LAKE ISLETS. 267 



isle in your memory ; we will read, when we re- 

 turn home, the Poet's lines addressed to this very 

 spot. I think they are amongst those called " In- 

 scriptions." That smaller islet a tangled brake 

 as it were on the water, shaded with a few Scotch 

 firs, is Eamsholme ; and the larger one, close to 

 the shore, just come in sight on our turning the 

 promontory, is the Lord's Isle, which in the 

 olden time was the site of an earl's residence, 

 of that unfortunate family now extinct, which 

 derived its title from Derwent water, and now, 

 alas ! alas ! those tall trees and the rookery they 

 support are, I believe, the only remnants of its 

 former pride of place. Those I have named 

 are the four more conspicuous islets; besides 

 there are many smaller, or rather rocks which 

 are nameless. Now, boatman, let us to the 

 river, that we may try it, as fishing on the lake 

 in its present calm state is hopeless. 



AMICUS. Now we are nearing the river, how 

 shallow the water is becoming ; we are passing 

 over a shoal of gravel, well fitted, I should 

 suppose, for the spawning bed of the charr. 



PISCATOE. Eight ; but that shoal, I am in- 

 formed, is of recent formation, and occasioned 

 by the Greta when in flood breaking over its 

 banks and pouring itself into the lake direct. 



