ing country. After committing many ravages, it was at length destroyed by "Hodge of Ferry," whose prowess is celebrated in the "Superstitions of the North," whence the two following stanzas are extracted :

:-

"The muse may sing how in a northern wood
In olden time, a bristled brawn was seen,
Of giant size, which long the force withstood

Of knight well arm'd with club or dagger keen.

"And how, when Dian held her nightly reign

And silv'ry moon-beams slept on Vedra's breast,
The monster scour'd along the silent plain,

And, roaring loud, disturb'd the peasant's rest."

Brancepeth Castle, the magnificent residence of William Russell, Esq., anciently a seat of the Earls of Westmorland, stands a little to the south-west of the village. The old castle, originally erected by the Bulmer family, previous to the Conquest, was strongly fortified, and defended by towers and a moat; this was, however, nearly all taken down by the late Matthew Russell, Esq., and the present structure erected on its site. The modern edifice is deemed equal in magnificence and grandeur to any of the baronial residences in this part of the kingdom.

That part of the ancient building which was suffered to remain entire, contains, besides several fine apartments, the Barons' Hall; which last was, in 1821, lighted at the sides by stained-glass windows; and at the west end, by a beautiful painted window, representing, in three compartments, so many different views of the memorable battle of Neville's Cross.

Considerable alterations and improvements have been made in the gardens and pleasure-grounds of the Castle; and the well-stocked park was, a few years ago, enlarged by the addition of more than a hundred acres.

The illustrative Engraving presents a north-east view of the Castle, including a great portion of the park, through which runs the Stockley rivulet, a considerable stream, uniting, in the parish of Brancepeth, with the river Wear. The Church, which is here shown embosomed in foliage, stands at the south end of the village, and is the burial-place of several members of the Neville family.

CASTLE EDEN HALL,-DURHAM.

The village of Castle Eden, formerly called South Eden, is situate on the high-road between Stockton and Sunderland, at the distance of little more than two miles from the sea. At the time of the dissolution of monasteries in England, this parish belonged to the prior and convent of Guisborough. Subsequently, however, the church and manor were purchased by Rowland Burden, Esq., whose descendant, of the same name, is the present possessor.

Castle Eden Hall, a spacious and elegant structure, stands on the summit of a woody precipice, which forms the southern boundary of Castle Eden Dean, and commands an extensive prospect over sea and land.

"The Dean (written in Saxon Den, or Dene, and signifying a valley, or woody place, that suddenly sinks from the common level of the country, and cannot be seen till the spectator is close upon the borders) extends about three miles from its entrance on the sea-shore, takes a waving course, and constitutes some of the finest scenery in the county, being deep, rocky, and sylvan." Appearances would argue, that this defile was originally formed by some great convulsion of nature, which tore the rocks asunder. The tourist, as he passes along the road which has been made through it, is delighted with the various beauties which present themselves before him in this singularly wild and romantic valley. A beautiful cascade, issuing from the crevice of a rock at the head of the dell, falls at length into a basin called Gunner's Pool.

In the accompanying View, we obtain a glimpse of the Hall, throned on a lofty and woody eminence, at the foot of which is seen the southern extremity of the Dean. The artist has here introduced, with considerable taste and good effect, what is called a gypsy party. Within this sylvan retreat, the wanderers of a day appear to have acquired a flow of spirits, and a degree of enjoyment, that has banished the ennui consequent upon the monotony of the drawing-room.

BLEA TARN,-WESTMORLAND.

Tarn is the name applied to a small lake found at a considerable elevation amongst the mountains.

Crossing the valley of Little Langdale, the tourist ascends a slack, (or defile formed by the dip of two contiguous hills,) which leads to Great Langdale. "In this slack, between two considerable mountains, faced with tremendous crags, lies Blea Tarn, with a single farm-house near it, and a plantation of fir and larch on each side." Wordsworth has made this wild and lonely region the residence of his hermit.

"We scaled, without a track to ease our steps,

A steep ascent; and reached a dreary plain,
With a tumultuous waste of huge hill-tops
Before us; savage region! which I paced
Dispirited; when, all at once, behold!
Beneath our feet a little lowly vale,

A lowly vale, and yet uplifted high

Among the mountains, even as if the spot

Had been, from eldest time by wish of theirs,

So placed, to be shut out from all the world!"

*

A quiet, tree-less nook, with two green fields,
A liquid pool that glittered in the sun,
And one bare dwelling; one abode, no more!"

H

WINDERMERE, FROM LOW WOOD INN,-WESTMORLAND.

Low Wood Inn, distant about two miles from Ambleside, is delightfully situated on a small bay, whence the head of Windermere opens magnificently. Beyond, lie Brathay Park, and the valley of Great Langdale; the mountains of Langdale Pikes, Loughrigg Fell, and Fairfield, with others in the remote distance, forming the back-ground. This Inn is a favourite residence of visitors to the lakes. A grand annual regatta is held on Windermere at Low Wood, and another at the Ferry Inn, early in September. These delightful exhibitions attract most of the families of distinction, and the inhabitants of the neighbouring county, to the lake, which on these festive days is literally covered with boats and barges, forming splendid aquatic processions, attended by bands of music, and crowded with gay and mirthful parties. A more enlivening spectacle cannot be conceived: the sublime scenery, the music with all its soul-enchanting echoes, the variety of costume, and, "prime ornament of all," the enrapturing smile of many an "English flower”— these together convert the charming solitude into a high festival, of which, even the legends of fairy-land can furnish no example:

Low Wood Inn commands a view of the whole upper part of the lake; the prospect extending towards the south, so far as Curwen's Island. The appearance of Windermere from this station cannot be adequately described. The lake spreads out into an extensive plain of water, which "may be compared to a mirror of vast size and rude shape, set in a huge frame of grotesque figure, adorned with the grandest carvings and lace work, in a variety of the richest colours, and altogether bearing the negligent air of nature's original workmanship." On the opposite shore, the gradually sloping hills display a mixture of woodlands and beautiful farms. Some of the mountains surrounding the head of Windermere are clothed with wood, and others, of a dark slaty colour, extend their bases into the lake itself. "Indeed, the vicinity of Low Wood presents numerous charming views of the lake and surrounding country; but of the beauties of this situation, a true idea only can be formed by him, who has time to explore the various elevations, who considers the different points of views, and who suffers no accidental circumstance to escape his observation."

Not far distant from Low Wood Inn, is a gentle eminence leading to the village of Troutbeck. From this acclivity the spectator surveys all the prominent beauties of the surrounding landscape. The stupendous chaos of rocks, terminating the northern shore, might be mistaken for the Pyrenean chain, and "a very moderate exertion of the fancy would transport the beholder to the borders of the Leman Lake."

In the neighbourhood of Low Wood Inn, is a commodious pier for the accommodation of water parties. Cannon is kept at this place, to gratify visitors with