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stances forbidding a compliance with his request, he took up his residence in an old house upon Iris Island, which he rendered as comfortable as the state of the case would admit. Here he continued about twenty months, until the intrusion of a family interrupted his recluse habits. He then quietly withdrew, and reared for himself a less commodious shelter, near Prospect Point.

His simple and favourite fare of bread and milk was readily purchased; and whenever he required other food, he preferred to prepare it with his own hands. When bleak winter came, a cheerful fire of wood blazed upon his hearth; and by his evening lamp he beguiled the hours with the perusal of books in various languages, and with sweet music. It was almost surprising to hear, in such depth of solitude, the long-drawn thrilling tones of the viol, or the softest melodies of the flute, gushing forth from that low-browed hut; or the guitar, breathing out so lightly amid the rush and thunder of the never-slumbering torrent. Yet, though the world of letters was familiar to his mind, and the living world to his observation, for he had travelled widely, both in his native Europe and the East,he sought not association with mankind, to unfold or to increase his stores of knowledge. Those who had heard him converse, spoke with surprise and admiration of his colloquial powers, his command of language, and the spirit of eloquence that flowed from his lips. But he seldom and sparingly admitted this intercourse, studiously avoiding society, though there seemed in his nature nothing of moroseness or misanthropy. On the contrary, he showed kindness to even the humblest animal. Birds instinctively learned it, and freely entered his dwelling, to receive from his hands crumbs or seeds. But the absorbing delight of his existence was communion with the mighty Niagara. Here, at every hour of the day or night, he might be seen, a fervent admirer. At grey dawn, he went to visit it in its fleecy veil; at high noon he banqueted on the full splendour of its glory; beneath the soft tinting of the lunar bow he lingered, looking for the angel's wing, whose pencil had painted it; and at solemn midnight he knelt, self-subdued, as on the footstool of Jehovah. Neither storms nor the piercing cold of winter prevented his visits to this stupendous His feet had worn a beaten path from his cottage thither.

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Among his favourite daily gratifications was that of bathing. One bright, but rather chill, day, in the month of June, 1831, a man employed about the Ferry saw him go into the water; and a long time after, observed his clothes to be still lying upon the bank. Inquiry was made. The anxiety was but too well founded. The poor hermit had indeed taken his last bath. Still the body was not found, the depth and force of the current just below being exceedingly great. In the course of their search they passed onward to the Whirlpool. There, amid those boiling eddies, was the pallid corpse, making fearful and rapid gyrations upon the face of the black waters. At some point of suction, it suddenly plunged and disappeared. Again emerging, it was fearful to see it leap half its length above the flood, and with a face so deadly pale, play among the tossing billows; then float motionless, as if exhausted; and anon, returning to the encounter, spring, struggle, and contend like a maniac battling with mortal foes. It was strangely painful to think that he was not permitted to find a grave even beneath the waters he had loved; that all the gentleness and charity of his nature should be changed by death to the fury of a madman; and that the "king of terrors," who brings repose to the despot and the man of blood, should teach warfare to him who had ever worn the meekness of the lamb. For days and nights this terrible purgatory was prolonged.

It was on the 21st of June that, after many efforts, they were enabled to bear the weary dead back to his desolate cottage. There they found his faithful dog guarding the door. Heavily must the long period have worn away, while he watched for his only friend, and wondered why he delayed his coming. He scrutinized the approaching group suspiciously, and would not willingly have given them admittance, save that a low, stifled wail at length announced his intuitive know ledge of the master, whom the work of death had effectually disguised from the eyes of men. They laid him on his bed; the thick, dripping masses of his beautiful hair clinging to, and veiling, the features so late expressive and comely. On the pillow was his pet kitten: to her, also, the watch for the master had been long and wearisome. In his chair, lay the guitar, whose melody was probably the last that his ear heard on earth. There were also his flute and violin, his

portfolio and books scattered and open, | ment in the church is that to the memory as if recently used. On the spread table of Owen Gwynedh, sovereign prince of was the untasted meal for noon, which Wales, whose remains are supposed to he had prepared against his return from have been deposited within these walls in that bath which had proved so fatal. It 1169. was a touching sight; the dead hermit mourned by his humble retainers, the poor animals who loved him, and ready to be laid by stranger hands in a foreign grave.

So fell this singular and accomplished being, at the early age of twenty-eight. Learned in the languages, in the arts and sciences, improved by extensive travel, gifted with personal beauty and a feeling heart, the motives for this estrangement from his kind are still enveloped in mystery. It was, however, known that he was a native of England, where his father was a clergyman; that he received from thence ample remittances for his comfort; and that his name was Francis Abbot. These facts had been previously ascertained; but no written papers were found in his cell, to throw additional light upon the obscurity in which he had so effectually wrapped the history of his pilgrimage.-Mrs. L. H. Sigourney.

BANGOR, AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD.

BANGOR, from bancor, the high and beautiful choir, is the most ancient see in the principality. At one time styled Bangor the Great, it now possesses only one street, about half-a-mile long. This city resembles more nearly an English town than any other in Wales, from the houses being regularly built, and also a great thoroughfare, as well as a bustling place of business. The population has been estimated at about eight thousand.

The cathedral, founded about the year 500, by Daniel, son of Dinothus, abbot of Bangor Is-y-coed, in Flintshire, under the auspices of Maelgwm Gwyned, king of Wales, and dedicated to St. David, is a cruciform building, with the tower at the west end. It stands on a low piece of ground near the centre of the town; but not being well proportioned, is neither elegant nor pleasing. Its interior is an improvement on the outside, the roof being gracefully supported by six arches, resting on fluted columns: but its uniformity is destroyed by the body of the church having been divided by a screen into two places of worship-one for the English and the other for the Welsh services. The only interesting monu

The present building is said to have been raised during the insurrection of Owen Glendwr, at the close of the fifteenth century, on the ruins of the old church. In 1827, some improvements were made in the cathedral by the outlay of 20007., the amount of tithes collected in Montgomeryshire, and appropriated to this purpose, as well as the like sum collected by a zealous individual from different parts of the United Kingdom. The bishoprick is principally indebted for its revenues and immunities to Anian, bishop of the diocese in the reign of Edward 1.

The Free School at Bangor, founded in 1557, by Dr. Jeffrey Glynn, is built on the site of a house which was founded for a society of black friars, by Tudor-abGronwy, of Penmynydd and Tre'r-Castell, in Anglesea. The following lines, written after his decease, show the estimation in which he was held:

"For Tudor dead, the tears incessant flow, And Bangor suffers in the general woe."

The present generation, we think, would not desire to perpetuate his praise, but rather rejoice that, as one who fostered error and superstition, he has passed off the stage of life, to make room for such as aid the removal of these evils. But while we thus pass sentence upon the ignorance of the dark ages, let us take care that we, who are "the children of the light and of the day," walk in that light, while it is ours to enjoy, lest darkness-the darkness of death-come

upon us unawares.

The remains of an ancient castle are to be traced on the summit of a steep rock, opposite Friars' School, which is said to have been built by Hugh Lupus, earl of Chester, in the reign of Henry II. On the opposite hill, are the remains of a British encampment, on a very large scale, and of very ancient date. Near both these spots are to be seen Dinas Dinorwic, and also Braich-y-Dderias, the latter situated on the summit of Penmaen Mawr, with both of which it is likely that the encampment originally communicated.

The most remarkable structure, and one which may be denominated the "lion" of the neighbourhood of Bangor, is the Menai, or great suspension-bridge.

In 1811, the late Mr. Telford, among | others, proposed that a bridge of castiron should be thrown across the Straits of Menai, from the coast of Caernarvonshire to the isle of Anglesea, which was estimated to cost 127,000l. A difficulty, however, arose to carrying out this plan, and it was in consequence abandoned. In the course of a few more years of yet closer application, and a determination to overcome all obstacles to the furtherance of his project, Mr. Telford presented a second plan, which was adopted; and the bridge now appears-a noble memorial to his indefatigable industry and no less extraordinary talents.

bridge was calculated at about one-fourth of the expense which the former one would have required—no inconsiderable difference, it must be allowed.

Dr. Pring, in his "Narrative of the Grand Menai Suspension Bridge," which was published as soon as possible after its completion, thus describes it:

"The first stone of this national bridge was laid, without any ceremony, on the 10th of August, 1820, by Mr. Provis, resident engineer. On the 26th of April, 1825, the first chain of this stupendous work was thrown over the Straits of Menai, in the presence of an immense concourse of people. At half-past two o'clock, it then being about half-flood tide, the raft prepared for the occasion stationed on the Caernarvonshire side, near Traborth Mill, which supported the part of the chain intended to be drawn over, began to move gradually from its moorings, towed by four boats, with the assistance of the tide, to the centre of the river, between the two grand piers. When the raft was adjusted and brought to its ultimate situation, it was made fast to several buoys anchored in the channel for that purpose. A part of the chain, pending from the apex of the suspending pier on the Caernarvonshire side down nearly to high-water mark, was then made fast by a bolt to the part of the chain lying on the raft, which operation was completed in ten minutes.

In explaining his plan, Mr. Telford thus remarks: "The iron hanging bridge over the Menai, is to consist of one opening, of 600 feet, between the points of suspension; in addition to which, there are to be seven arches-four on the coast of Anglesea, and three on that of Caernarvonshire, each sixty feet in the span, making the total length of the bridge nine hundred and ten feet; the height, above the level of high-water line, to be one hundred feet. The roadway will embrace two carriage-ways, each twelve feet in breadth, with a footpath of four feet between them. The whole is to be suspended from four lines of strong iron cables by perpendicular iron rods placed five feet apart; and these rods will support the roadway framing. The suspending power is calculated at two thousand and sixteen tons, and the weight to be suspended, exclusive of the cables, is three hundred and fortythree tons, leaving a disposable power of one thousand six hundred and seventy-suspension pier on the Anglesea side. four tons.

"The four sides of the roadways will be made of framed ironwork, firmly bound together for seven feet in height; and there will be a similar work for five feet in depth below the cables. The weight of the whole bridge, between the points of suspension, will be four hundred and eighty-nine tons. The abutments will consist of the masonry, comprising the extreme stonework, the two piers, and the seven arches before mentioned: each of the two piers will be sixty feet by forty and a half feet wide at high-water mark, having a foundation of rock. Upon the summit of the two main piers will be erected a frame of cast-iron work, of a pyramidal form, for the purpose of raising the cables from which the bridge is to be suspended." The cost of erecting this

"The next process was the fastening the other extremity of the chain on the raft to two blocks of immense size and power for the purpose of hoisting it up to its intended station-the apex of the

When the blocks were made secure to
the chain, (comprising twenty-five tons
weight of iron), two capstans, and also two
preventive capstans, commenced working,
each capstan being propelled by thirty-
two men. To preserve an equal tension
in the rotatory evolutions of the two
principal capstans, two fifers played seve-
ral enlivening tunes, to keep the men
regular in their steps, for which purpose
they had been previously trained.
this critical and interesting juncture, the
attention of every one present seemed
riveted to the novel spectacle: the chain
rose majestically, and the gratifying sight
was enthusiastically enjoyed by all pre-
sent in 'breathless silence!'
At ten
minutes before five o'clock the final bolt
was fixed which completed the whole
line of chain, and the happy event was

At

chains rest; the vertical rods, an inch square, suspended from the chains, support the sleepers for the flooring of the roadway-the rods being placed five feet from each other. The chains, sixteen in

hailed by the hearty acclamations of the spectators. Not the least accident, delay, or failure occurred in any department during the whole of the operation. From the mooring of the raft to the uniting of the chain, only two hours and twenty-number, consist of five bars each; length five minutes transpired. Upon the completion of the chain, three of the workmen passed along its upper surface, which forms a curvature of five hundred and ninety feet; the versed sine of the arch is forty-three feet. The sixteenth chain, | completing the whole line of suspension, was carried over on the 9th of July following."

The general opening of the bridge took place on Monday, January 30th, 1826. The royal London and Holyhead mail coach, carrying the London mail-bag for Dublin, passed over at one o'clock, a.m.; and the first carriage that passed was that of Augustus Elliott Fuller, esq., one of the commissioners, drawn by four beautiful greys; the first stage-coach was the Pilot, a Bangor and Caernarvon daycoach; the first London stage-coach was the Oxonian. These were followed by the carriage of sir David Erskine, bart., late proprietor of the ferry, drawn by four elegant greys, decorated with ribbons, and by several gentlemens' carriages, landaus, gigs, cars, etc., and a long train of horsemen. Numerous flags were flying; and canons, stationed on each side of the bridge, were discharged at intervals during the day.

The dimensions of the bridge are as follow:-"The extreme length of the chain, from the fastenings in the rock, is about one thousand seven hundred and fifteen feet; the height of the roadway, from high-water line, is one hundred feet; each of the seven small piers, from highwater line to the spring of the arches, is sixty-five feet; the span of each arch is fifty-two and a half feet. Each of the suspending piers is fifty-three feet above the road; the roads on the bridge consist of two carriage-ways, of twelve feet each, with a footpath of four feet in the centre; the length of the suspended part of the road, from pier to pier, is five hundred and fifty-three feet; the carriage-road passes through two arches in the suspending piers, of the width of nine feet by fifteen feet in height to the spring of the arches. To counteract the contraction and expansion of the iron from the effects of the change of the atmosphere, a set of rollers are set under cast-iron saddles on the top of the suspending piers where the

of the bars, ten feet; width, three inches by one inch, with six connecting lengths at each joint, one foot four inches by eight inches, and one inch thick, secured by two bolts at each joint, each bolt weighing about fifty pounds; and the total number of bars in the cross section of the chain is eighty. The total weight of iron-work is four million three hundred and seventy-three thousand two hundred and eighty-one pounds."

The approach by water to the Menai Bridge has been thus described:-"When, on entering the straits, the bridge is first seen suspended, as it were, in mid air, and confining the view of the fertile and richly-wooded shores, it seems more like a light ornament than a massy bridge, and shows nothing of the strength and solidity which it really possesses. But as we approached it nearer, whilst it still retained its light and elegant appearance, the stupendous size and immensity of the work struck us with awe; and when we saw that a brig, with every stick standing, had just passed under it, that a coach going over it, appeared not larger than a child's toy, and that foot-passengers upon it looked like pigmies, the vastness of its proportions was by contrast fully apparent.

Another writer has given an outline of the manner in which it affected him whilst on the spot:-"Having landed by means of boats on the Anglesea side, we proceeded to the bridge, the visiting which is a new era in the lives of those who have not before had that pleasure, and is a renewed luxury to those who have seen it again and again. Our party walked over the bridge slowly, because there was something to be admired at every step; the effect of a passing carriage; the vibration caused even by a hand applied to the suspending rods; the depth to the level of the water; the fine view of the straits in both directions; the lofty pillar, erected in honour of the marquis of Anglesea; the diminutive appearance of persons on the shore; the excellence and strength of the workmanship; the beauty of the arches over the road through the suspension-piers, and the echo in them,-all conspired to delight and to detain us. Many of our

party then went down the steep bank to the foot of the bank,-from which point, certainly, the best view is to be had of the whole structure; inasmuch as by being in contact, as it were, with its proportions on terra firma, a better idea can be formed of its real, and indeed wonderful dimensions. We actually lingered about the spot, careless of time, or of aught but the scene we were contemplating."

The Menai Straits, though bearing the appearance of a river, are formed by an arm of the sea, and are subject to strong concussions in stormy weather, having a double current during the flood, which is quite dangerous to encounter, and which, previously to the erection of the suspension-bridge, was deemed sufficient to suspend the intercourse of England with Ireland, the high road to which, vid Holyhead, lies through Anglesea. There is but little doubt of Anglesea having been once connected with the main land, as there are traces of an isthmus near Porthaethwy-ferry, where are visible, at low water, a ridge of rocks crossing the channel, which, at the first flowing of the tide, occasion strong currents, seeming to wage war against each other.

"It is an historical fact, that in the year 61, the Roman infantry, under Suetonius, crossed the Menai on a bridge of boats, to Pant-yr-Ysgraffian, the inlet of the skiffs under Porthmael, while the cavalry forded it below Llanidan. Edward I. also crossed the strait in the same manner at Moel-y-don; but suffered severely from an unfortunate attack, on the return of the tide, several of his leading warriors, now lying in the chapel of the Friary, near Beaumaris."

Another extraordinary work of art, in the neighbourhood of Bangor, is the railway-bridge, across the Menai to Chester and Holyhead. It was originally proposed by Mr. Stephenson, the engineer, to carry the line across the suspensionbridge: but, for many reasons, this plan was declined; and a tunnel of nine hundred feet in length, supported in the centre on a piece of masonry about one hundred feet high, has been substituted in its stead. It is erected on the Britannia Rock, which lies about midway across the stream, and has four sides, each of fifty feet width. The waterway on each side of the pier is five hundred and fifty feet wide; the height the same as that of the suspension-bridge,-which renders the navigation perfectly safe.

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This wonderful structure was commenced in the spring of 1846, and may probably reach its completion in the present year.

With the isle of Anglesea we cannot but associate the Druids, or priests of Britain, whose principal residence was in this locality. The finger of time has long ceased to keep a calendar of their moments, or of their actions; and their dust has for ages mingled with the clods of the valley! Yet here they once performed their idolatrous worship, and were held in great veneration by the people. Imagination pictures them in their long white garments, the tiara, or sacred crown, their temples enwreathed with chaplets of oak-leaves, the magic wand in their hand, and on their head a serpent's egg, as an ensign of their order, and thus attired we see them going forth to sacrifice. Let us, then, realizing their utter extinction, pity rather than condemn them; and let the tear of sorrow start to the eye, rather than the angry fire of creature condemnation should be kindled; too often, alas! displayed, rather for the establishment of personal preferences, than for the cause of truth and righteousness. In the wholesale abuse which we sometimes heap upon systems, we shall do well to look to our motives, and to see if our chief anxiety is to make proselytes to our individual creed, under the guise of making converts to the religion of Jesus Christ. Such has been too much the case, from the first dawn of Christianity; and we fear that, even in these days of enlightenment, were the Great Founder still on earth, he would often be heard to say, even to his avowed followers: "Ye know not what spirit ye are of!"

Leaving the ancient priests of Britain to the righteous decisions of the last day, let us notice Penrhyn Castle. This magnificent pile, the seat of the honourable E. Douglas Pennant, M.P., is said to have been reared on the site of a palace once occupied by Roderic Molwynog, prince of Wales, in 720. It is built in the boldest style of castellated architecture, of Mona marble, in a range of high towers, five of which are circular; the keep, and another of the principal towers are square, having angular turrets. This edifice is most delightfully situated, commanding an extensive prospect of marine and mountain scenery. The park wall is seven miles in circuit. The interior of

the mansion is no less imposing than its exterior, being elegantly furnished, and

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