Lord Cawdor, situated in a deep romantic valley near the sea-coast. The mansion is worthy of its noble owner; and the finelywooded park and grounds exhibit a more luxuriant verdure than might be expected so near a sea-beat promontory. A short distance westward, upon the coast, is St. Govin's chapel; and near it, a well of the same name, thought by the country people to be miraculous in the cure of several disorders. We have since regretted our not visiting the seacliffs in this neighbourhood, which we are told assume a very grand and romantic ap pearance. In the same neighbourhood we find described BOSHERSTON-MEER," a pool "of water so deep that it could never be "sounded; yet before a storm it is said to

36

bubble, foam, and make a noise so loud

as to be heard at several miles distance. "The banks are of no great circumference at "the top, but broader downwards, and at a considerable depth is a great breach towards

86

the sea, which is about a furlong distant, and is supposed to have a subterraneous "communication with it *."

A Description of England and Wales, Vol. VII.

СНАР. Ў.

LITTLE ENGLAND BEYOND WALES-MIL

FORD-HAVEN- WELCH BEAUTIES-HA

VERFORDWEST FAIR-THE TOWN, CASTLE, AND PRIORY-PICTON CASTLE

HABBERSTON-MILFORD.

IN the reign of Henry the First, a colony of Flemings, driven from their country by an inundation, were permitted to settle in the western neighbourhood of Milford-haven. These were often attacked by the Welch, but unsuccessfully: they soon extended their territory over a great part of the county, and, in conjunction with the Normans, carried their arms as far as Llanstephan. Camden calls this district, "LITTLE ENGLAND be"yond Wales;" and the difference of appearance, customs, and language, between the inhabitants of southern Pembrokeshire and their neighbours, is strikingly obvious at the present day. The tourist in Caermarthen

shire will scarcely meet a peasant who speaks a word of English; but in an hour's ride, towards Pembroke, he will find it universally. spoken. I remarked this to mine host at Carew; who exultingly assured me, that Pembrokeshire was out of Wales; that he (a native of the place) was an Englishman ; and that for his part he did not understand any thing of the Welch gibberish.

The men, tall and well made, evidently incline more to the English character than the Welch; yet they possess some personal traits distinct from either: I imagined, indeed, in many of the peasantry a resemblance to the present inhabitants of Flanders. Although this corner of the principality is the most remote from England, it is the most civilized. This may be accounted for, from the commercial habits brought over by the Flemings (which still continue) introducing the manners of other nations; an advantage denied to the generality of the Welch, whose ancient (perhaps wholesome) prejudices disinclined them to extensive commerce,

We took our final departure from Pembroke, on the road to Haverfordwest, not without

F 3

without often looking back on the princely relics of its castle, towering above the river: but, crossing a ridgy eminence, our attention was diverted by the appearance of MILFORD

HAVEN.

This noble harbour, immortalized by the strains of our great dramatic poet, is of an oblong figure; about ten miles in length, and from one to two in width. It is justly considered as the best and safest in Great Britain, and inferior to none in Europe; abounding with the best anchorage, and having five bays, ten crecks, and thirteen roads. Two forts that were erected in the time of Elizabeth on the opposite points of the entrance, called Nangle and Dale blockhouses, are now neglected.

As a picturesque object, Milford-haven is chiefly interesting for its noble sheet of water : its peaceable shores, rising in gentle hills, may please from their flowing outline; but, uncloathed with wood, and unbroken into crags or precipices, their sameness fails to interest an eye habituated to bolder scenery. The mouth of the haven, turning suddenly southward, gives it from most points of view. the appearance of a lake, It very strongly reminded

1

reminded me of several of the lakes in Cumberland; but, although its surface is greater, the lakes far transcend it in the accompanyments of rock and wood, and a sedgy margin that mixes its verdure with the water: whereas the haven is surrounded by a broad stripe of mud, except at high tide: this defect, however, is constituent to all estuaries and tide rivers. More richly decorative in their scenery are the three branches of Milfordhaven, which diverge at the extremity of the great bason, and distribute fertility and beauty over the principal part of Pembrokeshire* It was our intention to have crossed these branches at Lawrenny and Landshipping, and to have taken Picton castle and Slebatch in our way to Haverfordwest, but, not having a whole day before us, considering the time due to the several objects, and learning that the ferries were uncertain, we recollected our sufferings at Carew, and by taking the direct

CI

* The shores of Milford-haven abound with lime-stone's which, affording a rich manure (with coals and culm), is conveyed by water over a great portion of the county. In the shores of the haven also, near its junction with the open sea, are many veins of copper ore, some of which are con jectured to be very rich; but none have been explored with' perseverance.