302 A TOUR ROUND NORTH WALES. 



When Edward I. built the town, he fur- 

 rounded it with walls, and made it a cor- 

 poration, endowing it with great privileges, 

 and lands to a confiderable value. It fends 

 one member to Parliament.* 



The bay of Beaumaris forms a fine open- 

 ing before the town, and mips, it is faid, 

 lie fecure in it, even in ftormy weather. 

 The water is, under the town, fix or feven 

 fathom deep when the tide is out j but this 

 deep channel fcarcely extends more than a 

 quarter of a mile in width ; the other three 

 miles, to the village of Aber, being one 

 continued bed of fand, called the Lavan 

 Sands. Thefe, the Welm people fuppofe, 

 were antiently quite free from water, and 

 formed a habitable part of Caernarvonfhire ; 

 which feeins by no means improbable, lince 

 Mr. Pennant -j- has brought fuch decided 



proof of the incroachment of the fea at Aber- 



t 



* Pennant, II. 245. t Ibid. 335. 



