quitting this place, we dropped the sandy soil which had accompanied us for several miles, and entered upon a stiff clay, the external covering to these productive mines of coals, and that peculiar nodulated iron ore, which now began to appear on all sides of us.

The locality of coal and ore in these parts is somewhat singular, since they only extend to the distance of about six miles round Dudley, and are then lost, and succeeded by sand. Indeed, the whole geology of this district is curious, and well deserves the attention of the naturalist. Fortunately for the lovers of science, its peculiarities have been ably developed by Mr. Keir, the celebrated chemist and natural philosopher; whose paper on this subject makes the most valuable feature in the History of Staffordshire. A constant resident on the spot, and an attentive observer of the phænomena it presents, his observations form a complete history of local geology, and afford an admirable model for writers on the same subject; who, instead of extending their remarks so widely as they are accustomed to do, and attempting general geological histories, would do well to embrace merely the district within their own constant observation; and when facts have thus been suffici

ently multiplied, to begin the erection of systems on their broad and solid foundation, rather than on the unsubstantial basis of airy hypothesis.

Your's, &c.

R. W.

THE

sing at a distance. Crowning the summit of a limestone hill, it proudly overlooks the adjoining town, and commands a view of seven English and two Welch counties, eighteen churches, several large manufacturing towns, different ranges

of mountains, and numerous elegant mansions and extensive parks. The ruin also, seen from afar, is august; but on our approach, we find that (like many other things which are more interesting in perspective than when immediately under our eyes) it loses a great part of its grandeur, and drops all its claim to the picturesque. The hill, denuded of timber, affords nothing to contrast with or soften down the bare walls, unadorned with ivy, and rendered still more harsh by the association of modern mansions which unite with the foot of the hill, and interrupt any illusion which the fancy might be otherwise inclined to present in the contemplation of ancient castellated ruins. Not that the fabric was always thus exposed and naked; noble woods once surrounded it, from whence the towers and battlements, "bosomed

..

high in tufted trees," peeped out, and only disclosed enough of the building to excite the imagination by partial concealment, and interest the taste by picturesque association. It is said to have been founded by Dodo the Saxon chieftain, about the commencement of the eighth century; though certainly no member of the present fortress is older than the Anglo-Norman times. It stands upon an acre of ground, and consists of many dilapidated buildings of different ages, and various archi

tecture. Of these the most ancient is the keep, preserved by its superior strength of structure from those effects of time which are more visible on the less substantial parts. We took it to be of the age of Stephen or John. Two fine windows of the chapel, rich in tracery, testify the beauty of this part of the building; and the dungeon under it points out the harsh usages of the feudal times, and the monstrous associations of those days, when they could make the praises of the Deity go hand in hand with the tortures of their fellow-creatures, and unite the mass with murder. Other apartments are of the architecture of the 16th century. Until the restoration of Charles II. Dudley-castle was entirely confined to military purposes, and generally in the hands of the crown; but when settled government rendered these securities against. rebellion unnecessary, it passed into the family of ́ a subject, and became the residence of the Lords Ward. In the early part of the eighteenth century being deserted, a troop of coiners fixed their abode in its dilapidating apartments; and carried on their illegal proceedings there without interruption for some time; deterring all idle curiosity from approaching the place, by imposing upon the superstition of the neighbourhood with strange