288 A TOUR ROUND NORTH 



not entirely peculiar .to Wales, having 

 been alfo formerly ufed in Cornwall. 



The Welfh mufic is like the Scotch, 

 remarkable for a wildnefs and irregula- 

 rity, but it is inferior to that in fweetnefs 

 of modulation. Much has been faid of 

 the very high antiquity of mofl of their 

 prefent airs, but the regularity of their 

 compofition feems to point out to us that 

 they have not been formed at any very 

 remote period. The few ancient pieces 

 that are yet extant, of which the dates 

 have been afcertained with any degree 

 of accuracy, fall very far fhort of the 

 elegance and fweetnefs of thefe melo- 

 dies. The moft ancient are grave and 

 folemn, and the plaintive, which were 

 appropriated to elegies, and the celebra- 

 tion of the dead, are ftriking and pa- 

 thetic, whilft the dances and jigs, are, 

 on the contrary, extremely lively and 

 cheerful. 



In 



