SUNDERLAND,-DURHAM.

"Sunderland and Bishop Wearmouth, on the south side of the river Wear, together with Monk Wearmouth, on the opposite shore, are connected by a handsome iron bridge, and form one populous commercial town and sea-port, pleasantly situated near the confluence of the Wear with the German Ocean."

Early in the seventh century, a monastery was founded on the north side of the Wear, in which, according to the testimony of Bede, a religious society assembled under the superintendence of St. Bega. A more splendid foundation, however, was laid about the year 674, by Biscopius, who, having obtained from King Egfrid a grant of land on the north bank of the Wear, built an abbey, which he dedicated to St. Peter. In 786, the Danes plundered and destroyed this monastery; and when, after a lapse of five years, it had been rebuilt, another religious institution had also been founded on the south side of the Wear. From the contiguity of these two edifices, considerable confusion arises in their history. At the dissolution, the whole yearly revenues did not amount to more than £26. 9s. 9d.; which, though an important sum at that time, was trifling when compared with the resources of other monasteries.

Monk Wearmouth is a place of great antiquity, and appears to be coeval with the monastery; but Bishop Wearmouth is not mentioned in history till the year 930, in the reign of Athelstan. The first authentic record which speaks of the port and borough of Sunderland, is dated in the close of the twelfth century. It is probable, however, that the coal-trade, from which Sunderland has derived great part of its wealth, did not reach the Wear until the reign of Elizabeth, or of James I. In 1634, the burgesses and inhabitants were incorporated under the title of "mayor, aldermen, and commonalty of the borough of Sunderland ;" and a privilege was granted for holding annual fairs and a market. A progressive increase of population and commerce has, by a natural consequence, brought about very considerable improvements in this port, as well in its maritime appendages, as in the extent of the streets, and the character of the buildings. Besides the parish church, there is one erected so recently as the year 1827, in St. John Street, by order of the parliamentary commissioners, together with many dissenting chapels, and a considerable number of charitable institutions. By the provisions of the Reform Act, Sunderland has been erected into a borough, and returns two members to Parliament.

The iron bridge, which crosses the river Wear at Sunderland, is beautifully simple in its construction, having only one magnificent arch, spanning a distance of nearly 237 feet: the centre of the arch is elevated almost 100 feet above the water, when the tide is down; and vessels of 200 to 300 tons burden can pass under with only striking their top-gallantmasts. This structure was begun in 1793, and opened on the 9th of August, 1796, in the presence of his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, and a vast multitude of spectators. In the centre, on each side of the bridge, is the motto-" Nil desperandum auspice Deo."

The imports of Sunderland are numerous, as are also the exports; but of the latter, the principal article is coal, the trade in which furnishes employment for a vast number of keels and vessels. Lime and glass form important articles of commerce in this port, and ship-building is carried on to a very great extent.

That terrible visitation, the cholera morbus, after having traversed Asia, and great part of Europe, at length reached Hamburgh; it then passed across the German ocean to Sunderland, whence it spread itself through great part of the United Kingdom.

DERWENTWATER, FROM APPLETHWAITE,-CUMBERLAND.

In this View, the spectator, standing with his back towards Skiddaw, enjoys a fine prospect, including the beautiful and romantic hamlet of Applethwaite, the northern extremity of Derwentwater, and the lofty range of mountains forming the south-western boundary of the lake.

The lovely and sequestered dwelling-place, in the foreground of our View, by "circling mountains sever'd from the world," appears to be a spot peculiarly suited to the rich and glowing visions of young romance.

"There the rapt poet's step may rove,

And yield the Muse the day;
There Beauty, led by timid Love,

May shun the tell-tale ray."

The distant lake reposes in calm and silent majesty:

"Time writes no wrinkles on its azure brow!"

The hills, patriarchs of the solitude! decked with their coronets of mist, and "gleaming with purple❞—

"like giants stand

To sentinel enchanted land."

KESWICK, FROM GRETA BRIDGE,-CUMBERLAND.

Keswick, a small market-town of neat appearance, consisting of one long street, is delightfully situated near the foot of Derwentwater, at the distance of eighteen miles from Penrith. Tourists to the Lakes are here provided with every accommodation, both as respects domestic comfort, and the requisites for their pleasurable excursions. An annual regatta is held on the last Thursday and Friday in August, when the several sports of horse-racing, rowing, and wrestling are maintained with great spirit.

The Town-hall was erected in 1813: on the ground-floor the meal, butter, egg, and poultry market is held; and the upper part of the building forms a commodious courtroom, in which the Governors of Greenwich Hospital sit as lords of the manor of Castlerigg and Derwentwater. The principal manufactures in Keswick consist of coarse woollen goods, and black-lead pencils; and in these a considerable portion of the inhabitants

find employment. The population at this time can scarcely be estimated at less than from two to three thousand.

There are in Keswick two museums, exhibiting, in addition to many foreign curiosities, the natural history and mineral productions of the surrounding country. At each of these, the visitor can purchase interesting specimens, illustrating the geology of the neighbourhood.

With the accompanying view before him, the reader need not be told that the situation of the town is beautiful and romantic. From the spirited delineation here given, the eye is enabled to convey to the mind a vivid impression of " this scene sublime :"

"Where, as to shame the temples deck'd

By skill of earthly architect,

Nature herself, it seemed, would raise
A minster to her Maker's praise."

On the mountains forming the back-ground of the view, the history of centuries is charactered; and whilst viewing them, the question suggests itself,

"Yon beetling brow,

In craggy nakedness sublime,

What heart or foot shall dare to climb ?"

The following extract from "The Lady of the Lake," beautifully describes the natural phenomena so frequently observable in a mountainous neighbourhood :-

"The evening mists, with ceaseless change,
Now clothe the mountain's lofty range,

Now leave their foreheads bare,

And round the skirts their mantle furl,

Or on the sable waters curl,

Or on the eddying breezes whirl,

Dispers'd in middle air.

And oft, condensed, at once they lower,

When, brief and fierce, the mountain shower

Pours like a torrent down;

And when return the sun's glad beams,

Whiten'd with foam, a thousand streams
Leap from the mountain's crown."

Keswick offers a delightful and halcyon retreat, suitable to many occasions in life. The young bride who has unreluctantly parted with "her maiden gladness, for a name and for a ring"-the happy family circle, desirous of collecting a store of amusing incidents and useful information, to enliven the winter evenings at home-the citizen who can assure himself, that labyrinths of brick and mortar are not the most picturesque features in nature, and that an echo heard in the mountains, discourses music not less eloquent than "cent per cent" whispered on 'Change-for each and all of these, Keswick and its neighbourhood affords the varying prospect, "ever charming-ever new," fanned by breezes pregnant with health, and redolent of balmy odours, more grateful and refreshing than the rich fragrance “of Araby—of Araby the blest."

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