The Enquirer

NOTICE.

WILLIAM JONES of Philadelphia, and NEIL M'COULL of Richmond, being appointed to settle the business of Ross and Ford, the collection of the debts devolves on Neil M'Coull—who requests those indebted to come forward and give assurances, of when payment may be expected, as it is his duty to commence suits immediately against those who do not.

WILLIAM JONES.
NEIL M'COULL.
October 20...(eS.Sw.

MISCELLANEOUS.
FROM A LATE VIEW OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

The British isles afford all that beautiful variety which can be found in the most extensive tracts of the globe. In some parts you see verdant plains extending as far as the eye can reach, watered with copious streams, and covered with flocks and herds; while in others you meet with the pleasing vicissitudes of gently rising hills, and bending vales, fertile in corn, waving with wood, and interspersed with meadows, cottages, villages, towns, and cities.—Some tracts abound with prospects of the more romantic kind; lofty mountains, craggy rocks, deep narrow dells, and tumbling torrents; nor are there wanting, as a contrast to so many beautiful and romantic scenes, black barren moors, and wide uncultivated heaths. Such is the general face of the country, but we must be more particular.

In Norfolk and Essex, and some of the other southern counties of England, not a single hill of moderate height is to be seen; while in Wales, the North of England, and the high-lands of Scotland, you behold mountains heaped on one another above the clouds; their summits covered with snow, their sides embrowned with heath; these interstices rendered impassible bogs, or forming channels for a thousand torrents, which in wet weather appear so many dreadful cataracts.

Table of the height of the principal mountains in the British Isles.

About most of these there is little else remarkable. I shall only notice some other particulars concerning two or three. Snowdon, at its summit, rises to a mere point, from which may be seen a part of Ireland and Scotland: Cumberland, Lancashire, Cheshire; all the north of Wales; the Irish and British seas, the Isle of Man. the isle of Guernsey, &c. forming, On the whole, one of the most extensive views in the kingdom.

Ben-Lomond, in Stirlingshire, stretches along the east side of Loch Lomond, a lake which we shall shortly describe: and its base extends so far into the country, that its ascent, though steep, is computed to be about six miles. It likewise furnishes a most noble prospect, which is well described in the following little poem:

The setting sun, with parting ray uprear'd,
Ben-Lomond last of all our mountains gilds.
Day, as averse to leave the pleasing scene,
Slowly retires far north nor quite forsakes,
But soon returns, more bright and fair, to glad,
With morning beams, his lofty pathless top;
Whence opes a prospect wide of vast extent,
Of hills and dales: of friths and winding shores:
Beneath, the lake itself in part conceal'd;
The Clyde with crowded sails and streamers gay;
Eastward the mazy Forth, meand'ring slow,
For largest fleets, a deep and safe retreat,
Rich with the treasures of remotest climes ;
Edina's lofty towers; the eastern coast
Far as the Cheviot Fells; the western isles
Of Bute and Arran; Ailsa's conic rock ;
Old Rothesay's royal towers in ruin laid;
Hibernia's verdant hills and fertile plains ;
'The rival heights of great Plinlimmon's too,
In distant Wales; through Skiddaw, Cambria's coast,
Beyond the Solway Frith, unnoticed lands,
While hills on hills still higher rise behind.

So much for Ben-Lomond. Along the shore of the Moray Frith we meet with various hills of loose sand, which being easily put in motion by the wind, has overwhelmed a great part of the adjacent plains; so that an estate, which was rented a century ago at L. 500 per annum, is now a waste of sand, with here and there the top branch of a tree, or a chimney head, appearing above it.

The vast piles of mountains in Ross-shire, it is said, are entirely composed of white marble, smooth and glossy as to appear enormous masses of ice.

Let us now pass into the western isles,—The prospect from the Paps of Jura is altogether enchanting. The Isles of Jura itself and Islay appear extended like a map under your feet: beyond that you see the north of Ireland, with two other islands to the east : Kintyre, Arran, and the Frith of Clyde bounded Ayrshire : to the north-east a vast tract of country is visible, as far as Ben-Lomond, and likewise the small island Scarba. To the west, Colonsay, Tirey, Orronsay, and Coll, present themselves to your view.

The isle of Staffa, another of the Hebrides, may at present properly enough come under our view. The whole of this island, about a mile in length, and half a mile in breadth, is supported by basaltic columns, above fifty feet high, having for their basis the rude solid rock, forming one of the most majestic appearances that can be imagined. In it you meet with the most remarkable subterraneous mansion perhaps in the world. The mind, says Sir Joseph Banks, can scarcely form an idea more magnificent than such a space, supported on each side by ranges of columns, and roofed by the bottom of those which have been broken off in order to form it : between the angles of which a yellow stalagmitic matter has exuded, which serves to define the angles precisely, and, at the same time, to vary the colour with a great deal of elegance ; and, to render it still more agreeable, the whole is lighted from without : and the air within, being agitated by the flux and reflux of the tides, is perfectly dry and wholesome. The following is the dimensions of this very remarkable cave :

Feet In.
Length of the cave from the arch without, 87 16
from the pitch of the arch, 250
Breadth of the cave at the mouth, 53 7
at the farther end, 90
Height of the arch at the mouth, 27
a pillar at the north-west corner, 54
Depth of water at the mouth, 18
bottom, 9

Such is the cave of Staffa.