“Sutton Spa is situated about two miles south of Shrewsbury, on the slope of a gentle eminence, and close to a village of the same name. The spring issues from a rocky stratum of ash coloured clay, or argillaceous schistus, containing (as appears by its effervescence with nitrous acid) a small portion of lime. Fresh from the spring, the Sutton water is clear and colourless, and exales a slightly sulphureous smell; which is most perceptible in rainy weather. It sparkles little when poured into a glass, having no _uncombined_ carbonic acid in its composition. When first drawn its strong salt taste is evidently mixed with a chalybeate flavour; but the latter is wholly lost on exposure for a few hours, bubbles of air separating slowly, and a reddish sediment lining the sides and bottom of the vessel. “The Sutton water has by many been compared with that of Cheltenham, and supposed to contain nearly the same ingredients. It bears, however, a much closer resemblance to sea-water, and has accordingly been found most beneficial in those cases for which sea-water is usually recommended. “In the case of scrophula, the superior merits of sea-water has been uniformly and universally acknowledged. A similarity of ingredients would naturally lead us to expect similar effects from the Sutton water; and I am happy to bear testimony, that a twenty years practice at the Salop Infirmary, as well as in private practice, has furnished me with abundant proofs of its success in the treatment of scrophulous affections; and in addition to the properties possessed by the Sutton-spring in common with sea-water, it enjoys one evident advantage in containing iron. {108} “The air of Sutton, as might be expected from its open elevated situation, is dry and wholesome. The site commands a rich and highly variegated prospect, bounded on one side by the magnificent group of Breyddin and Moel y Golfa, with a long range of Welsh mountains rising in full majesty behind them; and on the other by their no mean rivals, the Wrekin and Stretton Hills. The view of Shrewsbury, betwixt the branches of the adjoining wood, particularly when the setting sun gilds every object with his mellowest light, is greatly and most deservedly admired. The walk from Shrewsbury is pleasant and picturesque; and the neighbourhood of a reasonable and abundant market, can be considered as no trifling object, when compared with the extravagant prices and scanty accommodations of many of our remote watering-places.”