Page:A tour through the northern counties of England, and the borders of Scotland - Volume I.djvu/153

 by the rising grounds of his park; to the right lay a broad vale, with the picturesque concomitants of a village, a church, and a stone bridge bestriding the Derwent. Whilst the huge mural banks of Matlock vale stretched themselves to the left, the white face of the rocks which compose them occasionally shewing itself through the wooded clothing of their sides and head; this magnificent scenery contrasted singularly by the vast manufactories and elegant lodging-houses in the bottom of the vale. But to see this magic spot to the greatest advantage, (which runs nearly north and south for two miles) the entreé into it should be made from the Chesterfield road, at the northern extremity, where its beauties would succeed each other in proper gradation; increasing, as we follow the valley, in grandeur and effect. Making our approach this way, we should first be surprised with a vast abrupt wall of limestone rock, lifting itself before us, whose awful head is shaded by yew-trees, elms, and limes, from the recesses of which the humble church of Matlock shews its turrets.

As we proceed, the features of the Vale assume still more majesty, the left-hand side forming itself into rocky crags, which beetle over the Derwent, who flows in solemn silence at its feet. The screen to the right is formed by steep