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and the incomparable swiftness with which nature had indued them. Their appearance now, we must confess, was not flattering to the vanity of the country. It not unfrequently happens, that traditional fame, and the cause which gave rise to it, are, like diverging rays, that become more distant according to the space they pass through; and that the name of excellence remains, when the superiority is no more. Mr. Pennant could not have read Gyraldus, when he supposed that this superiority arose from Queen Elizabeth's stud, kept at Carno; a set of Spanish horses made a present of to her Majesty by the Earl of Shrewsbury; by which the native breed was greatly improved. The learned author certainly borders upon the doctrine of equality when he surmises such a familiarity to have subsisted between the royal menage and the merlins* of the mountains. Inclosed amongst these rude and barren scenes, and shut out from society, I began to feel

* These wild horses, for in no other light can they be considered, range at large over the uninclosed mountain pastures, where they promiscuously breed without the licence or knowledge of their owners. To ascertain whose property the successive generations are would be opus et labor indeed. To determine this, recourse is had to the only expedient practicable in the case. A day is appointed annually for driving up all they suppose belonging to each respective farmer; these they secure in an inclosure near the house, and the poor animals undergo the operation of the flesh mark; the initials of the possessors being burnt with a hot iron in the hide of the beasts. This is considered as a mark of unalienable appropriation, and a visible confirmation of a right that was of a very dubious nature, if it ever had an existence before. A Welsh poney is seldom seen that does not bear this stamp of property.

that however the inquiring mind may be led to investigate nature, and feel a high degree of pleasure in discovering what was not known, or elucidating what was but badly described before; yet it is in the exercise of our social faculties we experience the most solid pleasure, and in the liberal communications of a mixed and polished society we are to expect the privileges of humanity. The stimulus of new scenes may rouze, and enlarged opportunities of inquiry may satisfy the mind, for a time; but it is by the reciprocity of collateral communication, and the mutual cordialities of friendship, that intelligent beings must look for the ingredients of happiness.

I remain yours, &c.

J. E.

DEAR SIR,

LETTER III.

Dinas y Mowddwy.

To a heart of disinterestedness and generosity, like yours, every narration that tends to correct the malicious or the erroneous statements of others, must be acceptable, as an offering at the shrine of verity. It is with reluctance, I assure you, that I shall have to appeal to that disinterestedness and generosity, more than once, in the course of my route, which falls within the compass of this Letter.

Retreading our steps to Newton, we took the old road to Llanvair, over the mountains, that we might be able to see the ruins of Dolferwyn, or the meadow of the Maiden Castle ;* which stands on the summit of a cone-shaped hill of steep ascent, surrounded by a wooden dingle, whence rises a small stream that soon joins the Severn. It is built of the small shivered stone of the country, like Dinas Bran, which fortress it resembles also in its scite and

*Mr. Pennant supposes the name to allude to the story of Sa brina.

plan. On the accessible sides of the hill deep trenches are cut through the solid rock. Evans in his Diss. de Bardis says, it was erected by Bleddyn ap Cynvin, between the years 1065 and 1073: but Dugdale, on what authority I know not, dates it much lower down. In his Mon. II. 223, he says it was built by Dafydd ap Llewellyn, about the year 1242 and in his Baron. I. 142, that Roger Mortimer obtained a grant from Edward I. (A. D. 1278) to hold this castle with those of Sheri and Sheddwen for himself and heirs by the service of three Knights' fees.

At no great distance is the church of Bettws, dedicated to St. Beuno, and remarkable for a high steeple for these parts; built, as an inscription says, 1531, by its Vicar, John Meredyth, under the curious Latin title, of Campanile, for Templi Pyramis. It formerly belonged to the Cistertian Nunnery of Llanlugan.

Passing a toilsome mountainous tract, we got into the road at Llanfair. We were now to bid adieu to our kind and obliging friends, from whose knowledge of the country we had obtained information that furnished a clue to our further inquiries; and from whose congeniality of mind we had experienced those exalted pleasures, known to those alone, who have tasted the delicacies of a refined friendship. We had fixed to leave Llanfair early the next morning. The evening was spent in expressing what we had felt since our first meeting, and forming schemes of seeing each other again :

lamenting that the calls of duty should enforce so unwelcome a separation. The thought, that in a few hours more, we were to leave the hospitable and happy roof we had lately entered, hindered our sleeping too long, and at the dawn of day we But our worthy friends had prevented us; and the servants were ready with an elegant breakfast. They were determined to give us the last greeting. No person can dislike the ceremony of a formal parting more than myself, yet, after all, there was something pleasing in an interview of a few moments with those we had so reluctantly bade adieu to the preceding evening.

The horses were waiting at the gate, impatient to be gone; and the grand luminary of heaven was just beginning to spread his spangled mantle on the mountains' top. The parting scene gave a sombre cast to the whole company, and rendered us totally inattentive to the beauties of the surrounding country.

For miles I was wrapt in the most profound meditation.

"Alas!" said I, "how short is life; and yet how important the business of it! These people we have loved-they were kindred souls-we would have pass'd the span of human life together: yet we have been obliged to part-and probably never-no never, to meet again! And this in the same little island, where from the distance a day or two would bring us together; yet perhaps their avocations will not be collocal nor commensurate with ours: Ma

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