CATARACTS, AND INUNDATIONS. 



Gill, which is the name of the greatest, stood a mill and a kiln, 

 which were entirely swept away, in five minutes time, and the 

 place where they formerly stood, now covered with huge rocks, 

 and rubbish> three or four yards deep. One of the mill-stones 

 cannot be found, being covered, as is supposed, in the bottom of 

 this heap of rubbish. 



In the violence of the storm, the mountain has tumbled so fast 

 down, as to choak up the old course of this brook; and it has 

 forced its way through a shivery rock, where it now runs in a great 

 chasm, four yards wide, and between eight and nine deep. la 

 the course of each of these brooks, such monstrous stones, or ra- 

 ther rocks, and such vast quantities of gravel and sand, are thrown 

 on their little meadow-fields, as render the same absolutely useless, 

 aad never to be recovered. 



It would surpass all credit to give the dimensions and weight of 

 some rocks, which are not only tumbled down the steep parts of 

 the mountains, but carried a considerable way into the fields, se- 

 veral thrown on the banks larger than a team of 10 horses could 

 move. Near a place called Lobwath, one was carried a great way, 

 which was 6/6 inches, or near 19 yards about. The damage done 

 to the grounds, houses, walls, fences, highways, with a loss of the 

 corn and hay then on the ground, is computed variously, by some 

 at 10001. by others at 15001. 



One of these brooks, which is called Mose or Mosedale Beck, 

 'which rises near the source of the others, but runs north from the 

 other side of Legburthet Fells, continues still to be foul and muddy, 

 having, as is supposed, worn its channel so deep in some part of its 

 course, as to work on some mineral substance, which gives it the 

 colour of water flowing from lead mines, and is so strong as to tinge 

 the river Denvent, into which it empties itself, even at the sea, 

 near 20 miles from their meeting. 



No country is more unfortunately exposed to ruinous inunda- 

 tions than Holland, in consequence of the flatness of the country : 

 the barriers formed by its dykes or sea. banks against the incroach- 

 ments of the tides, being occasionally, from the united action of 

 rain, wind, and sea-storms, being completely swept away, and the 

 whole country overflowed with the watery devastation. Such was 

 particularly the case, in the fyear 1430; and again in l6S, of 



