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belonging to William Sneyd, Esq. son and heir of the late John Sneyd, of Belmont, Esq. before mentioned in this work, as the annotator on Mr. Pitt's Agricultural Survey. Ashcomb is built upon the site of an old manor house, formerly called Bottom Hall, belonging to the Jolliffes, who had half the manor, and a very extensive estate in this parish, (which is that of Chedleton, belonging to Alstonfield,) and the adjoining parishes. When the late Mr. Sneyd first came to reside in this parish, the neighbourhood was nearly in a wild state; but, by acting as an impartial and worthy magistrate, for nearly forty years, he in fact tamed the inhabitants; and by his good taste in ornamenting his place, then called Belmont, by planting, &c. for which he was presented by the Society of Arts, with three gold medals, and by his knowledge in agriculture, he changed those barren heathy commons to one of the most beautiful summer retreats in this part of England. Some idea of Mr. Sneyd's character and taste, may be collected from a letter, [LIX.] in the collection of Miss Seward's Letters, lately published. "Mr. Sneyd's recommendation must make me wish to read any book, which obtains it." This merited compliment refers to that most singular of novels, The Monk.

In the poems of Sir Aston Cockaine, printed in the year 1658,* are the following lines, descriptive of the manners of

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See "A Chain of Golden Poems," otherwise intituled "Choice Poems of several Sorts," 8vo. This Sir Aston was of a very ancient family in Derbyshire. He had an academical education, was fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, and was honoured with the degree of M. A. of the university of Oxford, while he resided there during the civil wars. He was a great sufferer, both for his loyalty and for his religion, and shared in all the hardships the Roman Catholics then underwent. After residing sometime in the ...... of court, he went abroad with Sir Kenelm Digby. The politeness of his manners, his love of the liberal arts, and his vein for poetry, gained him much esteem. The great iniquity of the times, and his gay way of living, very much impaired his estate. He, however, reserved to himself an annuity for life. He lived to a very great age; and, dying at Derby, about the

commencement

the times, and of the hospitable character of Colonel Ralph Sneyde, of Keel':

"To my Noble Cousin Colonel Ralph Sneyde,

When the last spring, I came to Keel, and fond

Old Hospitality on Euglish Ground,

I wonder❜d and (Great Sidney) did prefer
My SNEYDE superiour to thy Kalander.
All things are neat, and jovial plenty keepes
Continual festivals by years not weekes:
The good decai'd House-keeping doth revive,
And doth preserve our English Fame alive.
So liv'd our worthy ancestours, and so
May you, till you the oldest man may grow
Within the land; and ripe for heaven go hence,
Bemon'd as far as known. Poets th'expence
Of time and paper both may save that day,

The poor your lasting 'st epitaph will say.”

Ball Haye, has been already briefly mentioned. This place has for many centuries been in the possession of an old and respectable family of the Devenports, as appears by the monuments in Leek church yard. The last of that name was the maternal uncle of J. Hulme, Esq. M. D.* the present possessor of the house and estate. In the grounds adjoining the car

riage commencement of the great frost, in February 1683, was buried at Poles worth church, in the chancel. His title of baronet was disputed in the herald's office for happening to receive that honour soon after king Charles 1. had left his Parliament, his name and patent were not enrolled. He wrote some plays, and several poems. His tragic-comedy, intituled Trappolin, &c. was pirated by some plagiary, under the title of Duke and no Duke. The tragedy of “Ovid,” had a new title, with Sir Aston's picture. The tragic-comedy called "Tyrannical Government," is ascribed, but upon doubtful authority, to his pen. This may also be said of Thyrsites, an interlude. He also translated the Dianea of Giovanni Francisco Loredano a romance. * This gentleman, though he has a medical diploma, does not at present practise as a physician.

↑ Our view of this house, and the stupendous rocks by which it is partly encompassed, was taken from Leek church yard; and will convey a tolerably correct view of this romantic scenery.

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riage roal to Leek there is a mineral spring which appears to contain a portion of sulphur, and is a strong chalybeate; but no accurate analysis has ever been made of its water. The improvements in Agriculture here have been considerable. within the last few years, so that, from the different acts of inclosure that have lately been obtained, the term Moorlands may soon be extinct; and from the extensive plantations made by the present earl of Macclesfield, who is the lord of the manor, Dr. Hulme, and Thomas Mills, Esq. it may with propriety assume the name of Woodlands. The centre hill, in the annexed view, called Henclouds, and forming part of what are called the Roches, Dr. Hulme is now planting; and in a few years it will much increase the beauty of that varied and extensive scene. There has within these few years been a large reservoir of water made betwixt the townships of Budgard and Horton for the benefit of the canal. This reservoir covers upwards of two hundred acres of land; it is well wooded on each side, and possesses many beauties, little inferior to some of the Cumberland lakes. The mechanism, by which the water is discharged from the reservoir, is very curious, and deserving the particular notice of travellers and tourists.

LONGNOR

is a small market-town, in the parish of Alstonfield, about six miles north-east of Leek. It contains about one hundred houses, and four hundred inhabitants. The market is on Tuesday; and is remarkable for the very limited time usually allotted for the sale of its various commodities, which consist for the most part of pigs, and butcher's meat. The stalls are usually begun to be erected about four o'clock, in the afternoon; and before six they are all cleared away-the bustle of the market is over; and the people have retired to their respective houses in the neighbourhood. The market is, howeyer, very well attended.

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