consequence of the expulsion of a vast number of active and considerably intelligent Spaniards, who were the principal improvers of the country, and at whose tameness in suffering themselves to be so easily overborne, Mr. S. expresses great astonishment. He says, the descendants of the earlier Spanish colonists feel not the smallest partiality to what is called the mother country, but, on the contrary, cherish, many of them, such a resentment on account of the wrongs, they have suffered from the European government, as to forget they have ever received any benefits. But whatever sentiments it would be decorous for them to express towards Old Spain, a philanthropic observer will be of opinion, that no condemnation can well be too severe on a state that has suffered its colonies to grow up to such a numerical magnitude in that moral and intellectual condition, which renders them utterly unfit to govern themselves, when the inevitable period of their separation and independence arrives.

T

Art. X. A Tour to Hafod, in Cardiganshire, the seat of Thomas Johnes Esq. M. P. &c. &c. &c. by James Edward Smith, M. D. F. R. S. &c. President of the Linnean Society. London: printed by T. Bensley, Bolt Court, for White and Co. Horace's Head, Fleet Street. 1810.

THE public have been long in possession of a very interesting "Sketch of a Tour on the Continent," which embraced observations on whatever was particularly curious in the more celebrated parts of France, Switzerland, and Italy; and from this specimen of it's author's talents, the literary world has ever since been induced to hope, that some fresh occasion might call forth the exertions of Dr. Smith in its service. On this account, it is certainly to be regretted, that the performance now before us was not published in a less splendid and expensive form; so that a far greater number of readers might have been enabled to become acacquainted with the picturesque scenery and romantic beauties of Hafod. In its present magnificent and costly shape, few persons can hope to possess the work, however ardent may be their admiration of sublime and extensive scenery. Possibly, however, the splendour of the book may be considered as emblematical of the elegant abode which it is the author's principal object to describe. Indeed the letter-press scarcely extends beyond what is absolutely essential for an explanation of the beautiful plates, which are fifteen in number, and will be noticed as they respectively occur.

The dedication to Mr. Johnes, at whose suggestion the work was undertaken, is concise and pleasing. We are induced to insert the Preface, as it occupies but a few lines, which however contain a sufficient account of the author's object in presenting an account of his Tour to the public.

The Drawings, from which the following plates are exactly copied by Mr. Stadler, were taken, many years ago, by Mr. John Smith, an artist of well-deserved celebrity. They have afforded an opportunity of recording a few observations made in a visit to Hafod in the summer of 1796, and at several other times. The public are not entirely strangers to the charms of this romantic abode, which several travellers have noticed, and Mr. Cumberland has particularly described in a small octavo volume published a few years since, but no views of its scenery have yet appeared. How well this fine place merits such an illustration, the present work, whatever it's execution may be, will sufficiently evince.'

The first chapter is occupied by a description of the Journey to Hafod, and notices of various objects of curiosity on the way the road from London to Bath Bristol-Clifton -King's Weston-Chepstow-Tintern Radnor Approach to Hafod.' On arriving at the neighbourhood of this latter place, cascades are heard roaring or murmuring at a distance, and at length a path, tempting by it's neatness, strikes into a deep wood on the left, while another climbs a rock on the right, 'But we are little aware of the widely different fairy scenes, to which each of them leads. Nothing of the house can all this while be perceived, till a sudden turn to the right brings it in full view, at the distance of about a quarter of a mile, and the remainder of the road is a direct approach to the gothic colonnade on one hand, or the grand entrance on the other."

We come, in the next chapter, to an account of Hafod House, which Dr. Smith says is situated on a rising ground in a rich and beautiful valley, watered by the river Ystwith, and encompassed with bold hills, richly wooded, of a great variety of forms. These woods abound with magnificent water-falls, formed chiefly by three mountain streams that empty themselves into the Ystwith in different parts of the valley, and are never dry.'. Hafod, or as it was formerly called in Welsh, the Havod, signifies an alcove or summer house, because the situation of the place, before tolerable roads were made in it's neighbourhood, was so deficient in producing the necessaries of life, as well as so devoid of the comforts of society, that it was regarded as uninhabitable except at particular seasons. The domain at present is about eight miles in circuit, and for the most part enclosed in

rough stone wall, entered by two principal lodges, one towards each extremity of the valley.-Next follows a cursory history of this part of the country, from the time of Queen Elizabeth, when, under the sanction of Lord Bacon, several intelligent miners settled in South Wales. About this time a branch of the noble family of Herbert came to reside at Hafod; and Mr. Johnes of Llanvair afterwards marrying the heiress, this estate came into the family of its present pos sessor: In the year 1620, one of the Herbert's erected upon his own land, and at his own expence, the chapel called Eglwys-Newydd which appears to have materially civilized and improved the neighbourhood, though the people after his death relapsed into their former profligacy. It is gratifying however to learn that

The present inhabitant of Hafod, has not confined his exertions to rebuilding the church in a decent and elegant style, and labouring, not without much difficulty, to have the stated duties of religion regularly and properly performed. He very early established a school, where the children of the poor are instructed gratis, in reading and writing, as well as in all kinds of rural and domestic service work. This school is assiduously superintended by his excellent lady and daughter. Care is also taken to provide a medical attendant, who regularly visits the parish on stated days; and a store of medicines on one hand, with a stock of Bibles and useful books on the other, are always kept ready to administer to the bodily or mental ills of those unable to help themselves.'

The plates, which, as already observed, form the most considerable part of the work, are fifteen in number, of the size of the original drawings, and so coloured as to imitate them as nearly as possible. The first exhibits the House with its surrounding scenery, which is of the boldest and richest kind. The distant parts seem to us admirably tinted; but in some of the middle distances there is a hardness, and too strong a contrast of colour in some of the trees. The foreground is admirable. The architecture of the house is not precisely expressed, nor are we able to form a very distinct conception of its character. The second, third, and fourth plates, display beautiful views, extremely various in character, from different parts of the grounds, in which wood and water are happily blended. In the fifth is represented the Cavern Cascade, a fall, to obtain a commanding view of which Mr. Johnes has excavated an artificial grotto. Nos. 6 and 7 are different views of a very favourite water-fall, which terminates an umbrageous glen in a most advantageous manner, opening upon the spectator by degrees till the whole is seen in perfection,' as in the seventh plate. A natural cold bath is

formed in the middle of this Cascade, Plate the 8th, is the last of those views which may be regarded within the compass of Mr. Johnes's pleasure grounds: it exhibits one of those simple stone bridges which the owner has constructed for the purposes of convenience only, without any attempt at such decorations as would doubtless have interfered with the character of the whole place, and destroyed its simplicity.

In the third chapter, the author seems to have indulged in the description of a highly romantic spot, and that with the more freedom as he was not furnished with any views of the circumjacent scenery. The principal feature in this description is the majestic Maen Arthur, or Arthur's stone.

This is a vast perpendicular rock, white with lichens, its chasms occupied with overhanging shrubs, and its base completely concealed by woods descending to the brink of the river, at a great depth below. Such is the noble foreground of the landscape I would now attempt to describe. But words are totally insufficient to express all the varied effect of the river broken by projecting cliffs, the craggy valley, the overshadowing trees, the rich amphitheatre of woody hills in the the more distant prospect, and the towering mountains that bound the whole.

This

is a complete composition, a picture which surely no critic would presume to correct. No object obtrudes itself that is not strictly in harmony with the whole, not even a cottage nor shepherd's hut, for these scenes are sacred to perfect solitude. Here the spirit of the mountain only can be supposed to reside. How sweetly must "the moonlight sleep upon this bank," and what shadows must it throw across the woody vale!'

The author then proceeds to describe the more interesting scenes of this romantic walk, which abounds with numberless brooks overshadowed with trees, and breaking into silvery cascades which empty themselves into the river Ystwith, and form a fine contrast to the dark whirl-pools of the river.' The description is concluded in the following. words.

I have been more particular in the detail of this expedition, because it is certainly the most interesting walk about Hafod, and has hitherto been very little known. Transient visitors must leave it unexplored; nor would those who are already fatigued with a long journey, find it easy to accomplish. If ever that judicious hand which has made the various beauties of Hafod itself so easily accessible, without encroaching on their native wildness, should extend its improvements down the river, the scenes of Maen Arthur may more frequently receive the homage they so justly merit. Mr. Cumberland alone has hitherto celebrated them, and he has rather expressed their general effect, than given a particular description of any part. I feel but too sensibly the insufficiency of my own descriptions, and the more deeply regret that I am possessed of

no delineation of any part of this neighbourhood. It appears not to have been known when the drawings with which Mr. Johnes has so kindly enriched my work were made, nor had I the means of supplying this defect.'

The fourth and concluding chapter exhibits an account of some remarkable and beautiful spots in the neighbourhood of Hafod, many of them being the property of Mr. Johnes, though not strictly within his domain. These are ilJustrated by seven views of the striking and majestic sceneryTM about the Rhydol and the Fynnach, across which latter river is the Devil's Bridge, celebrated on account of a fine fall which the river makes below it, and which is one of the most considerable, as well as beautiful, in the whole principality. Of this, two finely executed views are given. Many curious particulars of Aberystwith and it's castle conclude the work-of which we understand not more than a hundred copies have been printed. It is not likely therefore to be very generally known: but we have no hesitation in saying, that for typical elegance and correctness, as well as for the masterly and splendid execution of its plates, the Tour to Hafod will yield to no publication which this or any other country has produced.

Art. XI. Essays on Natural History and Rural Economy, by the late John Walker, D. D. Professor of Natural History in the University of Edinburgh. Svo. Guthrie and Anderson, Edinburgh. Longman. and Co. 1812.

A FONDNESS for the works of nature, seems, in such as really possess it, to be rather the offspring than the parent of observation;-a faculty, which Dr. W. very justly remarks, resembles the faculty called common sense, in being much less common than is generally imagined. It is however a much more frequent endowment than the powers of comparison, combination and distinction, indispensable for the former of a system; there being, for instance, many good stone-hewers, and carpenters, for one good architect. We should therefore expect, that, when Essays on Natural History are dictated by a love for the subject, they should also exhibit traces of acute and accurate observation. Treatises prompted by a propensity for writing, and founded on know, ledge which an author could not help acquiring, may indeed serve to make up volumes, but will never supply, either to the philosopher, or the friend of nature, that information which a want of practical acquaintance with the branches they treat of, induces the inquirer to seek in them. We do not wish

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