hills opposite to the castle have also been fortified; and every means has been employed to render the works impervious to assault."

Byland Abbey is a most sweetly picturesque scene, and has all the chaste placidity of evening repose. It presents such a rich assemblage of beautiful nature, and combines so very charmingly, that it might easily be mistaken for a composition. In the view of Bethgelert Bridge, the rude character of the landscape, as it exists in nature, is somewhat lost in a too sylvan softness; but the engraving is very finely executed: it is described in these words: --

"

Bethgelert, Carnarvonshire, North Wales.

Bethgelert, or Beddgelert, is a small irregular village, beautifully situated in the bosom of a picturesque valley, near the confluence of two mountain rivers, which, uniting at a short distance from the bridge, roll on, with impetuous velocity, through the famous pass of Pont Aberglaslyn, the only road by which Carnarvonshire is accessible from the south. The extremely romantic situation of Bethgelert, and its convenience as a centrical station to those who are desirous of inspecting the wild and stupendous scenery of North Wales, renders it a frequent abode of the tourist, though the accommodations to be procured here are but indifferent. Placed, indeed, at the foot of the Snowdonian range of mountains, which taking their more immediate rise from the adjacent valley, extend in a south-easterly direction, and boldly project into the sea at Penmanmaws, it becomes a necessary resting place for every traveller whom admiration of the sublime induces to ascend the steep acclivities of the cloud-capt' Snowdon.

"The legend from which the name of this village is generally derived, is the counterpart of a mythological tale, of very remote antiquity; and which, so far from having a distinct locality, excepting at Bethgelert, is common, with scarcely any other variation than proper names, to Britain, Persia, and India. The event which assigned it to this spot, is traditionally said to have occurred in the time of King John, whose son-in-law, Llewelyn, is reported. to have had a mansion near this village, and the site of which is still pretended to be pointed out. This prince had a favourite greyhound, named Gelert, which on a certain day was missing during the chase, and on the prince's return from hunting was found smeared with blood. The cradle in which Llewelyn's infant child had lain, was also blood stained, and overturned. paroxysm of rage, Llewelyn drew his sword, and, supposing that the hound had killed his boy, plunged the weapon into the heart of the faithful animal; which had, in fact, rescued the child from a furious wolf, whose breathless carcase was lying near the cradle, while the infant was sleeping unhurt beneath it. The grief of Llewelyn was excessive: he caused the greyhound to be interred in much state, and, erecting a tomb to his memory, the place was thenceforth distinguished by the name of Bedd-Gelert- the grave of Gelert. This tradition has been elegantly versified by W. R. Spencer, esq., whose ballad has these concluding stanzas:

In a

"In the beautiful vale of Gwynant, which extends from Bethgelert towards the south, and for its variety of wild and picturesque scenery can scarcely be parallelled, are some remains of an ancient British fort, called Dinas Emrys, the erection of which is attributed to the skill of Merddin Emrys, or Merlin, about the close of the 5th century."

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Number III. contains Framlingham Castle, from drawing by the late M. A. Rooker; and Naworth Castle, Pont-y-Pair, and Brinkburn Priory, from drawings by P. S. Munn. The two latter of these views are very beautiful: Pont-y-Pair has all the charms of romantic grandeur, and Brinkburn Priory possesses the more elegant forms of the picturesque. The account of Pont-y-Pair is given in in these words.

"Pont-y-Pair, Carnarvonshire, North Wales.

"Pont-y-Pair, or the Bridge of the Cauldron, is a singular and lofty structure of five arches, erected over the river Llugwy, which falls into the Conway at a little distance below. The scenery on both sides of the bridge is very romantic, the bed of the river being covered with masses of rock, of most strange and uncouth forms, over which the foaming stream rushes with impetuous velocity. The vicinity of the mountains, whose aspiring fronts rise, range above range, till they terminate in the heights of Snowdon, increases the grandeur of the prospects, and give birth to the kindred emotions of admiration and sublimity. Though both rivers, before their junction, dart furiously along their rugged beds in broken torrents, yet they afterwards assume a more placid character, and flow with chastened vigour between the counties of Carnarvon and Denbigh, till they fall into the estuary of the Menai.

"The many beautiful scenes in the vicinity of Pont-y-Pair, occasion this neighbourhood to be frequently visited. The celebrated cataract, called Rhaiadr-y-Wenol, or the Cataract of the Swallow, is scarcely more than a mile distant on the road towards Capel Curig. This is situated in a deep and narrow glen, through which the river Llugwy foams with vehement rapidity, and in a wet season exhibits all the wildness and fury of an Alpine stream. The water is at first precipitated in a broad sheet over a rock almost perpendi cular; but below that it descends in a varied course along a smooth and slanting bed. The banks of the glen are adorned by oak, birch, and hazel, hanging from the rocks, and composing, with the cataract, a most picturesque and charming landscape."

In No. IV. are views of the Peak Cavern and Newark Castle, by P. S. Munn; Oakhampton Chapel, by J. C. Smith; and Rivaulx Abbey, by F. Nicholson. The subject called the Peak Cavern is improperly designated. It represents only, the passage between the cliffs which leads to that tremendous hollow from the village of Castleton; but the cavern itself is far beyond. We have more than once visited the

interior of this gulph, and can again pledge our credit on the veracity of the accompanying description.

"The Peak Cavern, or Devil's Cave, Derbyshire.

The Peak Cavern is one of the greatest and most singularnatural curiosities in Great Britain. The entrance is most extraordinarily magnificent: its situation is in a dark and gloomy recess, formed by a chasm in the rocks, which range perpendicularly on each side to a great height; having, on the left, a rivulet that issues from the cavern, and pursues its foaming way over craggy masses of limestone; and, on the summit of the steep above, the ruins of a Norman castle, which was built here, on an almost impregnable site, by William Peverel, natural son to the Conqueror. A vast canopy of unpillared rock, assuming the appearance of a surbased arch, forms the mouth of this stupendous excavation: the arch is about one hundred and twenty feet wide, upwards of forty in height, and in receding depth about ninety. Proceeding about thirty yards, the roof becomes lower, and a gentle descent conducts, by a detached rock, to the interior entrance of this tremendous hollow. Here the blaze of day, which had been gradually softening, wholly disappears, and all further passage must be explored by torch-light.

"The visitor is now obliged to proceed in a stooping posture for twenty or thirty yards, when a spacious opening, called the BellHouse, again permits him to stand upright. Hence the path conducts to the margin of a small lake, locally termed the First Water, where a boat, provided by the guide, is ready to convey the passenger to the interior of the cavern, beneath a massive vault of rock, which in one part descends to within eighteen or twenty inches of the water. Beyond the lake, a spacious vacuity, 200 feet in length, 200 feet broad, and in some parts 120 feet high, opens in the heart of the rocks. In a passage at the inner extremity, the stream which flows through the bottom spreads into what is called the Second Water: this can generally be passed on foot: at other times the visitor is carried over on the shoulders of the guide. Near the end of this passage is a projecting pile of rocks, distinguished by the name of Roger Rain's House, where the water incessantly falls in large drops through the crevices of the roof. Beyond is the entrance to another fearful hollow, called the Chancel: here the rocks are much dislocated and broken, and large masses of stalactite incrust the sides and prominent points. The path now conducts to the Devil's Cellar, and thence, by a somewhat rapid descent of about 150 feet, to the Half-way House. Further on, the way proceeds beneath three natural arches, pretty regularly formed; beyond which is another vast concavity in the roof, assuming the

shape of a bell, and from this resemblance denominated Great Tom of Lincoln. The distance from this point to the extremity of the cavern is not considerable: the vault gradually descends, the passage contracts, and at length nearly closes, leaving no more room than is sufficient for the course of the water, which flows hither through a subterraneous channel of some miles from the distant mines of the Peak-Forest.

"The effect of the light, when returning from the recesses of the cavern, is peculiarly impressive; and the eye, unaccustomed to the contrast, never beholds it without lively emotions of pleasure. The gradual illumination of the rocks, which become brighter as they approach the entrance, and the chastened blaze of day, which shorn of its beams' arrays the distance in morning serenity, is one of the most beautiful scenes that the pencil can be employed to exhibit. The entire length of this wonderful fissure is 750 yards; and its depth from the surface of the mountain about 208.”

The chapel in Oakhampton Castle has considerable merit as an engraving, but as a picture it excites little interest. Newark Castle has far superior attractions; yet, if our recollection fails not, Mr. Munn has, in this view, sacrificed fidelity of representation to picturesque effect. The accompaniments of boats, &c. are not natural to the spot; and we remember several peculiarities in the architecture of the castle which are not at all indicated in the print. These things, however they may be disregarded by the generality of draughtsmen, we cannot but consider as deserving of reprehension. The same degree of truth that is requisite in portrait-painting, should be extended to local delineations: not any feature that distinguishes character should be omitted; nor should any adjuncts be introduced to destroy the resemblance, however they may be calculated to set off the beauty. Rivaux Abbey is a most impressive composition: it possesses all the sweetness of an Italian landscape; and the building itself is so happily introduced, as to excite the idea of a Greek or Roman temple rising in classic grandeur amidst a proud luxuriance of umbrageous foliage. The engraving is finished in a very superior style; and it furnishes a strong proof of that exalted taste, and vivid feeling for the excellencies of his art, which characterises the performances of Mr. Middiman. It is intended, according to the prospectus, that this work shall be completed in fifteen numbers, or one hundred views, all of which are to be engraved by Mr. Middiman, who we are happy to find is sole proprietor of this publication; Mr. Brayley having undertaken to supply the descriptions from motives of private friendship only. We have been long aware

of the manifold inconveniences and disadvantages to the graphic art, which arises from the intervention of printdealers, who, planting themselves in the mid-way, intercept those streams of liberal patronage that ought only to flow upon the artist. There are few branches, either of science or of living, in which the middle men have not a fatal operation on the best interests of the public. To the arts of engraving and painting they are particularly obnoxious; and though the latter, we trust, is about to be for ever rescued from their grasp by that patriotic establishment, the British Institution, the former is still within their withering power. How gladly should we hail the dawn of a more equitable dispensation!

This publication is fully deserving of the most extensive patronage. We know of no other of the same class, and of equal merit and price, that has ever appeared in this country. It possesses also that truly commendable, though most rare, qualification in a periodical work, of the latter numbers being in every respect quite equal, if not superior, to the preceding ones; and we therefore doubt not but that it will proceed in the same course, and terminate in the same spirit. That Mr. Middiman may obtain that enlarged encouragement which his talents deserve, is our most sincere wish. The numbers are stated to appear in quarterly succession; but we believe that a longer interval occasionally elapses, through the impossibility of one person completing the engravings in sufficient time.

Memoirs of Horatio, Lord Walpole, selected from his Correspondence and Papers, and connected with the History of the Times, from 1678 to 1757. Illustrated with Portraits. By Wm. Coxe, M. A. F. R. S. F. A. S. Second Edition, corrected and About 480 pages each. Longman

Rector of Bemerton. enlarged. 2 vols. 8vo. and Co. 1808.

THE first edition of these Memoirs not having been reviewed in the Antijacobin, we have now the pleasure of noticing them in an improved state. The work is a necessary supplement to the author's Memoirs of Sir Robert Walpole, Earl of Orford, and must be ranked among the best Memoires pour servir à l'histoire of the age in which these fraternal statesmen lived. Horatio, afterwards Lord, Walpole the subject of the present Memoirs, brother