Still urges, and a fiery deluge, fed

With ever burning sulphur, unconsumed:
Such place eternal justice had prepared
For those rebellious.

On the indifinite horrors of this prospect, fancy may ponder even to madness, and find no end of "horrible imaginings." Perhaps the exclusion of hope is the most masterly stroke in the picture.

No Poet had ever such occasion to deal in the vast, the obscure, and the incomprehensible as Milton. He winged his flight to fame by a course, which few before him had so much as touched on. He adventured on the unknown world. The attempt to describe Heaven and Hell, the combats of angelic spirits, nay the Divinity Itself, was the mark of a genius inconceivably lofty. His works abound with the sublimity, that arises from amplitude and power, from terror and privation. The second book of Paradise Lost is a composition uninterruptedly

sublime.

Much of the sublimity of natural scenes arises from obscurity and privation. The Ocean is a sublime object, not solely on account of amplitude or force, but also from its obscurity, and the terror it inspires. With many the idea of its profundity and power is so strong and alarming, that the sense of the sublime becomes too acute and overwhelming, and degenerates into fear. So also the sky, studded with stars, or as Shakespeare expresses it, "thick inlaid with patterns of bright gold" is a sublime object. But its grandeur arises quite as much from obscurity, as from dilation.

We view it in a season of silence and

repose, when

man

man rests from his labours, and sleeps, when the greatest part of the brute creation cower and are inactive, when objects are dimly seen, and sounds are seldom heard, and nature veils herself as it were from mortal observation.

The night, which throws so much uncertainty on all surrounding objects, carries with it a nameless awe, a not unpleasing terror, which insensibly penetrates the whole frame, and mingles itself with all the thoughts and feelings.

That object, whatever it be, causes the deepest and most sublime emotions, which confounds the apprehensions, and surpasses the powers of the understanding. For this reason a cataract, to which neither beginning nor termination is seen, is a very sublime object. That of the Devil's Bridge in Cardiganshire is a cataract of this nature. It is not one bold and apparent mass of waters, which fall from the top of a rock to the bottom; but rather a long continued rush or rapide, very precipitous, impeded by fragments of rock, and often overshadowed by trees. Its termination is not seen; it rushes down into a dell beyond the utmost reaches of the eye. The beginning of the fall is also concealed by lofty rock and intervening foliage. This privation produces emotions which are peculiar to itself.* It is a spot, where a man might reap abundantly the pleasures of the imagination. He may bury himself in the gloom of woods, he may repose on the edge of fearful precipices, he may climb the lofty mountain, or he may retire to the most awful reces

ses,

* The grandeur of this cataract scene is much violated by the ap; pearance of the Havod Arms Inn, on the height. It were well could this building be concealed by means of planting.

ses, he may survey the eternal rushing of two cataracts,* he may listen at a distance to their lessened roar, or he may go where no sound shall reach his ear, and where the primeval silence seems yet unbroken. The loneliness of nature is tremendous. But the man of taste and sensibility courts it, and is amply repaid by that rapt enthusiasm that profound devotion, known

By the still horror, and the blisful tear
With which thou siezest on the soul of man.

The Principality of Wales, is divided into two parts, which contains together twelve Counties, viz: Anglesea, Carnarvon, Denbigh, Flint, Merioneth and Montgomery, in North Wales: Brecknock, Cardigan, Carmarthen, Glamorgan, Pembroke and Radnor, in South Wales. The

* There are two cataracts. That near the bridge is a long rush of waters, foaming and tumbling over points of rock and mountain, and descending into a very deep and narrow valley. It soon joins another stream, which at the distance of two miles is precipitated from a great height, I believe, in one sheet, with little break or obstacle. This is a bold majestic fall. The hills around these noble scenes are by no means high in themselves, but are piled on each other in the most romantic forms, and present features which charm the fancy by their beauty and variety. They are mostly clothed with underwood, and sometimes present masses of lofty trees, or of foliage waving and impending over naked rocks. The scenery around the Devil's bridge is perhaps the most delightful combination of beauty and ma jesty to be found in Wales,

he's Head to

The extent of the whole from Great Breaksea Point is 124 miles. Its breath is very unequal. From St. David's head to the extremity of Brecknockshire is 90, and from Aberystwith to the northernmost point of Radnorshire only 38 miles.

Wales contains 6750 square miles, being nearly exactly the size of the four counties of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset united.

The peninsula of Pwlhelly to the north, and St David's Head on the south inclose a noble bay of the sea, called Cardigan Bay; besides which are St Brides and Carmarthen Bays, and the celebrated haven of Milford.

Among the native rivers of Wales, the principal are the Dee, Clwd, Elwy, Conway, Mouddach, Desunny, Douay, Tivy, Towy, Cothy, Tave, Usk, Wye, Irvon, Ithon, Vernwy and Severn. Lakes and pools are numerous: the most noted are Plenlynn, Llanberris and Llangorse.

The aspect of the country is universally interesting. The character of North Wales is wild, solemn and sublime; that of South Wales, beautiful, rich and magnificent. Features of one however are often found in the other.

Wales contains four cities, and sixty market Towns, not one of which is remarkable either for beauty or extent. The cities are all inconsiderable, and the most flourishing of the Towns are Carmarthen, Cardigan, Cardiff, Swansea, Haverford West, Brecon, Dolgellau, Newtown, Welchpool, Ruthin and Carnarvon. The Principality returns to Parliament 24 Members; one for each county, and for the several Towns of New Radnor, Bre

con,

1

con, Cardiff, Carmarthen, Cardigan, Haverford West, Pembroke, Montgomery, Flint, Denbigh, Carnarvon, and Beaumaris.

The places visited for bathing or drinking waters are Abergelly, Bangor, Barmouth, Aberystwith, Llandrinded, Tenby and Swansea.

Wales produces abundance of the ores of lead, copper and even silver, of which the principal mines are in Anglesea and Glamorganshire. Coal is also dug in the latter country. Horses, black cattle, sheep, game and river fish are plentiful and in high repute.

From Wales are two passages to Ireland; one from Holyhead, and the other from Milford haven: the former is the shortest and safest.

The high roads are sound and level, and much better kept than formerly. The houses of accommodation are also more numerous, and better supplied. Twenty years ago, families, who travelled in Wales, had always reason to complain of dirt, meanness, and poverty in the Inns, and of danger and affright on the roads; but the influx of commercial as well as fashionable company has since that period produced a striking alteration. New Inns are every where built or building; guides are established to the natural curiosities; paths are cut up the mountains ; and the precipices are walled out from the roads. Many parts of the country however, visited only by the enterprizing or philosophic traveller, retain yet their natural wildness and freedom from art.

The Welch are an original people, not at all blended with, or similar to any other nation. They have little affection for foreigners, whom they regard with jealousy.

Having