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

 [ 164 ]

The pleasantly-situated town of Middlewich, which we next visited, produces also nearly four thousand tons of salt every year, from its pits in the neighbourhood of the place. Around it is one of the richest countries in England, so that Middle- wich is supplied with every home produce from its own luxuriant fields; and with every necessary foreign commodity, by means of the Staffordshire canal, which nearly approaches the town.

As we passed through the town of Sandbach, we remarked two ancient crosses in the market- place, carved in relief with the particulars of our Saviour's passion; the rudeness of the figures be- speaks high antiquity.

A little irregularity now took place in the line of the country, and relieved us from the tiresome uniformity of a dead level, which never makes a sufficient recompense to the eye by its richness for the absence of variety. As we passed over Red- heath, we congratulated ourselves that the privi- lege of sanctuary which it formerly afforded to offenders was now no more. Obviously monstrous as the practice was of thus making the Deity the protector of villainy, and the encourager of vice, vet the abuse continued in this country, in most cases, till the Reformation. In the one before us, indeed, the privilege of sanctuary was taken away

�� �