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prominent features of its inhabitants, may not appear either tedious or uninterefting; and he flatters himself, they will not be unacceptable to those, who, like himfelf, might be induced to explore the beautiful scenery of North Wales; and to whom the short, though probably imperfect account of it there given, may prove an useful companion, to direct them in their progrefs through a country, to which they might be altogether unacquainted.

He claims the indulgence of his readers for the tautology and egotism, almost inseparable from works of such a defcrip

a description; but he has, as much as poffible, endeavoured to avoid a repetition of names, and for this reason, has, in most cafes, fpoken of himfelf as being the only fpectator; at the same time, in justice to those who accompanied him, he takes this opportunity of acknowledging himself, upon many occafions, greatly indebted to them for many interefting remarks and useful information, which otherwife he could not have had the means of acquiring.

Since he first conceived the defign of publishing, these letters, fome neceffary additions have been made, and

a short

a fhort Appendix added, for the fake of giving them a more connected form; for there were a few places, which, owing to particular circumstances, it was not in his power to fee, and a short account of thefe, together with fome other detached observations, compofe the Appendix, to which also are subjoined the names of the most noted places that they visited in the course of their route, and their diftances from each other. Thofe

marked with one or more afterisks,

imply the number of nights they remained at each.

A

PEDESTRIAN TOUR,

&c. &c. &c.

LETTER I.

SURROU

BALA, North Wales, July 11, 17946

URROUNDED on all fides by cloudcapt mountains; arrived amongst a people, to whose language I am a perfect stranger, and whofe manners and customs are as eccentric as they are fingular, every circumftance attracts attention, and every object excites admiration. But it is with pleasure, my dear friend, that I cease for a while from contemplating the scene around me, and turn to that B which

which I have fo lately quitted: memory willingly lingers round a spot where the mind has not been much oppreffed with forrow or care; and I muft, in justice, acknowledge, that during a refidence of three years at Cambridge, the happiness I there enjoyed was fcarcely ever interrupted, or overshadowed even by the fmalleft cloud of misfortune; a retrospect will therefore prove to me a conftant fource of fatisfaction, because the memory of the past will not be accompanied with images of regret, or any other cause of forrow or reproach. It will be peculiarly pleafing to me to write to you from time to time, and give you fome account of our "Travels' History," to relate to you all our "most disastrous chances and moving accidents by flood or field;" for in every thing which concerned us, you were pleased to express yourself particularly interested,

and

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