marches, or borders of Wales, has in our day given to its country two names, which have done honour to its records :-the late Thomas Pennant, of Downing, Esq. by his researches in the fields of science, and Lord Penrhyn, by his exertions in the province of improvement, which a happy union of mind, means, and the peculiar situation of his property in Wales, enabled him to make.

His lordship was ninth in descent from Thomas, Abbot of Basingwerk, or Dinas Basing, in 1480; who, quitting his abbey, married Angharad, daughter of Gwillim ab Gruffydd, of Penrhyn, Esq. and founded the families of Bychton, Downing, and Hendre, all in the county of Flint: the last of which is extinct in the person of his lordship. He was also the third from Giffard Pennant, Esq. who had a grant of lands in Jamaica during the Protectorate; where he settled, and created the transatlantic opulence of this branch of the family.

He was returned for Petersfield, in the first Parliament of his late Majesty, which place he vacated in 1767, and took his seat for Liverpool for which town he was again elected in 1768, 1774, and 1784. When his commercial experience and sound judg ment are considered, a great trading town was never more ably and faithfully represented than that of Liverpool by him: and the House of Commons never contained a member of greater integrity and independence than Lord Penrhyn.

In 1765 he married Anne Susannah, daughter and sole heiress of Lieutenant-general Warburton, of Winnington, in the county of Chester; and in right of her grandmother, Anne, second daughter and co-heiress of Sir Robert Williams, of Penrhyn, Bart. became possessed of a moiety of that estate, the eldest, Frances, Lady of Lord William Russel, second son of the Duke of Bedford, having died without issue. The other moiety, the property of the Yonge family, by the marriage of Gwen, the youngest, to Sir Walter Yonge, of Escot, in Devonshire, Bart. was purchased of them by John Pennant, Esq. his lordship's father. So that, by a peculiar good fortune, this compact property became again united in the persons of its noble proprietors.

When his lordship became an occasional resident in Wales, he had reached that period of life, when nature, generally speaking, prefers repose to business-ease to exertion, and was in possession of such a fortune, as would justify, in the eyes of many, an indolent and luxurious enjoyment of the remainder of his days.Yet, thus situated, did this true patriot begin labours, that would

have appalled other minds at five and twenty, and became as indefatigable in the various paths of quarrying, building, planting, and cultivating, as if his support had depended on his personal efforts; and he soon had the encouraging satisfaction of seeing his estate become as beautiful and attracting a feature on the countenance of Arvon, as his exemplary life will be an epoch in its history.

In 1793 he was advanced to the Peerage. This dignity created for him has ceased with him; but his name has a higher claima firmer hold on the gratitude of the age, and the veneration of posterity than any thing, which the artificial distinctions of society could possibly confer. These, like the possessions attached to them, are alike the hereditary, collateral, or accidental acquisitions of worth and worthlessness, intellect and imbecility; but his name, independently of adventitious circumstances, will rank high in the public esteem, while virtue is of value among men.

Yet, let us not, in the language of despondence, like the writer of the elegy on a distinguished prelate of the Penrhyn family, cry out→→→→

"Fyth weled ei fath eilwaith :"

but, rather, like Sion Brwynog, when addressing a conspicuous cotemporary cultivator, exclaim

"Rhai a ddêl a wêl dy waith."

And hope, that the industry, which he has excited-the commerce, which he has fostered-the intercourse, which he has facilitated-and the district, which he has ornamented-will excite in other proprietors a spirit of emulation, that will rank them, like him, among the benefactors of their country; and, finally, render the words of Augustus as applicable to them as they are justly to Lord Penrhyn :

"Urbem lateritiam inveni, marmoream reliqui."

LLWYD.

WALKS ROUND DOLGELLAU.

"Well do I know these mountain wilds:

And every bosom'd vale, and valley stream

Is dear to memory."

WALK I.

SOUTHEY.

Dolgellau, "the modern capital of the wild county of Merioneth," as one of our Welsh tourists has yclept it, is distant

* Archbishop Williams.

from London about 215 miles, and contains a population of more than 2000 souls. Situated nearly in the centre of Merionethshire, it is much frequented, during the summer months, by those happy persons, whose avocations permit them to migrate from the dusky atmosphere of crowded towns, and populous cities, to inhale the salutary balm of the uncontaminated summer gale. What a number of different faces, different characters, and strange people, must pass through such a place as Dolgellau in the course of a summer! And what a favourable opportunity would their migration afford for scrutinizing the various gleams and shadows in the mind of man. An ingenious author has divided the "idle people," as he calls them, who wander abroad during the summer season, into six distinct classes-"Idle Travellers, Lying Travellers, Proud Travellers, Vain Travellers, Splenetic Travellers, and Inquisitive Travellers;" to which I beg leave to add a seventh under the denomination of Meritorious Travellers, or those persons, who to a mind highly polished, and cultivated, unite an eager desire to become acquainted with the history, manners, and scenery of the distant and secluded parts of their own country.

Surely, then, from this variety of emigrants a person, who delighted in the contemplation of character, might collect a vast store of information, from watching narrowly the habits of the different classes above enumerated. He would not, it is true, witness any of that blessed love and concord, which the happy fire side of the English gentleman presents, nor would he behold any of those lovely and endearing virtues, which are displayed in many a mansion throughout the country. But he would perceive with what a feverish eagerness change of scene and, consequently, change of thought, are sought for by the restless and unsettled human mind, and he might gather many a lesson from the occurrences within his observation. But, to return from the digression,

Dolgellau, as many of my readers well know, is situated in a delightful valley about six miles from the base of Cader Idris, watered by the united streams of the rivers Wnion, and Aran, and surrounded by beautiful, and well cultivated hills. The principal street runs about half the length of the town, and to the stranger certainly presents no very imposing appearance. But, however uncouth the houses in the town may be, and it must be confessed that there is nothing "passing fair" in them, there are some very respectable, and commodious residences in the suburbs,

and scattered on the declivities of the hills around, so that, notwithstanding the general carping of travellers on the bad structure and irregularity of the houses, and on the mean appearance of the town generally, the improvements, which have been effected within these few years, have removed at least this imputation from the inhabitants, and rendered Dolgellau one of the most decent towns in North Wales. Much, however, remains yet to be accomplished; among the most necessary undertakings is, in the first place, the erection of a new Town Hall, and, secondly, the removal of the low roofed dwellings, which line the principal street on either side, the places of which might be supplied by higher and better houses. Many of my readers have seen Welsh Pool, and most probably admired the regularity, and neat appearance of its buildings. Might not Dolgellau be rendered nearly, if not actually, as neat and respectable, with a little expense and industry. A transformation of this sort would certainly reflect great credit upon the inhabitants, who ought not to leave unfinished the good and commendable work they have already begun.

The best inn is, undoubtedly, the Golden Lion, or, as it is usually denominated, Plâs-isa. The accomodations are good, the attendants exceedingly civil, and the landlord, Mr. Evans, although increasing daily in wealth and stature, as attentive and good humoured as landlord need be. Nor must the head waiter of the Lion be passed by without commendation. Miss Mary Evans, then, our host's daughter, (who, by the way, is one of the prettiest girls in Merionethshire) has managed, with great credit to herself, since the death of her mother, most of the concerns at Plâs-isa; and, so long as she continues her industry and attention, the coffers of her father must grow more weighty.*

When and by whom this town was built, I cannot tell; certainly not by the Romans, as Bala was. The provoking irregularity of the streets prevents this suspicion. It probably originated, as most of the Welsh towns and hamlets did, having, in the first instance, been composed of a few huts, erected in a wooded valley,

* The accommodations at Plâs-isa completely prove the truth of the maxim "Fronti nulla fides." The sign fixed to the south corner is intended to represent the figure of a lion, but alas! the resemblance is exceedingly ambiguous, to say the best of it. I have heard, that it was recommended to the artist, who executed it, to subjoin at the bottom, in order to remove the ambiguity-"This is the Golden Lion." This advice, however, has not been followed.

the mountain barriers of which screened it from the sharp winter winds. It cannot boast of much interest in an historical point of view. Owain Glyndwr, indeed, has conferred some honour upon it by assembling his Parliament there in 1404, where he entered into an alliance with Charles of France, and during the civil wars of Cromwell, a body of the King's troops attempted to raise a fortification about the town. Mr. Edward Vaughan, however, at the head of a party of the Parliament's soldiers, attacked and routed them, taking several prisoners. But, what is infinitely of more importance at the present time, Dolgellau is the mart, to which a great portion of the produce of the adjacent country is brought for sale, and there are several woollen manufactures in the neighbourhood.* Having premised thus much, let us commence our "Walks," and let the first be from

DOLGELLAU TO BARMOUTH.

If we set out from Plâs-isa, we proceed down the little street opposite, and, turning to the left, find ourselves on the Pont Vawr, with a most delicious prospect in every direction. We will tarry a minute or two to look around us. With our faces towards the East, then, we see the river Wnion coming gently down the valley,

* What will the Dolgellau reader think of the following delectable description of the capital of Merionethshire in 1797? Does not the worthy writer deserve to be placed under the second class of Travellers, as mentioned above? "There is a very comfortable inn here (at Dolgellau), and excellent salmon and trout to be obtained: the mutton is also very good. Dolghelly (as he calls it) is situated at the foot of Cader Idris, an aspiring mountain, nearly as high as Snowdon. It, by no means, on entrance, strikes the traveller in its favour." So far, good. But hearken to the graphic delineation of this most learned traveller. "The houses," he says, "are very mean, and composed, for the most part, of stones piled up with neither mortar or (nor) cement of any sort! The inhabitants wear neither stockings or (nor) shoes, and seem indolent in the extreme!" What will my good friends the Rector, and Messieurs W—. J—. H. W—. and J. P. H—. cum multis aliis, say to this? "Very few of them," he continues, "ever taste animal food!!! There are here and there a few straggling sheep and black cattle, with which they pay their landlords. The value of money has been but very lately at all known among them!!" of a surety, Monsieur Traveller, thou art wondrous witty, and de-' servedst well-if not of thy country in general-at least of the worthy inhabitants of Dolgellau, who are, doubtless, marvellously obliged to thee for thy very accurate description of this town! I regret exceedingly, that I have omitted to note the work, from whence the above edifying passage is transcribed; but it was copied some years ago, and the volume, I remember, was a very thin octavo with some plates (I believe in mezzotinto) by Rowlaudson.