for our arrival, and continually called to us to make hafte, which we wanted no monitor to urge us to do; we therefore made towards the spot from whence the founds came, which we conjectured to be about the distance of two hundred yards from us, but were unluckily intercepted by a small channel, already filling very faft with the fea. We did not hesitate long, for in fact we had no alternative, and therefore boldly ventured through; it was fortunately only about two feet deep, and rather more than ten yards broad. We congratulated each other upon finding ourselves fafe in the boat, though dripping wet, and shivering with cold. Like the Ifraelites, we had paffed through the fea on dry land; but we had run a great risk of experiencing a fimilar treatment with Pharaoh and his hoft, from that unmannerly element. When we arrived at

the inn at Beaumaris, we made a fire that would have roasted an ox, and ordered a fupper fufficient for ten aldermen. Upon opening the window on the following morning, I obferved the fea had covered all those immense flats we had fo lately, I will not fay with dry feet, walked

over.

The first Edward, ambitious of emulating the actions of Alexander the Great, entertained the daring project of building a bridge across these ftraits, and thus unite Anglesea with Wales. That proud monarch, like the infolent Xerxes, vainly conceived he could control the raging elements; and the trouble, expence, and impracticability of completing fo vast a work, was clearly, but in vain, represented to him: chance, however, effected what reafon had been unable to do; for at the

very time that he was giving orders for the undertaking, fome fresh disturbances broke out elsewhere, and diverted his attention from fo wild and visionary a fcheme.

Beaumaris is a dirty fea-faring town; here is another of king Edward's castles built, A. D. 1295; it is in tolerable pre fervation, but the eye is difgufted with new repairs; a fine old tower is frequently patched with modern masonry, in which the workman has barbarously shown his art, in the nice difpofition of yellow bricks and mortar : add to this, the inhabitants have made a bowling-green within its walls.-The guardian genii of venerable ruins, muft furely have been afleep when these impieties were committed.

From Beaumaris we croffed the island, with which I felt myfelf greatly difappointed; I looked around me in vain for thofe awe inspiring fhades and venerable temples where the Druids used to perform their myfterious rites, that filled the wondering multitude with fear, and infused, even into their enemies, a degree of refpect and veneration.

The account given by Tacitus of the expedition of Suetonius, against this island, is the most striking picture of the character of the Druids, and probably more to be relied upon than any other; for veracity constituted no small part of he merit of that excellent hiftorian.

* " Igitur monam infulam incolis va

* Tacit Annal Lib. 14,

lidam, et receptaculum perfugarum aggredi parat.

Stabat pro litore diverfa acies, denfa armis virifque, intercurfantibus feminis: in modum furiarum, vefte ferali, crinibus difjectis, faces præferebant. Druidæque circum, preces diras fublatis ad cœlum manibus fundentes, novitate afpectus perculere milites, ut quafi hærentibus membris, immobile corpus vulneribus præberent. Dein cohortationibus ducis, et fe ipfi ftimulantes, ne muliebre et fanaticum agmen pavefcerent, inferunt figna, fternuntque obvios, et igni fuo involvunt.”

"He thereupon prepares to attack Mona, an island powerful on account of its numerous inhabitants, and affording a place of refuge to those who fled from the enemy.

a motley army stood oppofed