Welsh Journals

210 CYMRU FU. Jtjnb 30th, 1888. years wilhout interruption ; for once neglected thi water would have drownd the wiiole, as in many places those vast trenches where they lie on a level lie full to this day, and no doubt contain immense richee. Chaptee V. I have given you stiong probabilities, nnd I think tolerable reasons thatneither tlie Romans, Saxons, or Danes ever workd the mines of Cardigansliire. It remains now to prove that the Britains did work those mines, or, at least, that they under- stood the art of mining before tlie coming of the Romans; if so, wlio is more likely to have workd these ruines tlian ilie Ântient Britains, and someof them perhaps befnre the Roman name was heard of. Tho' nothin.' will perswade our moderns butthat the Romans liave taught tlie poor, naked Britains all arts and civility, and even how to put theír cloaths on. It will surprize many a fine beau who never read any history but Salinon or Rapin to see this proved from very antient autliorities of Romans and Gieeeians, wlioperhap-sundesignedly, told the truth now and then. However, told us enough to let us see they made it their business to throw a tliick cloud of daikness over all the great actions and name of the Antient Ihitains, to raise a monument of glory to themselves. By way of exp!anation we must premise two or threethings; for so long have we lain in daikness and obscurity owing lo ye envy and ill-nature of particular auihois, tliat we hardly can call tomind our antient worth when it is told us. (Manuscript ends abruptly.) Thus has the publication of tliis valuíible manu- script been brought to a close, and I feel sure all l«>vers of Welsh history and literature will regret that its learned author did not live to finish it. London. Edward Owen. TRAVELLING IN WALESIN 1820 (ante May 19, 1888).—It may interest the readers of Cymru Fu to have some further extracts from the unpublished MS. diary of the gentleman who travelled through Wales in his own carriage in 1820, and as those re- lating to the more southern part of Wales will probably be most acceptable, I will resume the diary on Oct. 2,1820, the writer and his wife being on their way southwards:— "Wednesday, Oct. 2, 1820.—We proceeded onwards to Caermarthen. The valley continues wide and flat, divided into rich fields of meadow and arabl|B land, the Towey ina'fcing superb sweeps througli it. At this moment, four miles frora Caer- maithen.a fine straight reach of the river directly in front.croísed by one of the lightest and hand- somest bridges of three arches that I have seen. It is called New Bridge, and is placed in the route from Abergwillyto Pont-yr-Dulas. The Bishop of St. David's Talace, wliich we now see, is at Aber- gwilly. Carmaithen looks well in going down upon it, situated on a fine rising ground beyond the river and the valley; houses generally white or ochre coloured; entered by a long bridge of numerous arches with ships below it. The tide comes up here with great force. We went to the Ivy Bush Inn, which we found very good. There is nothing to be seen at Caermarthen, except its tìne situation. A very good public walk outside the town overlooks the valley and the river, a krad of boulevard like that at Brecon, and a great relaxatiou for the people of the town. It is altogether, however,a rauchlarger place, with more the airs of a county town or pro- vincial capital than I had any idea of. It is about three quarters of a mile in length, with some good streets and shops. It is considered, I believe, the capital of South Wales. " Thursday, Oct. S, to St. Clear's; heavy rain all the way, but road from the river uninteresting. Seven miles to St. Clear's, where we breakfasted, and then on to Coldblow,eleven miles; four horses for the first fìve miles; found it no imposition. Crossed the Tav by a stone bridge, running to our left to fall into the Towey ; sloops come up close to the bridge......Stopt at Coldblow, a single house. Mr.--------went on to Tenby in the carriage, nine miles. I wait for the coach to Milford Haven, which is to pick me up here. Cold- blow to Milford Haven, twenty miles. We passed through the town of Narberth, and changed horses at Haverford West, a place exceedingly like a Continental town, with narrow and steep streets, paved wiih stones, as difficult to walk upon as those of Geneva. It is situated upon the river Cleddau, whicli falls into Milford Haven, and ad- mits considerable vessels to come up to its bridge, giving it a considerable aìlowance of commerce. The Castle is a striking object as you enter the town. It was built in the reign of Stephen, and is tolerably entire. The greatest part of it has been converted ìnto a jail. There are four churches in the place. Three miles from Narberth we crossed the Cleddyr by a fine old bridge called Canistone Bridge. The tide comes up to it. On the right is Llawhaden Castle, F. Skyrnne, Esq., situated among fìne woods, over- hanging the river, and on the left an extensive forest called Canistone Wood, ten miles round, belonging to Mr. Phillips. Three miles further on the left is Picton, Lord Milford.—Milford Haven. The Nelson Arms is said to be the best inn, but the coacli going to the other I did not think it worth while to change. A thick fog hung over the harbour, so that I could see nothing. In half an hour, however, it cleared away, and I crossed the little arm of the sea called Ha'kin Peel, or Pill, and ascended the height beyond the little battery on the west side of the harbour. From this point you look over the old part of the town, which is on this side the ferry ; and the new town, which is a creation witliin the last twenty-flve years, faces you on a rising ground on the side of the inlet, consisting of a sea face and two parallel wîde streets behind it, producing a very brilliant display of white stone-coloured and yellow houses, some slated, butsiill more having'the roofs also whitewashed, and all as fresh and clean Ioufcing as if they formed one side of a newly-painted pano- ìatna. They stand on different levels, rising above each other like the seats of an amphitheatre, and I should think that the town was Iialf or three- quarters of a mile in length, from the inlet to tlie church, a very handsome one, of Gothic architecture, which stands one hun- dredortwo hundred yards from its eastern end. It stands out against the dark blue sky, and has a very elegant tower. Carrying your eye round by the ríght, it passes in succession over one or two little bays, and within this space a considerable number of ships of different classes are at present at anchor. Beyond the extreraity of land, on the opposite side of the estuary, can "be seen the naval eatablishment of Pater, to which the Doone's