1799.] 
In thefe woods, nearly oppofite Clifton, 
are the remains of a Roman cattra ftativa ; 
which, according to the mode of defence 
and attack in thofe days, mult have been 
remarkably ftrong. Behind, it is defended 
by the river, and natural inacceflibility of 
the rock, on which it ftands ;—on one 
hand isa valley, whofe fides are fteep and 
lofty ;—on the other, the ground is alfo 
difadvantageoufly hilly ; fo that it could 
be affaulted only in front. Here we find, 
the Romans had raifed a triple fortifica- 
tion. ‘The two exterior ramparts are 
aggera, or movnds of earth thrown out of 
the ditches ;—the third is by much the 
largett, and feems to have been the chief 
defence of the ftation. This, as appears 
from the prefent ruins, mutt have been a 
wall of confiderable height and thicknefs. 
The mortar, by which the ftones are 
cemented together, is formed without any 
mixture of fand—for it is perfeétly white, 
and even now, nearly as hard as the ftone 
it envelopes ; though it has been expofed 
for fixteen hundred years at leaft, to the 
decompounding effect of wind and weather. 
All the rocks here are formed of exqui- 
fite lime-ftone, and fupply from an inex- 
hauftible fund, every want of the neigh- 
bouring cultivator and builder. The 
workmen, who dig them, defcend over the 
precipices, by means of ropes, but, with 
their beft precautions, fometimes meet with 
accidents—as they hang fufpended at their 
‘* perilous toil,” fenfibility often turns her 
head afide, and fhudders for their fafety. 
To walk much on the fide of the river be- 
neath, however inviting the appearance, 
is not advifeable, as great portions of 
_rock are frequently diflodged, and fcat- 
tered in all direétions. Maffes of ftone, 
on thefe occafions, larger than any among 
our druidical remains, are fometimes feen 
whirled from an eminence of feventy or 
eighty yards. 
Both the fofilift and botanift may find 
ample amufement ina ramble about St. 
Vincent’s ; but they fhould beware of its 
numberlefs {mooth and tempting paths— 
as a falfe ftep may precipitate the carelefs 
adventurerer down one hundred yards of 
perpendicular defcent : which was the cafe 
{ome years ago, with a Scotch nobleman. 
The petretactions found here, are chiefly 
American fern, various kinds of bivalves 
and belemnites. The rock cryttals, alfo, 
are the hardeft and brighteft that this 
country produces; and for that reafon 
are called Briftol diamonds. Some, in 
their colour, refemble amethyfts on ac- 
count of the manganefe which enters into 
their cryftallization;—where the bed is 
- MONTHLY Mac, No, xLyI, 
Environs of Briftol defcribed, 
A49 
particularly ferruginous, they approach, 
in. colour, towards the topaz ;—and_ in 
one fpecimen, which is carefully preferved 
in the cabinet of a virtuofo, at Britto, 
the cryftals are of a ruby colour :---this is 
owing to minerallized gold ; a confiderable 
quantity of which, in a virgin flate, is 
oblervable, fcattered over the bed of the 
cryftals. 
The botanift will find in thefe parts, 
almoft every {pecies of mofs and lichen ; 
together with a great affemblage of plants : 
among which, is that delicate one, called 
geranium fanguineum 3---found native in 
no other part of the kingdom*. This plant 
is diftinguifhable by a weak branciy ftalk, 
about a foot high ; ornamented with di- 
vided leaves of five trifid lobes, having red 
or purple flowers, rifing from the’ fide of the 
branches---one upon each foot  ftalk. 
Some varieties of this plant have Variegated 
flowers, and deep jagged leaves. 
About five miles trom Briftol, on the 
road to Wales, is the unfortunate cavern 
called Pen-park-hole ; where a clergyman 
fome years ago loft his lite. This fubter- 
raneous place was firlt attempted to be ex- 
plored in the year 1669, by one Captain 
Sturmy. Inthe courle of his refearches, 
he faw, or thought he faw, the loci genius, 
or ghoit of the place. Not liking his 
companion, or thinking perhaps his pre- 
fence any longer would be an intrufion, 
he made fignals to be withdrawn ; leav- 
ing to fome future adventurer the honour 
of finding out its dimenfions. Of this 
unpleafant rencounter he is fuppofed to 
have died; as he furvived it but a fort- 
night. 
In the year 1682, another captain, 
named Collins, refolved, in {pite of the 
ghoftly inhabitant, to complete what his 
predeceflor had began. He found the 
depth of the cavern to be fifty-nine, its 
length feventy-one, and its breadth, torty- 
five yards. At the bottom is a lake of 
water, which is fuppofed to ebb and flow ; 
but according to what ftated times is not 
known. This dreadful cave has many 
apertures above, and as they are partly 
hiddenby the furrounding bufhes ; perfons, 
as they come hear it, fhould take care 
how they tread :--- into this Avernian 
receptacle, it may be truly faid, facilis 
defcenfus. 
About two miles on one fide of Pen- 
Park is a confpicuous place, called Blaze- 
Caltle. It is fituated on an eminence in 
the midft of a wood, above which it 
towers to a great height, and commands 
an extenfive profpect every way. This 
* It is foundin North Wales. —Edit. 
3M building, 
7 
