The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-11-12
From The Literary Gasette.
pEVEKEIL DF TUE PEAK

| This title has been announced In the f.
dinbnrgh Magazines as that OF the Move
which is 10 succeed the Fortunes OF Nirel
by the author Of Naserly. Induced /,
look into the early annals of the House o
Pcscrell, we shall digest our research int,
n short sketch, which, We trust, will not b,
unacceptable 10 our friends.
In Pegge's Biblintheca Topographic;
Britannica, No. xxxii.l the twin castles o
Bolsover and Peak, in the county of Derby
are described. Bolsover was probably .
rccted by William Pevercll, the natural sor
OF William The Congueror, aud a Norman
baron OF great trust and power, who lived
I'LL the seventh year the reign oi stephen
A. ID. lil2. This fortress, in conjunction
with the Peak Castle, saiiieed 10 overaw,
| and keep IN order the whole northern parts
OF the county. William Pecrcll, the son
Of the above, in 1913, poisoned Rannph
Earl ofChester,for which foul act his estates
and cmploymcnts were forfeited 10 the
Crown. Ii appears from the sherin's ac-
counts to Henry II. thata part Of the crini-
nails demesnes continued under this for.
iclture for many years, although another
part won, 10 his daughter Il Leland's Col
lectan, and Dugdalc's Bar. chiefly the latter.
Richard !. gave the castles of P.cei and
Bolsover 10 his brother John, the former
bein6 considered az almostimprcgnable, and
consequently of much importance in those
restless times.
Ii the Peak Castle he the srene OF the
forthcoming Novel, il affords very romantic
aud striking objects for description. The
barbarous splendor and the sanguinary
crimes of Norman Baron, though acted
within the keep of a castle with only one
room upon floor, and thai not the size ol
moderi pttage parlor, could have no more
interesting site than the Castle Of the Peak,
and The Will and extraordinary country a.
round II. OF The story of Ranplph's muir
der, which is probably the main incident in
the novel, we knew liitle. Mr.. Rhodes, in
his beautiful work on Peak Scenery, part |.
states, that the correctness Of the accIIsa-
ton was hardly disputable, and that the
posscssor of the hrlefhonors OF the peve-
rells, kings of the Peak, iSnominously fled
to another country, stigmatized with the
| character oi a murderer.
From recent visit to this spot, we are
prepared to enjoy with delight any fine des-
ERUPTION fits bold and unusual landscapes.
The rude and frightfuI hills, opaninng into
the most pastoral vallies, (such as the vale
OF Gasllelon, which stretches from the Shi-
vering Nam Tor all along beneath the runs
OF the Peak Castlc,) and watercd by lovely
streams, such as the Wye, the Dove, and
the Derwent, do not present external iea-
lures more worthy of the pen of Waverly,
than do the Internal wonders of ihis extra
ordinary region. The Peak cavern is in
itself an nestimahle treasure for n,agina-
ton could not conceive a place more suited
tn Il lcudal romance and ruthless hssaasina-
tIun. Tins Tremendous excavation IL $50
yards IN length, its entrance the most Grand
aud solemn that fancy could devise, under
The canopy Ola huge rocky arch soon is
The light of day lost in liz reccsaos; SUMTER
raneous streams are passed, and alternately
we wnd along low-r0olcd and rugged pasa-
ees, dripping caves, aud spacious dumca
possessing more than Gothic gloom. But
not only this cavern, but the whole Of the
Peak Of Derby, must be seen, Ia have thr
ELECTS upon the mind appreciated. w
never spent fortnight Of more nnmngled
qualification than IN making tour OF this
remarka,le region aud ut this season o
the year. when such excursions are - gen.
orally taken, we are sure no recommends
ton OF ours could lead to greater graiifcn.
| lion than that of visit to the Peak OF Der
! by. The natural beauties and stalaciyticaI
caves of Matlock ; The druidical remains o
Robin Hoods Leap and adjacent Moor
the Hooking Stones, Of many tons weight
moved by finger the exploration oI
| MINIS the ancient baiDnial edliice Of Had.
don Hall the more modern splcndor d
ChhtsWorth the delights Of Blackwell The
wonders Of Castleton and its yicinagc tho
"bblng and flowing well and Buxton with
| all lts attraciion3-are within the scope o.
ten day enjoyment and wewIl venture &c
say that there is no district Of the same ex
tent III Europe which offers greater attrac.
tions to the curious olevery class. But on,
recollectrd admiration of these scenes hn,
! diverted Us from Pcverel Of the Peak, te
whose ruined walls WE paid heightened
visit, examining their ancient remains will
the utmost lBte est. The Saxon Herring.
| bone stlllexists in the wall of the Keep. The
balllum and It's two square turrets are IN
good preservation; one Of the latter inha-
ted by apersou who has charge of the place
The zig gag ascent from Castlcton, OH the
east SIDE, though you s,e the Castle on the
top Of the hill, is hardly practicable without
guide, and very laborious. But the SUM-
init woul repay 4 hundred times the toii,
L" the south The sight reposes on the sweet
vale Of Castcton. The west is command.
I'd by highermountains, between which and
tie Peak runs deep ranine, whose side
towards the castle is perfect precipice.--
On the north and northeast are seen the
striking outlets from this hill-surroundcd
scene, and the famous Mam-Tor, whose
splintery rocks often descend with voice
Of thunder into the valley below.
Such is the seat Of the once mighty flmi.
ly Of the Peyefclls and their history offered
| TO the hand of the Northern Magician ;wbo