a little farther, a simple cot, where nature has displayed her
master-hand: but the most charming group is where three rows of cottages
rise in regular succession towards the summit of the hill, their gardens
contrasting with the barren appearance of their opposite neighbours.
These delightful scenes alternate until your arrival at the Baths.

The Baths are situated about one mile from the village of Matlock, and
are a collection of lodging-houses, which, during the summer season, are
usually occupied. The baths are filled by springs, which issue in great
abundance from limestone rocks; the water is exceedingly clear, and
bears a temperature of 68° Fahrenheit. Here are the wells which produce
the petrifactions; any substance placed in them being, in the course of
a few months, covered with stone. Visiters are in the habit of leaving
various articles, which, by the ensuing season, thus become incrusted.
Birds' nests with eggs in them, baskets, shoes, &c. &c. are among the
articles which may be seen here.

Matlock abounds with subterraneous caverns, which excite the surprise
and admiration of strangers. These are entered by a passage, formed
with immense labour through the solid rock. In the interior you are
surrounded by brilliant crystallizations, various kinds of metallic
ores, spars, &c., with petrifactions hanging from the roof, pendent as
icicles. The roofs of the numerous caves are of different descriptions;
some have the appearance of arches formed by the hand of man, others
appear to be immense masses of rock, which have fallen into their
present situation by chance, or through some violent convulsion of the
earth, by which they have been disjointed and separated. In several of
them there are fine springs of limpid water. Here are likewise several
productive lead mines.