35 



Bolution for the transport of this conglomerate boulder so far away from ita 

 pristine position. In the glacial epoch this island, and the whole of Europe, was 

 covered with a load of snow and ice, and if the land here was then, as was pro- 

 bable, elevated above the sea bed, then far away to the north an extensive glacier 

 connected with those known to have existed about the Snowdon range spread 

 its icy embraces over the country, and on the svirface of that glacier this 

 monstrous boulder was carried as a rock table, and finally deposited among the 

 moraine on the common formerly more scattered about than now apparent from 

 the changes that had taken place on the surface of the ground. Smaller stones 

 were easily moved away, but this giant could only be stirred by the gunpowder 

 that had been applied to it. There was a slight smell of brimstone in Mr. 

 Curley'a paper, which had been easily dissipated, but he (Mr. Lees) understood 

 that the feeling in the neighbourhood was so strong as to the demoniacal power 

 that had thrown the great boulder in its present place, that certain residents 

 of the vicinity had threatened to attend this day and contradict any suggestion 

 that opposed the popular belief (laughter). No friend of the devil's had, however, 

 put in an appearance on his behalf, and so he trusted that superstition was not 

 so rife among the residents of the health-giving Springs of Llandrindod as 

 had been so confidently asserted (applause). Whether they accepted Mr. Curley'a 

 explanation of iceberg transport, or his own along the surface of an extensive 

 glacier in the great icy epoch, there could be no doubt that the enormous boulder 

 stone they saw before them was placed there by natural means. Marks of the 

 evasion made by moving ice was clearly traceable on many of the rocks around 

 Snowdon and other Cambrian mountains, as well as among the Grampians of 

 Scotland, so that the former presence of extensive glaciers among the lofty 

 eminences of Britain was a fact not to be controverted. 



This ended a lecture and discussiott that caused no slight excitement 

 among the visitors to Llandrindod, and deserves to be recorded in its history, 

 for assuredly such an assemblage had never before gathered around that mystio 

 "stone of power" to hear its secrets revealed; and the cloud of superstitions 

 and even ludicrous legendary lore that has so long held possession of its guide- 

 books must now give place to sounder scientific matter. 



The picturesque Blacksmith's Dingle was then visited. Here a small 

 stream runs over theWenlock Shale ridges very prettily, and from this slaty shale 

 issues the Chalybeate spring of Llandrindod ; and lower down a filtering of 

 water oozes up, which is the celebrated "Eye- water," as remarkable as any 

 of them, if the wonders related of it can be depended upon. From the Rock 

 House Hotel below some gentlemen visited the high and pretty, and shady 

 wooded bank above a wide bend of the river Ithon. Here the " Lover's Leap" 

 is situated, which apparently wants a legend. We commend the subject to a 

 poetical visitor. Gradually all strolled over the common past the so-called 

 "Druidical circle" to the Pump House HoteL Here, during the few minutes 

 which intervened before dinner, Dr. Bull distributed to such of the memberi 



B 2 



