352 A TOUR ROUND NORTH WALES. 



the defart ; but lefs horrid than I have already 

 defcribed, the vale being more fertile, and 

 feeding fome cattle. Nothing remarkable 

 occurred in our ride, until we came to Fefti- 

 niog a village in Merionethfhire, the vale be- 

 fore which is the moft perfectly beautiful o 

 all we had feen. From the height of this 

 village you have a view of the fea. The 

 hills are green and well {haded with wood. 

 There is a lovely rivulet, which winds 

 through the bottom; on each fide are mea- 

 dows, and above are corn fields, along the 

 fides of the hills; at each end are high moun- 

 tains, which feem placed there to guard this 

 charming retreat againft any invaders. With 

 the woman one loves, with the friend of one's 

 heart, and a good ftudy of books, one might 

 pafs an age there, and think it a day. If you 

 have a mind to live long, and renew your youth, 

 come with Mrs. Bower, and fettle at Feftiniog. 

 Not long ago there died in that neighbour- 

 hood an honeft Welfli Farmer, who was 105 

 years of age : by his firft wife he had 30 chil- 

 dren, 10 by his fecond, 4 by his third, and 7 

 by two concubines ; his youngeft fon was 

 81 years younger than his eldeft, and 80O per- 

 fons, defcendcd from his body, attended his 

 funeral . When we had fkirted this happy vale 

 an hour or two, we came to a narrow branch 

 of the fea which is dry at low water. As 



we 



