370 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Dec. 
AGRICULTURE AND RURAL ECONOMY OF EUROPE. 
J . •* . • 
NOTES OF A TRAVELLER IN ENGLAND AND WALES. 
Wales. —The appearance of Wales is far different 
from that of England. On approaching it from sea, 
its lofty mountains, Snowden and Penmaen-Maur, and 
other bold cliffs, are very picturesque, but give little 
indication of the delightful associations which the 
traveller witnesses in passing through the country. 
The mountains, half clad in rolling vapors, assume a 
picturesque grandeur, and few countries can produce 
more glorious mountain scenery than is exhibited in 
Wales. The mountains are generally half concealed 
in mists, upon which, as the sunbeams fall, they as- 
same hues of the most brilliant nature, which contrast 
finely with the lofty mountains, round which they play 
in never ending variety. 
The most convenient access to North Wales, is from 
Liverpool, by steam-packets, which ply daily, to Menai 
Bridge. The passage down the river Mersey, gives a 
fine view of the spacious docks, and extensive piers and 
quays of Liverpool, covered with the multitude of peo¬ 
ple from every clime. On the opposite side of the 
river is the new and flourishing town of Birkenhead, 
with its newly erected spacious docks, which are des¬ 
tined to become formidable rivals to Liverpool. The 
scenery here is very fine, and the appearance of this 
newly erected and flourishing town is much more like 
our American towns than most of those we saw in 
England. As the steamer glides past the Cheshire 
coast, you pass RoCkfort, which commands the en¬ 
trance into Liverpool. This is a very finely construct¬ 
ed circular fort, mounting about 25 pieces of cannon, 
all mounted so as to be used with great effect upon ves¬ 
sels approaching the mouth of the river. Near the 
fort is a light-house called the Rock-light, which has a 
revolving light, with 3 different lights—deep red, 
bright red, and white, exhibited in about 2| minutes. 
The Cheshire and Welsh coast, along which the steam¬ 
er proceeds, is studded with villages and signal sta¬ 
tions, and on the highest elevations are discovered the 
telegraphic stations from Liverpool to Holyhead, about 
80 miles—stations 8 to 10 miles distant—worked by 
arms—and intelligence communicated in about 10 mi¬ 
nutes. Intelligence of vessels arriving—state of the 
weather, &c. Steam tugs are sent down from Liver¬ 
pool to bring up the packets as they are telegraphed/ 
The floating light, which is a vessel firmly moored 
in the channel, contains a beacon light, hoisted at its 
mast head at night, to guide vessels from the shoals, 
with which the mouth of the Mersey abounds, is in 
sight. We pass the great Ouns Head, which is the 
most striking object; it juts out from the main land, 
and looks like a large mountain in the sea. It is con¬ 
nected, however, with the main land by a low valley. 
The head can be seen a distance of 30 miles, and as 
you approach it, it becomes terrific—and especially to 
the mariner in a storm from the northwest—and many 
a brave and hardy crew have found their graves at its 
base. Near the top of Ouns Head, and in the midst 
of a pasture where the small Welsh, sheep, so famous 
for their superior mutton, are observed, (not larger to 
appearance from the steamer, than small lambs.) is 
discovered a church, surrounded with a small enclo¬ 
sure. No habitation is perceptible in its' vicinity; yet 
I was told there were hundreds of people from the op¬ 
posite side of the head attended worship here on the 
sabbath. Here is one of the finest prospects that can 
be imagined. 
The river and valley of Conway is next seen. Con¬ 
way is a perfect walled town, though very small. Its 
situation, on the rising ground from the river, is very 
fine; though after passing the walls into the town its 
beauty vanishes, as it is very inferior. It has one of 
the most magnificent ruinated .castles in the kingdom. 
It was erected by King Edward the 1st, in 1284—was 
calculated to hold 2000 men—-and is now a most at¬ 
tractive ruin,—still in considerable preservation. The 
court-yard, and most of the rooms are entire; a portion 
only of one side of the wall being gone. The appear¬ 
ance of'the castle from a distance is very fine. There 
is a suspension bridge, here, built about, 20 years ago, 
and the new railroad from Chestet to Holyhead, passes 
by the tower, under the walls of the town. Soon after 
passing the mouth of the Conway, the steamer brings 
you alongside Penmsen-Maur, the termination of the 
Carnarvonshire mountains, 1550 feet above the level 
of the sea, and on its side is seen the great mail road 
between Conway and Bangor. Soon after passing 
through Beaumaris Bay, the town of Beaumaris, the 
county town of Anglesea, with its fine castle, appears, 
with Bangor on the opposite side of the bay; and here 
is first seen the Grand Menai suspension bridge, which 
is the admiration and wonder of the thousands who 
have viewed it. The plan of the present bridge, on 
the suspension principle, was adopted in 1818. It con¬ 
sists of an opening of 500 feet between the points of 
suspension, and there are in addition 7 arches—four on 
the Anglesea coast, and three on the other of sixty 
feet span each; making the whole bridge 910 feet long. 
There are two road ways, with a foot path in the cen¬ 
tre. It was commenced in 1820, and completed in 
1826. The suspension chains consist of four strong 
iron cables—perpendicular iron rods, five feet apart, 
supporters of the road-way. The largest vessels pass 
under the bridge without;difficulty. The fastenings of 
these ponderous chains'in the rocks are shown, and are 
worth examination. The bridge is so firm that car¬ 
riages pass over it at full speed, without any percepti¬ 
ble effect. 
The expense of this bridge was not far from 60,000 
pounds sterling. It is a most splendid structure, 
evincing the triumph of the mechanic arts. Previous 
to its erection, the intercourse between Anglesea and 
Carnarvonshire was .by boats, and the cattle from An¬ 
glesea passed oyer by swimming across the strait. 
Frequently they were carried far down into the bay, 
but few if any were lost. 
From the bridge you view a fine monument erected 
to the Marquis of Anglesea on his estate, to commemo¬ 
rate his services at the battle of Waterloo, where he 
lost a leg. He still lives, and is extremely popular 
with his Welsh connection, though I believe he cannot 
speak a word of the language. His country residence 
here, and his estate, give evidence of his care and at¬ 
tention to its proper management, both for the benefit 
of himself and his tenants. He is everywhere spoken 
of in terms of the highest respect and enthusiasm, j 
have no doubt from what I heard of him, both in Wales 
and in London, that he is justly entitled to the good 
opinion expressed of him, and that if his example was 
more frequently followed, much of the misery which 
prevails among the farming population would be 
avoided. 
The appearance of Anglesea, as well as Carnarvon¬ 
shire, is very different, from England. The numerous 
mountains and lesser elevations afford far less tillable 
