ENGLAND. 



The Severn, now a broad stream, crowded with 

 barges, flows through a pleasant country, l>ctwcen high 

 banks, till it approaches tin- city of Worcester. It then 

 tr.iM-r c - a [i.irt i)l' what is generally called the vale of 

 Kvcsham, though that name more properly belongs to 

 the vale through which the Avon flov i a the 



fine ridge of the Malvern hills, and the hold rising 

 round of Bredon. After this, its h.inks become high 

 and .steep, so that it almost disappears as it flows through 

 the vast plain of Gloucestershire. About a mile above 

 Gloucester, it divides into two Mrcams, which re-unite 

 a little below that city, forming the tract of land cal- 

 led Alney Island. Soon after this junction, its depth 

 awl width are increased by several .streams, as well as 

 canals, from the clothing districts of this county. At 

 a bend of the river, where the Stroudwater canal joins 

 it, it forms nearly a semicircle of ten miles, and flow- 

 ing again south-west, grows gradually wider, till it re- 

 ceives the Wye near Chejistow, and the Avon from 

 Somersetshire, thus forming the Bristol Channel. Be- 

 tween Tewksbury and the tea, there is only one pas- 

 sage over this river by bridge ; this is at Gloucester ; 

 the other passages are by boats. 



Tin >evern, particularly below Gloucester, has fre- 

 quently overflowed its banks; and by sudden risings of 

 die tide, occasioned much damage to the contiguous 

 country. It is remarkable for its tide, which rolls in 

 with a head three or four feet high, with a great noise. 

 This arises from the circumstance, that it receives the 

 waters of the great Atlantic Ocean with such consider- 

 able violence, as to fill the channel of the river all at 

 once; and the opposition which the tides from the ocean 

 meets with from the strong current of the river, occa- 

 sions that dasliing of the waves which is called the 

 hygre or eagre. 



describing the Mersey, it will be necessary to no- 

 tice the origin and course of the Irwell, which contri- 

 butes so largely to the waters of the former river. The 

 Irwell rises in the moors that divide Lancashire from 

 Yorkshire : it passes through the district of manufac- 

 turing towns in the former county, (low-ing at first west- 

 ward, and then descending in a southward direction to 

 Bury. Below this town, having been joined by the 

 Roche, it makes a great curve to the westward again, 

 till being joined by a small stream from Bolton, it turns 

 suddenly to the south-east : this course it preserves till 

 it reaches Manchester, where it is united to the Irk 

 and the Medlock. From Manchester, its course is near- 

 ly westward, till its junction with the Mersey, which 

 takes place near the village of Flexton. The Mersey 

 derives its source from a conflux of small streams at 

 the junction of Cheshire with Derbyshire: its course is 

 considerably serpentine, but generally with an inclina- 

 tion to the south-west. The principal place it passes 

 fore its junction with the Irwell, is Stockport. 

 After this junction, the latter river loses its name, the 

 united streams taking the appellation of the Mersey. 

 Its course continues westward as it passes the town of 

 Warrington, a little below which it forms a great arm 

 of the sea, which, turning abruptly to the south west, 

 grows a little narrower as it passes the port of Liver- 

 pool, near its exit. At that part of the Mersey where 

 it swells into a basin, it is joined by the Weaver. 

 This river rises in the northern part of Shropshire, and 

 flows northward to Namptwich and Northwich, where 

 k is joined by two rivulets, one from the northern con- 

 fines of Staffordshire, and the other from Middlcwieh. 

 Alter this junction, its course inclines to the north- 



west, till it falls into the Mersey, a littlo below Frod- Statirtics. 

 sham. "^^~\~"" 



The Mersey, and the nVcrs which join it, have lit- 

 tle of the mountainous character, except just about 

 their source, as they hooii reach a country abounding in 

 manufactures, though not distinguished for beauty. 

 The Mersey is navigable for vessels of considerable 

 burden, for about :;.'> miles from Liverpool to the mouth 

 of tke Irwell; and the latter river has been made navi- 

 gable for boats, barges, &c. as far as Hunt's Bank, 

 Manchester. 



The Dee rises in the mountainous part of Merioneth- Tie D. 

 shire, from two rapid streams, which uniting, and de- 

 scending from the heights whi eli separate Dolgelly from 

 Bala, form the lake of I'enihle-meer, one of the HUgMt 

 ill Wales. After issuing from this lake, the Dee pur- 

 sues an easterly course beneath the town of Bala, and 

 passing through the beautiful valley of Llangollen, with 

 various windings, enters the great plain of Cheshire, 

 beneath the park of Wyne Stay. Soon afterwards it 

 changes its course, pursuing a northerly direction, form- 

 ing a deep valley for itself through that plain : then 

 crossing over to the city of Chester, it half cncompanes 

 its walls ; and flowing from thence to the sea, it forms 

 a broad sandy estuary, inclining to the north west, 

 which divides Cheshire from Flintshire. By inland 

 navigation, it has communication with the Mersey, Rib- 

 ble, Ouse, Trent, Derwent, Severn, Avon, Humber, 

 and Thames. It is navigable from near Ellesmere in 

 Shropshire, to Chester : but at this city the navigation 

 is rendered difficult and broken by a ledge of rocks 

 running across the bed of the river, which form a kind 

 of cascade. 



The Dee is a most beautiful and romantic river : it 

 is singular, from the circumstance that it ii ;s tcr- 



rapidity as it recedes from its source, being 1U1 by nu- 

 merous rapid streams from the surrounding mountains; 

 one of which, called the Ceiro, precipitates itself down 

 the curious falls of Glyndyftis. 1'erhaps the grandest 

 view of the Dee is where it passes into the great plain 

 of Cheshire, as the mountains recede, and lay it open 

 to the view. It loses its romantic character as it ap- 

 proaches the city of Chester, and becomes a deep and 

 tranquil river. At .Chester it is discoloured by the tide; 

 and though its windings are numerous, yet they arc 

 not picturesque, as it passes through a broad marsh 

 before it swells into its grand basin. 



The Tyne is formed from two branches, called the The Tynf. 

 South and North Tyne. The former takes its ri.-e on 

 the borders of Datum and Cumberland. At first, its 

 direction is northward, a little inclined to the west, by 

 Aklstone: it then turns eastward to meet the North 

 Tyne. This rises in the moorlands of Northumber- 

 land, clos on the borders of Scotland ; and being join- 

 ed by the Reed, near Bellingham, pursues a south- 

 west course, till it unites with the South Tyne. After 

 their junction, the Tyne takes an eastward direction, 

 and at last turning a little towards the north, falls into 

 the sea beneath Tynmouth Castle. 



The course of both the branches of this river is wild 

 and romantic, till they reach Tynedale, when its cha- 

 racter changes into a milder and more beautiful cast. 

 After passing Hexham, which occupies a central spot, 

 near the junction of the two branches, the Tyne flows 

 through a vale, rich in manufactures, as far as New- 

 castle. Here ships of moderate burden can come up; 

 but the towns of North and South Shields are the pro- 

 per ports of tin's river. Its estuary present* an interest- 



