{266} The daughter of this gentleman was married to Captain Franklin,
well known for his Expedition to North America, &c. She was an amiable
and accomplished woman, and author of two Poems, highly honourable to her
memory: “The Veils,” and “Richard Cœur de Leon.”
{279} Since our visit to this spot, Mr. Yorke has published a most
excellent and valuable book, entitled, A History of the Royal Tribes of
Wales.
{281} Enquire the way to this aqueduct at the turnpike, about four miles
from Llangollen.
{285a} Lady Eleanor Butler.
{285b} Miss Ponsonby.
{285c} Willis’s St. Asaph, p. 52. 285.
{286} From a second survey of my note-book, I perceive, when speaking of
the house, I omitted mentioning that there are several family pieces,
both of the Wynne and Williams, worthy the inspection of the connoisseur.
The house has been built at various times.
{299} This estimation is taken from the Ludlow guide: from which I have
taken such extracts, as, I flatter myself, will not be unacceptable to
the tourist. We dedicated two or three days to the investigation of this
interesting town; and, consequently, in those parts where the guide is
defective, we have made considerable additions.
{310} “This view,” says Mr. Gilpin, “is one of the grandest on the
river, which I should not scruple to call _correctly picturesque_; which
is seldom the character of a purely natural scene.”
{311} “The view at _Rure-dean Church_,” says Mr. Gilpin, “is a scene of
great grandeur. There both sides of the river are steep and both woody;
but in one the woods are intermixed with rocks. The deep umbrage of the
forest of Dean occupies the front; and the spire of the church rises
among the trees. The reach of the river which exhibits this scene is
long: and, of course, the view, which is a noble piece of natural
perspective, continues some time before the eye: but when the spire comes
directly in front, the grandeur of the landscape is gone.”
{312} “The river is wider at this part,” says Mr. Gilpin, “and takes a
sweep round a towering promontory of rock, which forms the side-screen on
the left, and is the grand feature of the view. It is not a broad
fractured face of rock; but rather a woody hill, from which large rocky
projections, in two or three places, burst out, rudely hung with twisting
branches and shaggy furniture, which, like mane round the lion’s head,
give a more savage air to these wild exhibitions of nature. Near the top
a pointed fragment of solitary rock, rising above the rest, has rather a
fantastic appearance; but it is not without its effect in marking the
scene. A great master in landscape has adorned an imaginary view with a
circumstance exactly similar:
Stabat acuta silex, præcisis undique saxis,
— dorso insurgens, altissima visu,
Dirarum nidis domus opportuna volucrum,
— prona jugo, lævum incumbebat ad amnem.”
ÆN. VIII. 233.
{317} Tanner’s Notitia Monastica.
{321} Warner’s first Walk through Wales.
{333} The isles of Anglesea and Man are discovered from Snowdon.