184 Ay AMERICAS' FARMER IX EXGLAXD. 



found in purity now. They are longer and somewhat larger than 

 Devons, a little lighter red in color, with invariably black or 

 brindle faces. They were generally in fair condition, and would 

 cut up particularly heavy in their hind quarters. A Smithfield 

 man told me that he thought a cross of this breed with the Here- 

 ford made the best beef in England. 



After dining with a number of gentlemen, most of whom had 

 come from a distance to attend the fair, I took a walk out into 

 the country, about the town. The only object of interest that I 

 remember was " Powis Castle," the seat of a nobleman, nobly 

 situated in a picturesque, mountain-side park. The castle itself 

 is upon a spur of the mountain, and is hidden among fine ever- 

 green trees. I had toiled up to within about ten feet of the edge 

 of the plateau upon which it stands, when I heard a low, deep 

 growl, and, looking up, saw above me a great dog asking me, w r ith 

 bristling back, curling fangs, and fierce grinning teeth, what busi- 

 ness I had to be there. Considering that I had no right to be 

 visiting the residence of a gentleman who was a stranger to me, 

 unless I had some business with him, and concluding upon short 

 reflection that indeed I had none I determined upon a retrogade 

 movement ; and taking care not to attempt even to apologize to 

 his dogship for the intrusion until I had brought a few trees 

 between us, I found that he backed down just about as fast as I 

 did, so that at a distance of hah a dozen rods he appeared a hand- 

 some, smooth, generous-natured mastiff, and I began to consider 

 whether the earl would not probably be pleased to have an intel- 

 ligent stranger see the beauty of his castle ; but the moment I 

 stopped, the dog's lips began to part and his back to rise again, 

 and I concluded that whatever the earl's wishes might be, I could 

 not make it convenient just then to accommodate him, and re- 

 turned forthwith to the village. 



