Appleby Castle is one of the seats of the Eari of Thanet, but, of late years, has been much neglect. ed. The great possessions of the Countess of Pembroke, daughter of the earl of Cumberland, both by marriage and inheritance, devolved on the Tuf. tons between the years 1676 and 1678.

The town consists principally of one wide street, hanging on the swift declivity of a hill, in a direction north and south; the castle terminating it on the summit, and the church at the bottom. The situation is truly agreeable in summer, but_in winter its northern expositure renders it cold. The environs are beautiful, but there is little tillage. from an idea, probably a mistaken one, that grain would not ripen, or come to perfection, so near the mountains and moors. Indeed, this absur dity is declining through experience; and it now appears, that a want of agricultural knowledge was a greater impediment than any local inconveni.

ences.

This is a very ancient borough, and, by prescrip tion, sends two members to parliament. It is al. so the county town, but its situation is unfavourable for trade. The markets are little attended, nor is the surrounding country populous. The borough is under the jurisdiction of a mayor, alderman, and common council; but it is liable to all the ill effects which arise from burgage tenures, and consequent corruption.

The place where the judges of assize sit is very antique and remarkable. It is situated in the mar ket place, and its sides are opened by a rude balustrade, supported by pillars in front, so that it may be properly said, the judges dispense justice in the forum,

The generality of the edifices in Appleby are ancient; but some modern houses, built of red free stone, intermixed with the rest, have a fine effect

Near the summit of the hill stands an Ionic obelisk, rising by a few steps, on the base of which is cut this inscription," Preserve your liberties, maintain your rights." Our author says, it seems to be pla ced there as a public satire on the conduct of the burgage owners. As it had its origin in the contested elections, it excites a smile of derision on the countenance of the traveller, in whose mind it renews the odious ideas of the corruptions of the age.

Here is a well-endowed school, founded by Drs. Langton and Spence, and has long been famous a mong our scolastic institutions. Before the door of the school-house some Roman altars are placed, which have been repeatedly described. Reginald Bainbrig, who was master here in the time of Cam den, has given a memorial of his own vanity by some inscriptions in antique characters, of no very elegant Latinity.

An hospital founded by the Pembrokes, with a stipend for a chaplain, forms a square, with an area in the centre. There was also a house of White Friars in this town.

The road from Appleby, for several miles, was extremely pleasant, commanding a view of the beautiful meadows, through which the Eden winds, and its sylvan banks. On the opposite shore of the river the ruins of Castle Burley are seen, shaded by a thick wood. This was an ancient retreat of the bishops of Carlisle, but is now reduced to a single tower.

Passing Kirby Thore, once famous for its remains of Roman grandeur, they found only the vestigia of part of the vallum remaining. This is supposed to have been the Gallagum of Ptolemy. The Maiden Way, a Roman causeway, leads from hence to Caer-Vorran, on the Pict's Wall, along which it is probable stood the stations mentioned by Antonine, but now wholly effaced. In this neigh bourhood are the written rocks, whose inscriptions

are preserved by Camden, though now obliterated by time or wilful depredations.

Acorn Bank, an elegant modern building, covered with plantations, lay in their way, command. ing an agreeable, though confined, prospect over rich meadows to the south, descending to Temple Sowerby, where the lord of the manor still retains a pecuniary composition, in lieu of his ancient privileges with each bride, within his jurisdiction.

They next passed Whinfield Chace, an extensive forest, belonging to the Earl of Thanet, where a large track of land has lately been reduced to cultivation, a sight that gives more pleasure to the eye of humanity than any unproductive embellishments, however rich and tasteful.

The remains of a prodigious oak are still shewn here, called Three-brother tree, a name it received from the concealment of three brethren within its cavity. White-hart tree is probably coeval with it; but it is of inferior dimensions, though nine yards two feet in circumference. They remain as monuments of centuries elapsed, and the emblems of old age; and cannot be viewed without exciting emo. tions of veneration and regret.

A stone pillar, erected by the side of the road, next attracted their attention, near to which stands a stone table. The shaft of the pillar is hexagonal, the top square; and on the sides are represented, in several quarterings, the arms of the Pembrokes, a south dial, with an inscription, which informs us, that the pillar was erected by Anne, countess dowager of Pembroke, &c. as a memorial of her last parting in this place with her good and pious mother, Margaret, countess dowager of Cumberland, the second of April, 1616; in memory whereof she also left an annuity of four pounds, to be distributed to the poor of the parish of Brougham, every

second day for April, for ever. On the adjacent stone table is inscribed "Laus Deo."

Quitting the high road, in order to visit Brougham Castle, they crossed the river, and made a sweep round the mill, which lies nearly opposite to the village. The view opened with the happiest effect, presenting the castle in front and various pictur esque objects on either hand. The side of this fortress, next the river, is divided by three square towers, from thence a little wing falls back to the right and the left, the one leading to the gateway, the other to the outworks, which extend to a considerable distance, and are terminated by a turret, one of the outposts of the castle. The centre of the building is a lofty square tower, whose shattered turrets and hanging galleries are overgrown with shrubs. The lower apartment in the principal tower still remains entire, a square of twenty feet, covered with a vaulted roof of stone, of light and elegant workmanship. The groins are ornamented with various grotesque heads, and supported in the centre by an octagon pillar, about four feet in circumference, with a capital and base of Norman architecture.

From the construction of this cell, and its situation in the chief fortress, it appears probable, that it was designed for a prison, or rather that it was used in times of danger and assault, as the retreat of the principal persons of the place.

The approach to this castle is guarded by an out. ward-vaulted gateway and tower with a portcullis ; and, at the distance of about twenty paces, is an inward-vaulted gateway, of ribbed arches with a portcullis, leading to a spacious area, defended by a lofty wall.

This pile is situated on the north side of the Roman station Branoviacum, the vallum and ex. terior ditch of which are still very perceptible.

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This was the station of a band of defensores, and is laid down in the Notitia as being seventeen miles from Verteræ.

Brougham was the lordship and castle of the Vi ponts, from which family it descended to the Clif. fords. On the outer gate, the arms of the Vallibus, or Vaux family, are discernable, being chequy or and gules. It is now the property of Lord Thanet.

Having now entered the county of Cumberland, the eye wandered over a fine cultivated track, in. cluding a distant view of the rich valley of Lowther, clothed with noble woods.

As they approach Penrith, the mountains and piles of rocks on Ulls-water presented an august scene; and at the termination of the road rose Pens rith Castle, in rude majesty.

This town is situated on the easy slope of a hill, with a southern aspect, and is extremely agree: able. The houses in general are well built, and the inhabitants are characterized as being facetious and polite. A considerable manufactory of cotton and linen checks is carried on here, and also a great trade in tanned leather. Its name is derived from an ancient British word, signifying a red hill, the colour of the surrounding mountains.

In this place was formerly a house of grey Fris ars, founded before the reign of Edward II. There is a well endowed charity-school, for boys, and another for girls, still in being. The town has undergone various revolutions, and has frequently been the scene of war.

The first excursion Mr. Hutchinson and party made from Penrith, was to the Beacon Hill, upwards of a mile to the northward of the town. The ascent is not easy, but the landscape richly repaid their fatigue. The Beacon House is a square stone building, excellently situated for the purpose