A description of the part of Devonshire bordering on the Tamar and the Tavy; its natural history, manners, customs, superstitions, scenery, antiquities, biography of eminent persons, etcin a series of letters to Robert Southey . • I begged he would continvie on the top, till Ihad descended and taken a sketch of it, with him-self on the summit; but first gave him a plumb-lineto let down, and we found he was elevated thirtyfeet. Whilst sketching. I conversed with him, andcould almost fancy I heard a voice from the not onlv stood upright, but stretched out hishands and foot in the posit
A description of the part of Devonshire bordering on the Tamar and the Tavy; its natural history, manners, customs, superstitions, scenery, antiquities, biography of eminent persons, etcin a series of letters to Robert Southey . • I begged he would continvie on the top, till Ihad descended and taken a sketch of it, with him-self on the summit; but first gave him a plumb-lineto let down, and we found he was elevated thirtyfeet. Whilst sketching. I conversed with him, andcould almost fancy I heard a voice from the not onlv stood upright, but stretched out hishands and foot in the position of Mercury, andseemed rather like a statue on the top of a loftycolumn than a human being on the summit of anatural rock. Besides its elevation, it hangs con-siderably out of its perpendicular; which so blendedthe feelings of fear for my friend and surprise at hisintrepid firmness, that I felt the most indescribable XIII.] STAPLETOR. 241 sensations, and my fingers could scarcely hold I again made an attempt to join him, but haltedin my former situation ; and the more he endeavouredto encourage me, added to my own attempts to over-come it, the more the perturbation of my mind in-creased. Never had I experienced such a conflictin my breast; and, unable to bear it longer, I againdescended. On letting himself down, I was obligedto direct my companion where to place his feet. Hadhe missed his hold, it would have been instant de-struction. As he was now on the same spot whereI had stood, I requested he would move the rock,thinking he could do it with greater ease, as he ismuch stronger than myself, and the rock must havebeen rendered somewhat lighter by his having re-moved from it. But my astonishment was incon-ceivably great at his assuring me he could not moveit in the least. This convinced us he must haveacted as a poise; which was confirmed afterwards by VOL. 1. jyj 242 TOLMEN. [let. our examining; the inclination of the rock, and tliepoint on which he stood. As
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