86 msToin of 



great prosperity and opulence ; and even witliin 

 the two last centuries Sir John Wynne of Gwydir 

 mentions, that they were called the lawyers of 

 Carnarvon, the merchands of Beaumaris, and the 

 gentlemen of Conwy. When we recollect that 

 this prosperity was obtained by the oppression of 

 our own countrymen, it is not likely that we 

 should indulge in much regret at its decay, which 

 became advantageous to the country around, and 

 indeed was owing to the natives obtaining their 

 just rights and liberties. There was also a con- 

 siderable trade carried on in Conwy; and some 

 tradesmen struck their own tokens; I have one 

 of them, a penny, which is about the size of a 

 modern sixpence, but much thinner, having on 

 one side a coat of arms, HENRY HUGHES, 

 1663. Rev. I. N. ABERCONWAY, 1" A 

 difficult entrance to the harbour and the greater 

 eligibility of other places have considerably reduced 

 the export trade. Until the opening of the new 

 line through Capel Curig, the road from Shrews- 

 bury to Holyhead passed through Conwy, and was 

 a source of advantage to the town ; the races were 

 annually held on the marsh, and a King's plate 

 was granted to be run for, which continued until 

 1794. The great sessions for the county, and 



