42 dolgelle to machynlleth. 



The Blue Lion. 



As I was anxious to afcend Cader Idris, and, 

 although the weather had become very unfavour- 

 able, as I iliould lofe all opportunity of doing it if I 

 proceeded any farther at prefent, I flopped at the 

 Blue Lion, a fmall public houfe, a Httle beyond the 

 pool of the Three Pebbles. It had begun to rain 

 very hard a little before my arrival, and, as it was 

 then late in the day, I detenriined to remain here 

 all night, in the hope that before morning the wea- 

 ther might clear up. Not having yet dined, I in- 

 quired what I could have to eat, but found, as 

 Dr. Johnfon did at Glcnelg, in the Highlands of 

 Scotland, that, " of the provifions, the negative 

 catalogue was very copious." I could have no meat 

 (except bad bacon), no eggs, no wine, no fpirits, 

 It was needlefs to inquire further into what I could 

 not have, I therefore directed the good,woman of 

 the houfe to bring me any thing that was eatable. 

 Bread and butter, and new ale, taken evidently from 

 the tub in which it was fermenting, conflituted there- 

 fore my principal fare at this cottage for two days. 

 I have had occafion to remark, through both my 

 journies, that the ale is generally drank within a 

 few days of its being brewed, at moft of the fmall 

 inns in Wales. The labouring people fee it taken 

 from the tub with unconcern, and feem to relifh it 

 as much, while fermenting, as they would if it was 

 drawn from the caflv. If it has but the name of 



CivriVy 



