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HOURS AMONG ROCKS AND CLOUDS, 

 Plinlimmon. — Day the Second. 

 By Edwin Lees, F.L.S. , 



(Continued from page 193.) 



" I seek the birth-place of a native stream 



All hail, ye mountains ! hail, thou morning light ! 



Better to breathe upon this aery height 



Than pass in needless sleep from dream to dream." 



Wordsworth. 



There is something extremely stimulating to the feelings in the din and bustle 

 preparatory to a jaunt. As the skies, the Horses, or the baggage are successively 

 examined, and one messenger rapidly succeeds another, a fidgetty excitement 

 urges on the limbs to supererogatory movements, which it would be wisdom to 

 restrain were that within the bounds of possibility. Then, just as every thing is 

 ready, something is forgotten, and all is again thrown into confusion — anything 

 but the right comes first to hand, and at last Patience herself feels inclined to 

 imagine that a personage ever hovering strangely about on such occasions, has 

 put his paw — or his hoof upon it ! Such things will occur at home under the 

 best regulations ; and, with a dozen assistant " aids to reflection," they will occur 

 even at an inn. 



I shall not stop to discuss the merits of a breakfast which I shall suppose eaten, 

 but at once prepare for a bivouac upon the breast of a mountain, for the landlord 

 (an authority above all books upon such a subject) recommends a lunch to' be 

 taken as a counterpoise to the levity of the atmosphere among the bogs and rocks, 

 while a pocket-pistol is indispensable in a territory where every inhabitant reeks 

 with a superabundant distillation of mountain dew. I had found, on inquiry, 

 that it was nearly twelve miles from Llanidloes to the summit of Plinlimmon, 

 and therefore engaged a Welch pony to shake me to the foot of the mountain, 

 with another bearing a guide-post beside me, as I concluded it would be occa- 

 sionally necessary to point him (he could scarcely do more) in the route I wished 

 to take up the course of the Severn to its primary fountain. In spite of every 

 protestation and objurgation, though comparatively fine in the valley, I perceived 

 a distant mist lurking about and ambulating upon the tops of the farther hills, and 

 consequently, leaving nothing to chance, held my macintosh in reserve, should 

 an encounter with the chill videttes of the tempest be unavoidable ; and, thus 

 " prepared for squalls," slowly progressed round the heavy, dark, and turreted 

 market-hall that seems thrown stupidly in the way for travellers to tumble against 

 in the dark, and left Llanidloes over the one-arched bridge that bestrides the 

 Severn below the wier and mill at its western extremity. 



