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The commutation, called Gobr Merch, demont strates that the violation of chastity was considered as a very veniale crime; and the recompence to a virgin; that had been seduced, was barbarously singular, O * yaimenyi la

On complaint being made; that a damsel's lover had deserted her, the court adjudged her the op portunity of obtaining the gobr merch. A young three-year-old bull was to have his tail shaved and well-greased; and this was to be introduced through a wicker door if the injured female had sufficient. strength to retain the bull by the tail, while two men were goading it, the beast was adjudged to her; if not, she was dismissed without further satisfaction!!!

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Don't you, dear Sir, feel your indignation rise at the folly and cruelty of your ancestors, who could thus add insult to injury; and hold up to ridicule the misfortunes of the unprotected fair? I know you do. Yet how much more strongly does, what is ridiculous, unjust, or cruel in the Laws of other nations, or other times, strike us, than in those of our own? We consider ourselves as living in an age of great refinement; and then conclude it must be an age of justice, Where is the mind of sensibility that would not shrink with horror at the base idea of his fair country-women being left unprotected by the laws of a constitution, the envy of the world? Yet can female virtue be considered as under the protection of the laws, when seduction and dereliction are deemed of so trifling a nature,

and so unimportant to the welfare of the state, as not to be included in the list of crimes: and a small douceur to society even procures a privilege to commit the crime, while the injured party receives no compensation, save want and ignominy?* O! ye British Senators! read the history of your country, read the history of man; consult the code of reason, study the code of Divine Wisdom; and with prompt and animated hands tear, indignantly tear, these unjust and impious acts from the statute book of your country: no longer suffer such a foul, and disgraceful blot to deface the system of English Jurisprudence! Let equity be the standard of your legislative measure; and if any partiality must exist, let it exist in behalf of the weaker, and more amiable part of creation!-Hoping greater light will produce greater good, and that increasing wisdom will be accompanied with an extension of humanity,

I remain Yours,

J. E.

The unfortunate female is liable to be imprisoned twelve months for incontinency; while the vile seducer is only bound to indemnify the parish for the maintenance of the child: which is generally commuted for the paltry sum of ten or fifteen pounds. In Switzerland the seducer is obliged to make reparation by marrying the party; but with us women seem of less value than the beasts of the field. If a man goes to his neighbour's fields and wilfully maims or wounds his cattle, it is felony without benefit of clergy; but he may seduce and debauch his daughter without any fear of legal punishment !!!

LETTER IV.

Dolgelleu.

LEAVING the City, (if city it must be cal

led,) without a single wish to find pleasure in triumphing over fallen greatness, we took the road for Dolgelleu. A grand pass through the openings of the Cader Chain, which comprehending the Arans and the Arenigs, forms nearly a right angle with the Ferwyn. It winds beautifully beside the rude mountain Craig y Gwyni, or the White Rock, which forms a lofty wall on the right; while the opposite one on the left consists of various slopes, with here and there a miserable looking cottage peeping in the different directions of the Cwms; the Kerris, widely flowing over a rocky bed in the vale, murmured beneath our feet, and the hills in softest whispers returned the melancholy tones. Near the top of Craig y Gwyni are some deserted lead mines. From great quantities of bluish ochre being found, with which the shepherds mark the sheep, and other circumstances, it would appear, that the failure of success was rather owing to the want of skill and spirit of the undertakers, than shallowness of the vein or poverty of the ore.

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On the left is Bwlch Oer Ddrws, noted for having been one of the three places, where, after the death of Glyndwr, the principal inhabitants of certain districts assembled, to form a compact for enforcing justice by the weight of their character, without the assistance of any legal sanction; which the confusion of the times, and the want of a due execution of the laws, had reduced to a state of debility. Various were the regulations made with respect to right and wrong; the mode of redress, and the measure of satisfaction. To these no sanction was annexed, except forfeiture of all benefits derivable from the compact. This appears to have been sufficient in those unsettled times, as it left the offending party unsupported, and in the hour of danger friendless. A general plan of associations of this kind for the encouragement of virtue and order would probably do more to discourage idleness and vice, and consequently prevent crimes, than all the severe penal statutes that ever were enacted.

Descending a very steep stony road, for three miles we entered the town of Dolgelleu.

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We had been recommended to the sign of the Lion. The accommodations were not of the most striking sort, yet the attentive civilities of Williams and his wife would have made still more indifferent ones comfortable. We were detained here longer than intended, by the unfavourableness of the weather for Botanical pursuits; however we did not want for amusement. The morning was taken up in writing; the afternoon in listening to the enchanting Welsh

airs, and charming music of the harp, having enlisted an old harper in our service during our stay: and the evening was employed conversing with W. Williams, whom we found a man endued with a strong mind; and who, to solid observation had added a considerable fund of history and anecdote. The face of the country, its remarkable beauties or wonders, the state of agriculture and manufactures, the great families, and the changes that had taken place in them, their genealogy, instances of heroism, with many a tale of other times, furnished a savoury olla, and seldom failed to protract the length of the evening. A circumstance, which, had it not been for a declining day, and our horses inadequatè to further exertion, would have been laughable, began to put on a serious aspect, and was very near depriving us of this feast of reason. From our arriving at this agitated time, and some suspicious 'traits in our appearance, we were taken for Irish, and it required much protestation and persuasion before we could obtain the promise of a bed, or the least refreshment. Mrs. W. insisted, that we were rebels fled from justice, while Williams recommended charity. The altercation became so violent, that we were apprehensive it would not terminate in words. At length Williams's choler was excited to that point, when indulgence gives way to pre-eminence of right, and loudly asserting his claim to submission the good lady retired in dudgeon; and while we profited by the victory he had acquired, we could not refuse to admire the spirit that had obtained it.

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