■bif* 
THE PEAK OF DERBYSHIEE. 
feriol of the cavern, beneath a massive vault of rock, 
!n some parts descends to -within eighteen or twenty 
of the water, “We stood some time,” saysM. deSt. F°'' 
‘ ' on the brink of this lake; and tlie light of our dismal tord> 
which emitted a black smoke, reflecting our pale im^*^ 
from its bottom, we almost conceived that we saw a 
of spectres starting from an abyss to welcome us. 
illusion was extremely striking.” _ 
Oit landing, the visitor enters a spacious vacuity, 
feet in length, 200 feet in breadth, and in some ' t 
feet in height, opening into the bosom of the rock ; 
from the want of light, neither the distant sides, nor , 
roof of this abyss, can be seen. In a passage at the if ^ 
extremity of this vast cave, the stream which flows throf jj 
the whole length of the cavern, spreads into what is 
the Second Water, and near its termination is a projed.' , 
pile of rocks, known by the appellation of Roger 
"" from the incessant fall of water in large 
House 
through the crevices of the roofs. 
Beyond this, o! 
another tremendous hollow, called the Chancel, W 
•!t^ 
the rocks are much broken, and the sides covered ''’i 
stalactical or petrified incrustations. Here the visito| ■ 
surprised by a vocal concert which bursts in discoi'<^' 
tones from the upper regions gf the chasm. “ S*' 
upper regions gt ttie ciiasm. " ,1 
observes a modern toitrist, “ this being unexpected, 
issuing ftom a quarter where no object can be seen, 
place where all is still as death, is calculated to impress j 
imagination with solemn ideas, and can seldom be 
without that mingled emotion of awe and pleasure, 
nhhment and delight, which is one of the most interest' 
feelings of the mind.” At the conclusion of the st^ 
the choristers, who consist of eight or ten women and 
dren, are seen ranged in the hollow of the rock, 
fifty feet above tlie floor. 
The path now leads to a place whimsibally called j 
Devil’s Cellar and Half-tvay House, and thence, by 
natural and regular arches, to a vast concavity, which, 
its uniform bell-like appearance, is called Great 
Lincoln. When illumined by a strong light, this conct*'|^ 
has a very pleasing effect ; tlie synmietrical dispositio" 
the rocks, the stream flowing beneath, and the spi^jjiii 
in the roof, forming a very interesting picture. From 
