208 THE PEAK IN THE DAYS OF QUEEN ANNE. 



gave us frightful Apprehensions, while on the one hand we 

 beheld a Gloomy Descent into the hollow Gapings of the Earth, 

 so black and dreadful that the most daring are amazed to view 

 y e surprising Abyss, and on y e other hand impending Moun- 

 tains threatened us with ruin. When we had measured about 

 six miles we saw a Tower fixt on y e summit of a rising Mount, 

 and when we came to It our Eyes were delighted with the 

 pleasing Prospect of CHATSWORTH the seat of the Duke of 

 Devonshire. Eden in all Its Glorys had nothing more sur- 

 prising then* what we saw here. We found the descent to It 

 very fatiguing to our horses, by reason of the vast stones that 

 in many Places obstructed our Passage. We had here at once 

 the most beautifull and most deformed seens in y e world. On 

 the one Hand y e house and garden and on the other all y e 

 Monstrous Views of Nature in an undress. It was dark by that 

 time we have conquered the Descent which obliged us to put of 

 the sight of y e House till y e next morning. This is the first 

 of the Seven Wonders of the Peake comprehended by Mr. 

 Hobbs in this Line, 



' /Ecjes, Mons, Barathrum, Binus Fons, Antraque bina,' 

 all of which I shall speak of in their order. 



" The Wonders of the Peake. 



" Chatsworth. — This stately Pile stands on y e Banks of Der- 

 went which washes the front. There are a noble pair of Iron 

 Gates of the same Breadth of the House, guarded on each side 

 with two Pillars of Stone finely carved. Thro' the gates you 

 enter a large outer Court which leads you towards the Pile. 

 Before you can enter the House you ascend by several steps 

 upon a noble Terrace, which binds the Frontispeice, enclosed 

 by curious Iron works. After this you are admitted thro y e 

 Lodge into a spacious square Court, embraced round by the 

 Buildings, which are supported on the Right and Left by 

 several Pillars (Doric Columns) which form two stately Piazzas. 



" You cross the Court thro' a large Portico into one of the 

 noblest Halls in the Universe. 



The original M.S. is being followed verbatim. — Ed. 



