Till life dissolving at the view,

I wake and find the vision true."

"We left Bangor," observes another tourist, "with strong impressions in its favour, having never seen a place which united so many beauties in so narrow a circle; the sublime mountains of Caernarvonshire at a short distance from it; the picturesque scenery of its own immediate neighbourhood; and the ocean spreading its broad bosom within two miles of the town. Add to this, also, the important circumstance of its being one of the cheapest towns in the three kingdoms, and few others will appear to be so inviting and desirable for a residence as Bangor."*

Two miles from Bangor is ABER CEGID or CEGIN, through which a small rivulet empties itself into the Menai. On this a new harbour is fast rising into consequence, formed at the expence of the late Lord Penrhyn, (and called after his name) for the advantage of his lordship's slate quarries, which are four miles above at Dolawyn, near Llyn Meirig, in the mountains of Ogwen. The situation of Port Penrhyn is convenient, being well sheltered by the Anglesea shore, and vessels of three and four hundred tons burthen ride securely close to the quay to take in their lading; some of these are from London, Bristol, and Liverpool; but the chief trade is with Ireland. This is made the grand depot of the slate trade; and spacious warehouses are erected for that purpose; the hills from whence they are procured are some of those secondary mountains forming the first parapet of the Snowdon chain. The slates are of all sizes, from large tombstones and slabs for pavement, down to the smallest size used for roofing; they are distributed into the respective sizes, and qualities, according to the scheme below, and sold at the following prices for money only:

In the first slate-mining concern, the slates were taleable as one sort; and in general were of small dimensions. But when the business came into more scientific hands, a variation, both in the size and denomination took place in the following order:

The smaller kind by way of distinction, were called singles; and the larger being advanced to double the price, received the appellatioa of doubles. One thousand of the latter, were consequently by the workmen accounted as two thousand of the former. As the work proceeded to improve, further distinc tions as to size, and price, took place; and a third kind, under the name of double doubles, was distinguished in the trade. Every thousand of these were reckoned, as four thousand. A still larger sort was obtained twice the dimensions of the last. A new mode of discrimination was then thought necessary; the double doubles were called ladies, the quadruples, countesses; and afterwards still, larger sorts, were designated by divers and appropriate names.

Near the port a large manufactory of cyphering slates, inkstands, and other fancy articles, is carried on by an agent, through whose politeness the above statement was obtained. and the following account of the process of the manufactory.

The rude slates from the mines, are first reduced to shape and size by a small edged tool, similar to a plaisterer's hatchet, the slate being previously placed on the edge of an iron plane, fixed vertically; they are then taken to the scraper, who, with a small piece fo thin steel, takes off the imperfect laminæ, and

reduces the surface to a level; they are passed into other hands, who grind them with a flat stone, afterwards polished by the actions of water and slate powder; and being stained with a black water colour and framed, are piled up in grosses for exportation. They are distinguished into two sizes, large and small; price of the large, 51. per gross, and the small, 21. 6s. ditto. To such a degree of proficiency have the Welsh arrived in the manufacturing of this article, that they are able to undersell the Dutch, while the quality is much better. The slates imported by way of Holland from Switzerland and other countries, are always rough and of an indifferent colour on one side, while those of Wales, arc equally coloured and polished on both a sure criterion of the two manufac

tures.

At a small distance from the port, a handsome building comprising a set of hot and cold sea-water baths, with dressing rooms, &c. exhibit, in their design and execution, the taste of the architect, and the liberality of the owner. The building, for the boundage of the daily tides, stands far out, and a communication is formed with the park, by an amazing high carriage terrace, whence the surrounding views on the Menai, are seen to great advantage.

Entering the park, the embattled turrets of the noble mansion of Penrhyn appears standing on the summit of a hill, formerly embosomed with a grove of venerable oaks ; which have nearly now given place to more modern plantas tions.

PENRHYN CASTLE, the seat of Dowager Lady Penrhyn, is said to have been erected upon the site of an ancient palace, belonging to Roderic Molwynog, who was sovereign of North Wales, in the early part of the eighth century. During the contention of the rival princes, it was levelled with the ground by Meredydd ap Owen in 987; who the same year, invading this country, slew the reigning monarch, Cadwallan ap Jevaf, In the time of Llewelyn, it was granted with other estates, to Yarddur ap Trahaiarn, from whom by the law of gavel kind, it descended