3$ A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



The Moorlands, in point of elevation, are far above the south of 

 the county, rising at least from 100 to 200 perpendicular yards 

 above the general level : on these heights are large tracts of in- 

 closed pasturage. This elevation greatly increases the degree of 

 cold, by combining the causes that produce it, and by being more 

 exposed to the elements of air and water in every form and variety 

 of wind, hail, snow, or rain, and the country is almost in a state of 

 nature, without any shelter or covering except stone walls, which 

 have little effect in keeping off the cold winds : the little wheat and 

 barley sown here will not ripen, nor oats in due time, except the 

 season be very favourable. 



The plantations at Oakover (partly of oak), are in a flourishing 

 state ; and the house, situated in a paddock of excellent turf, com- 

 mands a fine view of the Dove, with a neat Gothic church : the 

 paddock is well stocked with deer. 



At Ham, farther up the Dove, is a very pleasant seat, which, 

 from its romantic situation, suggests the idea of a glen in the Alps : 

 two considerable rivers, the Hamps and Manyfold, here rush from 

 under the limestone hills, after a subterraneous passage of several 

 miles in separate streams. The precipices which surround the 

 valley in which Ham stands, are well clothed with oak, and other 

 wood ; the pleasure-walks from the seat, oji one of these precipices, 

 are diversified and beautiful, and resemble shelves, one almost per- 

 pendicularly above another, the sides of which are furnished by 

 nature, with scarcely any assistance from art, with a profusion of 

 flowers of no ordinary appearance.* Several curious specimens of 

 petrified fish are preserved here, said to be of the carp or barbel 

 species, bat which, in reality, are fragments of chert (silex petre) 

 embodied in the limestone rock when in a state of fluidity ; the 

 limestone being softer than the chert, most of these fragments 

 project in the middle, which gives them a resemblance to fish : 

 three or four very good specimens are shewn to those who visit 

 Ham. The subterraneous rivers here form two very fine cascades. 



The bold and romantic hills of Thorp Cloud, and Bunster, on 

 either side the Dove, may be seen from these grounds: the latter 

 (in Staffordshire), is an immense heap of limestone, but covered 

 with a light earth, and well stocked with rabbits : between these 



* Amongst others, native geraniums of different sorts, the centaurea scabi- 

 oa, and other shewy natives : in a meadow over the water, theramson (allium 

 arsinum) a shewy llower but no desirable pasture-plant, flourishes in great 

 profusion. 



