50 



Deumber 4th. — Bristol is a fine old town, of much cnpital and former trads^ 

 having been the second city in the kingdoms; a rank which it has long since for- 

 feited owing to the want of enterprii-e in its inhabitants, who, to do them justicet 

 however, are now straining every nerve to regain their former ascendency, as is 

 evinced by the various important projects on which they are engaged, such as 

 transatlantic steam -navigation — the Great Western railway — the Exeter railway 

 »nd the magnificent suspension bridge over the Avon, one of the wonder« of tho 

 world. 



Remained here all day and dined in the country with Mr. Webb Hall, an emi- 

 nent agriculturist and breeder of fine cattle; the vicinity of Bristol is eminently 

 beautiful And in a high state of cultivation. The town is built on both sides the 

 river Avon, and the basin is formed by two locks abreast, retaining the high-tides 

 which rise about 12 feet. 



December 5. — Left at 10 o'clock for Swansea in a steamer — a very calm and 

 foggy day, so that we could see scarcely the length of the vessel ahead. The tide 

 down the Avon is in fine weather very beautiful, but the navigation is difficult at 

 all limes, owing to the narrowness of the channel and to the numerous craft pas- 

 sing to and fro. Nothing but the minute and judicious regulations established for 

 the guidance of vessels and the rigid enforcement of them, prevent the frequent 

 occurrence of serious accidents. Just below the locks is the site of the chain sus- 

 pension bridge (already mentioned) of u single span measuring nearly 700 feet, 

 at an elevation high above the masts of the largest ships. The towers are finished 

 ond one chain stretched across, (on which persons are carried in a car,) and the 

 whole is expected to be completed in the course of the year 1841. Mr. Brunei! 

 in the Engineer, and this work, like every thing he touches, bears the impreca of 

 hie boldness in design and skill in execution. 



We reached the mouth of the Swansea river (called " the Mumbles") about 8 

 o'clock at night, but it being low tide, could not ascend to the town till after mid- 

 night. The access to the harbor is still difficult, notwithstanding the large sums 

 of money expended for the improvement of the navigation, and on the construc- 

 tion of artificial piers, which have, however, much ameliorated its condition. The 

 spring tides rise here frequently fifty feet, and, at low tides, there is no water in 

 the channel. At the principal obstruction there is a light-house, and one also ai 

 the Mumbles; and a large bell is rung when there is fust ten feet water on the 

 bar, whether at flood or ebb. 'J"he British Government is very liberal in making 

 provision for the light-house establishment, and bestows much commendable at- 

 tention upon this important subject, which might, with great propriety, be imi- 

 tated elsewhere. 



6th December. — Visited the extensive ropjirr vor/m of WilliuniH, Forsler, &. 

 Co Young Mr. Williams, the son of the managing proprietor, showed me over 

 the works, and communicated, without reserve, the most particular information 

 >n reference to the various processes by which the ores arc reduced to a metallic 

 state The domestic ores are brought to Swansea pulverised, but the/orcig-n ores 

 frequently in their natural condition ; the prepamtion ot the mines of the ore* (vt 



