal springs. Ancient † CAERHUN or Caer Rhun. This pleasing village, situated in the vale of Conway, was once no less distinguished for its importance, than it now is for its beauty. It was the site of the ancient Conovium; of which many vestiges still exist: as weapons, domestic utensils, and architectural Conovium. remains. Among other relics, was a brazen shield, of circular form, faced with embossed rings, and studded with numerous pins, from the circumference to the centre, whence projected a sharp piece of wrought iron, five inches long. The vale, particularly distinguished for its variety, is in this place remarkable for the assemblage of cataracts from the neighbouring mountains; and for the numerous bridges of Alpine construction, thrown across fearful chasms. |