Page:A tour through the northern counties of England, and the borders of Scotland - Volume I.djvu/176

 Elden-Hole, induced a body of miners to undertake a like expedition, but without making any additional discoveries. Indeed it is probable, no further light will ever be thrown upon this place of darkness', as the stagnation of the air would certainly destroy any adventurer who should attempt going below the point which the first party of miners reached. It is supposed, not only by the inhabitants of the country, but by geologists who have visited this part of Derbyshire, that Elden-Hole is connected with the great gulph at Castleton, by a series of subterraneous caverns. The effect of a stone thrown into the Hole is surprisingly awful; its percussions against the sides as it descends, gradually fading away upon the ear, till they are at length entirely lost, convey an idea of unfathomable depth, with which the imagination naturally connects that of danger and destruction. No visible change has taken place in the appearance of the cavern since the memory of man.

Peak forest, on which Elden-Hole is found, presents a wide extent of naked, forlorn, and apparently unprofitable country; but a considerable rental arises from it, notwithstanding its appearance. The land, lett at from 10s. to 14s. per acre, n divided into farms of 200l. or 300l. per annum, which, for the most part, (with die exception of some