25S ON THE GEOLOGY AND STATISTICS 
feet. It was constructed by Mr Telford, whose name de- 
serves to be handed down to posterity, rather than that of 
Edward I. ; — so much more ought fame to be perpetuated 
by useful works, than by ambition. 
Having thus gone over regularly the three basins, which 
we observed from the summit of Snowdon, and in a hasty 
manner observed what of interest each contained, we can- 
not have failed of discovering considerable varieties in 
each. 
In Conway Basin we found the mountains on the west 
side lofty, conically peaked in their outline, their sides 
rugged and steep, particularly to the southern end of the 
basin ; and we also observed, according as the rock was of 
a harder texture, the slate to be more fitted for useful 
purposes. In the same way, likewise, according as the rock 
yielded to the weather, more or less soil was found on the 
declivities of the mountains, affording mould for the growth 
of vegetation and trees. In proceeding from the southern 
end of this basin, all this was pointed out ; and as we ap- 
proached the town of Conway, where the accumulation of 
soil was greater over the slopes, we there found abundant 
soil, rich vegetation, no scarcity of timber, and plenty of 
depth of mould for the working of the plough. 
No copper is wrought in the basin of Conway, except at 
Llandudno, in Orme's Head ; but lead is rather extensively 
wrought. The Conway river being navigable a third of its 
course, thereby affords an easy means of transport for the 
productions of the basin, — and was found that the whole of 
the basin was copiously supplied with numerous streams of 
water, well fitted for irrigation, or for moving machinery; 
and the number of small lakes along the base of the Snow- 
don range, demonstrated the difficult decomposition of the 
rocks, and gave a characteristic feature to this side of the 
