Page:A Prospect of Manchester and Its Neighbourhood.djvu/11

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PREFACE.
vii


with innumerable small villages, may be observed within a few minutes ride. The great roads may be traced by the various inflections of the houses upon the flat; long portions of canal frequently break upon the eye; clumps of trees, and young plantations point out the seats of of the nobility and gentry; a few patches of brown moss-land relieve; and the whole forms a scene, rich and magnificent, rarely equalled, perhaps no where excelled.

The situation of the moss-land, plainly shews whet has long since been the nature of almost all the low ground, and if additional proofs of this were wanting, they might be furnished by an inspection of the remains of the Roman road at Street, which is not inferior in preservation, to any remaining in the kingdom. It exists in the form of an elevated mound, more than two yards above the general level, a circumstance which could only have been rendered necessary, by want of stability in the bottom.

Amidst such a prospect as this, the partial eye of a native discovers many beauties, that would be lost to a casual observer, sufficient to influence the imagination. As particular spots attract attention, they recall to me-