The outrages faid to be committed nightly, by the fairy generations, exceed the pranks, of that order of young fellows, or old fellows with young follies, known by the fpirited names. of bucks and bloods; and their thefts and depredations, about the country, furpaís those of the gypsey tribes: with this aggravation too, that there is no conftable to take them up, nor any justice able to make them keep the peace, or commit them to the houfe of correction, or even bind them over to better behaviour. They are above all law, and of course, beyond the reach of an act of parliament; which, is certainly, a great hardship on the Welch peasants, who, though overrun with them, and put nightly into bodily fear, can neither fue for trefpafs, nor recover damages, nor make them pay for an affault!

Their malicious devifes, would fill as many folios, as Sir John Hill's Vegetable Syftem, and their petty larcenies, are as numerous. And these are not confined to the neighbourhood of Pontipool, but extend northward to the boundaries of the Principality. I heard of their naughty doings again, in Merionethfhire, Carnarvon, and Anglefey; not only the firm belief in their existence, extending to thefe places, but as thorough a conviction,

that

that they are, with very few exceptions, as errant a pack of Little Pickles, as any in the world, and a kitten with a cracker at its tail, or a bird with a string to its leg, is more likely to rest in the hands of a parcel of schoolboys, than a poor fwain, or damfel in the clutches of an offended fairy.

It was impossible in these enquiries, not to have often in mind, the many beautiful defcriptions of Shakspeare: and my old friends, Puck, Peafebloffom, and Robin Goodfellow, were frequently playing their waggeries in my fancy; but little did I fuppofe, when I have been delighted with thefe perfonages, that there was a part of the world, appertaining to my own country, where a countless number of really fhrewd people, believed as firmly in the existence, and potency of these creations of fuperftition, as in that of their God.

I have forborn the relation of a thousand fad, and merry, fairy tales, the refult of my researches into this curious fubject, becaufe one is as good as a thousand; and that one you fhall, have here, as a fpecimen of the reft.

In my way to England, I flept a night in the village of Feftiniog, and being the only traveller,

VOL. I.

L

veller, then in the house, had the choice of the bed chambers. I fixed upon that which I thought the most commodious, and after I had taken my folitary repaft, was preparing to retire, when my landlady made her appearance, and faid, that she could not answer it to her confcience, to let me go to reft, without telling me, that the apartment I had chofen, though the best in her house, had the misfortune to be troubled by the fairies; that had I been an ordinary ftranger, fhe fhould not have mentioned it, but being recommended to her house, by one of her best friends and customers, fhe felt it her duty to apprife me of the circumstance; after which, I might do as I pleafed. She concluded this aweful intelligence, by informing me, fhe had foundly rated the chambermaid, for her careleffness, in fhewing that apartment, the door of which was never opened, but when the inn was full of company, and not another bed to be had.

in Whether it proceeded from that queer propenfity in human nature, to do what you are warned not to do, or from a fpirit of refiftance, to thefe fimplicities of faith, I do not know. I can only tell you, that my landlady's caution, determined me not to profit by it. I thanked her, however, for the hint, and de

fired

fired to be fhewn to the haunted chamber, declaring to her, at the fame time, that I had been fo great an admirer of fairies, ever fince I read one of our great poet's account of them, that I was perfectly fatisfied they would rather look on me, as an old acquaintance, than a stranger, and treat me as fuch: and furthermore, as it was exceffive cold weather, if fifty, or an hundred of the little gentle folks were difpofed to pass the night with me, they would be extremely welcome to part of my bed, and I did not doubt butthat, should this be the cafe, I should be able in the morning, to give a very good account of my bedfellows.

For that matter, Sir, faid mine hoftefs, one of your great poet-men, and, who was a lord, into the bargain, took a fancy, likewise, to that very room, where he flept three nights, and past his days where you are now fitting, after clambering up and down the mountains for hours together.

Well, and did he make any complaints of the common difturbers of that chamber?

He was too mild and fweet-tempered a gentleman, to make complaints about any thing; but on my afking, if he faw or heard more than

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than he wished, or found his window thrown open, or any of his things tofs'd about the room, or any pattering of little feet, or, in fhort, any fairy work going forward? He fhook his head, and faid, it was almost impoffible for a man, he faw plainly, to be in the most retired parts of the world, but he would be annoyed with bufy bodies, and impertinents that would be afking questions, and forcing themselves, uncalled, into company. This was pretty plain, I think, Sir.

!

I think fo too, and will, therefore, go to bed, landlady, for you have mentioned a reafon, for my preference of that chamber, that out-weighs all the fairies of Merionethfhire, were they every one, at this moment, making merry in my bed: the great poet you allude to was Lord Lyttleton. I know he was at Feftiniog, and am glad to find that accident. has conducted me to the fame inn, and even into the fame apartment. I have read what he wrote here.

Aye, he was always fcribbling, poor dear gentleman, when he was within doors, and when he was without, he ran up and down hills and dales, in such a manner, though neither young nor strong, that folks, hereabouts, thought him

a