1859.] BOTANICAL SKETCHES FROM CHESHIRE, 237 



left of the line, and the rich lower grounds of Salop are on the 

 right. The country is pretty well cultivated, hut villages are 

 few. The population on this part of the line is but scanty, and 

 the proximate scenery of a neutral character, genus neutrum, nei- 

 ther good nor bad. 



At Chirk, however, the last of our subdivisions, the scenery 

 assumes an aspect totally distinct from any which this line, from 

 London to Chester, passes through. Here the railway is led 

 across a deep ravine, beautifully wooded on its steep sides, and 

 having the Ceiriog, a little Welsh-looking river, at the bottom ; 

 the viaduct is 180 feet high and 850 feet long; the aqueduct — ■ 

 for the canal is also in view — and the rocks, trees, and lawns of 

 Chirk Castle are very pleasing objects. 



LlangoUen-road station is on the verge of the fine vale of 

 Llangollen, and the railroad passes over the " ancient hallowed 

 Dee " by a grand viaduct, which is almost parallel with the aque- 

 duct of the canal. 



A fine view of the valley of the wizard Dee, of the ancient 

 fortress of Dinas Bran, on a steep conical hill, and also of that 

 remarkable range of limestone hills called the Eglwyseg Rocks, 

 are obtainable from the viaduct and from Cefn station, the first 

 in Wales by this line. 



Erom this station the line passes by the fine park and woods 

 of Sir W. W. Wynne, Bart., whose noble residence was nearly 

 totally consumed by a great fire, accidentally kindled, some 

 eighteen months ago ; the great library, containing many Welsh 

 manuscripts relating to the church and the affairs of the Princi- 

 pality, was unhappily consumed. 



Ruabon, famous for its collieries, ironworks, and monuments 

 of the Wynnes in its church, and Wrexham, on a branch of the 

 Dee, is famous for possessing one of the largest and handsomest 

 churches in North Wales, are soon passed by the train, which 

 gives but a short time to look at and admire the beauties of this 

 part of North Wales. 



The next station is Gresford, on the Alyn, a spot more pic- 

 turesque than any one occupied by a station between this and 

 London. 



The Vale of Alyn, with its river, woodland scenery, and se- 

 cluded meadows and cottages, is as lovely a scene as even the 

 Principality, famed for its admirable landscapes, possesses. 



