and ammunition, making four hundred prisoners. The royalists afterwards dispossessed him. While Lord Byron was Governor, it was besieged by General Mytton, 1646, and surrendered upon an honourable capitulation. In 1648, General Mytton and Colonel Mason were besieged in the town by Sir John Owen, who hearing that Colonels Carter and Twisleton were advancing to relieve it, raised the siege and marched to oppose them. The parties met at Llandegai; Sir John was defeated and made prisoner, and North Wales soon after submitted to the Parliament. Vid. Whitelock.

This Castle, like its rival in strength and grandeur, is going fast to decay; and the dilapidating hand of Time promises soon to deprive the country of one of its principal ornamental objects.

In ruminating on scenes like these, contemplation takes a retrospective turn; the changes they have undergone forcibly obtrude themselves; the mind is involuntarily hurried away to the periods of their decline and grandeur; and their prosperous and disastrous days pass in solemn review before us.

I reflected on the events, that led to its erection; the military prowess and courage of the Princes, and the invincible spirit that characterised their followers. The violent efforts and obstinate struggles that Liberty here made, for centuries, before power and despotism could awe it into submission. Hordes of these simple mountaineers appeared, descending from their fastnesses in the hills, giving battle to more numerous and well-appointed troops;

and with an ardour and enthusiasm, inspired by the desire of living free, easily overcoming them, and with tumultuous clamour marching to victory and to triumph.

Again these indignant, because outraged Britons, appeared, with their councils divided by internal cabals, and foreign bribery, in their turn discomfited: driven from their strong fortresses, and forced to defend their native birth-right, in want and nakedness, amidst the deep ravines of their barren mountains.

After these portentous and devastating scenes, the horizon has again cleared up, the atmosphere become serene, and the most perfect calm ensued. These plains of carnage have again become the habitations of innocence and peace. These fortresses (the natives' best hope) whose noble defenders had been reduced to famine, despair, and death, have: echoed to the festive noise of banquetting and hospitality. The liberal board has smoaked with the richest viands, and the horn gone round with the choicest mead. The hills have resounded with the melodious harp, and the nimble feet tripped lightly to the song of victory and of freedom. Period after period arose, distinguished by artifice on the one hand, and determined bravery on the other; till intrigue got the better of courage, and perseverance overcame a divided spirit; and Cambrian independence and Cambrian Liberty gave the expiring groan together, under the walls of Caer

narvon.

"Proud Pile! thy tempest-beaten towers, still rear
Their heads sublime, and to the angry storm
Bid bold defiance; though their aged brows
Bear visible the marks of stern decay,
While Superstition, with a frensied eye,
And wildering fear, that horrid forms surveys,
Affright the lonely wanderer from thy walls.
Far hence thou busy world, nor here intrude
Thy sounds of uproar, arguing much of fear,
And impotent alarms. Behold, fond man,
This feeble monument of mortal pride,
Where time and desolation reign supreme
With mildest havock; o'er the solemn scene
In silence pause; and mark this pictur'd truth;
That not alone, the proudest works of man
Must perish, but, as this tow'ring fabric,
That lifts its forehead to the storm, till time
And the wild winds shall sweep it from its base,
Pass but a few short hours; the dream of life

Is fled; and sinks to the cold grave man's faded form."

The vision that passed before me, led me to contemplate the temporary nature of earthly power, and the instability of all human things. This nation, for centuries unconquerable, we see yielding with the most suppliant submission to that very power it hated; receiving with a cordial welcome, those laws and constitutions it despised and permitting its manners and its language to bow before that of its detested victors.

Thus, my Friend, that for which Princes fight. and Heroes die, is no more than a phantom in the

passing wind; and they themselves are like the insects of a day, that flutter in the sun to display their colours, and shew their short-lived consequence in its beams; which the breeze of evening wafts from the theatre of life, and hurries to the next stage of existence.

Yours,

J. E.

LETTER VIII

DEAR SIR,

Caernarvon.

It is surprising, with how much greater facility some travellers obtain the objects of their desire than others. To them the most elevated mountains become accessible on all sides, and in all weathers; and a journey to the peak of Snowdon is as easily performed, as that from Caernarvon to Bangor. Almost every person that has made the Tour of North Wales, has obtained the enviable prospect from the elevated summit of Snowdon. I was not so fortunate, having waited a fortnight in vain, for an opportunity to make the ascent. Though it was now the season, when favourable weather might have been expected, yet almost incessant rains, and cloudy skies, baffled every attempt. A gentleman we met at the hotel, had been waiting six weeks prior to our arrival; and, after several attempts proving abortive, strongly disappointed, relinquished the design.

Mr. Pennant observes, " It is seldom the traveller can get a proper day to ascend the mountain, even when it appears clear ; by the attraction of clouds, the summits become enveloped with clouds, when they have appeared, a few minutes before, at a very great

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