At 12 a. m. we arrived at Chepstow, and af ber having inspected the interesting 

 ruins of the castle, we took coach and proceeded along the Monmouth road to 

 Piercefield. Henry Clay, Esq., the owner and occupier of this romantic spot, 

 having heard that we were about to hold a meeting at Chepstow, had most kindly 

 invited us to visit his grounds and partake of luncheon, but had expressed at the 

 same time his regret that his absence from home would deprive him of the plea- 

 sure of acting as our guide on the occasion. In the absence of Mr. Clay, his son- 

 in-law, the Kev, Walter Baskerville Mynors, was good enough to undertake that 

 office, 80 as soon as we had entered the drive at the lodge gates we were met by 

 that gentleman, who at once conducted us to the entrance of the walks at the 

 upper part of the ground. 



These delightful walks are about three miles in extent, and lead through over- 

 hanging woods which, with the rocks beneath them, form one of the main features 

 in this part of the Wye scenery. They are situated about 290 feet above the 

 river, and commands views of Chepstow, the castle, and neighbourhood, and the 

 scenery on the opposite side of the valley, to which our attention was particularly 

 drawn as we arrive at the alcove, castle view, platform, grotto, &c. Halting 

 stations exist in the way, where openings in the dense foliage enable us to enjoy 

 "the pick " of the scenery. The yew, the beech, the elm, with other trees, form a 

 pleasant shade the whole way, while the ivy and the lesser periwinkle Vinca 

 minor carpeted the ground beneath them. 



One or two remarkable trees we"met with on the way deserve to be here men- 

 tioned, for instance, a wych-elm, Vlmus montana, near the castle view, which 

 stands in the centre of a spot rather raised above the surrounding ground and 

 encircled by a belt of laurels, and like a mighty giant seems to guard the pass close 

 by. It was difficult for us to arrive at a correct idea of the height of this splen- 

 did tree, as it was surrounded by others of considerable growth, but we ascertained 

 that its girth, after making allowance for two strong ivy stems that were attached to 

 the trunk, measured 19 feet, which rather exceeds that of the Moor Court wych 

 elm. One of its lower branches is unfortunately broken off, otherwise it is a 

 well-formed healthy-looking tree, and may continue to thrive a century longer. In 

 the ancient statutes enjoining the use of the bow the wych-elm is mentioned, and 

 not the common elm, Ulmus compeslris, showing that it was then well known to 

 consist of tougher stufi than that of its sister of the plain. Loudon on instau* 

 cing another purpose for which the wood of this tree is used, mentions that in 

 some of the midland counties, even at the present day, a little cavity is made in 

 the churn to receive a small portion of the wych-hazel, without the which 

 dairymaids imagine that they would not be able to get the butter to come. 



Then another tree I may aUude to is the beech at the " Half-way seat." It is 

 rooted in the lime- stone rock, and is a strong limbed and well grown tree, and 

 much resembles in its form a sturdy oak, for which it might readily be mistaken 

 in mid- winter. Its girth at five feet from the ground measured 14 feet ; many 

 " in memoriams " of Jones, Brown, and other such well known names are in- 

 scribed on its trunk, one of which bears the date of 1769, 



