468 
the Greek Anthologia, which are left 
unnoticed, even by critics: fo thet a 
Writer, ane has rendered i important fer- 
vice to youth, in his “ England Deli- 
heated,” has obferved, refpecia 1 
hiftories, “that works of this d are of 
a very, low order in literature, abound, 
ing with Be faults, béth in pian and 
executicn*® 
I have now lying before me the Hif- 
tory of Monmou ththire, by Mr. David 
Williams, a writer of diftinguifhedraleats. 
This preduction is the reverfe of thofe 
already defcribed. d intend to make one 
or two remarks on topographical hiftory, 
in a way of curfory obiervation, #iet of 
regular criticifm, on this excellent work, 
We may confider this fubjeét in re 
ference to hiftory ee, 
‘The hifter ab oe ote ages (ad in 
tracing the oe n of countries, réegu urfe 
mnift be had to it) is generally involved in 
obicurity, fo that fable fi fupplies the want 
of truth: and though “it may be faid, 
that fables are peered in fome truth, 
yet, generally fpeaking, the fables are fo 
prominent, and the iruth {fo eoncealed, 
that mankind are hurried into numerous 
- errors. Mr. Hume obferves, that Fables 
which are ufually employed to fupp y the 
place of true hiftory, ought entirely to 
be difregarded ; or, if any exception be 
made to this general rule, it can only be 
in favour of the ancient Grecian fictions, 
which are fo celebrated, and fo agree- 
able, that they will ever be the ts 
of the attention ef mankind. With this 
remark of Hume I do not wholly agree, 
though a confiderable degree of refpedt i Is 
due to it. 
Gwent was the name of the countr 
now under confideration, when it obtain- 
ed that of Mor mouthfhire. By the an- 
cient appellation, Gwent, was fignified, 
fometimes, part of the lordthip of Gla- 
morgan; at other times, thé” general 
name of a kingdom, including the fourh- 
weft diftriéts of the prefent England, and 
allWales; and fometimes i it fienified a fub- 
ordinate principality, includ: ne the prée 
fent counties ot Glamor gay Monmouth, 
and parts of Hereford and Slouveten 
The circumftances which reduced the 
ancient OS: of Gwent to thefe.of 
Monmouththire, form the general tub- 
jects of its hiitory. . 
The ancient, and, indeed, almo@ the 
only, writers ufually referred to for the 
i Ta- 
hiftory of Britain, are Caiar and 
citus: the former made varicus fr 

se ZALKIA, 
Remarks on Williams's Monmouthfhire. 
ng fuch. 
[July 
during his expeditions into this country, 
and reccived information from men of 
high rank, who deferted to his flandard. 
Ceiar’s account differs, in many tor tony 
from ancient traditions and uniform co 
fiftent alivfions. Mr. a ae Williams 
_obferves, that he will not fubmit to cae 
decifions of Cefar (whofe knowledge re 
lated principally to tribes on the e2 fizen 
coat) when fet fe the allufions of 
poetry fab] he autherity of 
Geofiry of Mx onmouth, when not:dic-' . 
tated by poe | vanityor fuperftition, — 
The following obfervation, which is 
beth or ginakend™ important, I tranferibe: 
“¢ Cztar, the Cambrian Poets, and the 
Tranfiation of Tufilio, by Geoffry of 
Monmouth, are the principal authorities 
on the fubjeéis under coniideration.” 
It may appear extraordir to the 
reader, that of thofe,authorities, the 
his a fhould prefer the 
caufe poets profels 
to deceiveya and apologues are 
formed on faéts and_events which are 
fometimes difcernibleé: but of ali men 
the moft to be guarded againft, is a fine 
writer, who forms his periods by his ear, 
and who, like the fyren, may enchant 
the judgment to vitiate the heart. 
Topographical hiftory, therefore, calls 
for tafté and {ele€tion, more particularly 
in what relates to hiftory and antiquities, 
Perfonsaccuftomed to fellow great au- 



thoriciés, in exclufion of the natural 
fources of, information, have no right to 
complain that they have been mifled. 
The numercus manuicripts, we are téld 
by Mr. W relating to South- 
Wales, in the libraries of the Britith 
Vin ufeum ; of the Welch Charity School ; 
of fefus College, i in Oxford ; of Sir W. 
Ww. Wynne, at -Wynneftay; of Mr. 
Panton, in Anglefey ; es Mr. Paw el, of 
Llanharan ; and of Mr. Thomas, of 
Grefe, in aie , &c. if collated, 
and rendered literal! ly into Englifh, SHG 
minutely explained by a Britith linguift 
and antiquary, as competent as Edward 
Williams, might probably furnifh mas 
terials for an intereftin g ipecies of hif- 
tery, developing the principles and cuf- 
toms on which the ancient a of 
the ifland were formed. 
Mr. Willicms orgie to have ap- 
proached thefe fources of information, 
though net to have reduced the chacs 
into order. The antiqtary and hifterian, 
therefore, who expeéts to receive mich 
criginal information refpeéing South 
Wales, in the Hiftory, of Menmouth. 
fhire, will not be difappointed. " 
But 
