commonly seen reposing comfortably before the cottage fire, with the children of the peasant sporting around him.

As the evening closed, we wound down the hills of Bwlch-y-Pawl and Rhyd-y-Bont towards Bala, the moon rising behind us in full-orbed majesty, and replacing the gaudy tints of day which had faded away, by her own mild and yellow light. Before we reached the lake of Bala, night had fallen, and displayed a scene of glory that awakened every pleasing emotion of the soul. It was the night described by Homer in his famous simile, or rather by his admirable translator; who, perhaps, in this instance has excelled his original:

"As when the moon, resplendent lamp of night, "Q'er heaven's clear azure spreads her sacred light, "When not a breath disturbs the deep serene, "And not a cloud o'ercasts the solemn scene; "Around her throne the vivid planets roll, "And stars unnumber'd gild the glowing pole; "O'er the dark trees a yellower verdure shed, "And tip with silver every mountain's head; "There shine the vales, the rocks in prospect rise, "A flood of glory bursts from all the skies.”* With the addition of one more image, a sheet of water, the description would have been hap

* Ως δ' ότ' εν εξανω αδέξα φαεινήν αμφι σεληνην.-Il. viii. 552.

pily appropriate to the picture before us, which, indeed, was strikingly beautiful. To our left hand lay the lake of Bala, (along the margin of which we walked) stretching four miles in length, and almost a mile in breadth; its surface, calm and unruffled, reflecting, as from a mirror, the placid beams of the moon. To the right all was wrapt in darkness, by the deep. woods which rooted themselves down from the hill quite to the road. The mountains, swelling gradually from the lake, bounded the prospect all around, their gloomy recesses which were in the shadow, finely contrasted by the mantle of light that covered their exalted summits.

Amid a scene like this, it was impossible to remain unaffected. Inspiration breathed around, and every object awakened to enthusiasm. Separating, therefore, from each other, we indulged, in solitude and silence, those emotions which were most congenial to each of us. I shall not tell you to what speculations the witchery of the picture led me; they were such, however, as occasioned a sentiment of regret when we arrived at Bala, though the Bull inn, in addition to admirable accommodations, has afforded us a dish of gwiniads, and a leg of mountain

mutton.

Your's, &c.

R. W.

THE

HE town of Bala, though one of the most considerable in North-Wales, in point of size and population, holds out no objects of curiosity, and therefore did not detain us beyond the noon of the 21st, when we set out for Ruthin. For two miles the road gradually ascends, and then presents a noble

view of Bala Pool, seen from end to end, inclosed on all sides by gently rising mountains, finely backed with the rocky heights of the Arran, and the more distant crags of Cader-Idris. From hence, for five or six miles, it sinks into tameness, till the great turnpike-road leading from Llanrwst to Corwen crosses it at right angles. Near this point is an object well worth the trouble of deviating a mile from the direct track, to see Glynn bridge, a scene which you may recollect I described to you last year.* Desirous that my companions should have the same satisfaction with myself, we turned into the Llanrwst road, and pursuing it for about a mile, arrived at this curious specimen of modern masonry, with the mountain torrent rushing at the depth of one hundred feet below the arch; a partial, but heavy shower had swelled its waters to an unusual height, and given additional interest to the picture.

1

Continuing along the banks of this violent stream, which displays the same features as the other Alpine rivers I have described-rock, and cataract, and wood, we followed its meanders till it again brought us to the Ruthin road,

See Walk through Wales, part i. p. 165.