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In Devonlhire there are two ; the foreft of 

 Dartmore, which runs along the mountainous, 

 and barren country, on both fides of the river 

 Dart, before it enters the fouth Hams : and 

 the foreft of Exmore, which accompanies the 

 river Ex, till it enter the more fertile country 

 about Dulverton. 



In Somerfetmire there are likewife two, 

 Neroch-foreft, which lies a little to the fouth 

 of Taunton -, and Selwood-foreft, a little to 



the fouth of Froom. Thefe fcenes will 



ever be famous in Britifh hiftory ; while the 

 remembrance continues of Alfred the great. 

 Frequent inundations of Danes, and repeated 

 lofles had driven him from the management 

 of affairs. But he retired before the enemies 

 of his country, only to attack them with more 

 advantage. Seeing the time ripe for action, 

 he emerged from his retreat ; fent his emif- 

 faries around, and called his friends together 

 in the foreft of Selwood, which flickered, and 

 concealed his numbers. Here arranging his 

 followers, he burft from the foreft, like a 

 torrent, upon the Danes. They gave way at 



VOL. i. Z once; 



