EASTERN MOAT TERRACE, &c. (20) Turning short to the left, on quitting the Area of the Castle, close to the Remains of one of the Turrets lately described, a broad Vallum or Intrenchment (21) will, on being seen to the right, be duly admired by the antiquary and professional soldier. With such Defences as we have already described, and with such additional ones as this Intrenchment and the Moat, Dudley Castle, seated as it is on a lofty Rock, must, before the invention of Artillery, have been impregnable.-Crossing a dyke that has been cut to let the water out of the Moat, proceed leisurely along, to observe the rugged aspect of the Ruin,-the banks of its Fosse, wildly clothed with trees of spontaneous growth,the Chapel Window, peering over a broken wall, -the shattered remains of a twin Tree, standing, in congenial character with the Ruins, on the further bank of the Moat: these objects, with the wide expanse of prospect over the vallies below, will, of themselves, attract attention.-In the tempestuous night of the 3d December, 1823, the Tree just mentioned, was splintered in twain,— the greater part of its trunk thrown across the Moat, and its head carried quite into the opposite intrenchment. Between where that Tree stood, and another, of considerable size, about 30 yards further on the Terrace, which still retains its station, the Grand Hall has a most imposing appearance. Here will be seen, mantling up its walls, what the

whole Ruin wants-Ivy. This, and some, now grown much higher, to the left of the principal Entrance, were planted by the author nearly 30 years ago. Nor were the Towers of the Keep then forgotten by him. On planting some there, the pleasing act was consecrated by these votive lines:

Wind, gentle Evergreen! thy spreading arms

Round Dodo's ancient Towers; and, from the blast
Of Winter, shield them with thy mantling charms,
That they to Time's remotest morn may last.
Lodg'd in thy leaves, the birds of various wing
Shall, unrestrain'd, their mossy mansions form,
And round each pondering Visitant shall sing,

Safe from the truant school-boy and the storm.
Spread, gentle Evergreen! thy branches kind
O'er Dodo's Castle, awful in decay:
Let them around his loftiest Turrets wind,

And deck with sober green his Ruins grey.
Ah! cou'd I thus the Wretched, Poor, and Old
(Shatter'd by Pain and worn with cruel Cares)
Shield with a covering from the piercing Cold,

And bless with comfort their declining years,
More sweet, fair Evergreen! the task would be,

Than, round these ancient Towers, in planting thee.

A great part of those Towers, ere this time, would have been invested in their appropriate livery of perennial green, had not wanton hands disrobed them,-the hands chiefly of children, at that eventful epoch, when crowds of all persons and all ages were drawn thither to witness the military array of a portion of those patriotic Bands, which essentially contributed to save their Country. As they thus merited its freshest Laurels, we will

not repine at a Loss so trivial as a few sprays of Ivy. That Loss, in time, will be remedied; not only young plants, but seed berries in abundance, having been since deposited by the same hand whose former attempt was unwittingly frustrated.-Protected, as every part of the Castle now is, wanton mischief will not easily injure it.- -After crossing two more dykes, and ascending a shady bank, a path to the left will be seen, continuing along the margin of the Moat. Avoiding that, and proceeding directly forwards, the visitor will descry the fiery region of Tipton. After descending a few paces, an abrupt turn may be taken to the left, for the sake of again viewing another small portion of the beautiful Recess, already described, called PARADISE.-Soon, however, returning to the onward Path, disjointed Fragments of the old home Park Wall, near one of the few remaining sylvan Patriarchs of the Hill, will attract notice wards, on continuing the path, it were advisable that the eye and feet should alike be restrained from wandering, till the former observe the grass worn away, by frequent treadings, close to the path-side. Then, on looking downwards, the visitor will perceive one reason why the sinuous way he is pursuing is denominated

THE CAVERN WALK: (22)

(ANCIENTLY COnigre hill)

After

When weary of surveying the subjacent features of the scene, elevate the eye,-first to where the ruinated Priory seems desirous of hiding its dese

crated Form behind a screen of trees, tufting the top of the frowning Caverns. Then the fields beyond (once a portion of the Old Park annexed to the Castle) will please with their cheeríul verdure. dure-At a short distance further,

BREEZY SEAT (23)

will invite a few minutes' pause; and, if "the breath of heaven visit not too roughly," to its welcome occupant, it will both afford rest, and gratify curiosity. Tipton, towards the north, will always proclaim itself, "like a swart Indian," by its sombre hue,— hideous by day; but sublimely beautiful by night. When no intervening cloud of smoke forbid, the Churches of Darlaston, Wednesbury, Walsall, and West-Bromwich, from this Seat are easily discernible; as are also Barr Beacon, over-topping the Seat of Sir Joseph Scott, Bart. and the Groves of Sandwell,* bordering the Park of the Earl of Dartmouth. The Oakham and Rowley Hills bound the view to the right.—Pursuing the declivitous path down the CAVERN WALK, the deep Ravine, to the left, will attract frequent attention, and lead the reverted eye up its irregular and romantic track to admire the lofty Towers of the Castle, which

*The Spring or Well, from which the place takes its name, still flows in all its pristine purity, near the site of the present lovely residence. Situated in a recluse valley, it was well suited to the retired purposes of a bermitage. In the Monasticon it is recorded that William, Son of Guy de Ophene, in the Reign of Henry II. founded there a hermitage or Priory of Benedictines; and that Gervaise Pagnel, Lord of the Honour of Dudley (of which Barony the lands given to it were holden) confirmed the same, It was dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, and suppressed in the Reign of Henry VIII.

overlook it. Two paths will soon be seen diverging different ways: take the left, to a semi-circular Seat, called THE CONTRAST: and refer to page 13 for a description of the views, thence discernible. Afterwards, if the dark Caverns have not already been visited, in the route appertaining to the Drives,* return a few yards to the descending path; which directly conducts to those stupendous specimens of human labour: and, presuming they have not been visited, thither we will proceed, for the purpose now of describing them.

In the course of a few minutes, we shall find ourselves at the wooden seat, mentioned in page 9, placed at the entrance of a wild sylvan recess, once the favorite haunt of nightingales. Thence a short winding path leads to another Seat, immediately opposite the Antrum immane, into whose Tartarean darkness, preceded by such a Guide as is specified in page 9, we will now enter. This immense Cave (to distinguish it from the Caverns lately passed, and from others of a different kind, under the Wren's Nest Hill) is called

THE DARK CAVERN:

longis Spelunca recessibus ingens

Abdita, vix ipsis invenienda feris."

OVID.

Declining the proffered attendance of many Guides, and all officious previous information con

* See page 9: