UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 217 



time he has shortened it by several miles. And 

 besides all this, he has shown so much taste in 

 the line he adopted, that my aunt says, one 

 would think his only object had been to display 

 the romantic scenery of North Wales to the best 

 advantage. 



We often went out of the carriage, and strolled 

 about to look at the pretty water-falls and rocky 

 passes ; and we stopped for some time at the iron- 

 bridge of Bettws. It is a single arch of more 

 than one hundred feet span. The iron work that 

 supports the road-way, consists of the emblems 

 of the three kingdoms and Wales ; the rose, 

 thistle, shamrock, and leek ; and along the lower 

 rib of the whole arch, there is the following in- 

 scription in open iron letters, each of which is 

 about two feet high : 



"This bridge was constructed the same year 

 "the battle of Waterloo was fought." 



All this road was new to my aunt ; she admired 

 some of the views exceedingly, and was, I think, 

 particularly struck by a very wild spot where 

 Ogwen Lake is pent up by a circle of dark, rugged, 

 misty hills. In approaching this town we were 

 amused by the various uses to which slate is ap- 

 plied palings, stiles, gate-posts, tables, benches, 

 troughs, milk-bowls, and many others ; and as 

 the famous Penrhyn slate quarries are within a 

 few miles, my uncle proposes to remain here to- 

 morrow, in order to visit them. 



VOL. in, u 



