is, to make, as it were, our abfent correfpondent enjoy what we have enjoyed, profit by his pleafures, by making them our own, if ever we take the fame route, and efcape the inconveniences, which he warns us to avoid. In this character of a friendly direction-poft I may be useful: Take courage, therefore, and accompany me once more into the woods of Mahuntleth, and let me inftruct you, by the way, that this is a little market town, in northern Cambria, in the road to Abereft with, a town in fome reputation, as a bathing place you know. If you, who, I know, pay an annual visit to the sea nymphs, fhould direct your watery courfe hitherward, I charge you in the name of nature, to make a day's pause at Mahuntleth, where you will find good accommodation, and dedicate it to wood nymphs, in the filvan scenes I have been defcribing: remembering, only, to take the horse road to Dolgelthy; another place abounding in vegetable beauty. The diftance from Mahuntleth to the last named town, this bridle way, fcarcely feven miles, not to be complained of with a steed you have faith in, and even if the horse had forfeited your confidence fifty times, while your eyes escaped you would forgive him for fhewing you fo many delicious fcenes: what is better, he would annihilate the fenfe

is

of

of danger, by making you forget both his errors, and those of every body elfe. Do you not perceive that my fancy is again kindling? An hazardous time to re-enter the woods. Is it not to be feared, I shall lofe myself in them? Suppose then I allow myfelf time to cool before I venture again into this wilderness of fweets? It may be as well perhaps for us both. Adieu then.

LETTER V.

TO THE SAME.

North Wales:

AFTER about two hours riding, in this charming country, you come to a spot so exquifitely delightful, that it seems impoffible for a poet, or a lover, whether his mistress is nature, or a pretty woman, or indeed for any traveller, who has enough of romance to keep in motion those paffions, which, like wholesome breezes, fhould always ventilate to prevent the mafs from stagnating.-It is in fhort, impoffible for any but the fordid worldling, not to paufe in this place, and with to pass the evening of his days in its vicinity:

"Ducere folicita jucunda oblivia vitæ.”

.

It is a part of the valley defended by an immense screen of many coloured rocks behind, out of which springs, here and there, a few hardy fhrubs and flowers; ftupendous crags, which the hurricanes have thrown from a ridge of mountains, whofe mutilated heads are ftill in the clouds: Some of these crags have been stopped midway, where, though they menace a farther defcent, when affailed by the next ftorm, they have ftood the fiege of the elements, unmoved, for ages: Other vaft and mishapen maffes have found their way to the bottom, and lie at the fide of the road-to the left of which is a broad ftream of water, here foaming into natural cascades, and there difplaying a bafon fo untroubled and limpid, that you languish to bathe in it; which you might very fecurely do, for it is, in many places, fo fhaded, and, if you follow the labyrinths, will guide you to retreats, where, lofing the foot path, you reach a recefs where the Graces might bathe without alarm. Had Thomson's Mufidora chofen this fpot fhe might have

"Stripp'd her beauteous limbs.

"To tafte the lucid coolness of the flood."

without the leaft hazard of being furprized by a Damon-unless his refidence, in the neighbourhood, gave him knowledge of the fecret

haunt

haunt or, as in Damon's Cafe, he was remarkably fortunate. For Damons there are, even here, I can affure you, and Mufidoras too, amongst the peafantry in particular, the fwains being as hale, happy a fet of round faced, rofy cheeked youths, and the damfels as well featured a race of white toothed, black-eyed, red lipped laffes, as in any part of the world.

I fhould not omit to tell you, that the natural cafcades, and tranfparent baths, before defcrib ed, are fo tinted by the refractions of the light and fhade, and the variegated rocks, spars, fhells, &c. at the bottom, that the water itself, as well as the flooring, if you will give me leave fo to call it, exhibit all the colours of the rainbow, in no lefs inimitable dies. This is a natural beauty, I never faw imitated by the painters; perhaps, the imitation of it is impracticable: indeed, I do not remember ever to have seen it, in nature, equally perfect as in this valley. Nor is it lefs worthy note, that the foliage of the fine woody mountains that rife above thefe water-works of nature, in nobly fublime contraft of the no less natural rock-work, on the oppofite fide, is not lefs diverfified than the ftream. The vegetation is of every hue of which green is capable;

and

and an adequate idea of its effect must be as difficult for the pen as the pencil. Let it be added, that your eye, befide the already mentioned beauties, takes in the celebrated CaerIdris, one of the loftieft of the Welch mountains, the fummit of which, like its famous rivals Snowden and Plinlimmon, is covered with eternal fnow: while numberlefs flocks of fheep, whofe fleeces, bleached by the wind blowing fresh from the heavens, are scarcely lefs white than that fnow-feed, frolick, and repofe, on its ample fides: The eye aches to view the top of this mountain giant, and the brain turns dizzy as it furveys, by a fudden transition, the depth of the valley below. Habit, however, familiarifes both thefe natural wonders; and yet, they feem for ever new.

My imagination was at work, to build just such a comfortable refidence on this spot, as might hold all thofe whom I loved, and who. had tafte to share with me its beauties: amongst thefe, you, my dear friend, were not forgotten. The above ingenious artist had already confecrated an apartment to you, fuch as muft needs have given you content. I had allotted another, adjoining to yours, to our charming friend, Mrs. L. S. whofe fpirit fo accords with yours; and permit me the flattery of thinking

VOL. I.

D

with