ISLE OF MAN. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 523 



respect on a par with its state in those districts of Eng- 

 land where a similar division exists. The few trees 

 which are to be found in the island, are to be seen chiefly 

 in these valleys ; and, thus sheltered, they thrive as well 

 as in other similar situations on the western coasts of 

 England. Whatever defects in this respect the island 

 displays, have arisen from the neglect to which that 

 branch of rural economy has been subjected almost every 

 where throughout the British dominions until a recent 

 period ; and, here as elsewhere, they will be in time 

 removed by the exertions which are making to restore 

 this important part of the management of land to its 

 due rank in rural affairs. Pleasing scenes, rarely such 

 as can be styled picturesque, occur every where in these 

 sheltered valleys ; and when, in the progress of time, 

 wood shall become more predominant, the Isle of Man will 

 yield little in beauty to those parts of England or Scotland 

 which are not characterized by the striking features of 

 Cumberland and the Highland districts, or the extended 

 magnificence of Kent and Somersetshire. 



The valleys thus described, are not prolonged in their 

 courses, and make no remarkable intersections in the 

 mountain group. But there is one long valley between 

 Douglas and Peel by which it is completely intersected, 

 being at the same time divided nearly in the middle, and 

 at rio-ht angles to the direction of the chain. The rivers 



O O 



of Peel and Douglas, collected in this valley, run to the 

 sea in opposite directions. It is almost every where 

 very narrow, the sides rising somewhat suddenly on each 

 hand to the mountainous or hilly land by which it 

 is bounded. At Peel, and still more remarkably at 

 Douglas, it terminates in the sea by a narrow valley, 

 producing at the former a prolonged basin which, by 

 the erection of a parallel pier, has been converted into 

 an excellent harbour for small vessels : at the latter is 

 erected a double pier inclosing one of the best dry har- 

 bours in the Irish channel. 



