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industry of the inhabitants. The latter is not to be supposed;
for the spirit of agriculture, introduced by the gentlemen of the
environs, is in as flourishing a way amongst the farmers of this
neighbourhood, as in other parts of the kingdom. The
superfluities of the market are bought up for Kendal, where much
of that produce is wanting which superabounds here.
The most remarkable objects at Penrith, are the beacon, on the
summit of the hill above the town, and the awful remains of the
royal fortress on the crest of the rising ground that commands
the town. It is supposed to be an erection of Henry VI. out of
the ruins of a more ancient structure called Mayburgh; but this
is not very probable, since stones are easier quarried here than
they could be got there. But as popular records have generally
some fact to rest upon, and some truth in the bottom, so some
facings and other principal stones taken from Mayburgh, might
give rise to the tradition. There might also have been a
stronghold here in the time of the Romans. At present the
buildings are ruins in the last stage. One stone arched vault
only remains, that from its situation appears to have been the
keep, now no longer terrible, since the border service ceased,
and a mutual inter-
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