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The situation of Caractacus's camp is certainly in Shropshire, both according to the boundary of Offa and the present division of that county from Radnorshire; but from the high grounds, above the river Teme in the latter county, you have a fine view of the difficult access to the situation where the Britons encamped. The camp is now called the Gaer Ditches, from the evident marks of an entrenchment still visible. That this was the situation, described by Tacitus, there can be, on the whole, little doubt, as it presents a precipitous front, and capable of a fine defence. The river, especially if swollen by a recent flood, seemed likely to present an obstacle to the Roman progress, while the nature of the country behind facilitated the escape of Caractacus, when he saw the day was lost.

It was on the opposite side of this county, that Llywelyn ab Gruffydd drew up his little army, with the view of contesting the fate of a battle, on which the existence of his life and power depended; but, having crossed the Wye into Brecknockshire, he was surrounded in a wood, while waiting the coming of some of his friends, and there became a prey to the enemy.

I shall here beg leave to observe, that this county, though so little known to fame, has had some names of note worthy of being recorded: such were Dr. John Davydd Rhys, and Mr. Lewis, the author of "The Ancient History of Great Britain." More recently, the Rev. author of "Celtic Researches" reflects an honour on this his native county, and, for his sake, the foul disgrace of Aberedw, as his native spot, should be at length wiped away. The translator of Aneurin* I also conceive to pertain to the same county, and one of your most respected correspondents, and a zealous friend of the Cambrian Societies, is a clergyman of Radnorshiret. The venerable bard of Maelenith is not the least ornament of his country, being possessed of a genius and an ability, which would do credit to a more enlarged circle than that in which he moves.

Prejudices may exist against any country; but we should acknowledge that every district has some excellencies, while there is none without defects. What I have done with respect to Radnorshire I wish some of your correspondents would do as to other counties or particular tracts. I may, perhaps, attempt something farther if this should succeed. A history of Radnorshire is

The Rev. William Probert, of Alnwick.-ED.

The Rev. W. J. Rees, of Cascob, in whom the cause of Welsh literature has always found an active friend and supporter.-ED.

in contemplation, if the gentleman who proposes it meet with due encouragement. The history of Monmouthshire and Brecknockshire we have from able hands; and the Historical Tour through Pembrokeshire, by Mr. Fenton, is no mean performance, any more than the History of Cardiganshire by Mr. Meyrick. But when shall we have a history of the interesting county of Glamorgan? I am, Sir, your's truly,

IEUAN AP BRYCHAN.

THE MISCELLANIST.-No. XIII.

MODERN STATE OF WALES.

To the EDITOR of the CAMBRO-BRITON.

SIR,-In a work, like your Miscellany, devoted to the promotion of Cambrian Literature, it will not be deemed, I presume, inappropriate to offer some remarks on the present state of the Principality. The crude notions, advanced too frequently respecting poor Cambria even by men of some emience, it is hoped, are now pretty well exploded, and that her sons in general are not now to be treated with such contempt, as to make a respectable Cambrian" hide his diminished head" at the mention of this country's name, when he finds himself at a distance from home. An Anglo-Saxon friend of mine once observed, as he thought very shrewdly, that, as the Welsh are made little of by other people, they take care to make the most they can of themselves. I wish there were more truth in the remark, as it has respect to those of the sons of Cambria, who are capable of doing honour to their native land. There are certain views of the subject, that would induce us to wish all distinctions done away and to blend in one all the inhabitants of the British Isles in matters of general literature as well as politics and civilization. But why should not Wales as well as Scotland have some institutions of her own, to distinguish her sons, by calling forth their talent and genius, and embodying whatever may give dignity to the descendants of the primordial Britons? There can be no doubt that many will follow, if spirited individuals continue to lead the way; and what more auspicious names can there be, than Bishop Burgess, Lord Dynevor, and Sir Watkin William Wynn? The ancient institutions, recently revived, will soon afford convincing proofs, hat the genins of former days is not extinguished, while we

endeavour both to cherish a regard for the institutions of our ancestors, and to cultivate compositions in the modern language of the British empire relative to our national traditions and remains. Let all ancient prejudices of a hostile nature be buried in eternal oblivion, while the Cambrian is gratified in preserving the historical and poetical relics of his ancestors, and encouraging modern genius and native talent. We may thus emancipate ourselves, and enforce our claims to the respect due to the country of Pennant, and of Johnes. The project of a Cambrian Plutarch is in connexion with my subject, and, it is hoped, will not be abandoned. But it is not the literary cultivation of Wales only that I plead for, but the efforts of native genius in every shape and form that can conduce either to ornament or utility. Let the agriculture and the mechanic arts of Cambria meet with due encouragement, and let the advantages of our interesting country be duly improved. What has been already done may be extended to other instances. The iron works of Glamorgan are now become the most celebrated perhaps in the world, and in that county, as well as in the counties contiguous to it, the manufacture of coarse woollens and blankets might be carried on to a great extent, as they have been long since upon a small scale. If the capital of our gentry were embarked in speculations of this nature, though perhaps some loss might be sustained in the first instance, the use of machinery, which might all he had at home, would prove as productive upon the streams of our vallies as in other parts of the island. One branch of manufactures, that of flannels, has been carried on with spirit in Montgomeryshire, and some good specimens of home-made cloth have been produced in Glamorgan, Brecknock, Radnor, and Merionethshire. In point of weaving and milling, the Welsh makers would soon improve, and, if capital were employed, they would also improve in the finishing of their fabrics.

The improvements in many of the Welsh towns have been very great within the last thirty years. The progress of education has also been considerable. New or improved roads, train-ways, and navigations are numerous in South Wales; and the ports of the Bristol Channel, in consequence of the collieries, iron and copper works, are frequented by a great number of vessels, as are the ports of Caernarvon, Bangor, and Amlwch, in North Wales. The importance of Milford and the celebrity of Tenby and Abeyrstwith, as bathing places, are well known. J. H.

VOL. II.

3 N

HU GADARN.*

THE following wood-cut is the copy of a Bas Relief found under the Church of Notre Dame, in Paris, in the year 1711, and which was first published by Montfaucon, in his "L'Antiquité Expliquée," from whence it was copied, in the "Early History of the Cymry," by the Rev. Peter Roberts, who considers the Hesus of Gaul, and the Hu of the Cymry, to have been one person, and that the attitude, in which he is here represented, "denotes either clearing the ground or pruning, either of which is," according to the Triads, "suitable to the character of Hu Gadarn.”

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The Editor is indebted to Mr. Cathrall, Author of the "History of North Wales," now coming out in numbers, for the use of this wood-cut, which has already appeared in his publication.

AWEN CYMRU.

A'th rodd yw athrwydd Awen.-EDM. PRYS.

ARWYRAIN MADAWG MAB MAREDUDD.
GWALCHMAI AI CANT*.

Arddwyrëav deyrn eurgyrn addawd,
Eisor cor cwblddawn, estrawn drallawd,

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Drablawdd fosawd.

Ag ysid arnad àr neb vwy gnawd,

Na mwy gròni aur nog erwaint vlawd :
Ni rydd rhwysg eryr

Hyd troed o'i dymhyr
Er ovyn herwyr

Yn herw ystawd:

Nid haws i'th esgar dy gosbawd

No chafael tywyn ni bo tywawd;

Nid oes gysdedlydd
I hael hevelydd
Or á byrth bedydd

A fydd a fawd:

Nid ydyw yn vyw,

Ni ddaw, ni ddoddyw,

Ni chynan, ni chlyw,

Ni chlud molawd,

Hyd pan ddel Cynan, cain addvwyndawd,
A Chadwaladr Mawr, mur pob ciwdawd.
Arch. of Wales, vol. i. p. 200.

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