Derwentwater.

face . It never rises far above tbe level of the lake ; but having once attained the surface it for a time fluctuates with the rising and falling of the water ; after AAdiioh it sinks gradually . Jonathan Otley says : " Many hypotheses ' have been put forth from time to time to account for this phenomenon , but the most probable conclusion seems to be that air or gas is generated in the body of the island bdecomposition of the vegetable matter of which it is

y formed ; ancl this gas being produced copiously , as well as being more rarefied in hot Aveather , the earth at length becomes so much distended therewith as to render the mass of less weight than an equal bulk of Avater . The water , then insinuating itself between tbe substratum of clay and peat earth forming the island , bears it to the surface , Avhere it continues for a time , till , partly by escape of gas , partly by its absorption , and partly by its condensation consedecrease of heat

quent on a , the vofume is reduced , and the earth gradually sinks to its former level , where it remains till a sufficient accumulation of « as again renders it buoyant . " Mr . Joseph Pocklington was one of the first who settled on the margin of the lake . He built , as before named , the first mansion on Vicar ' s Island , then Derwent Bank House , and ultimatel y BarroAv House , where he continued to resideand

, was ahvays known in the neighbourhood as Squire Pocklino'ton . He introduced annual regattas ancl a sham fi ght on the lake , the ° attack on the island being made by a fleet of boats . The island was defended by " Colonel" Pocklington , but the invaders succeeded so far as to plunder the place of roast beef , plum pudding , and a barrel of ale , Avhich they took to the isthmus meadow to regale themselves after the battle . Smirke made an excellent Avater-colour drawing of this grotesque scene , which used to be in Crostbwaite museum , but is now in the possession of Mr . Joshua Stano-er of Fieldsidfi . - ° '

Lord William Gordon folloAved very early after Mr . Pocklington as a resident , ancl he purchased Water End and Hause End farms of Mr . Fletcher , ancl afterwards BrandlehoAv Woods , Fawe Park , Scale Thorns , Saltwell Park , ' Derivent Bank , ancl the beautiful little mountain Swinside , comprising the whole Avestern margin of the lake . Here he built a beautiful house after the model of the park-ranger ' s bouse in the Green Park , before wliich were placed two excellent cast in leadof bucks

images , , . He planted all the woods on that side of the lake , and being a man of excellent taste bis handiwork added to the natural beauty of tbe ° seenery . The property , which is still Avell covered with fine timber , has upon it many splendid sites for villas , ancl the present oivners—nephews of Major-General Sir John G . Woodford , K . C . B ., K . C . H ., are restoring the house to its former chaste appearance .

The long residence of Sir John Woodford marks a period of forty years during which parties have been allowed to walk through the AVOOCIS which skirt the lake , than which none more beautiful can be seen . The present OAvners grant the same privilege , which is highly appreciated b y those who enjoy the liberty . Sir John ' s good name will be held in eA-erlasting- remembrance . °

To attempt to describe the lake is futile . It must be seen to be duly appreciated . Gilpin says ( vol . i ., p . 191 , ) : " Of all the lakes in these romantic regions , the lake we are now examining seems to be the most generally admired It was once admirably characterized hy an ingenious person , who on his first seeing it cried out , ' Here is beauty indeed—' Beauty in the lap of Horror '' We do not often find a happier illustrationNothing idea of beaut

. cokeys an y more strongly than the lake , nor of horror than the mountains ; and the former lyin ° - m . the lap of the latter expresses in a strong manner the mode of their corn " bmation . It seems that most of the early writers speak with bated breath of the mountains and rocks as if they feared they would fall on them and grind them