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The author is an instructive and amusing traveller, who directs our attention to those objects which are most important and interesting, and whose reflections are judicious and entertaining. Nothing seems to have escaped his notice, that could be deemed worthy of selection and remark; and he has furnished a volume which will serve as a very useful directory to those who wish to make the tour either of North or South Wales, or of those parts of England which lie upon the borders of the Principality. For the information of such persons, and in justice to the author, (whose work we have accidentally overlooked for a considerable time,) we shall select the sketches which he has given of the extent of each of his tours; and we shall close the article with an extract or two from his de scriptive character of the inhabitants of Wales.

The first of these tours (says Mr. Skrine) is devoted to the description of South Wales, and begins with the views from the Cotteswold hills in Glocestershire, where the approach to that country naturally opens. After coasting the Severn from Glocester to Newaham, and traversing the forest of Dean, it pursues the naviga. tion of the Wye from Ross to Monmouth and Chepstowe, and after visiting the two passage houses on the Bristol Chanted, pervades Monmouthshire in various parts, so as to include nearly the whole of that fine county, with its capital. From Abergavenny it enters Brecknockshire, and after pursuing the Uske almost to its source beyond Brecknock, it descends by the works of Merthyr-Tydvil to the Ponti-Prydd, in the vale of Taaffe in Glamorganshire, from whence by Caerphilli Castle, crossing again through a corner of Monmouthshire, it takes the coast road with little deviations by Cardiffe, Cowbridge, and Swansea, to Tenby in Pembrokeshire. That extreme county, unlike the rest of South Wales both in its appearance and its inhabitants, offers a variety of objects in the scenery attendant on MilfordHaven, the towns and castles of Pembroke and Haverfordwest, and the superb ruins of St. David's. From thence the coast is pursued as far as Fisguard, and the tour then takes an inland direc. tion by Narbeth and Caermarthen, the two fine vales of the Towey, and the pass of Cwm-Dwr to Brecknock; it then returns to Llanymdovery by Builth, Llandrindod and Llanwrted Wells, and enters Cardiganshire at Llanbeder. From Cardigan, after visiting Kilgarren Castle, it again reaches the coast, which it follows with little variation to Aberystwith, from whence it turns inland by the banks of the Rhydol and the Ystwith to the romantic scenery about the Devil's bridge and Havod; then crossing the mountains from Cwmystwith to Rhyadergowy, it penetrates through the interior of Radnorshire by Knighton, Presteigne, Kington, and Radnor, and approaches England by the course of the Wye through its beautiful vale from Builth to the Hay. The rich plains of Herefordshire succecd, and the reader is conducted by Hereford and Ledbury over the Malvern hills to Worcester, where this part of the travel naturally ends.

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The tour of North Wales begins at that city, and taking a short compass of the vale of Evesham, includes many of the ornamented seats and towns of Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and Staffordshire, with Bridgnorth and the works of Colebrook-dale, in its approach to Shrewsbury. It then makes a slight deviation to visit the beautiful display of Hawkestone, and crossing the plain of Shropshire, enters North Wales from Oswestry, near Chirk Castle; by which place, Wynne stay, and Wrexham, it reaches the curious old city of Chester. The coast and the interior of the little county of Flint succeed, and from Holywell the déscent is made into the beautiful 'vale of Clwydd, extending from the South of Ruthyn to Denbigh, and the sea beyond Saint Asaph. The vale and river of the Conway are then traced from its mouth to Llanrwst and the falls among the mountains near its source, and the return is made on the opposite bank to Conway. The pass of Penman-mawr and Bangor ferry conduct the reader into Anglesea, where Beaumaris, Holy-Head, and the Paris mountain, form the principal objects. The Menai straits then lead to Caernarvon, from whence an expedition is made toward the horn of the Caernarvonshire coast which commands the bay of Cardigan, and the towns of Pwlwhelli, Crickheith, and Penmorva. Great part of the Snowdonia is afterwards traversed, and the enchanting valley of Festiniog is approached by the stupendous rocks and pass of the Pont-Aberglasslyn; from the charming spot of Tan-y-bwlch, excursions are made to visit several points in the valley, and the proud castle of Harlech on the coast. Dolgelly is then approached by various grand objects in the wilds of Merionethshire, and the aestuary of the Mawdoch from thence to Barmouth, discloses a wonderful display beneath the northern base of the mighty mountain of Cader-Idris. - The tour then takes an inland direction by the lake of Bala, the romantic territory of Owen Glendwr near Corwen, and the beautiful valley of the Dee to Llangollen, with the picturesque ruin of Vale Crucis Abbey. A long tract over the Denbighshire Berouin afterwards conducts the reader to Llanrhaidr and the cataract of Pistill Rhaidr; by Llanvilling it approaches the stream of the upper Severn, and its banks are pursued through the rich vale of Montgomeryshire to Newtown and Llanidloes, near its source. Passing near the origin of the Wye, and almost under the base of Plinlimmon, this tour meets the former of South Wales at the Devil's bridge in Cardiganshire, and making a little curve by the Ystwith and Tivy to visit Strata Florida Abbey, recrosses it to reach Llanbadern Vawr; soon after which it re-enters North Wales, taking a sweep by the banks of the Dovey to Machynleth, Dinasmonthy, and the mountains which form the Southern base of Cader-Idris.Turning inland again at Mallwydd, it passes the hills by Cann's office and Llanvair to return to the Severn, and crossing its vale to Montgomery, quits North Wales finally to approach Bishop's Castle and Ludlow in Shropshire, from whence it pursues the direct line towards Radnorshire and Brecknockshire, by Leominster and Weobly in Herefordshire, thus completing the circle."

In expressing his sentiments concerning the difference which subsists between the respective inhabitants of North and South Wales,

Wales, as to their disposition and manner, the author observes (p. 267), that

• The frank and earnest temper of the Welsh, aided by a natural degree of characteristic pride, kept up the spirit of these distinctions long after the causes of them had subsided; and few nations have shewn, in modern times at least, so strong an attachment to the customs, the traditions, and the long traced descent of their ancestors. Insensibly, however, in the lapse of time, are these points of variation from their neighbours sinking into oblivion, their asperities have been softened down by mutual intercourse, and what remains is far more pleasing and curious than offensive to a stranger. The provincial divisions have long since ceased to present any material difference in manners, except where peculiar circumstances (as in almost the whole of Fembrokeshire, and a part of the coast of Glamorganshire) have introduced a totally different people. Even the greater separation between the inhabitants of North and South Wales has in a considerable degree disappeared, their manners being so blended that, except the uniform and almost exclusive attachment to the music of the harp, it is now difficult to distinguish the few traces of originality which have been so long boasted by the native of North Wales as proofs of his superiority.'

• Refinement has not yet attained to so high a pitch in Wales, that the social virtues should be extinguished, or even much obscured by apathy: among these virtues may justly be reckoned that singular attachment of its inhabitants to each other, which prevails most eminently in private families, and universally in the whole community.'.

However, as refinement increases,

• The gentlemen of Wales, following the example of those of England, desert their proper stations and lose that high estimation which the imposing presence of an active and upright landlord has transmitted to posterity. A more useful or dignified being indeed can hardly exist than a native man of landed property in Wales, living with credit in the mansion-house of his ancestors, and exercising his talents for the general good as an upright magistrate, a friendly neighbour, and a liberal benefactor.

• High spirit, energetic animation, and courage, may be accounted strong points of the Welsh character; and these, when properly exhibited, cannot fail to create respect and admiration.'

• Hospitality, that engaging affection, which may take root in every nation, but which retreats in general from the seats of opulence and luxury, is peculiarly adapted to the disposition of the Welsh, and wherever an opportunity has occurred, I have often witnessed its fascinating influence.'' Open, ingenuous, and considerate, the native gentleman of Wales dispenses freely around him the benefits he receives from his position, and supports the character he derives from his predecessors by a well-timed and liberal attention to all who fall within his sphere of action."

The few defects that appear among the valuable qualities of the Welsh, Mr. Skrine candidly traces to the excess of virtues,

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and, as the general civilization increases, they will no longer be observable.'

• Hence has the natural character for animation sometimes partaken too much of warmth of temper, and a hastiness of expression has gained the Welshman the reputation of being quarrelsome. Conviviality in too great an extreme has in some societies led to habitual intemperance, the minute attention to ancient customs has often retarded improvement, and the veneration shewn to a long line of ancestors has occasionally degenerated into the stiffness of family pride. The higher orders of society have already, in a great measure, emancipated themselves from these shackles, but the lower are yet slow in following so laudable an example. Among them the prevalent vice of drunkenness is apt to foster the seeds of every other evil; a litigious spirit, too often fomented industriously by the arts of chicane, supersedes frequently the natural tendency to fair dealing; an habitual idleness shuts up the sources of industry; and a want of attention to cleanliness, encumbering poverty, degrades it by the squalid appearance of want, raggedness, and disease. These shades in the national character, which are by no means so general as they have been, already fading imperceptibly beneath the sun-shine of prosperity, and the introduction of arts and manufactures, must ultimately yield to that enlightened spirit which arises from an enlarged intercourse with other countries, and the regular progress of improve ment in every branch of industry.'

The author closes his comparative view of the two principal. districts of Wales in the following terms:

Thus have nature, art, and even the vestiges of decayed grandeur, adorned both parts of this interesting portion of our island with peculiar and mutual advantages: for the increasing improvement of each happy tract we may be allowed to hope, from the continued favour of Providence, and the successful industry of man. So, when that happy period arrives, in which all local distinctions of its parts are lost in the perfection of the whole, the impetuous spirit of the Welsh, corrected by, and correcting in its turn, the tempered perseverance of the English, may contribute to confirm, and prolong to future ages, the energetic respectability of the British character."

Mr. Skrine very properly recommends to the attention of the traveller, Carey's large map of England and Wales, Evans's Survey of North Wales, Lord Lyttelton's elegant but concise Descriptions, Wyndham's pleasing Tour in Wales, and Pennant's Work, which he justly denominates accurate and excellent. He has also introduced a descriptive table of the contents of each chapter by way of index, the omission of which in his former work was certainly a defect,

ART

ART. VII. Reports of Adjudged Cases in the Court of Common Pleas, during the Time Lord Chief Justice Willes presided in that Court; together with some few Cases of the same Period determined in the House of Lords, Court of Chancery, and Exchequer Chamber. Taken from the MSS. of Lord Chief Justice Willes, with Notes and References to prior and subsequent Decisions, by Charles Durnford, of the Middle Temple, Barrister at Law. Folio. PP. 750. 11. 188. Boards. Butterworth. 1799.

We have often had occasion to complain of the number of

unnecessary and even useless law-books, which issue from the press; and we have frequently been under the disagreeable necessity of expressing our censure on this subject, in terms of considerable severity. In consulting such publications, the members of an enlightened and laborious profession are unprofitably occupied, and they rise from the perusal of them with unavailing regret for having bestowed any attention on their contents. - Dissatisfaction and disappointment not unfrequently attend our Jabours: but sometimes, to renew our good humour, and to dispel our disgust, we are presented with a work of real merit, by which our understandings are improved, and the stock of our information is enlarged. Of this description is the present volume; which we have read with unmixed satisfaction, both on account of the deserved celebrity of the author, and of the well-known judgment and accuracy of the editor, by whose diligent perseverance this production is now given to the world.

Chief Justice Willes presided in the Court of Common Pleas from Easter Term, in the tenth year of George the Second, 1737, to Trinity Term in the thirty-second year of the same king, 1758; and during the long period of twenty one years, he discharged the duties of a difficult and important station with undiminished credit to himself, and to the satis faction of those who applied to him for justice. The publication of his decisions is calculated to continue his name as a lawyer in as high estimation in succeeding ages, as it was considered in his own time.

The MSS from which this volume is composed are un. questionably, Mr. Durnford observes, the hand-writing of the Chief Justice; who bequeathed them to his son, the late Mr. Justice Willes, by whom they were left to his son, the late Mr. Edward Willes; and on whose death, they came into the possession of his two surviving brothers, who entrusted the present editor with the publication.- Mr. D.'s various merits as a reporter are too universally known, and too constantly experienced, to require any praise on this occasion from us. Seven folio volumes, containing the decisions of the Court

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