50 
December 4th.—Bristol is a fine old town, of much capital and former trade*? 
having been the second city in the kingdoms; a rank which it has long since for¬ 
feited owing to the want of enterprise in its inhabitants, who, to do them justice* 
however, are now straining every nerve to regain their former ascendency, as is 
evinced by the various important projects on which they are engaged, such as 
transatlantic steam-navigation—the Great Western railway—the Exeter railway 
and the magnificent suspension bridge over the Avon, one of the wonders of the 
world. 
Remained here all day and dined in the country with Mr. Webb Hall, an emi¬ 
nent agriculturist and breeder of fine cattle; the vicinity of Bristol is eminently 
beautiful and in a high state of cultivation. The town is built on both sides the 
river Avon, and the basin is formed by two locks abreast, retaining the high-tides 
which rise about 12 feet. 
December 5.— Left at 10 o’clock for Swansea in a steamer—-a very cairn and 
foggy day, so that we could see scarcely the length of the vessel ahead. The ride 
down the Avon is in fine weather very beautiful, but the navigation is difficult at 
all times, owing to the narrowness of the channel and to the numerous craft pas¬ 
sing to and fro. Nothing but the minute and judicious regulations established for 
the guidance of vessels and the rigid enforcement of them, prevent the frequent 
occurrence of serious accidents. Just below the locks is the site of the chain sus¬ 
pension bridge (already mentioned) of a single span measuring nearly 700 feet, 
at an elevation high above the masts of the largest ships. The towers are finished 
and one chain stretched across, (on which persons are carried in a car,) and the 
whole is expected to be completed in the course of the year 1841. Mr. Brunei! 
is the Engineer, and this work, like every thing he touches, bears the impress of 
his boldness in design and skill in execution. 
We reached the mouth of the Swansea river (called “the Mumbles’’) about 8 
o’clock at night, but it being low tide, could not ascend to the town till after mid- 
night. The access to the harbor is still difficult, notwithstanding the large sums 
of money expended for the improvement of the navigation, and on the construc¬ 
tion of artificial piers, which have, however, much ameliorated its condition. The 
spring tides rise here frequently fifty feet, and, at low tides, there is no water in 
the channel. At the principal obstruction there is a light-house, and one also at 
the Mumbles; and a large bell is rung when there is just ten feet water on the 
bar, whether at flood or ebb. The British Government is very liberal in making 
provision for the light-house establishment, and bestows much commendable at¬ 
tention upon this important subject, which might, with great propriety, be imi¬ 
tated elsewhere. 
6tk December .—Visited the extensive copper works of Williams, Forster, <& 
Co. Young Mr. Williams, the son of the managing proprietor, showed me over 
the works, and communicated, without reserve, the most particular information 
in reference to the various processes by which the ores are reduced to a metallic 
state. The domestic ores are brought to Swansea pulverised, but the foreign ores 
frequently in their natural condition ; the preparation at the mines of the ore3 for 
