On my arrival at the Beaufort Arms, I was informed that Mr. Gethen, who has the care of the Abbey, had been called from home on urgent business,-while the rest of his family in the house were sorrowing over a recent domestic affliction. Under these circumstances, I did not press for an attendant, but took the key of the door, to survey the Ruin at my own leisure.

In common with every other traveller, I entered this interesting pile with a mingled portion of awe and admiration, and not having before seen any monastic edifice (except Newstead Abbey, in Nottinghamshire, and that only at a distance, as I rode, during my apprenticeship, when a boy, at Nottingham, from thence to Mansfield), I fancied myself transported into the regions of ancient fable. I surveyed again and again every part of the fabric with the most insatiable curiosity; but not having read any part of its history, I wanted some intelligent guide to impart innumerable circumstances, which the contemplation of such a scene naturally excited in the mind of every curious and observant stranger.

I returned to Ragland highly gratified in having accomplished my wishes; but with ten-fold pleasure should I have enjoyed the scene, had there THEN been such an ACCOUNT as THIS I have NOW collected.

The Spring of the succeeding year fixing me as a Printer at Monmouth,-Tintern became the favorite object of my leisure moments, and many happy hours were passed under the shade of its venerable walls. As

the

the season proceeded, my house was much resorted to by the respectable travellers who passed thro' the town, requesting me to afford them any information relating to the beautiful scenes they intended to visit in Monmouthshire, which my residence might enable me to impart,―adding, that even fragments would prove acceptable. Encouraged by such solicitations, and finding my own mind in unison with their wishes, I immediately entered on the attempt to collect its scattered history. Mr. Page (then) of Dingatstow, favored me with Grose's Antiquities;-my correspondent in town supplied me (though not to be had in the regular trade) with Mr. Gilpin and Mr. Wheatley's works ;-while a gentleman near Monmouth lent me the books from whence the notices of the monastic orders were extracted. With these materials I went to press; and as the num ber of copies printed was small, they did not long remain unsold,

Finding that what I offered with respect was received with candour, I called forth new exertions to increase the value of a second edition. For this purpose, a friend at Worcester College, Oxford, translated and sent me the Charters of the Abbey, while Mr. Tanner supplied me with the outline of the history of the settlement of Tintern

I might almost confider myself as the "Senior Fellow" of WORCESTER,-for fince I first took my feat at the High Table of that College, the "good Fellows," who introduced me there, have either rufticated in the arms of beauty, or on preferment, or retired to that afylum which is the common lot of humanity,-but I shall ever cherish the utmost esteem for their difinterested friendship and hofpitality,

Tintern as a Wire and Iron Manufactory. A parent the most solicitous for the happiness of a favorite child, could not more assiduously labour to promote its welfare, than I have done, in endeavoring to increase the interest and value of this publication. I confess it would have been very easy to have swelled out the materials into a respectable volume, by printing them in a large character, with an extensive margin, and afterwards to have extended the sale price by expensive engravings; but I must here repeat my opinion, "that "information, to be useful, should come recommended "in the cheapest form possible," an axiom I have uever swerved from, in the topographical accounts of Monmouthshire I have presumed to lay before the Public.

I must now candidly confess, that I have little or no hope of adding to the value of any future edition of this collection. In my intervals of leisure, I have sought for information in every quarter where it was likely to be obtained; but I think that I have received from my friends, all that could be reasonably hoped for or exrected at their hands.

"Very derogatory," after the honors conferred on me at Oxford,fitting in great form on the right hand of the Senior,-with a gentleman advancing, cap in hand, pronouncing, at aweful distance, a Latin grace upon the meat, and enjoying the "flow of foul" in the Common-room, to defcend to the difpenfing of an "halfpenny-worth of wafers of all colours," at Monmouth, to any wight who might demand them of me.

THE

THE many beautiful objects which adorn the Banks of the Wye between Ross and Monmouth, deprive, in some degree, the Excursion from hence to Tintern of that interest it would otherwise hold in the Tour. But, by the Man of Observation, few parts of this county can be surveyed with indifference; for altho', as before remarked, this part of the river may fail to afford that pleasure which results from historic reflection, yet, the ever-varying face of Nature is sure to hold captive his attention. The thinking faculties, aroused and called into action during the preceding day, will now be relieved by these pastoral scenes, which are so peculiarly calculated to attune or compose the mind.

If by these Pages, which I here presume to lay before the Public, I shall have increased the pleasure of the "Excursion down the Wye," or rendered more interesting the "Visit to the Abbey," my intentions will be fully gratified. Interest or Vanity, those powerful incentives to action of the mind, have no share whatever in their publication; for I can with truth assure the. reader, that a desire to render the efforts of my Press subservient to the advantage of the county I reside in, has more forcibly urged me, than any idea of pecuniary reward for my labours.

Placed in the centre of scenes I attempt to celebrate, I have been induced, from the influence they hold over my mind, to devote those hours to which we give the

epithet

epithet of leisure, to the constant search for such inform ation, as would serve to advance my pages in the public estimation.

More satisfaction should I feel, could I persuade myself they were worthy of that patronage they aim at obtaining. Yet, in reviewing the labours of those who have preceded me in this attempt, they all seem to have felt the loss of that information I have to deplore. Even the historian of the county, Mr. Williams, whose talents and recommendations gave him access to the first families, has but little increased the public stock of information relating to this RUIN,-nor do we meet with more satisfaction in the expensive volumes of other authors.

My own intentions, indeed, claim not originally for their object. All they aim at is, "to collect the diffe"rent accounts of the most respectable Writers on the

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Abbey, and afterwards to add, or incorporate with them, such other local anecdote, as tradition, or "scarce and curious books, and manuscripts, supply."

In such a county as this we are treating of, every foot of which is rendered interesting by History, the time allotted by Writers of Travels for its investigation, can only excite the smile of the native. What can be expected from the information obtained in a pleasure boat, or the usual stoppage at an inn, without any acquaintance in the place whose history they presume to illustrate? Far be it from me to insult the patience of the Public, with observations of those works which