We have dwelt thus long and minutely on the fens of Lincolnshire, &c. and the marshes of Kent, &c. be cause they present very interesting and extensive tracts of level land, and therefore form a prominent feature in the physiognomy of the kingdom, and because their improvement is a matter of great national concern and _benefit. But we must pass over the marshes of Somer setshire, and the level heaths of the kingdom, with less particular and extended description. Sedgmoor is the largest and most remarkable district of marsh and level land in the county of Somerset ; besides it, there are the Brent marshes, and the low watery grounds, that stretch themselves to a great extent on that side of the county. If to these we add the Connington fens, and the miry tracts in their vicinity, we shall comprehend nearly the whole extent of marsh land in Somersetshire.
The most extensive level heaths in the kingdom, are those of Bagshot, and those which lie on the confines of Dorsetshire and Hampshire. Bagshot heath forms the north-western corner of the county of Surry, and pre sents a very large tract of 'uncommonly barren land, for the most part quite level and uninteresting. The heaths of Hampshire and Dorsetshire are much less level, and perhaps not quite so irreclaimable. They commence about half way between Christchurch, in the former county, and Poole, in the latter.
Such are the principal vales and level tracts of Eng land and Wales; and from this account and description of them, it will be seen, that the most extensive and uninterrupted level tracts are on the eastern side of the kingdom; while, with the exception of the vale of York, the most extensive, as well as the most beautiful, vales are on the western side, between England and Wales.
The next grand and distinguishing feature in the physiognomy of the country, consists of the mountains, hills, and moorlands ; under the last denomination, comprehending the principal elevated tracts of heathy or moorish ground.
Through the whole length of England and Wales, there are groups of mountains and hills, which, when viewed on a grand scale, may he considered as forming one chain, extending along the western side of the kingdom, from Cornwall to Cumberland. In this chain, all the highest mountains of England and Wales arc situated. The breadth of the kingdom may also be considered as determined by two lower ranges of hills ; one of which extends from Dorsetshire into Kent, while the other stretches, in a waving line, from the island of Portland to the \Volds, in the east riding of Yorkshire. The line which is formed by• this latter
chain of hills, passes on the western side of Wiltshire and Oxfordshire, and through Northamptonshire, Lei cestershire, Nottinghamshire, nearly to Scarborough.
The Bristol Channel, and the low grounds of Lanca shire and Cheshire, break and divide the western chain of mountains into three parts; which have been deno minated the Northern, the Cambrian, and the Devonian range.
The northern range enters Cumberland from Scot land, and, passing through that county and Westmore land, extends its branches into Northumberland and Durham. The branch which enters Northumberland composes the Cheviot Hills. It is not easy to form an estimate of the extent of these hills, as they unite with the moorland district of Northumberland to the south, and are continued to the westward by similar green hills in Scotland. On the supposition that their bases occupy a circle of about fifteen miles in diameter, their contents will be from 150 to 2b0 square miles. In form, many of them are conical, some of them nearly perfect cones, while the shape of others is very irregular ; in general, however, they are pointed, their sides are steep and smooth, and their bases are nearly in contact one with another. The soil on these mountains, except at their very tops, where points of rock and loose stones appear, is fertile; from base to summit, they present a refreshing and rich green sward. On the. upper parts of that hill, which is emphatically denominated the Cheviot, however, extensive heaths are found.
That chain of northern mountains which may pro perly be called the Cumberland chain, commences at Geltsdale Forest, fourteen miles south-east of Carlisle, and passes on the west of Durham and Yorkshire. The surface of these mountains, in general, is excessively rugged; and in their disposition there is nothing of re gularity, no lengthened ridge, or continuous cnain. The appearance of the whole is that of a congeries of broken and mostly pointed masses; their bulk im mense, and their bases united, or nearly so, except in those places where they are divided by the lakes which are scattered among them. The Cumbrian hills resem ble the Cheviot in the green sward with which they are covered; but Skiddaw, like Cheviot, is partially cloathed with heath. The extent of this tract of moun tains in Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Lancashire, is about 500 or 600 square miles.