the nature of the arable soils in their neighbourhood, with the addition of the sediment of water, when within reach of the streams. In some particular spots peat earth forms the soil in the meadow ground, reaching different degrees of thickness in different places. This species of earth, consists principally of the decayed roots of aquatic vegetables. Sometimes it contains trunks of trees, of which many curious specimens, have of late years been found near Stonehall in the parish of Shenstone. When properly drained, consolidated, and meliorated, this kind of soil becomes valuable pasture and meadow land.

CLIMATE. The climate of this county rather inclines to wet. The air is generally good, but in the northern parts extremely sharp, impressing the senses with a greater degree of cold, than in most other counties of England. The annual rains are calculated, supposing them to stagnate without waste, or evaporation, at upwards of 36 inches, an excess of nearly 16 inches above the computed rains in the metropolis. The quantity of snow which falls in the moorlands, during winter, is very great, a circumstance which no doubt contributes much to the piercing coldness of that district.

RIVERS. Staffordshire is plentifully watered by rivers; but none of them are navigable, at least within its boundaries. Some of them, however, are characterised by very peculiar and interesting features. The Severn in its circuitous course, from Plinlimmon hill in Montgomeryshire, Wales, to the Bristol channel, flows through the parish of Over Arley, situated in the south-west extremity of the hundred of Seisdon. This cir cumstance, however, does not seem to entitle it to rank among the Staffordshire rivers, though joined by a number of tributary streams, which take their rise in, and flow for a considerable space, within the precincts of the county. The Trent, there. fore, which springs from Newpool near Biddulph, on the confines of Cheshire, is generally esteemed the principal river of Staffordshire. With respect to the rivers of England at large, it is undoubtedly the third, whether we regard its size, or the

extent of its course. Its stream is bold and clear, bearing a strong resemblance to the Thames, but exceeding that noble river in rapidity. The Trent, in its course to the sea, waters some of the most fertile and best cultivated districts of England. During its passage through Staffordshire, its banks are covered with rich and luxuriant meadows, between which the water glides along in silver beauty. Flowing past the busy town of Northampton, and the surrounding hills every where crowded with potteries; and adorned by Mr. Wedgewood's celebrated Etruria, it reaches the mansion of Trentham, the seat of the noble family of Gower. Here the efforts of art have greatly increased the natural beauty of the river, by swelling it into a broad and expansive lake. On the one side of this charming expanse, but at a little distance, stands the house, surrounded by a verdant and smiling lawn decked with trees and laid out with the greatest taste. On the other rises a lofty spreading hill covered with oak from its summit to the very brink of the water. Leaving this, the river meets near Oatlanes with some of the numerous canals which abound in every part of the county, and frequently follow a course parallel to itself. It now passes the town of Stone, and flows on through an agreeable valley diversified with a variety of elegant parks and villas. Among these the inclosures which adorn the mansion of Earl Talbot, at Ingestrie, the ornamental buildings and plantation of Shuckbergh, and the wild park of Wolsey bordering on the chase of Cannock, are most remarkable for the beauty and romantic character of their scenery. The little bridge of Wolsey, which leads from the park, across the river, is one of the most sequestered and interesting spots in England. The Trent, continuing its progress from hence, is intersected at different points by the canals, which are carried over it by means of very noble aqueducts. As it approaches Derbyshire, it forms a number of small islands, and upon reaching the confines of that county, sweeps rapidly to the north, and becomes the boundary between it and Staffordshire till its junction with

the

the river Dove. After this, crossing Derbyshire, it runs through the counties of Nottingham and Lincoln, and at last pours its waters into the Humber, about 40 miles beneath Gainsborough, to which place it is navigable by vessels of considerable tonnage. The river next in importance to the Trent, in Staffordshire, and which joins it near the town of Burton, is the Dove. It takes its rise among the hills in the moorlands, near the points where the three counties of Stafford, Derby, and Chester, meet. The Dove has much of the quality and appearance of those rivers in Wales which flow from a mountainous origin. Generally speaking, its scenery is not less romantic than that of any river in England. From the great declivity of its channel, its waters flow with uncommon rapidity. In some places it dashes precipitately over rugged rocks, shaded with foliage. In others it is distinguished by gentle cascades. Not far from its source it flows through the beautifully sequestered dell of Dove Dale, embosomed among bold projecting precipices, whose lofty tops are covered with trees. Emerging from its hollow bed, under the pyramidical mountain of Thorpe cloud, it receives the Manifold. This latter river rising near the origin of the Dove, after a very serpentine course of several miles, sinks into the ground to the south of Ecton hill, and rises again at Ham, not far from its junction with the Dove. During its subterraneous transit, this river is joined by the Hamps, or Hanse, which also flows for a considerable way in the hollow bowels of the earth. Increased by the accession of these rivers, the Dove passes beneath a long picturesque bridge situated in a most romantic spot about a mile above the village of Ashborne, one of the most delightful in England, whether we regard the charms of its situation, or the select society by which it is inhabited. From thence the river meanders along in a winding direction through a narrow valley agreeably diversified by a variety of elegant seats and hamlets. The fertile meadows on each side are covered with a profusion of sheep and cattle, which here feed on the finest pasturage in the county. At one part of this vale the town of Rochester is seen, and a short distance below it the Charnet formed by the confluence of two moorland streams, near Leek, pours its waters into those of the Dove. Arriving at Uttoxeter, the vale expands greatly on each side of the river. As it approaches Sudbury, however, the banks are again enveloped by the wild wooded hills of Needwood forest and the ancient domain of Lord Vernon. Once more the hills recede and exhibit an open plain, distinguished only by the bold eminence on which the celebrated ruins of Tutbury castle present themselves with venerable pride to the view of the traveller. Meandering round the base of this hill, the river soon after falls into the Trent, being first intersected by the canals of this county between which and Derbyshire it forms the boundary during the whole of its course.

The Tame is another river of considerable size flowing into the Trent during its passage through this county. It springs from several sources in the vicinity of Walsall and Coleshill which latter place forms a portion of an isolated district, of Warwickshire; proceeding from hence it takes at first, a direction almost directly east, entering Warwickshire near Aston juxta Birmingham. Here it begins to bend more to the north, and at last flows decidedly in that direction through Tamwor that which place it again enters Staffordshire. The banks of this river are much less fruitful in scenery than the rivers hitherto described. Its junction with the Trent takes place at the point where that river reaches the confines of Derbyshire. The Tame derives its name from the nature of its stream which is exceedingly slow and placid.

The Blythe which falls into the Trent near Kings Bromley may also be reckoned among the more considerable rivers of this county. It rises in the neighbourhood of Watley Moor in the northern district. Its line of direction is nearly parallel to the Trent. No scenery worthy of particular notice, except Lord Bagot's seat, and the finely wooded park of Blithefield, is found to decorate its banks, The Sow from Eccleshall, and the VOL. XIII. Penk,

Aaa

Penk, from the vicinity of Somerford, forming a junction below Stafford, proceed together to Tixall, where they likewise precipitate themselves into the Trent.

The other rivers of Staffordshire, deserving notice in this work, and not pouring their waters into the Trent, are the Stour, and the Dane. The former, which rises in Warwickshire, may be considered by some as properly belonging to that county. The latter has its origin near the source of the Dove; but flowing in an opposite direction, becomes the boundary between this county and Cheshire for upwards of ten miles.

CANALS. The deficiency of navigable rivers in Staffordshire, and the disadvantages of an inland situation under such circumstances for the purposes of trade, are amply counterbalanced by the number and extent of its canals. (Indeed, no district perhaps in the world is more nobly supplied with this cheap and easy method, of distributing its own productions, and receiving those of others, than the county we are now describing. To detail the numerous benefits arising from canals, even did the limits of our work permit it, would be a mere waste of time and patience, as we presume every individual, who pretends to reason on commercial questions, is already aware of them. We shall content ourselves, therefore, with simply observing in regard to this point, that without the aid of artificial navigation it would be impossible that the interior portions of the country could participate in the advantages arising from our foreign trade, or contribute much for the purposes of exportation.

The Grand Trunk Canal, so called in reference to the analogy subsisting between its relative situation, and that of the main artery of the human body, to the lesser branches, was planned and executed, to the period of his death, by the celebrated Mr. Brindley. This great engineer, whose genius alone, unaided by education, raised him to the highest distinc tion, in a profession for which he was not originally designed had previously been engaged by the duke of Bridgewater in the construction of those canals which have rendered the name