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Page 69:-
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Derwent Water, size
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This Lake of Derwentwater contains 1295 acres at low water,
the islands included; and deducting for islands 13 acres,
1282 remain for the area of the water: my survey was very
exact, in which the lowness of the water assisted me very
much; when I took the soundings, the water was very high.
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Lady's Rake
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We will now take a boat, and sail between Frier-Crag
and Pocklington's Island, leaving Lord's
Island on the left. Opposite to Calf-Close-Reeds, at
about 300 yards distant from shore, look at a place called
the Ladies Walk. (The watermen will shew it better
than I can describe how to find it, as I could not well get
it into the map.) The inhabitants and guides tell us, that
it was so called from the Countess of Derwentwater, who made
her escape up this dangerous way from Stable-Hills. I do
not, however, believe the story; as I think it has been
lately invented, like many more, which I shall therefore
leave out: For the watermen and guides think they must tell
the Tourist some extraordinary tale or other, and therefore
endeavour to invent something that bears the face of
probability.
The attendants at the inns too strive against each other who
can tell the most stories, and give the best intelligence
(as they call it;) this intelligence is generally little
more than the suppositions of travellers, which these guides
tell for truth. They pretend also to shew views, and tell
you, that such and such person admired them, without the
least foundation. But to return; if this lady was obliged to
escape, was every other pass guarded? No way, after she left
Stable-Hills, but up this stupendous mountain, amongst rocks
where scarcely any animal can travel, and at the age of 60?
I give no answer to this question, as it does not deserve
any.
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placename, Derwent Water
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Since so many of the curious have visited these lakes,
our native rustics have pretended to imitate them.
Within these few years, not half a dozen persons in Keswick
knew what the word Lake meant; it was either called
Daran (that is Derwent,) or Keswick
water, and had only two or three fishing boats upon it:
now every cottager attempts to be polite, and to speak
better language; and the name of Daran is not known,
but the Lake only. Permit the following genuine
illustration of my assertions, which I flatter myself will
not be less valuable for its being literally true.
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dialect tale
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A country wench, not long ago, laid by her cloggs, and
new-greased her shun, and away she gangs one Sunday
morning to Keswick, to see her sister Ruth, who was a
sarvant at yan oth public houses. She goes to the
Kurk in the morning, and after dinner mud gang on
toth' lake, (to be sure) because Lwords and great
fouk did seah. Accordingly a parcel of girls, such as
herself, attended by shoemakers, tailors, chaise-drivers,
hostlers, &c. ( the two last of which, by the bye, on
Sundays are the greatest beaux in Keswick, or most
fashionable) and took with them a few bottles of wine and
cyder. They spent the afternoon, no doubt, agreeably enough
to themselves; but our heroine, after peregrination, being
to give an account to her mother why she was so late home
that evening, this curious dialogue ensued;
Daughter, Oh! moother, moother, an ye had been thear
ye wad ha stay'd teu; seck fine wark ye never saw. Efter
dinner we went toth' lake.
Mother, Lake! eigh, thou wad lake; and ramp and rive
o the cleighs I war'n. Let's luik if nin othem be roven?
What lake wast? Tennis, or Anthony Blindman?
Daugh. Moother, ye dunt understand ma. Went toth'
watter, an got ontuet a booat; it hed things like, like a
battelter on aither side ont, an carrit it on some way or
other; an we drank finest stuff at ever was, they cawt it
cine and wider.
Moth. Cine and wider, uman, whats tatt?
Daught. Whats tatt? Nay I knaw nut.
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Moth.
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gazetteer links
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-- "Derwentwater" -- Derwent Water
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-- "Ladies Walk" -- Lady's Rake
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