272 CHABNWOOD FOREST. [l877. 



resting-place and that of several of his kindred. The 

 drive through the Moira coal-district showed no evi- 

 dence of its being a mining country, except for the 

 chimney-stalks standing in the greenest of fields. 



The two geologists being desirous of a clear day for 

 exploration of the upper Trent Valley, a stay of two 

 nights was made at Ashby-de-la-Zouch. They in- 

 spected the ruined castle of Scott's ' Ivanhoe,' as well 

 as the " Tournament Ground" ; yet it was with keener 

 zest that next morning, in spite of rain, they started 

 on a drive of many miles through the greenest of green 

 valleys, where they found pits to please them, with 

 exhibitions of "Drifts" of varied character. 



From Ashby-de-la-Zouch the route was through 

 what remained of Charnwood Forest the scenery on 

 its borders most striking from the dark slate - rocks 

 which protruded, piled up in ridges and pillars 011 

 the hills. The culminating interest of this tour was, 

 however, in the granite quarries of Mount Sorrel : it 

 was with difficulty that Prestwich could be persuaded 

 to leave them. After a hurried glimpse of quarries 

 of blue slates at a little distance off, their road 

 took the party close to Bradgate Castle, the early 

 home of Lady Jane Grey a ruin standing in the 

 park, with a picturesque surrounding of gnarled and 

 knotted old oak - trees. Grooby Castle had also a 

 brief visit. But for two of the party the ruin was 

 not the attraction : they had heard of a certain pit 

 close to it, and also of a syenite quarry. A five miles' 

 drive took the tourists to Leicester, where the carriage 

 was exchanged for the railway, and late in the evening 

 they reached Nash Mills. 



The excursion had been altogether delightful : our 

 Professor had got rid of sciatica, and had made volum- 



