10 AN EXCURSION TO THE SUBMARINE FOREST, CHESHIRE. 
secluded situations, but on fine mild evenings they may be seen occasionally, and 
generally before rain commences. 
I remain, dear Sir, 
Yours very respectfully, 
Woodside , near Liverpool , T. B. Hall. 
November 14, 1837. 
SOME ACCOUNT OF AN EXCURSION TO THE SUB-MARINE 
FOREST, LEASOWES, CHESHIRE, 
By a Member of the British Association. 
On Friday evening an announcement was made by the general secretary, that 
on the next morning steam-boats would be waiting to carry the members of 
the British Association to some iron-works down the river, or to Leasowes 
Castle, near the submarine forest. Saturday morning came, and with it torrents 
of rain. I walked into the town, and must confess, from the miserable and dirty 
appearance of the whole place, that I wished myself any where but in Liverpool. 
As I was walking along, half inclined to leave for Manchester, a transitory break 
appeared in the clouds; it became lighter, I looked at my watch, found it wanted 
but five minutes to one, the time the steamer was to start for the forest. I 
called a cab, and arrived at the docks before the packet had started. The rain 
again poured down, but 1 determined to keep on board and undergo the hard¬ 
ship which the miserable weather promised. The packet did not start at the 
time stated, on account of the smallness of the party, who at length one by one 
arrived, and when we set off numbered altogether twenty-four. 
Who our company was I knew not, and I must confess, when we started we 
looked as unlikely a party to enjoy ourselves as ever I saw. The weather 
appeared to affect us all, and not one seemed inclined to say to another, how do 
you do ? After dashing through the waves five or six miles, the steamer sud¬ 
denly stopped, and we were informed that we must be put on shore by the boat. 
The wind blew, and the rain came down cpiiekly, so as to deter several of the 
party from venturing across a mile or two of sea to the shore, lest they should 
be made permanent inhabitants of the submarine forest we were about to visit. 
However, with skilful sailors, who not only rowed us over a part of the sea, but 
carried us one by one on their broad shoulders, over several hundred feet, we 
were at length securely placed upon the beach. 
And here we found ourselves safely arrived at the object of our expedition, 
