"Private Diaries," in which the author elaborately describes, for his own exclusive benefit, the profession, pedigree, and personal appearance of his most intimate friends, which there was but little probability of his ever forgetting.

The following very miscellaneous journal, accordingly, was written, like all travels, "merely for private circulation," and has been known during several years past, in a form somewhat different, to several lenient critics, who considered their time not unprofitably employed in following the every-day incidents of a pleasant excursion, accompanied by the recollections and remarks which might naturally occur in recalling the scenery of a beautiful and interesting country, so full too of historical associations.

Coleridge maintained, that no one could properly appreciate any scenery until he has verified first impressions by traversing it three times; and in that one respect the author feels competent to hazard an opinion of Wales, having repeated her excursion there, with renewed enjoyment, as frequently as the poet prescribed.

The journal forming the ground work of this volume was written in the months of June, July, and August, 1833.

HILL AND
AND VALLEY.

RECEIPT TO MAKE A TOUR.

Take your carriage-stuff it well-add four horses, or if not to be had, a pair may do. Select two or three agreeable friends-stir them up, and put them all into a good humour. Throw in a light wardrobe, a large sketch book, and a heavy purse. Keep your purse open at both ends-oil your wheels-put them in rapid motion, and add as many accidents and adventures as can be got. Boil up the whole with plenty of enthusiasm-pour it out to cool in three large volumes-let the scum run off till it be reduced to one-slit it up into chapters, and then put it into the press.-Improved Family Receipt-Book, vol. 7th, Fifty-ninth edition.

TO A SCOTCH COUSIN.

MY DEAR COUSIN,―-Hearing that you are to be a close prisoner all this summer, sofa-ridden in the drawingroom, while we are rambling over every variety of mountain and valley, nothing will compensate better for our long separation, than to take you with me in imagination, by writing according to our agreement "seria mixta jocis," as you classical scholars say, a personal narrative of all our adventures, interspersed with remarkable facts, interesting discoveries, and an

B

cient traditions, all warranted new and original, to be printed and composed by steam, forwarded to you in numbers, price one guinea each, and bound up with your Library of Useful or Entertaining Knowledge. When lately discussing the story of an indolent gentleman who first retired from society because he had nothing to say, and then died of having nothing to do, we agreed in opinion that if change of scene, the usual prescription for all indefinite diseases had been tried, he might have studied art and nature, men and manners, killing time instead of falling a victim to ennui, while he gained health, amusement and instruction. All malades imaginaires have discovered, that few things can more infallibly cure weariness, discontent, ill-humour, and every lesser evil of life, than a rapid progress through beautiful scenery, and amidst the stir and bustle of rural occupations; while to those who are actively disposed, it affords ample scope for the energies of mind and body, therefore a journey may be compared to a quack medicine which suits every case.

Travellers may go farther and fare worse than in Wales, so it is surprising that while many libraries boast of possessing "England and the English," or

66

Germany and the Germans," no author has yet favoured the world with "Wales and the Welsh !" Few countries, except Spain and Italy, can compete with ancient Cambria for the number and magnificence of her ruined fortresses, and for the historical interest attached to each glen and mountain throughout her whole extent, where every inch of ground has been contested

by heroes and warriors with whose names we have been familiar from childhood.

There are said to be three sorts of insensible education by which our minds are improved without any perceptible effort. These are experience, conversation, and travelling; the last not the least in importance, as nature is a large folio volume, full of variety and amusement, which those who run may read, and where we learn without difficulty or weariness, poetry, history, and practical geography. To the Christian mind, an inexhaustible fund of excellent theology is likewise opened, while "the fields are our study and nature our book." Above and around, we behold a thousand objects to demonstrate the analogy between natural and revealed religion, because on all sides, wherever we go, hourly proofs are exhibited that the same Divine Being has shown his infinite wisdom. and goodness equally in the books of Nature, of Providence, and of Revelation. Each of these may be contemplated with advantage to assist in perfectly understanding both the others, for all are

printed large

On heav'n and earth in characters of light
And sounded in the ear by ev'ry wind.

Such pleasing emotions as are called forth by the beauties of rich and varied scenery, can only be considered as the poetry of religion; yet, observing that the ground which was cursed for man's sake, retains so much of its original fertility, we adore the goodness of Him who spares us such sources of exquisite and unforbidden