On Idiotism. 85 
since it occurs in the immediate neighbour- 
hood. 
In a part of the township of Oldham, called 
Sholver, my attention was called tothe num- 
ber of Idiots ; I took a hist of their names, 
which T shaH take the liberty of reading. 
From Sholver-Moor, along the face of the 
hill, following its curvature at the Dog-hill 
to Crompton, and in the immediate neigh- 
bourhood, being an extent of about three 
miles, there will be found, or have lately 
existed, a greater number of these individuals, 
than in any other part of the country. The 
ground faces nearly west, is excessively ex- 
posed tothe winds which cross the Irish chan- 
nel, and sweep over the flat country loaded 
with vapour. The lower part of the hill 
is defended from these winds by Werneth and 
Oldham Edge, but as these high grounds, de- 
cline or terminate to the north they form with 
High-Crompton a trough or hollow, giving a 
direction to the currents, which accumula- 
ting rush up the valley over Royton and 
Shaw, to be intercepted by the hill we speak 
of, against which they break with consider- 
able force. The ride along this hill is the 
most bleak and cold of any in the neighbour- 
hood: the eountry is completely unsheltered 
by trees or hedge rows; the soil is thinly 
