the Seat of Charles fVaterton, Esq. 29 



its kind-hearted owner, Mr. Waterton, I lately partook of his 

 hospitality. 



A few observations, hastily made, that occurred during my 

 visit, may perhaps not be uninteresting to the readers of the 

 Magazine of Natural History. 



Walton Hall, a place that must, like Selborne, be ever dear 

 to the lover of ornithology, from the many attractive objects 

 it presents in the way of that engaging pursuit, is situated in 

 the parish of Sandal-Magna, about four miles from Wakefield, 

 in the county of York. This district of country forms part 

 of the great coal formation of Yorkshire. The soil usually 

 overlying the coal stratification is a clay, which, being of a 

 stiff tenacious texture, is unfriendly to the better kinds of 

 herbage, unless it be extensively drained, and well mixed with 

 calcined limestone; but the clayey soil of the park of Wal- 

 ton rests immediately upon a thick stratum of the coal sand- 

 stone, which, mouldering down, yields it a due proportion of 

 siliceous earth, and makes it an excellent soil for the growth 

 of the richer species of grasses. Trees of nearly all kinds 

 flourish luxuriantly upon it. Among these, especially, the 

 sweet Spanish chestnut, one of our most valuable trees, and in 

 the present day far too little encouraged as forest timber, is 

 this year profusely laden with fruit, not much inferior to that 

 which is imported from the south of Europe. 



The climate is equally favourable with the soil for the 

 growth of the delicate kinds of vegetation. The vine grows 

 on walls in the open air, and scarcely ever fails to bear each 

 season tolerable grapes; this year there has been an abundant 

 crop of as fine grapes as those raised under glass. The sweet- 

 water and black Hamburgh vines are the only varieties that 

 have been cultivated. 



Walton Hall stands upon an island included in a small 

 lake well stocked with fish, and has been the residence of 

 the Watertons time out of mind. The present elegant 

 Grecian mansion occupies the site of an ancient castellated 

 house, which, encircled by water, and accessible only by a 

 drawbridge, must have been, before the use of cannon, an 

 impregnable strong-hold. During the civil wars of Crom- 

 well and Charles I. this family, staunch adherents to the 

 house of Stuart, defied old Noll's vengeance, and gallantly 

 kept his forces for some time at bay, though the venerable 

 castle was reduced almost to a heap of ruins. 



All that now remains to tell the tale of its former chivalry 

 is an ivy-clad tower. This tower will be visited with no 

 small interest and curiosity by the ornithologist. The days of 

 rapine and violence having happily passed away, never, we 



