its walls and massive gateways, are on the same extensive plan; the walls, comprising a circuit of not less than seven miles. An elegant chapel, hot and cold baths on the beach, out-buildings, &c., altogether serve to convey the idea of some regal establishment, rather than the quiet abode of a wealthy commoner of Great Britain. The situation of Penrhyn Castle certainly stands unrivalled. Occupying the summit of an insulated hill, which on one side sweeps down to the coast, it commands views of the bay and town of Beaumaris, Bangor, the greater part of Anglesey, with Priestholme Island, the Great Orme's Head, and Penmaen Mawr. On the other, it gently descends to the base of those gigantic hills that compose the Caernarvonshire range, in the midst of which Snowdon rises with majestic splendour.

Among the heir-looms of Penrhyn is to be seen a Hirlas, or drinking-horn, of the hero Piers Grufydd, in the shape of an Ox's horn, ornamented and suspended by a silver chain, curious as a memorial of ancient manners. The initials of the chief's name and family are engraved on it. Piers Grufydd owned the Penrhyn estate in the reign of Elizabeth, and joined the fleet of Sir Francis Drake, in a vessel which he purchased and equipped at his own cost. He was subsequently in the gallant action with the Spanish Armada, and after that victory joined with Sir F. Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh, in their different expeditions against the Spaniards in the West Indies. Admission may be obtained to the castle on Tuesdays and Fridays, in the absence of the family; and on Fridays only, from one to five o'clock, when they are at home.

Near to the principal entrance to Penrhyn Castle is the village and church of Llandegai. In the church is a valuable table monument, with two recumbent alabaster figures, removed thither from the religious houses of Llanvaes, at the dissolution of the monasteries; also, a mural monument to the memory of Archbishop Williams, who died at Gloddaeth, and was interred here in 1650. An elegant marble monument is likewise erected to the memory of the late Lord and Lady Penrhyn, executed by Westmacott.

Port Penrhyn and the Slate Quarries.-At the egress of the river Cegid into the Menai, a commodious harbour has been formed, capable of admitting and securing vessels of 300 tons burthen. This port was the creation of the late Lord Penrhyn. The quay is upwards of 300

yards in length, and a large tonnage of slates, brought by railway from the quarries, about six miles distant, is thence shipped to all parts of the world. Amidst its fleet of commercial marine, may occasionally be seen the striped bit of bunting waving from an American vessel. The export of slate from the Penrhyn slate quarries averages fully 70,000 tons per annum. In 1844 Mr. James Wyatt, the agent of Colonel Douglas Pennant, stated at an Admiralty inquiry about the Menai Strait, that 440 cargoes, with 41,000 tons of slates, were shipped westward. The tram road to the quarries is six miles long, and with the port and quay, cost Lord Penrhyn and the late Mr. Pennant £175,000. At these wonderful works nearly 2000 people are employed, and the weekly wages paid amount to about £1,700. At this busy scene of industry, including those engaged at the wharf, and the wives and children of the workmen, it is stated that 11,000 are supported from the quarries. Mr. Thorne, who recently describes the place, says, "The quarrying is conducted in ledges up the whole front of the mountain, which is carved out in an amazing manner. The scarified face of the mountain, with the multitude of men hacking away at every part of it; the many 'shoots' of scattered slates, which seem in constant motion as fresh loads are being poured down; the enormous heaps of debris; the regular piles of trimmed slates; the incessant activity visible over the entire area; the noise of the multifarious processes, and that also of the loud talking and shouting of the workmen, which like that of all Welsh men-and here all the workmen are Welsh-has to a Saxon ear a sound very like that of quarrelling ;all these things combined have a quite remarkable effect when the works are entered. The works are maintained in the highest state of efficiency. Every mechanical and scientific contrivance which is available is said to be employed, as well as every means of lightening the labour and lessening the danger of the workmen."

"The slate quarries of Penrhyn," says Miss Costello, "are situated near Nant Ffrancon, at a spot called Cae Braich-y-Cefn, and are exceedingly curious, and even picturesque. Most of those places where enormous labour produces enormous wealth are to me displeasing to contemplate; but there is nothing here that conveys an idea of over-tasked workmen-no horrible underground toil and dark dungeonlike caves, where human creatures are condemned, like souls in

penance for some hideous crime, to drag heavy weights and chains through frightful chasms, and delve and dig for ore in spaces not large enough for them to stand upright here are no deadly vapours, no fatal gases mortal to humanity; all is wide and open in the pure light of day, high and broad and healthy. The mountain is cut into ridges of slate, and here and there the projecting edges have formed themselves into graceful shapes. In the very centre of the quarry rises a beautiful conical pillar of slate, which the admiration of the workmen has spared, now that their labours have brought it to the shape which it bears. It is a great ornament to the area, and it is to be regretted that in time it must fall, as the slate of which it is composed happens to be of the purest kind. The huts of the workmen scattered over the quarry have a singular effect; and the wild aspect of the men accords well with their abodes. The thundering sound produced by the occasional blasting of the rock is very grand, and rolls and echoes amongst the caves and along the heights; and the grey masses glowing in the sun, and reflecting the sky through their rents, have an imposing aspect."

"A few years ago the writer of these pages," says Mr. Edward Parry, "had the pleasure of being in the quarry at the same time as the Duke and Duchess of St. Albans, and at the request of her Grace, he accompanied them throughout the different departments. On being informed that duchesses were manufactured there, her Grace immediately expressed a wish to see the ceremony performed, which, to her great surprise, was no sooner said than done, and the workmen presented her Grace with a full-sized duchess. Her Grace laughed heartily at the manner in which it had been done, and in return gave the workmen half a sovereign." The whimsical names of duchesses, countesses, ladies, &c., were bestowed upon the various sizes and makes of slates by General Warburton about a century since.

Within half a mile of the quarries, by the river Ogwen, is an elegant and romantic retreat, called Ogwen Bank, designed by the late Lord Penrhyn, and now used by Mr. Pennant's family as an occasional resort. The design is florid Gothic. The centre contains a spacious room, the front of it forming the segment of a circle; the wings contain a coach-house and stable. This charming cottage is called by some "The Eden of the Mountains." "The scenery becomes wilder