he thinks, was the Britons uniformly neglecting to establish a naval power, though experience and the nature of their fituation pointed out, the expediency of the measure, as the only effectual means of contending with, and counteracting the defigns of their enemies; a mode of defence fo obvious, that it might have ftruck the minds of any people more rude than the Britons, who from their infular fituation were naturally expofcd to continual invasions.

The third book treats of the wars between the Saxons and Welsh, to the death of Roderic the Great. About the conclufion of the fixth century, the ancient Britons loft their name with their fituation, and became diftinguished by that of Welth. Poffeffed of the warlike fpirit which marked the British character, they carried into their mountains that rooted inveteracy against the Saxons, which hereditary wars, heightened by every injury, would naturally excite. But the fame feverity of fortune awaited the defcendants of that brave people in their last asylum, as the conqueft of this barren domain became the object of ambition and policy to the Saxon and Norman Princes. After a recital of inroads and battles, the author relieves the reader's mind, by opening to his view the modes of life and private manners of the Welth, whofe national character he thus defcribes.

"They were a nation light and nimble, and more fierce than strong; from the lowest to the highest of the people, they were devoted to arms, which the plowman as well as the courtier was prepared to feize on the firit fummons.

"Their chief fuftenance in respect of food, was cattle and oats, befides milk, cheese and butter; though they ufually ate more plentifully of flesh-meat than of bread.

"As they were not engaged in the occupations of traffic, their time was entirely employed in military affairs. They were fo anxious for the prefervation of their country and its liberties, that they efteemed it delight ful to facrifice their lives for them: and agreeably to this fpirit they entertained an idea, that it was difgraceful to die in their beds, but honourable to fall in the field. Such was their eager courage, that unarmed they dared engage men entirely covered with armour, and by their activity and valour ufu. ally came off conquerors. Their offenfive weapons were arrows and long fpears. Their bows were utually made of flight twigs joined or twifted together, and though rude in their form, they difcharged an arrow with great force. The chieftains, when they went to war, were mounted on fwift horfes, bred in the country; the lower forts of people,

on account of the marshes and inequalities of the ground, marched on foot.

"The Welth either went with their feet entirely bare, or used boots of raw leather, instead of shues, fewed together with raw skin.

"These people were not given to exceís; they had no fet time for their meals, nor any expenfive richness in their cloaths. There was not a beggar to be seen among them, for the tables of all were common to all; and with them bounty, and particularly holpitable entertainment were in higher eftimation than any of the other virtues. The offer of water for the purpofe of wafhing the feet, was confidered as an invitation to accept of hofpitable entertainment. The ftrangers who arrived in the morning, were entertained until evening with the converfation of young women, and with the mufic of the harp; for in this country almost every houfe was provided with both. Hence we may reasonably conclude they were not mach addicted to jealousy. In the evening an entertainment was provided according to the number and dignity of the perfons. The guests were placed by threes at supper, and the dishes at the fame time were put on rushes, in large and ample platters made of clean grafs, with thin and broad cakes of bread baked every day. At the fame time, the whole family, with a kind of emulation in their civilities, were in waiting; the mafter and miftrefs in particular were always ftand. ing, very attentively overlooking the whole.

"The women of this nation, as well as the men, had their hair cut round at the ears and eyes. The women also, as a head-drefs, wore a large white robe, folding round, and rifing by degrees into a graceful tuft or crown.

"The Welsh were a people of an acute and subtle gemus, enjoying so rich a vein of natural endowments, that they excelled in wit and ingenuity any other of the Western nations. In private company, or in seasons of public feftivity, they were very facetious in their converfation, entertaining the com. pany with a difplay of their wit.

"There were among the Welsh, what were not to be found among other nations, certain perfons whom they called Awenydheen, (a word expreffive of poetical raptures) who appear to have been folely under the influence of the imagination. Thefe perfons, when they were confulted about any thing doubtful, inflamed with a high degree of enthusiaẩm, were carried out of themfelves, and icemed as if poffeffed by an invifible (pirit.

"Pride of ancestry and nobility of family were points held in the highest eftimation among the Welsh, and of comic they were

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fir more defirous of noble than of rich and fplendid marriages. A Welshman was confidered as honourable, if among his ancestors there had been neither flave, nor foreigner, nor infamous perfon. Yet if any foreigner had faved the life of a Welshman, or delivered him from captivity, he might he naturalized, and was entitled to the rights of Welshmen; and any foreign family, having refided in Wales for four generations, were alfo admitted to the fame privileges."

Roderic, who by his countrymen was stiled the Great, in Mr. Warrington's opinion, but ill deferved fo diftinguished an appellation. His reign opened with important advantages, which, directed by a wife policy, might probably have fecured the independency of Wales, and fixed its government on a bafis fo permanent, that it might have fupported the storms of ages. But instead of profiting by this fortunate conjuncture, instead of acting up to the great defign of government, he, without precedent to palliate, or apparent deceffity to enforce the measure, yielded up the independency of Wales; enjoining his pofterity to pay to the Saxon Kings, as a mark of fubordination, a yearly tribute, which became the foundation to that claim of fuperiority ever after afferted by the English. The divifion which Roderic made of his dominions, was another fource of civil diffentions and national weakhefs, which foon caufed a decline in patriotism, a striking barbarity in manners, which terminated in the ruin of the state, and the lofs of the political exiftence of the nation.

The fourth book contains the hiftory of Wales, from the death of Roderic to that of Bleddyn ap Cynvin, the King of NorthWales, and Powis, who was affaffinated by Rhys, the fon of Owen ap Edwyn, and the Nobility of Ystrad Tywy. Among the Princes who during this period attained the fovereignty of Wales, Howel Dha, or the Good, defervedly holds the first place,

To reduce his fubjects to a sense of order, and to render them fubordinate to civil authority, he collected into one code the ancient cuftoms and laws of Wales, which had nearly loft their efficacy and weight in the lapfe of ages, and in the confusion and turbulency of the times. "This code," our author obferves, " is the beft eulogium of this Prince's memory, and raifes him as much above the reft of the Cambrian Princes, as peace and gentleness of manners, and a regulated ftate, are preferable to the evils infe parable from war, to the fierceness of uncivilized life, and to the habits of a wild independency."

"The court in which this judge prefided, was the principal court of Wales. It is faid that he always lodged in the hall of the palace, and that the cufhion on which the King was feated in the day, ferved for his pillow at night. On his appointment he received an ivory chefs-board from the King, a gold ring from the Queen, and another gold ring from the domestic bard; which he always kept as the infignia of his office. When he entered or departed out of the palace, the great gate was opened for him, that his dignity might not be degraded by paffing under a wicket. He determined the rank and dutv of the feveral officers of the household. He decided poetical contests; and received from the victorious bard, whom he reward, ed with a filver chair, the badge of poetical preeminence, a gold ring, a drinking-horn, and a cushion. If complaint was made to the king, that the judge of the palace had pronounced an unjust sentence, and the accufation was proved, he was then for ever deprived of his office, and condemned to lose his tongue, or pay the ufual ransom for that member. The other judges were alfo fubject to these fevere but falutary conditions. A perfon ignorant of the laws whom the King defigned to make his principal Judge, was required to refide previously a whole year in the palace, that he might obtain from the other Judges, who reforted thither from the country, a competent knowledge of his duty and profeflion. During this year, the difficult caufes which occurred, were stated and referred by him to the king at the expiration of this term he was to receive the facrament from the hands of the domeftic chaplain, and to fwear at the altar, that he would never knowingly pronounce an unjuft fentence, nor ever be influenced by bribes or intreaties, hatred or affection: he was then placed by the King in his feat, and invested with the judicial authority; and afterwards received prefents from the whole household) It was reckoned among the remarkable and peculiar cuftoms of the Welsh, that the tongues of all animals flaughtered for the household were given to the Judge of the palace."

Thefe laws were divided into three parts, each of which had a diftinct and separate

ing to receive his crown from the hands of its hereditary enemy, and by confenting to hold its authority as a tributary of the English Princes.

The fifth book contains the history from the death of Bleddyn ap Cynvin, to that of Gryffydh ap Cynan. We here find William Rufus entering Wales with a royal army, in fupport of a claim to which he had no legal pretenfions. At this period, a feries of feuds and hoftilities too defcriptive of the manners of the Welsh occurred, which were the means of accelerating the ruin of the state. The following tranfaction may ferve as a dreadful fpecimen.

"In the Christmas holidays, Cadwgan ap Bleddyn invited the chieftains in his neighbourhood to a feaft at his house in Dyvet. In the courfe of the entertainment Medh or Mead, the wine of the country, having raifed their spirits, Neft, the wife of Gerald, Governor of Pembroke Caftle, was fpoken of in terms of admiration; the beauty and elegance of whofe perfon, it was faid, exceeded thofe of any lady in Wales. The curiofity of Owen the fon of Cadwgan was ftrongly excited to fee her; and he had little doubt of obtaining admittance, as there was a degree of relationship fubfifting between them. Un der colour of a friendly vifit, the young chieftain, with a few of his attendants, was introduced into the caftle. Finding that fame had been cold in her praise, he returned home deeply enamoured of her beauty, and fired

with an eager defire to enjoy her. The fame night returning with a troop of his wild companions, he fecretly entered the castle, and in the confufion occafioned by fetting it on fire, furrounded the chamber in which Gerald and his wife dept. Awaked by the noise, he rushed fuddenly out of bed, to enquire into the caufe of the disturbance; but his wife fufpecting fome treachery, prevented his opening the door; then, advifing him to retire to the privy, the pulled up the board, and still farther atfifting her husband, he let himself down, and made his escape. Owen and his followers inftantly broke open the door; but on fearching the chamber not finding Gerald, they feized his wife and two of his fons, befides a fon and daughter which he had by a concubine; then leaving the caftle in flames, and ravaging the country, he carried off Neft and the children to Powis. This adventure gave Cadwgan the greatest uneafmefs. Afraid left Henry might revenge on his head the atrocious action of his fon, he came into Powis; and requested Owen that he would fend back to Gerald his wife and children, as well as the plunder which he had taken. The young chieftain, whofe love was heightened by the poffeffion of his miftrefs, refused to restore her. Whether the yielded to the violence of her lover from choice or from neceffity, is uncertain; but he foon after fent back to Gerald all his children, at her particular request.” [To be Continued.]

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OT Solomon with all his concubines had near fo numerous an illegitimate iffue as the author of Triftram Shandy: yet few of his defcendants, tho' not begotten in the “stale bed of matrimony," have inherited even a fpark of their father's fpirit: this Belgic traveller, however, feems an exception to the obfervation. The features of the parent may be, perhaps too evidently, traced in this his progeny; but even admitting it, we cannot help cherishing the infant for the father's fake.

The following is a ftrong family-feature: "Obfervations made in a Trip to Holland -Ha! ha ha! And why that laugh, good Mr. Critic? You imagine perhaps that a Belgic fky has fomething particularly baneful

The Tour of Valentine. 8vo.

THIS little volume was not intended to

add to the already enormous mafs of adventures, romances, and fentimental effufions; on the contrary, the author hath clothed a work intended and calculated to promote chriftian piety in a fanciful drefs, folely with a view to its being by that means likely to be more read, and its utility extended. Inftruc

in its influence; and that the man who has refided for any little time in Holland, muft neceffarily become as dull and phlegmatic as many of its inhabitants ?" I do. "You imagine likewife, that a Dutchman is totally devoid of fentiment; and that a Dutch woman is an utter ftranger to those finer affections of the foul which fo eminently characterize our lovely countrywomen?" Undoubtedly"Why then you are undoubtedly mistaken." -And fo is the author, in making French the univerfal language in Holland. We can readily conceive the rows taking up their brooms to protect their newly-cleaned houfes from his intrafion; but their "fortez d'ici" is a child of his own imagination.

Thoughts on the Style and Taste of Gardening among the Ancients. By Dr. Falcober. Read Dec. 11, 1782.

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HIS is a fubject fuitable to the genius and tafte of our learned Author; and bore we find our expectations fully gratified: even M.. Walpole is out-fhone (though by no means out-written), and Mr. Barrington, athyelped; we mean, as describers of ancient gardens. The garden of Edenthofe alluded to in the Song of Solomon and in the book of the Prophet Ezekiel-the garden of Alcinous-the hanging gardens of Babylon-the garden of Cyrus at Sardisthe park of Cyrus in Phrygia (ftocked with wil beafts for the purpose of hunting)-the Academus of the Greeks, with the garden of Pl to and of Epicurus-the gardens of Lucullus and of Pliny-refpectively pafs under review.-The Tufcan Villa of Pliny with the garden and ground belonging to it are described with minutenefs.-After this recital of facts refpecting the gardens of the ancients, the Doctor proceeds to make his own obfervations. In doing this, his goodfenie and difcerument are fully evinced; his frady, it is plain, has not been confined to ancent gardening alone, but has been extended, and with confiderable advantage,to modan gardening;-an art which feems to be growing every day more and more fashionable. No other apology we flatter ourselves will be requifite for taking an extract of unufual length from this valuable paper.

“It is obvious, that the above descriptions bear a striking resemblance to the tafte in gerdens that prevailed in this country, and indeed throughout Europe, towards the be ginning of the prefent century. The walks bordered with box and rofemary; the terTace planted with violets, at the Laurentine Villa; and the court divided into parte re divifions, edged with box; the figures of animals cut out in box trees, placed oppofite each other, upon the flope; with the furrounding walk inclofed with tonfile evergreens cut into fhapes,, point out the fame refemblance in the gardens at the Tufcan Villa. The circular amphitheatre of box cut into figures, and the walk covered with graduated thrubs, are all exactly in the fame ftyle. The fountains overflowing; the marble bafons; the little jets d'eau about the feats, and under the alcove; the fudden difappearance of the water; the fpouts in the grafs; the regular difpofition of the trees in the Hippodrome, in lines itraight, and regularly curved; together with the arrangement of the different kinds EPROP. MAC.

behind each other, make one think, Pliny was rather defcribing a Vdla of king William, or Louis XIV. than one of a Roman nobleman, and fenator, feventeen hundred years ago.

"Some circumstances, in the above defcription, appear in many refpects abfurd and exceptionable. But let us not be too hafty in our cenfures; but confider, whether the nature of the climate and country may not vindicate them, in feveral respects, from the imputations which might have been justly afcribed to them, under different circumstances. The walks bordered with box, a tree of clofe growth, and faid to furth extremely in that fituation, formed a convenient shelter from the torrid rays of an Italian fun. The thearing of the trees contri. buted alfo to thicken their fhade, and to render them more commodious for this purpofe ; though, I confefs, it was not neceffary, for this end, that they fhould be clipped into aukward imitations of animals, &c, which it is furprizing a man of the tafte of Pliny could approve. The fence to the garden was, in Pliny's Villa, concealed by trees improvement on the modern tafte referred to; along range of bare brick walling having been often esteemed an object of beauty or magnificence.

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"Fountains, likewife, and jets d'ean, however ufelefs, and therefore abfurd and unnatural, in Great Britain and Holland, may ftill be in perfectly good tafte in Italy. The difperfion of moisture cools the air, by the evaporation it produces; and the very murmur of the falling of water gives the idea of coolness, by affociation of fenfations. They feem here to have been difpofed with judg ment, fome of them being fitnated near the alcove, and refting places, as a refreshment to thofe fatigued with heat and exercife; and others difperfed through the grafs, not to cause a foolish surprise, and to endanger the health of those pathing that way, by wetting their cloaths, but to water the trees, cool the ground, and refresh the verdure; circumstances indifpenfable to the beauty of the scenery and profpect, in a hot climate.

"The fame apology may, I think, be made for the regularity of the walks in the Hippodrome, and the minute parts and divifions in which it was difpofed.

"It is probable, the extent of ground it. felf was not large. Diftant walks would be fatigung in an Italian fummer, and would be too much trouble and expence to keep as closely fhaded, as would render them fufliciently agreeable. They were,therefore, in a Y

manner