882 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1805. 



than it had before possessed, by 

 Ralph Mortimer ; and in process of 

 time was again greatly augmented 

 and strengthened, by Hugh Spencer, 

 the son, whose wealth appears, by 

 all the accounts we have of him, to 

 have been fully equal to such an un- 

 dertaking : and it may be supposed, 

 wfth sufficient probability, that it 

 ■was as great, and very possibly 

 greater, than that of Edward I. 



The present appearance of Caer- 

 philly, fully accords with the ideas 

 which ancient records inspire, of its 

 strength, magnificence and extent. 

 The area is entered between two di- 

 lapidated towers, and the interior 

 view of this great gateway, between 

 its mighty bastions, is as striking as 

 any of the venerable structure. The 

 circuit of the outer-works incloses a 

 very large tract of ground, though 

 the circumference, great as it is com- 

 pared with that of fortresses in gene- 

 ral, scarcely renders credible, the 

 enormous provision related to have 

 been thrown in by the younger Spen- 

 cer. The wall of the celebrated lean- 

 ing tower, though but a fragment, is 

 still between seventy and eighty feet, 

 and of a prodigious thickness. It 

 hangs eleven feet and a-half out of 

 the i)erpenc;icular, and seems only 

 to rest on one part of its south side. 

 It appears as if held together, prin- 

 cipally by the strength of its cement, 

 which is of atenacity unknown to the 

 experience of modern masons. Its 

 singularity is best observed by an in- 

 terior examination, or from the moat 

 underneath, whence the effect of its 

 apparently falling mass is indeed 

 stupendous. They show the mint 

 •lose by this interesting part of the 

 ruin- arched in a curious manner, 

 ■with two furnaces lor melting metal. 

 These furnaces, likewise, dealt out 

 dreadful vengeance on besiegers. 



and were the means, according fo 

 the most plausible as well as best 

 authenticated accounts, of placing 

 the adjoining tower in that singular 

 situation, to account for which, has 

 given rise to so m.any conjectures of 

 fancy, and so many tales of super- 

 stition. From the mint there is an 

 ascent to a long gallery, which com- 

 municated with the different apart- 

 ments, and aflorded a ready inter- 

 course between the guards, who oc- 

 cupied the embattled towers. This 

 corridor remains entire for the ex- 

 tent of from ninety to one hundred 

 feet on the south side, except vvhera 

 the staircases have been destroyed, 

 which circumstance prevents its 

 being traversed : but the view from 

 the extremity, along the vaulted pas- 

 sage, darkening as it recedes, rea- 

 lizes the awe inspired by the irra- 

 tional sublimity of chivalrous ro- 

 mance. The descent of the sally- 

 port is tremendously steep. When 

 once the force of the castle began 

 to pour down, the alternative rested 

 between victory and death. The 

 declivity imiiclled the steps of those, 

 whose fears might have paused on 

 even ground : and there could be 

 no retreat for the foremost, while 

 the ranks behind were rushing to 

 the conflict. The great hall is large 

 and complete. It exhibits an au- 

 gust example of gothic grandeur, 

 united with a considerable degree 

 of elegance. This room is about 

 seventy feet by thirty, and seven- 

 teen in height. It has large win- 

 dows, and an ornamented chimney- 

 piece, in masterly and scientific pro- 

 portions, with clusters of pillars 

 along the side walls. The north 

 window of the chapel is not only 

 perfect, but uncommonly light and 

 elegant. The window of what my 

 guidcj in the spirit of modern re- 

 finement, 



J 



