Is succeeded by a grandson of the same name, who dying un- married is succeeded by his uncle William; who also dying a bachelor, the Castle, &c. devolve to Frances, sister of the latter, who marries Wm. Lea, Esq. whose two sons dying without male issue, the title of Lord Dudley becomes in abeyance between five sisters: but the Barony of Ward, being a distinct Title, devolves on John, the male heir of He is succeeded by his eldest son, bearing the same chris- tian name; who dying without male issue, the title, &c. devolve on William, his half brother. Their characters 74 John-William, the only son of the latter succeeds HISTORICAL REVIEW OF EVENTS connected with the Castle 91 Besieged in the reign of Charles I. Diversity of accounts concerning that event The Castle destroyed by Fire. The Conflagration described 98 Its supposed cause. No historical circumstance of moment, Happy termination of the war. Monody to the Castle BOTANICAL ACCOUNT OF PLANTS, &C. BRIEF NOTICES OF GEOLOGICAL SUBJECTS, connected with the district around the Castle. Coal and Ironstone 110 Vast extent of Mine-Land round the Castle Tribute of respect to the Memory of the late Jas. Keir, Esq. 117 Ditto to that of Dud Dudley An hypothesis of the author respecting the Deluge. Brief historical notices of the Priory: its records or written evidences survive its monuments of stone The opinion that Leofric, Earl of Coventry, with his Coun- ⚫ These two lithographic Prints, from Drawings by J. M. Child, exhibit pleasing Proofs of Talent in a young Artist, whose Merit entitles him to the Patronage and Encourage- DUDLEY CASTLE, &c. PART I THE DRIVES. AN elegant Roman Poet* compares the person who points out the right way to a bewildered wanderer, to a man who lights a neighbour's lamp at his own. The act, though beneficial, costs the kind agent nothing, except so small a portion of time and trouble as is not worth mentioning. Neither the lustre of his own lamp, nor the oil that supplies it, suffers any diminution. As such a friendly director would know it to be his duty faithfully to discharge his office, so the individual who has the honour to accompany the stranger through these interesting Scenes aspires to no higher ambition than to render those paths easily found, which a public Benefactor, not more ennobled by Title than by a native beneficent Spirit, caused to intersect the Demesne that owned him its Lord. That Spirit *"Homo, qui erranti comiter monstrat viam, B Ennius. Edit. Amst. 1707. p. 297. is now in the fruition of higher Honours than this world can bestow. Yet while the celestial rewards of generous deeds are his, where unspotted Perfection reigns, let not the terrestrial pleasures enjoyed by us, through his Generosity, be ungratefully disregarded. The rural beauties with which the immediate scene is adorned, are his Gift: not a few of which lie unfolded before the visitor of Dudley Castle so obviously and profusely, as to require no Guidance to perceive them: while, in exploring others, unattended or undirected, a stranger would experience some difficulty. These, with the venerable Ruin, which, from different points, presents its hoary Form, as the chief object in the Picture, conspire to render that Castle, with its lofty Terraces, and sequestered glades, one of the most attractive spots in England. When, to such near or immediate objects, is added an expanse of distant landscape, as vast as it is varied,-exhibiting a Panorama of not less than 300 miles in circumference, -comprizing wood-crowned Parks of Noblemen,— busy Seats of Manufacture, sacred Edifices, and Public Buildings, with the Towns and Villages to which they respectively belong- -these, bounded in the horizon by a bold undulating line, now rising into the clouds, and now sinking as into the ocean, certainly constitute a View so striking, as to excite a Wish in every Stranger that beholds it, to have the different objects, within the excursive range of his vision, made known to him.——This desired Information the writer hopes to convey by these pages, after particularizing the more prominent features in the Home Scenery that lies conti |