f Windermere, belongs to Lancashire; but the Rothay, or Raise-beck, which
drains the valley of Grasmere, the streams which drain the valleys of Great
and Little Langdale, and the Trout-beck, which all flow into Windermere, and
may be regarded as the upper waters of the Leven, belong to Westmoreland.
Elterwater, Grasmere, and Rydal Water, are connected with the streams which
flow into Windermere. This last-named lake has been described as situated in
Lancashire; whilst in a county survey, and in the court rolls at Lowther
Castle, it is included in Westmoreland. All the lakes, large and small, have
some distinguishing feature of beauty. Their boundary lines are either
gracefully or boldly indented; in some parts rugged steeps, admitting of no
cultivation, descend into the water; in others, gently sloping lawns and rich
woods, or flat and fertile meadows, stretch between the margin of the lake
and the mountains. Tarns, or small lakes, are generally difficult of access,
and naked, desolate, or gloomy, yet impressive from these very
characteristics. Loughrigg Tarn, near the junction of the valleys of Great
and Little Langdale, is one of the most beautiful.

The county of Westmoreland is divided between the dioceses of Carlisle and
Chester. The parishes are only thirty-two in number. The population in 1841
was 56,454. Of monumental remains there are but few in the county. "Arthur's
Round Table," near Eamont Bridge, is worthy of a visit, as well as other
fragments, supposed to be druidical, in the same district. There are several
ancient castles which will attract the attention of the antiquary, if he
should be near, in his journeyings, to the site of any of them. The most
conspicuous remnant of other days in Cumberland is the druidical temple near
Kirkoswald, consisting of a circle of sixty-seven unhewn stones, called Long
Meg and her Daughters.

A brief description of the leading towns within the Lake District will be
useful.

* * * * *

KENDAL, as we have already stated, is about twenty miles by railway from
Lancaster. It is a market-town, pleasantly situated on the slope of a hill
rising from the river Kent; contains two churches, and several dissenting
places of worship; the ruins of the old castle of the barons of Kendal; and a
town-hall, the town being governed by a Corporation under the Municipal
Reform Act.

The Kendal and Windermere Railway runs no farther than Birthwaite, which is
nine miles from Ken