out alive on the sea shore. This like similar stories, proves that the mind, if not occupied with truth, must be the slave of error; and such too often serve to amuse the otherwise tedious hours of secluded people on a winter's evening.

Ascending the Tave we come to the ruins of Abba Landu, or the abbey of White Land. Founded: according to Speed by Rhys ap Tewdwr, in the time of William the Conqueror, A. D. 1086, for monks of the Cistercian order; and is said by Powel to have been, after the dissolution of the British monastery of Bangor, the first of these institutions in the principality. It soon became a celebrated burial-place for the princes and chieftains of South Wales. And Cadwalader, son of Rhys ap Gryffydd among others was interred here, A. D. 1187. It was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, and in the time of Bernard, Bishop of St. David's, who was a great benefactor and had eight monks. The value at the Dissolution, according to Dugdale, was 1351. 3s. 6d. Some few traces of the building still remain, but they are small and indistinct till you approach very near the spot: and the surrounding woods have induced adventurers in trade, to invade this as well as other venerated. spots, and an iron work called the forge, occupies the place once devoted to privacy and prayer. This abbey was erected upon the scite of a building of higher fame in the scale of antiquity. Ty-gwyn the palace and summer residence of the great Cambrian legislator, the Justinian of Britain, Howel Dha.

Here it was that the admirable code of laws which bear his name was collected, authorised, and promulgated. From the division of the kingdom into three principalities by Roderic the great, the turbu

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lency of the times, and the lapse of ages, many of the laws and statutes of the realm were become obsolete, and many more long unexecuted had lost their efficacy and weight. In an age when the destruction of each other seemed the prevailing desire, and when glory and reputation arose from the skill in extirpating our species; military prowess being the sole avenue to the temple of fame, we are pleased to find a character at the head of society deviating from the general track, and instead of breathing revenge and slaugher, employing his talents and his time in considering how the peace of society might be secured, and the good of mankind increased. Such a spirit appears divine amongst men; like a placid river amidst impetuous torrents, which, while they are deluging the country and sweeping every thing desirable away, rolls its salubrious waters in regular and beneficial order, distributing in its varied and collateral streams, fertility and comfort to all the country within its vicinity or influence.

Heir to the principality of South Wales, he had from the esteem that ever accompanies a just and upright administration, gained the sovereignty of Powis, then in abeyance. And on the death of Edward Fael, though he left sons, was by elective franchise preferred to the superior dignity, The sovereignty of North Wales. In those times of disorder, talents for government were sufficient to disannul hereditary right, and the voice of the people was frequently more prevailing than the trumpet of genealogy. In this and some other instances, the order of succession was interrupted, under a plea of necessity and in this case no other opposition appeared than a few unavailing observations on right, and

usage; and a few blunted arrows from the quiver of discontent. It has however been asserted by historians, that he was elected to the sovereignty of the whole country during the minority and legal nonage of his uncle Anarawd's sons, who, on the demise of their father, were considered too young to hold the reins of the North-Wallian government at so critical a period. And that Howel took the title and authority of Brenhir-Cymry-all, in trust for his kinsmen and that when Edwa! Fael became of age, on Howel's return from Rome, he resigned them both into the hands of Edwal, as the rightful heir. (Vid. Walton.)

But whatever may be said respecting the claim or ambitious usurpation of this prince, in annexing these portions of territory, and assuming the regal title, it was no more than had been done in prior exigencies, and in this case was a peculiar appeal of the people to their original constitution.

His early endeavours to promote the good of his subjects raised him to their esteem and confidence ; and his unwearied attention to plans calculated for their advantage and future comfort will palliate, if not fully justify, his assumption of the Triclinium. Expediency is generally, I believe, considered under existing circumstances, to be the ground of morality in the political hemisphere; and leaving the point at issue to be settled by political casuists, we cannot help contemplating this prince as a prodigy in an age where little was thought of but revenge, and little executed but slaughter. While others were giving up to the lust of power, and placing right under the power of the sword; destroying order, undermining society, and burying its happi

ness under the ruins; this great man was boldly opposing the torrent of discord, repairing the breaches it had made, rallying the friends of order round the standard of peace, and shewing by experience that the protection afforded by a well-supported- civil authority, is more than equivalent to the sacrifices of subordination. In such times as those in which he lived, to reduce his subjects to obedience, and make them sensible of the necessity of order and submission, was an Herculean task. But possessed with extraordinary wisdom, and influenced by the benign principles of the Gospel, he resolved upon the plan and executed the important work, A new code of laws for the people of Wales.

These laws, the admiration of the present, and the wonder of the age in which they were enacted, were not a new code of innovations; they were a digest of the ancient laws and immemorial customs of the principality: the recorded wisdom of past ages, which through the confusion of the times and the unavoidable corruptions that years introduce, had failed to produce their wonted effects. Nolumus leges Cambriæ mutari, was as favourite a maxim of the British, as a similar one is. of the English constitution. Nor can we sufficiently admire the spirit of wisdom, moderation, and piety which marked the commencement of this great undertaking. Having convened a national assembly, he first summoned the Archbishop of Menevia, the bishops, and principal clergy eminent for their learning and piety, the chieftains and barons; and added six out of every commot distinguished by their virtues and talents. These constituted authorities assembled, the Prince, to implore the blessing of heaven on their councils,

commanded them to continue with him during the whole of Lent, at his palace of Tygwin. Having appointed twelve out of this august assembly, most esteemed for their wisdom and their gravity, as a special committee; he joined in the commission as chairman, Blegered, Archdeacon of Llandaff, distinguished for his abilities and knowledge of law. For the general outline of the system, they took the national laws, said to have been framed by Molmutius, who reigned in Britain 441 years before the Advent of Christ. (Vid. Holinshed.) The committee then entered on an investigation of the customs and usages of the country; they abolished such as were injurious; explained and amended such as were vague and unintelligible; and, by a proper examination and digest of the whole, formed a system admirably calculated for the genius of the people and the wants of the times. The laws are mild, judicious, and humane; and, the manners of the times, and the state of society considered, they will not yield the palm of justice to those of any other nation of the same period. A comparative view of the codes then in force among the Saxons, the Irish, and the Franks, would not be an unpleasant or unprofitable investigation. Indeed whether we view the times that preceded, the nature of the laws themselves, or the mode in which the scattered scraps of judicial information were collected and incorporated

*This collection of laws is well known to the learned, having been published in 1730 by Wotton, under the title "Cyfreithjeu Hywel Dda aceraill; seu leges Wallicæ ecclesiastica et civiles, Hoëli Boni et aliorum Wallis Principum."