Richmond mid Thirsk, in Ym'kshire. 25 



The bed of the river is rocky, and contains frequently 

 masses of granite, porous sandstone, and sometimes fragments 

 of trap-rocks. The valley at Richmond is but narrow, and 

 the opposite sides are formed of rocks of the carboniferous or 

 mountain limestone, which here generally prevails. After 

 passing Richmond the valley widens, and the aspect as well 

 as the geological structure of the country alters until we enter 

 the red marl or new red sandstone district, which runs through 

 the whole of the celebrated vale of Mowbray, as far as the 

 city of York ; forming a level plain, rich and extremely fer- 

 tile at the base of the lias range of the Hambletons. The 

 valley at its greatest breadth is nearly thirty miles across, 

 bounded on the east by the Hambletons, and on the west by 

 Pen Hill and the Wensley Dale range. 



Leaving Richmond, and advancing up the valley, the scene 

 is of the most romantic description. On the right bank the 

 mountain limestone rises to the height of 1 50 or 200 ft., and 

 in many instances presents the appearance of the embattled 

 walls and turrets of a castellated building. From the summit 

 of these cliffs the mayor of Richmond, at a remote period, 

 was precipitated by his horse, while out hunting, when he 

 most miraculously escaped, at the cost of a \eg^ though his 

 horse was killed upon the spot. These rocks, as is generally 

 the case, are full of fissures, some of which reach to a con- 

 siderable depth below the surface. It is no uncommon occur- 

 rence in the crevices to find small pieces of galena. 



Further up the valley veins of lead are not uncommon ; and 

 proceeding to Arkindale, sixteen miles up the dale, the mines 

 are rich and numerous. The ore not unfrequently contains 

 an admixture of silver ; there occurs, besides, carburet of 

 lead, sulphuret and carbonate of copper, oxide of zinc, iron 

 pyrites, sulphate and carbonate of barytes, and crystallised 

 quartz, with many other mineral substances. The thickness 

 of the mountain limestone varies ; perhaps we may not exceed 

 the mark in assigning it an elevation of 300 or 400 ft. ; it is 

 not unfrequently surmounted by the millstone grit. In height, 

 above the level of the sea, it cannot fall short of 800 ft. The 

 springs are numerous, and hold a good deal of calcareous 

 matter in solution. The agricultural character of the land on 

 the high grounds is poor, and not of much value ; but the 

 bases of the hills furnish good pasturage. It appears more 

 than probable that the narrow defile through which the 

 river runs has been formed by some convulsion of nature, as 

 the force of water, or the action of some violent earthquake, 

 though at a very remote period. There are evident proofs of 

 the valleys having been narrower in former times. At the foot 



