WALES. 



a/lemblijiK, multiplied over the face of the country, receive 

 the appellation of chapels. Of this increafing diflent, one 

 reafon is affigned to be the generally illiterate ftate of the 

 regular clergy: for moll of the livings in Wales are fo 

 fmall, and the ftipeiids of curates fo fcanty, that no induce- 

 ment is held out for youth being properly inftrufted for the 

 miniftry, and confequently the churches mulf be fervcd by 

 incompetent minillers. But this evil is likely foon to be 

 rejnedied ; for by the zealous endeavours of the prefent 

 wortliy birtiop of St. David's, two feminaries are inilituted 

 for the education of youth defigned for holy orders, who 

 are provided with tutors. Moft places in Wales have the 

 benefit of a free-1'chool ; and in the year 1749, for the in- 

 ftruftion of the children of the lower orders, 142 itinerant 

 fchoolmafters were appointed by the fociety for promoting 

 Chrillian knowledge. Thofe among Proteftant diffenters 

 have been provided for in this refpeft by the pious bequeft 

 of Dr. Daniel Williams, many years the refpedable pallor 

 of a congregation in London, who left a large fum of money 

 for ellablifhing charity-fchools, where fuch inftitntions were 

 wanted ; by virtue of which the trullecs have erefted many 

 in the principality. 



The lovers of etrle/iaJUcal, monajik, 3.nA fepulchral archilec- 

 lure, will find ample fcope for amufcment and admiration, in 

 the remains of religious edifices, both in an integral and di- 

 lapidated ftate, ftill vifible in various parts of the princi- 

 pality. 



Mountains, Lairs, Rivers, anil Climate. — Wales exhibits 

 all the features of a detached diilrift from England, confift- 

 ing of almoft continued ranges of lofty mountains, and im- 

 pending crags, interfefted by numerous deep ravines with 

 extenfive valleys, and affording endlcfs views of bold, wild, 

 or romantic fcenery. To enumerate the mountains which are 

 nominally known to the natives, and form very ftriking objedls 

 to the traveller, would be fuperfluous ; but a general view 

 of them, as they are grouped with multifarious ramifications, 

 may be ufeful. The chains generally extend in a direClion 

 from fouth-eaft to north-weft, having their efcarpment, or 

 molt abrupt declivity, on the latter bearing. Numerous 

 pro'ietting ridges laterally expand on various parts of the 

 oompafs, in countlefs ramifications, many of which are fur- 

 mounted by lofty eminences, that are formed into fo many 

 diftinft mountains, fo that, like the Alps, they feem to be 

 mountain piled upon mountain, and hills conglomerated 

 upon hills. The principal range in North Wales is that 

 denominated the Snoiudonian chain, from the lofty moun- 

 tain Snowdon occupying its centre. Commencing at 

 Bardfey ifland, in the fouth-weft extremity of Caernar- 

 vonlhire, the line, varied at irregular intervals by conical 

 peaks, extends in a north-eallerly direction to the promon- 

 tory of Penmaen-bach, in the bay of Conway. The inter- 

 mediate parts confill of the loftiell mountains in Wales. 

 The Feriuyn chain occupies the eallern part of Merioneth- 

 (hire, and branches out into Denbighlhire. Its length is 

 about fixteen miles, and the breadth varies from five to ten : 

 Cader Fcrwyn, Cader Fronwen, and the Sylattin, are the 

 moft elevated points. Another line branches off into Mont- 

 gomeryfhire, and joins the Breddin chain, extending into 

 Shropfliire. Another chain, or rather a continuance of the 

 fame, extends in a fouth-wcll direftion from Pennant, near 

 the vale of Tanad, in Montgomery fhirc, to the fea-coaft 

 near Langyllinin in Mtrionethfliire. In this extenfive ridge 

 are confpicuous feveral lofty mountains, known under the 

 appellation of the Arrans and the Arrenigs ; tlie moft emi- 

 nent of which are Arran-ben-llyn and Arran-fowddy, and 

 the extremity of the line is grandly marked by the triple 

 head of the lofty Cadir Idris. The celebrated PUnlimmon 



proudly elevates his crcft above a range of table land, cx' 

 tending from the vicinity of Llanvair in the north-eaft, till 

 they decline in the fouth-weft, and end in the abrupt cliffs, 

 which bound part of the bay of Cardigan, near Aberyft- 

 with. Among particular elevations in this line, after the 

 fovereign of the group, the Carno mountains ftand the moll 

 pre-eminent. South Wales, though not equally mountainous 

 with the northern part of the principality, nor fo diftin- 

 guilliable for its Alpine heights, is yet far from being de- 

 ficient in elevations and depreffions. An extenfive chain of 

 mountains ftretches from Bleddva forell, north-eaft of Uian- 

 drindod Wells, in Radnorfhire, croffes the northern part of 

 Brecknockfliire, continues in a fouth-wellerly direftion 

 through Caermarthenftiire, and terminates iii the confpicuous 

 ridge of the Prefcely or Prefcelau mountain in the county 

 of Pembroke. The Fothoc hills, on the caftcrn fide of 

 Brecknockftiire, commence another line, principally known 

 under the general appellation of the Black Mountnins, from 

 the appearance given to them by the dark vegetable covering 

 of heath and ling. Among individual elevations, remark- 

 able for their height, are Tre-beddw mountain. Pen Mallard 

 hills, the black mountains ftridlly fo denominated, and the 

 high table land which in the fouth part of Caermarthenftiire 

 is doled by the ifolated mountain, called Pembre hill. In 

 tiiis mountainous region, lakes are exceedingly abundant ; an 

 attempt to defcribe, or even to enumerate them, would be 

 endlefs : Mr. Gough reckoned from fifty to fixty in Caer- 

 narvonftiire only. The moft diftinguilhed for extent, or tlie 

 beauty of the furrounding fcenery, are, in North Wales, 

 Lynian Nantle, Llyn Cywellin, Llynian Llanberris, and 

 Llyn Conway, in Caernarvonftiire ; with Pimble-meer, and 

 Talyllyn, in Merionethfhire. In South Wales, Llyn Bych- 

 lyn, in Radnorfliire, and Llyn Savathan, or Langor's pool, 

 in the county of Brecknock. 



Rivers. — Wales, though a mountainous country, is equally 

 remarkable with England for its numerous ftreams, which 

 iffning from confiderable lakes, or aided by their waters, 

 meander through the country, and form excellent harbours 

 at their confluence with the fea. The principal rivers are 

 the Severn, the Wye, and the Towy, in South Wales ; the 

 Conwv, the Clwydd, and the Dee, in North Wales : thefe 

 have not only attained pre-eminence in fanie for the utility 

 of their navigation ; but, by poets, have been celebrated in 

 long. The former conftitutes the eaftern, and the latter 

 the north-eaftern boundary of the country, between the em- 

 bochures of which many others, though lefs diilinguifhed in 

 a commercial point of view, are highly valuable for their 

 fiftieries and other properties. Thefe, tracing their fources 

 in the order in which they unite their waters with the 

 ocean, are, in North Wales, the Ogwen, Sciont, Gwynedd, 

 Drwydd, Avon, and Dovey ; in South Wales, the Rhei- 

 diol, Yltwith, Eiron, Tivy, Nevern, Gwyn, Cleddy, Itrog, 

 Taf or Tave, Loughor, Tawy, Nedd, Avon, Taf or Taffe, 

 Rhymny, and Ullc. A particular defcription of the moft 

 confiderable, will be found under their refpeClive names. 



The climate of Wales differs materially from that of the 

 portion of England, lying in the fame parallel of latitude ; 

 and affimilates more with the northern paits of the liland. In 

 a general view the .rir is ftiarp ; in tlie mountainous parts 

 bleak ; moderately mild in the vales, and thole parts adja- 

 cent to the ocean, elpecially on the fouthcrn coall, and 

 particularl): in the celebrated vale of Glamorgan. From the 

 greater degrees of cold prevalent in the Cambrian atmo- 

 fpliere, fnow is more frequent in Wales than in England, 

 lies much deeper, and is feen covering the tops ot the higheft: 

 mountains, for many months in the year. The wet feafon 

 in this country is not ufually confined to the winter months ; 



for 



