76 WANDERINGS AND PONDERINGS. 



politely to the old woman (for the keen respect the keen) ; and 

 having- done so, he hung his tail, being much humbled, and 

 walked off.'' 



This summer seat of the Duke of Newcastle is four miles 

 from the Devil's Bridge ; it is tastily situated near the chasm 

 of the Ystwith, the back of the chasm opposite the house 

 being very high, and beautifully wooded. Nature has done 

 much more for this pleasant place than is generally admitted ; 

 it is a complete farce to attribute all its beauties to the hand 

 of man, as is usually done by the eulogists of Hafod: it is 

 true, the original owner planted a great many trees, and laid 

 out many winding roads and paths, and built an odd looking 

 white house : but nature gave him the glittering Ystwith, the 

 wooded chasm, and that wild irregularity of surface which con- 

 stitutes the chief beauty of all romantic scenery. The day was 

 excessively hot ; those were indeed melting moments which we 

 spent in marching to Hafod ; and it was most delightful to lie 

 at full length beneath the huge sycamores in front of the house, 

 and rest awhile from our toilsome walk. These sycamores 

 have been planted in fours, each four being so close together 

 that they have actually united, and appear as single trees. 

 The efTect is very good ; the prodigious head borne by each 

 group is quite imposing. A like good taste has pervaded the 

 other operations of planting ; the line foliage of the copper 

 beech is beautifully exhibited by these trees being placed 

 singly, and in front of masses of foliage tinted with the most 

 opposite hues. After thoroughly satisfying ourselves with 

 Hafod, we returned by the Devil's Bridge to Pontnewydd ; and 

 right gladly did we welcome its bridges, its rivers, its mill, its 

 chasm, its waterfalls, its lone and treeless hostelry, its mutton, 

 and its blue potatoes. 



a Mr. Hemingwaj', author of " A Panorama of North Wales," appends to his 

 account of tliis transaction the following excellent remark : " It must be said 

 that Satan beliaved very honourably in this case, for he kept his word, — which 

 is more than mm always do." 



