and prior to great events, was frequently known miraculously to rage and swell, without the intervention of rains. Vid. Gyrald. C. XI. This opinion was held long after the time of Gyraldus; and though it has ceased to be the boundary between England and Wales, and to witness contending armies on the margin of its flood, yet great or sudden alterations are still considered as the harbingers of extraordinary events.

Drayton in his Polyolbion beautifully alludes to this superstitious veneration for the Dee:

"Again Dee's holiness began

By his contracted front and sterner waves to show,
That he had things to speak, that profit them to know:

A brook, that was supposed much business to have seen;
Which had an ancient bound 'twixt Wales and England been,
And noted was, by both, to be an ominous flood,
That changing of his fords, the future ill or good
Of either country told; of either's war or peace;
The sickness or the health; the dearth or the increase."

Recrossing the Bwlch and turning to the left, we crossed several small streams that issue from Craig Llyn, Dyfi, and other hills, which form the base of Arran Fowddwy; and soon forming a junction, receive the appellation of Dovey. Repassing the valley on the western side of the river, our attention was awakened by a sound of waters, proceeding from a considerable fall made by a small alpine stream, called Cowarch; that rises on the southern side of the Arran, and here bursting over a ledge of quartz rock, contributes its mite to the Dovey: following

the course of the stream we soon reached DINAS MOWDDU.

This village is pleasantly situated at the junction of three vales, formed by ranges of lofty mountains on the shelf of a rock beneath Craig y Dinas, on the banks of the Kerris, where it empties itself into the Dovey; the rapidity of whose streams must essentially contribute to the salubrity of the air. The houses, few in number, are principally mud cottages with rush-clad roofs; and, not being white washed, wear an aspect little inviting to the passing traveller.

From the wretched appearance of the place and its secluded situation, it might have been reasonably supposed, that it would ever escape the ebullitions of spleen and the animadversions of envy; but poverty and wretchedness are no protection against the malignant shafts of that cold philosophy which, like the blighting East wind on which it was borne, spreads alike its deleterious effects upon the humble trefoil and the majestic oak. That this was once a place of more consequence than its present state indicates, cannot be denied: indeed the annals of Wales (Vid. Warrington) notice it, as having been the seat of a chieftain; and its vicinity the scene of many a feat of valour and barbarity. But that it was ever a place endowed with all the privileges of a powerful corporation, bearing the ensigns of majesty, and exhibiting the pomp and pa raphernalia of a proud commercial city, is an idea almost too extravagant to find admission in the re

gions of fancy. As well might the enthusiastic virtuoso, who finds a few cockle shells, or the traces of them in the strata of lime-stone and gravel on the summits of the mountains, conclude, that this must once have been the bottom of the ocean; and then, by a gentle stretch of the imagination, conjecture, that here must have been the harbour of some vast maritime power, where rode triumphant a victorious navy; and, from its eligible situation, have been the Emporium of the World! Supposing this had been the case, yet the man of sentiment and feeling would rather have lamented over its fallen grandeur; and the ill-fated circumstance of a dilapidated city and ruined corporation would have inspired sensations, far different from those of ridicule and triumph over its appearance of poverty and beggarly property. But the Antiquary of Birmingham could not let the shadow of a church or corporation pass without a discharge of venom at the established government.* The tour becomes a vehicle of aggression, and the cloven foot will appear upon the mountains of North Wales. For a time nothing was heard of this champion of equality: and it might have been conjectured, that, like the phoenix, he had perished in his self-kindled flames;

* Vid. Part of a Tour in Wales, by W. Hutton, F. A. S. Gentle man's Magazine, Feb. 1798: where the gross attempts at wit, and the invidious inuendos at the church and constitution of the country, shew that the tour was undertaken more for an opportunity of sly attacks upon government, than with any view of giving a just description of the country.

but, like that fabulous being, he has the property of renovation; and the new-fledged bird appears in shape and instinct like the former, but with brighter plumage and redoubled strength.

It does not appear that Dinas strictly means a city. The Britons used to call woods fenced with a vallum and ditch, as a place where they might defend themselves as often as an enemy made an excursion, by this name: (Vid. Cæsar. Com. Lib. V:) and many places are distinguished by this appellation, that have not the least pretensions to be considered as cities, as Dinas Dinlle, Dinas Dinorwig, Dinas Cortin, Dinas Bran, all of which were fortified places; and several of them the seats of chieftains. The conclusion therefore from the name is, that it was so called from being a strong fortified palace of a prince; and as usual the district around was endowed with several privileges and exemptions, which continued under the general title of ancient usages, till restricted by the statutes of Henry VIII.; when the laws of England were generously extended to the conquered country.

This is the more probable, as this place, though not a parish, but included in that of Llan y Mowddû, is the capital of an extensve lordship belonging to the Mytton family; which contains the whole parish, and seven out of the eight townships of Mallwyd.

Mr. Pennant says it is governed by a Mayor, Aldermen, Recorder, and several Burgesses: That the Mayor tries criminals; and the Recorder, in the ab

sence of the Lord, matters of property not exceed ing forty shillings. That they still preserve the insignia of power: the mace, standard measure, stocks, whipping post, and the vag-vawr, or great fetter. But he does not say when, or by whom this charter was granted; nor how long its inhabitants have been thus enfranchised. (Vid. Tour in Wales, Vol. II.)...

As it is a peculium under the government of its own lords, it is not improbable that this ostensible corporation is an appendage to the Baronial and Leet Courts; or rather a deputation from them, to rid the lord or his steward of the unprofitable part of its government. One of the houses still retains the name of the Manor House.

This district was famous, longer than any part of Britain, for retaining the barbarous custom, préva→ lent during the dark ages through all the northern nations of Europe, of commuting crimes, however flagitious, by a fine; called by the Saxons were-geld, and by the Welsh gwerth. Nor was the insult upon bumanity, of putting the life of man in competition with property, removed, till the 27th of King Henry the VIII. In this country the restitution was generally made in cattle. The fine for a Welshman's life, unless he was taxed as a vassal of the crown, was very low; seventy thrymses, (about ten pounds sterling ;) the loss of a nose, or other principal member, six oxen and one hundred and twenty pence; of a finger, one cow and twenty pence; and other injuries in proportion. (Vid. Leges Wal. 278.)...