156 Conflagrations of the Earth's Surface. 



appearance from any of the high grounds from which a view 

 of them can be obtained. — As some particular account of the 

 extent of the devastation must be interesting to our readers, 

 we have taken pains to ascertain the real state of the confla- 

 grations ; and the following is the result : Hawkesworth Moor 

 is entirely destroyed. On Ilkley Moor 500 acres are burnt. 

 There is no hope of any part of Bingley Moor being saved. 

 Burley Moor is on fire, and is partly consumed. Thornton 

 Moor is entirely destroyed and with it all the young planta- 

 tions, which cost upwards of 2000/. in planting. Oaksworth 

 Moor is entirely burnt. Ovenden Moor, Holme Moss, Burn- 

 sail Fell, Hebden and Grassington Moors, are on fire ; and 

 unless, as we have already said, incessant and heavy rain 

 should speedily fall, every one of these must be entirely con- 

 sumed. We have no doubt, that lightning is the cause of the 

 conflagrations." — Bradford Courier. 



" The Moors. — Notwithstanding the tract of high land which 

 the sportsmen of Sheffield denominate the Moors lies within 

 ten miles north-west of Sheffield, we believe little real informa- 

 tion has been given to the public, respecting the work of de- 

 vastation now going on. On the evening of Monday week 

 last, it will be remembered that the atmosphere presented a 

 most extraordinary appearance. As the sun was setting in 

 the west, immense clouds burdened with electric fluid, arose 

 in the east, and supernatural darkness appeared to anticipate 

 the declining day. The peat and vegetable soil of which the 

 Moors are composed having been prepared for ignition during 

 the dry weather, by the most inconsiderable natural or arti- 

 ficial cause took fire, from the lightning at this time. The 

 heath on the west side of the plantations belonging to James 

 Rimington, Esq. first suffered from the destructive element ; 

 and on the following day it was discovered that the part of the 

 Moor called Hobson Moss, had taken fire in different places, 

 and was burning to the extreme depth of the soil. During the 

 whole of the last fortnight the course of destruction has been 

 unchecked ; and the surface of ground now burning cannot 

 be estimated at much less than 8,000 acres. The appearance 

 of the laud is highly interesting. The smoke is discovered 

 before entering Bradfield : and passing that village, two miles 

 towards Broomhead Hall, the west side of the Moors sends 

 forth immense clouds of vapour, through which the flames 

 occasionally arise. The birds, which appear to be tolerably 

 plentiful, and strong on the wing, may be observed rising from 

 the burning ground, and seeking shelter in more distant parts. 

 We have heard many opinions ascribing the calamity to in- 

 cendiaries ; but we think, from the great distance which exists 



between 



