516 
the lofty columns of darker smoke 
mark the stations of distant towns and 
citics that ornament the fertile vale. 
Far beyond the course of the Severn, 
and in the most remote angle formed 
by the distant hills, is seen that elegant 
place of fashionable resort, salubrious 
Cheltenham, smoaking with culinary 
and domestic fires. 
The travelled and experienced eye 
may here imagine it again beholds the 
fertile plains of Italy in Campania’s ex- 
tensive landscape, whilst it traces the 
Arno and the ‘I'yber’s course in that of 
the Avon and Severn. Other rivers 
and rivulets may serve to personate 
other streams, rendered sacred by the 
glowing numbers of poctic song. 
If, to the fertile plains of Campania, 
the eastern prospect which we have 
been viewing may be compared; then, 
surely our western view, behind us, 
may be also likened to ‘“ Valambrosa’s 
leafy vale*,” with singular propriety ; 
for the extensive track, between the 
eye and the distant black mountains 
in the principality, is occupied by an 
almost entire forest of the grateful 
apple, and the juicy pear; and the pro- 
tusely pendant hop, in richest tracery 
appears, for an almost indefinite num- 
ber of miles. 
Whilst the thick veil of distant ages 
is closely drawn, which conceals from 
our view the memory of events which 
transpired on the very spot now 
pressed by the feet of the spectator ; 
events, judging from the vastness of 
the traces which may be even now 
discovered, that must have been of 
mighty moment, but which occurred 
before historic time was,—in very re- 
mote British days. For, should pre- 
sent appearances command our cre- 
dence, the vast labours of thousands 
upon thousands of our mighty ances- 
tors, would, perhaps, convince us, that 
the magnitude of this preparation was 
commensurate with the importance of 
the object proposed to be atchieved. 
From the vastness of these remains, 
“now visible, this inference naturally 
presents itself. 
This Herculean labour, it should 
seem, had been raised for cither the 
purpose of determining some deadly 
contest between the Silurian princes 
and neighbouring potentates; or else, 
perhaps, it was raised as astrong hold, 
from whence an armed force could be 
searcely displaced. I am rather in- 
clined to this latter opinion; because, 
* Milton. 
British Antiquities. 
[Jan. 1, 
from the very commanding prospect 
which the regal, or general’s, station, 
had over the whole country, from 
whence the motion of belligerents 
might be ascertained, over the great- 
est part of southern Siluria; this sta- 
tion was probably selected for such 
observation: when, I should conecive, 
it bore a different name to that which 
now distinguishes it, being called Caer, 
as anappellative, and with the king’s, 
or general’s, name as the proper sub- 
stantive, as the following instance will 
testify; ex gra, ‘The spot upon which 
Caractacus, or Caradog, had formed 
his camp when he was chosen the 
generalissimo of the united British 
princes, to oppose the Roman gencral 
Suetonius, in the reign of Claudius 
Cesar, was in an angle formed by the 
river Teme, and another stream at the 
point of their junction, in Shropshire, 
on an elevated scite, ‘‘ advantageous 
to the Britons,” according to Tacitus, 
(vide his Annals,) which scite has been 
since known to the Britons by the name 
of Cer Caradog, now Queredoc, or the 
Fort, City, or Station, of Caractacus. 
Oct. 1, 1822. F. L. W. 
Newent, Gloucestershire. 
—— 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
BSENCE from London prevented 
my replying to the letter in the 
preceding Magazine. Your liberality 
and justice will allow the insertion of 
the yindication of the right of a 
philosophical modest young man, who 
ought to make thousands of his in- 
genious invention ; its utility and sim- 
plicity astonishes every one that has 
seen it: when seen, like Columbus and 
the egg, every one wonders he did 
not discoyer it. It is the duty of every 
one who carries on business that is 
offensive, to do all in their power to 
remove it: prosecutions are expensive 
and ruinous, but manufacturers ought 
to adopt every improvement that sci- 
ence suggests. If you think it worth 
your notice, it will give me much plea- 
sure toshewityou. ‘Tomy knowledge 
the same processes, that are highly 
offensive in one place, are carried on 
in other places without inconvenience. 
Several of my customers have 
adopted it; and families, who had left 
their houses of business, have returned 
to them, and have told me, they never 
paid 10]. with so much pleasure, - 
You will render essential service to 
the community by inserting improve- 
ments 
