a nitrous earth, which it deposits, only when in a languid motion, and leaves its incrustations on the leaves, moss, &c., that it meets with, in trinkling so slowly through the cavities of the rock. The spring, is sup posed to send forth 20 gallons in a minute. Here are also seen pieces of moss, bird's-nests, with their eggs, and a variety of other articles, some of them very curious, which have been incrusted or petrified by the water. Tradition tells us, that near this rock, the famous Yorkshire sybil, MOTHER SHIPTON, was born, about the year 1488: She married Tobias Shipton, of Shipton, near York; and, from this match, derived the name of Mother Shipton. Many tales of her skill in futurity, are still related in this part of the country; the whole of which, including a series of succeeding events, are stated to have been delivered to the abbot of Beverley, and to have been since preserved in MS., in lord P-s's family.

FROM the Dropping-well, the walk extends along the river-side to the HIGH-BRIDGE; and, as the river meanders very much, you have, every ten or twenty yards, a new point of view; which, though compo. sed of the same objects, is surprisingly diversified and variegated. From some parts of this walk are seen, on the opposite hill, the venerable ruins of the CASTLE, the HERMITAGE, &c., with a charming intermixture of ROCKS and TREES, over which, part of the TOWER of KNARESBROUGH CHURCH makes its

appearance: Upon the whole, it is a place where nature hath elegantly disposed every ingredient she could bestow, to form a cheerful and pleasing scene. Many of the trees in this walk, have been marked with the sylvan pen of rural lovers, which is a very ancient custom, as appears by the following passage in Propertius, written near two thousand years ago:~

"Ah quoties teneras resonant mea verba sub umbras
"Scribitur & vestris. Cynthia corticibus,"

Eleg, xviii

RETURNING from the Dropping-well, repassing the bridge, and turning on the right, you arrive at

ST. ROBERT's CHAPEL.

*

On one side of the entrance, under a shade of spreading and pendent ivy, is the figure of a KNIGHT TEMPLAR, cut in the rock, in the act of drawing his sword, to defend the place, from the violence of rude intruders. The chapel is elegantly hollowed out of the solid rock, its roof and altar, beautifully adorned with gothic ornaments; behind the altar, is a large niche, where formerly stood an image; and, on each side, is a place for the holy-water; here are also the figures of three heads, designed, (as is supposed), for

* "Carv'd on a rock, and near the door,
"An armed warrior stands;

"Who seems to guard the sacred place,

"From rude and hostile hands."

an emblematical allusion to the order of the monks of the once neighbouring priory; by some of whom they were probably cut; the order was styled, Sanctæ Trinitatis. At some distance, is another head, said to represent that of John the baptist, to whom this chapel is supposed to have been dedicated. In the floor, is a cavity, where formerly some ancient relic was deposited. This chapel is ten feet six inches long, nine feet wide, and seven feet six inches high.

In the year 1799, was found in the garden, near this chapel, a gold ring, neatly ornamented on the outside, with the figures of roses, and branches of palm; on the inside, was a cross, similar to that worn formerly on the breast, by the monks of the neighbouring priory, with the following motto: DEO VOUS AMOUR.

IN 1803, another ring was found in the same garden, inscribed; ME. MEN. TO. MO. RI.

NEAR this place are several dwellings, scooped out of the rock, that are at present, and have been inhabited by families from time immemorial; some consisting of several apartments, accommodated with chimnies, windows, and other conveniences, fashioned out of the rock, with great ingenuity. These sort of habita tions, are the most ancient of any in this island, or perhaps in the world. The most extraordinary of