ENGLAND. 



691 



Statistics, mile broad. Lowes-water is a beautiful lake, but its 

 v "*V pl ' beauty is of a somewhat different character from that 

 of Derwent- water ; woodland and cultivated fields, 

 finely intermixed, ornament its borders, while its south- 

 ern shore is bounded by some lofty eminences, descend- 

 ing in some parts precipitately to the water : the north 

 shore is more humble, and soon softens into an open 

 country. It is about a mile long, and a quarter broad. 

 None of the lakes in this part of England have juster 

 claims to the character of picturesque, than Crummock- 

 water; the barren Mollbreak, and other lofty mountains, 

 border the western bank of this lake, while its oppo- 

 site shores " are much indented, and varied with low 

 bays, curious promontories, little coppices, and trees 

 scattered among small farms ; the whole terminating in 

 a rich scene of woodland, impending in a beautiful 

 manner from the superior eminences." On each side 

 there is a chain of mountains; some naked, others 

 wooded to their bases; " some verdant, some rocky and 

 heathy, and some covered with red shiver, which 

 streams down their furrowed sides, exhibiting a singu- 

 lar appearance." This take is nearly four miles long; 

 its breadth about half a mile ; its waters are very deep 

 and clear. 



Buttermere. About a mile south from this lake, Buttermere-water 

 is situated, being separated from it by a fine, level, and 

 luxuriant vale. A range of rugged mountains, rising 

 abruptly from the margin of the water, hem in its west- 

 ern shores ; its eastern shores rise more gently, and are 

 partly adorned with wood. This lake, though undoubt- 

 edly beautiful, is more deservedly celebrated for the 

 cataracts which are near its southern extremity, and 

 particularly for the water-fall, called Scale-force, about 

 a mile and a half to the west of it. The length of But- 

 termere is rather more than a mile and a half, and its 

 breadth about half a mile. Ennerdale- water is guarded 

 on every side except the west, by wild and craggy 

 heights, which are almost impassable. The terrific 

 gloom of these objects is relieved and enlivened in 

 some degree, by the small farms, which are scattered 

 along its eastern shores ; but, on the whole, the scenery 

 is melancholy. This lake is about two miles and a 

 half long, and its breadth, at the widest part, about a 

 quarter of a mile. Wast- water is situated in the middle 

 of Wast-dale, on each side of which, the western moun- 

 tains rise to a great height, and almost meet at their 

 bases : the form and position of these mountains add 

 greatly to the effect of the scenery of the !ake : some lean 

 from the opposite sides of the vale towards each other, 

 so much as to render the distance between their tops, 

 when contrasted with the distance between their bases, 

 very singular and romantic; while others rise perpen- 

 dicularly, covered with loose stones of different colours, 

 which are continually falling down ; and when, during 

 their fall, the sun shines upon them, they are repre- 

 sented as somewhat resembling the Aurora Borealis. 

 The character of the vale is quite different : here every 

 thing is rural, and in the genuine style of pastoral beau- 

 ty and simplicity. This lake is about three miles long, 

 nd about three quarters of a mile broad in the widest 

 part. 



The other lakes of Cumberland do not require parti- 

 rxilar description, as they present little that is grand or 

 interesting. Bum-moortarn is seated among the wildest 

 mountains at the head of Metcrdale, to which there is 

 ely a sheep tract to direct the steps of the curious 

 traveller. The waters of this lake do not cover more 

 than 250 acres Devock-water is a little larger, occu- 

 pying about 300 acres. It is situated among the hills, 



about five miles south-east from Havenglass. Talkin- Statistics, 

 tarn includes a space of about 40 acres. This lake, as s T*""' 

 well as Tindale-tam, which covers about 50 acres, is 

 situated among the black moors, a few miles to the ' 

 south-east of of Brompton. Tarn-waddling spreads its 

 waters on a naked and barren common, about one mile 

 to the westward of the river Eden, at Armaithwaite, 

 above which it rises (iOO feet perpendicular. It covers 

 about 100 acres. 



Winandermere is a lake, that serves as a boundary Winander- 

 between the counties of Westmoreland and Lancaster. mere - 

 It occupies an area of about 15 miles in length. Its 

 average breadth is about one mile Its greatest depth, 

 near Eccles-crig-cragg, has been ascertained to be 

 200 feet. In the middle of the stream, a smooth rock 

 forms the bottom of this lake. The sides, in many 

 places, are perpendicular, and in some they continue 

 so for a mile without interruption. This lake is prin- 

 cipally formed, or fed, by four rivulets. The Brathay 

 and Rothay join at its west corner; and about four 

 miles lower down, on the east side, Troutbeck river 

 descends from the falls, and falls into the Mere. At 

 Causey-beck, its waters are further augmented by 

 a small rivulet called Estwaite-water. The waters 

 of Winandermere fall generally with great rapidity, 

 at its south end, which terminates at Newly-bridge, 

 through the channel of the Leven water, and in their 

 course form several cascades over the craggy rocks. 

 The character of this lake possesses many striking 

 beauties, with just so much of the romantic, as to vary 

 and enliven those beauties. Its sides are finely skirted 

 with rich and picturesque scenery, and the effect is 

 greatly heightened by several small islands, some of 

 which are ornamented with castellated buildings. Co- 

 niston lake is situated about four miles west from 

 Hawkshead in Lancashire, is about six miles in its 

 greatest length, three quarters of a mile in breadth, and 

 in depth about 40 fathoms. It is chiefly characterised 

 by the nature of its shores, which are frequently in- 

 dented, and open into small bays, in a variety of 

 forms. 



CHAP. III. 



Meteorology of England. 



WITH respect to climate, England, from its situation General de- 

 in the northern part of the temperate zone, cannot en- scription of 

 joy long, or in great vividness, the genial influence of th t climate. 

 the sun ; and from its being an island, it is exposed to 

 great variations of dryness and moisture, as well as of 

 heat and cold, at all seasons ; indeed, its atmosphere is 

 inclined to be chilly and damp, and is therefore not so 

 favourable to the ripening as to the growth of the pro- 

 ductions of the earth. There is, perhaps, however, no 

 country in Europe, which displays such a rich and 

 beautiful verdure, for such a large portion of the year; 

 since the rigour of its winter is seldom so great or so 

 lasting, as to destroy this verdure by cold, and the 

 heats of its summer, interrupted by cooler weather, and 

 refreshed by frequent showers, do not wither up the 

 grass. On the continent of Europe, the period when Seasons un- 

 the different seasons may be expected to arrive, the certain. 

 mode in which they will respectively commerce, and 

 their durations uninterrupted by unseasonable wither, 

 can safely be predicted and relied upon ; but in Eng- 

 land it is quite the reverse. The winter months, in- 

 deed, are generally reckoned to be December, January, 

 and February. The spring months, March, April, and 



