celebrated, far and near, for the goodness and abundance of its oysters.
This village stands at the extremity of Swansea Bay, on a vast mass of
splintered rock: from this elevation the wide expanse of the ocean and
Swansea Bay are viewed to great advantage. These rocks are inaccessible
at high-water, except in a boat; on the farthest is erected a
light-house, serviceable to the navigation of the British Channel. The
lodging-house above Oystermouth, called Thistle-boon, commands a fine
view of the Peninsula of Gower; the Bay of Swansea on one side, and that
of Caermarthen on the other.
At Pennard we descended some immense sand-banks, which led us into Oxwich
Bay: at the head of the sandbanks are the small remains of an old castle,
{53a} scarcely worthy of observation. The sands in this bay are
extremely fine, and the bold projections of the rock exhibit nature in
her most awful and impressive attitudes. To the right of Oxwich Bay is
situate, at Penrice, {53b} the seat of Mr. Talbot: the grounds are well
planned, and command extensive views of the sea: the old castle, rising
behind the house, gave the whole a fine effect. It has been converted
into an aviary. Lady Mary Talbot, (now Cole), has the most beautiful
flower garden in the whole principality.