Bidding; and we still occasionally see the herald of this event announcing it to the friends, relations, and acquaintance of the bride and bridegroom. He bears in his hand a long hunting pole or staff, to the top of which is nailed or tied a bunch of ribbons of various colours: after greeting the family as he approaches the house, leaning upon his support like the datceiniad pen pastwn of old, he with great gravity and solemnity addresses them nearly in the words mentioned in the Gentleman's Magazine of December 1791, page 1103*, with this difference, that in Brecknockshire fish is not enumerated among the dainties of which the guests are invited to partake: the form of this invitation I have endeavoured in vain to obtain, though it is still occasionally heard in the Highfands; but the substance is a promise of cakes aud ale, pipes and tobacco, chairs to sit down on, &c., and an undertaking on behalf of the intended bride and bridegroom, that they will return the favour to such of their visitors as may thereafter claim it.

"On the evening preceding the marriage, the bride's female friends bring her several articles of household furniture: this is called stafellt. On the morning of the ceremony, the lady affects coyness, and sometimes conceals herself, but is fortunately always discovered and rescued from the party who are resolved to carry her off. Upon approaching the church, another scene of confusion and bustle ensues: it should seem now, that some of the company are determined to prevent the celebration of the marriage; one of her male friends, behind whom she is mounted on horseback, though generally without a pillion, makes many attempts to escape and run away with her; but the companions of her future husband succeed in dragging her ("nothing loth") to the altar. Upon this occasion, the racings and gallopings on both sides are really alarming to by-standers unaccustomed to these exhibitions; and it is astonishing that more accidents have not happened in these sham flights and pursuits. Previously to the young couple's setting out for church, as well as at the public house in the village, where they generally retire for a short time after the ceremony is over, the friends of both parties subscribe, according to their abilities, each a few shillings, and the sum is particularly noticed by one of the company; as it is expected to be returned to every person

"The intention of the bidder is this: with kindness and amity, with decency and liberality, for Einion Owen and Llio Elis, he invites you to come with your good-will on the plate; bring current money; a shilling, or two, or three, or four, or five; with cheese and butter we invite the husband and wife, and children, and men-servants, and maid-servants, from the greatest to the least: come there early, you shall have victuals freely, and drink cheap, stools to sit on, and fish if we can catch them; but if not, hold us excusable; and they will attend with you when you call upon them. They set out from such and such a place.

"Literally the chamber, but it means here furnishing, o urniture for the chamber.

then present who may thereafter be entitled to it on a similar occasion; for this contribution has been long settled to be of the nature of a loan, and has been sued for and recovered at law." p. 284-9.

In the eleventh chapter are particulars of the agriculture, soils, tenures, farms, cattle, sheep, &c. of Brecknockshire. These, though all subjects of eminent local importance, will not greatly interest the general reader, and we shall therefore hasten to conclude our account of this volume; which closes with an Appendix, containing several tables of the population of the county at different periods; the genealogies of Brychan Brecheiniog, Prince or Lord of Brecknock, and his descendants, from about the year 1100 to the present time; lists of sheriffs, judges, and members of Parliament; and various other papers, illustrative or explanatory of the information detailed in the body of the work. The consideration of the second volume must be reserved for our next; together with our remarks on the engravings in the present one.

(To be continued.)

Coxe's Memoirs of Lord Walpole.

[Concluded from P. 181 of this Volume.]

AFTER citing such a flagrant instance of the "vain conjectures," "perverted reasonings," and "inaccuracy of quotation," by means of which Belsham has contrived to vilify his country, calumniate his sovereign, and violate the sanctity of historical truth; we shall extract a specimen of our author's style of narrative. It exhibits some of the fatal effects of dissentions in the British cabinet, and likewise developes the perverse policy which appears to have actuated the cabinet of Vienna during nearly a century.

"On his return to England [in 1739], Mr. Walpole found the people in a state of ferment and agitation, wild with schemes of vengeance for the Spanish depredations, and sharing in imagi nation the treasures of Peru and Mexico. He was not, however, hurried away by these dreams of vengeance and conquest; he had uniformly promoted the pacific system of his brother, and united with him in opposing the precipitate declaration of war.

"About this time,' to use the words which conclude his apology, the depredations of the Spaniards on the British commerce in the West Indies, encouraged by the turbulent spirit of the Queen of Spain, and out of resentment for the great illegal trade, carried on contrary to treaty, by the English, with

the Spanish American coast and ports, had given a handle to the disaffected and discontented party (increased by the accession of those in Parliament who belonged to the court of the late < Prince of Wales), to raise a great ferment in the nation, to occa'sion warm debates in Parliament, and strong resolutions and addresses to the crown, against such violent proceedings; with an advice to his majesty to try once more amicable measures to obtain reparations, and to prevent the like injuries for the future. In consequence of which, a convention was negotiated and concluded with Spain, by which that king acknowledged our grievances, agreed to pay in three months a certain sum in satisfaction, and to discuss and, determine in five months, by plenipotentiaries on both sides, the respective complaints, in order to put a final end to all differences between the two nations. This convention, after a long and solemn debate, was "approved by Parliament; but most of the members of his majesty's council, excepting Sir Robert Walpole and his brother, "were so alarmed, and betrayed such apprehensions of the popular 'discontent and cries, that their Catholic majesties, being informed of it by their minister in England, and convinced that these clamours would force his majesty and his ministry into war with them, refused to make the payment of the money, stipulated for satisfaction, at the stated time; and consequently a rupture ensued between the two nations, in which France privately supported the Spaniards, while neither the Emperor nor the States seemed disposed to take any part.'

"From this period Mr. Walpole remained in England; but held no ostensible place under government. He did not, however, intermit his political labours; but continued the same attention to public business, and supplied the cabinet with numerous papers, deductions, and memorials, relative to the conduct of foreign affairs, during that critical period which immediately preceded and followed the death of the Emperor Charles the Sixth.

His sagacity led him to foresee that the war with Spain must occasion a rupture with France, and to appreciate the necessity of forming some plan of united measures to counteract the preponderance which that power had acquired on the continent. He had no reliance on the co-operation of the Emperor, whose rash and impolitic schemes had reduced his country to a state of weakness and degradation*. Charles had no sooner concluded a pacification with France, Spain, and Sardinia, than, in alliance with Russia, he attacked the Turks, with the sanguine hopes of procuring an indemnification on the side of Hungary for his losses in Italy. But the disasters, of a single campaign compelled him to

"In one of his letters to Mr. Trevor, he says, • We find they (the court of Vienna) begin to open their eyes; it is better they 'should do it themselves, than we should pretend to lift up their eyelids for them; for we can't make them see if they have a mind to be blind and if that be the case, things are well enough.' January 25, 1738-9.

desert his ally, and purchase a dishonourable peace, under the dictates and mediation of France, by the cession of Servia and the important town of Belgrade. His finances were exhausted, and his armies reduced and dispirited.

"Mr. Walpole well knew, from long experience, that the States would not take an active part in opposition to France, unless the barrier towns were put in a state of defence, and unless they were secure of being supported by an army, not depending on the uncertain contingents of the Austrian levies, but effective in the field. On considering the situation of the European powers, none appeared capable of promptly contributing this support, but the King of Prussia, who had an effective army of 80,000 men, and possessed a considerable treasure in reserve. Both Mr. Walpole, and his brother had long urged the policy of forming an alliance with Prussia; but their proposals met with insuperable difficulties, from the inveterate antipathy between the houses of Brunswick and Brandenburgh, which originated in the reigns of Frederick William and George the First." VOL. I. P. 417.

Sir

The adverse consequences of an attachment to Austria and coolness with Prussia soon became evident, when] Frederick the Great attacked Maria Theresa, and after a fecble resistance made himself master of Silesia; at the same time a powerful French force entered Germany. The news of this aggression aroused all the feelings of gallantry in the English people; the selfish and imperious conduct of the court of Vienna was instantly forgotten; nothing was remembered but the wrongs of a young, beautiful, and unoffending princess; and the minister, Sir Robert Walpole, felt himself obliged, contrary to his own judgment, and in deference to the popular sentiment, to propose a grant of 300,000l. to the Queen of Hungary. Robert had laboured extremely to effect an accommodation between the Queen and the King of Prussia, but without success; and Mr. Walpole animadverts, in a letter to Mr. Robinson the English minister at Vienna, on the folly of Austria in refusing "to comply with the King of Prussia's demand of Lower Silesia including the town of Breslaw." He concludes by reprobating the "conduct of a court (of Vienna) whose bigotry, pride, and presumption, as if all mankind were made to be subservient to their views, I find cannot be altered with any alteration of condition or circumstances." Mr. Walpole, however, assisted his brother in supporting Austria, and relates the following anecdote, which proves" that the obstinacy of Maria Theresa was occasioned by the arts of opposition, and the ill-judged enthusiasm of the British nation." It deserves to be recorded as one of the many instances in which

envious candidates for places have produced great and lasting injuries to their country.

"At the request of Lord Orford, a person (alluding to himself) having represented to Count Ostein, the Austrian minister in London, the great advantages or fatal consequences of agreeing ⚫ or disagreeing with Prussia, that minister promised to lay what was urged before his court in favour of the propositions of Prussia. At the same time the Parliament had voted 300,0001. for. enabling his majesty to make good his engagements with the Queen of Hungary; and a certain great man (Lord Carteret), then in opposition, told Count Ostein, that the subsidy did not proceed from the good disposition of the ministry, but was extorted by the general voice of the Parliament and people. Austrian minister accordingly changed his sentiments and language, and encouraged his court not to agree with Prussia; because. England would spend the last drop of their blood, and the last penny of money, in support of the Queen of Hungary. The result was, that she obstinately rejected the alliance with Prussia, who entered into the measures of France.'" VOL. II. P. 9.j

The

When we reflect on the hereditary mulierosity of the Austrian government, its shameful and abject slavery to popish superstition, its bigotry, pride, and presumption, during so many years, we can only account for its actual existence from the horror and detestation excited by the atrocities of the French revolution. It is singular that neither the general diffusion of knowledge, which has produced such changes in other states, nor the awful events which have recently passed in Europe, should not have induced some essential improvements in the civil and military administration of Austrian affairs. But so unchangeable does it appear to be, that all Mr. Walpole's remarks on it, above seventy years ago, seem perfectly applicable at the present day. Pride and bigotry," says he, "will get the better, at the court of Vienna, even of danger and necessity."

The principal part of our author's second volume is composed of Mr. Walpole's private letters to Mr. Trevor, from 1740 to 1746, detailing his opinions and reflexions on domestic and foreign politics, and the cabals and divisions of the cabinet ministers. After the resignation of his brother, Mr. Walpole declined all public business, retiring. quietly with the tellership of the Exchequer: this being a place for life, the virulent enemies of the Walpole administration could not dismiss him. The particular and pri vate circumstances here laid before the public, the exposure of George the Second's secret partiality to Hanover, the