The town is small, on the southern bank of the river, and has nothing to boast of, save a good parish church, dedicated to St. Collen, an Irish saint of eight, descents from Mathalwch, Lord of Cwl, in Ireland, who lies buried here: and a well endowed free school. The houses are meanly built, and the streets narrow and without pavement. But Llangollen derives its consequence from the celebrity of its vale, the beauties of its surrounding scenery, and the interesting objects of antiquity in the vicinity. And perhaps no place is more justly famed; where the sentimental and refined lover of nature may have full scope for the indulgence of imagination. "At a small distance, overlooking the town, is a very neat building in the cottage style, fitted up with great taste by the present occupiers, the Right Hon. Lady Eleanor Butler and Miss Ponsonby. The former was sister to John, late Earl of Ormond, and is aunt of The latter is of the the present Earl.* noble family of the name in Ireland, and cousin to the present Earl of Besborough.

An extent of about two acres includes every thing graceful, as a confined pleasure ground. It is an elegant villa in miniature, and justly entitled to Miss Seward's appellation, "The Fairy Palace of the

Vale."

These ladies, united by sisterly affection, congenial talents, and endued with virtues and accom

*This lady is omitted in Kearsley's Peerage; but this is but one See Titles Drogheda, Dalhousie, &c.

error among many,

plishments, calculated to adorn moré public scenes, retired early from the gay world, and chose this recluse spot for their constant residence. Avoiding every appearance of dissipation, they lead a life as retired as the situation.

While we lament that such examples of female virtue should be lost to society in an age of levity and vice like the present, we cannot help admiring the spirit of self-denial and command, which could inspire such contempt of the world in the youthful period of life, surrounded with the blandishments of pleasure, and the allurements of ambition.

The morning being wet, damped the ardor of our company for the proposed excursion to Llan Egwest, and Dinas Bran. Setting out alone, a walk of about a mile up an ascent, brought me to the foot of a hill of conical shape, rising suddenly on all sides from its base; on the summit of which stands the celebrated castle of

DINAS-BRAN.

The fragments of this ancient building rising in the clouds at a distance, are a sufficient guide to it.

The thick misty rain that had fallen, rendered the ground very slippery; which increased the difficulty of climbing this otherwise arduous acclivity. But seized with the enthusiasm of an antiquary, and burning with ardor to survey the spot where Freedom's Chieftain sat in proud security, amidst oppression's storms, I resolved upon the ascent, and at length overcoming every difficulty, gained the mountain's brow.

The building, which occupies the whole of the summit, save a narrow esplanade at the top of the front escarpement, is not large. Two wells and a chapel, beside other apartments, were contained within it. The materials are the shistose stone of the neighbourhood. The form is oblong; length two hundred and ninety feet; and breadth one hundred and forty; the walls exceeding thick, and those at present standing, from ten to eighteen feet high. The side least steep was defended by deep trenches cut through the solid rock. From the breaches made in the walls, this fortress must have been exceedingly strong; and from its inaccessible situation, impregnable to every assailant but the invincible one of time. To this the mouldering ruins give ample proof of its submission :

"Beyond the same, and yet on hill full hygh,
A castle stands, an old and ruynous thing;
That haughtie house was buylt in Weather's eye,»
A prettie pyle and pleasure for a King;

A fort, a strenght, a strong and stately hold
It was, at first; tho' it now is full old;
On rocke alone, full farre from other mount

It stands, which showes it was of great account."
CHURCHYARD.

Here might the leaders of the brave, but overpowered Britons retreat, when Glory bade them quit the field, and wait for more auspicious moments: bere securely hide while the marauding enemy burnt their towns, and laid waste their coun

try, to meditate revenge, and form plans of just retaliation. Prior to the use of cannon, this place could only be taken by treachery, or starved into surrender. It was generally supplied with a year's provisions.

The English forces chiefly consisted of Baronial levies; these temporary troops were only formidable in campaigns; soon quitting the field, by the tenure of their service, they were ill calculated for blockade. Even a regular siege, if obstinate, gene, rally sickened and disheartened the soldiers, and obliged their commanders to quit the field; not unfrequently in disgrace and infamy.

This is doubtless a very ancient, and one of the primitive Welsh castles; but the period of its erection, and by whom erected, are both buried in equal oblivion. It is said, but upon no authority, to have been built by Brennus, a Gallic general; and hence its name. Camden derives it from bryn, a British word for hill, and dinas, a fortified place, i. e. the Fortress of the Hill. It is more probably derived (as Lloyd observes) from the mountain stream that flows near it, called Brân ar Crow, from the colour of its waters, imitating the feathers of the bird; and it is called Crow Castle by the people. It was the seat of the ancient lords of Jâl or Yale, and probably built by one of them. In 1257, it afforded an asylum, from the fury of his justly enraged countrymen, to Gryffydd ap Madoc, who basely sided with Henry II, and betrayed his country. On his death, the guardianship of his children vested in the

Crown, by feodal custom. The eldest the King committed to the custody of John, Earl Warren; and the second to Roger Mortimer. The guardians well understood the nature of their charge, and faithfully executed their private instructions. They procured the assassination of the children, and took possession of the estates. But Warren, struck with remorse at the foul murder of his innocent ward, spared the third son, who must also have been committed to his care; and afterwards procured for him, by a grant from Edward I, that part of Yale, strictly the Lordship of Dinas Brân. Whether the grant was only for his life, or he had no issue, does not appear. It afterwards was possessed by the Warren family, whence it passed by marriage to the Fitzalans, Earls of Arundel, aad followed the succession of the Lordship of Yale. It at present forms part of the extensive possessions of the Miss Middletons of Chirk.

In 1390, a celebrated beauty resided here, a decendant from the princely house of Powis, named Myfanwy Fechan, she won the heart of a celebrated Bard, Howel Lygliw, who addressed her in a beautiful ode, preserved in Jones's collection; she is the subject of an amiable digression for the poetical authoress of Llangollen Vale :

"'Mid the gay towers on deep Din Branny's cone
Her Howel's breast the fair Myfanwy fires;

O harp of Cambria, never hast thou known,
Notes more mellifluent, floating o'er the wires;