THE CASTLE HILL, DUDLEY. 405 



family pride in their composition than we. I question 

 whether a Scotch authoress would choose to introduce 

 her grandmother to the public as a waiting- maid, even 

 though her story should be a very good one. 



' The caverns under the Castle Hill are very extra- 

 ordinary, and the work of excavation is still going on. 

 It is one of three hills of the Silurian system, the 

 Wren's-nest is another, that rise in the middle of the 

 coal-field, and the lime which they abundantly furnish 

 is in great use as a flux for fusing the dry ironstone, 

 besides for building and agricultural purposes. And so 

 they have been wrought to their very centres, and perfor- 

 ated by railways and canals. One of the caverns I visited 

 is a most extraordinary place, a full half-mile in length, 

 with a deep sluggish canal winding through it, and sup- 

 ported with vast columns of rock. Had it not been 

 excavated by human labour I would term it sublime, but 

 the idea that it was all picked out by barrowfuls militates 

 against its respectability. Dr Buckland, however, makes 

 it the subject of a really fine description, and lectured 

 on it to the members of the British Association in 1839. 



' This is a letter somewhat like a bit of a guide-book ; 

 but you must bear with it. I am telling you of what I 

 have come to this part of the country to see, and have had 

 much pleasure in seeing. Though not yet very strong, 

 I have borne the fatigue of my yesterday and to-day's 

 explorations tolerably well, greatly better than my 

 sight-seeing in London, but the clear sky and pure 

 bracing air have mightily assisted. I lodge here in a 

 Temperance Coffee House, kept by very quiet people, 

 and am on particularly good terms with their youngest 

 boy, a little fellow of eight years, who makes speeches at 

 Temperance meetings, and divides all society into Tee- 

 totallers and Drunkards. He is beside me at present 



