TALBOT1854

Llangollen ¹
7^th September 1829

My Dear Mother

I am without any news of you since you were at Temple Newsam. ² I wish you would write to me, and direct Post Office Bangor. I staid a week at Penrice ³ and then went to see the waterfalls in Neath Valley and the town of Merthyr Tydfil which is an extraordinary place from the immensity of its iron works. Then I went to Brecon which is a place every tourist ought to visit, being one of the most picturesque spots in Britain. It is at the confluence of the rivers Usk and Honddu with a ruined castle covered with ivy and a mountain to the South with a fine outline called the Beacon, not much inferior in height to [Kelvellqu?] or Snowdon. I went from Brecon to Hereford & leaving that place early in the morning by the mail I arrived here the same afternoon in time to take an evening ramble to Castle Dinas Brân. ⁴ This ruin occupies one of the strongest situations possible on the summit of a very lofty hill –

The day after it poured torrents so I stayed at home reading Anne of Geierstein ⁵ – Next day I walked from here to see Vale Crucis ⁶ Abbey which is a charming ruin in a sequestered valley near a stream, & partly hid in trees. I wandered all day about the hills & valleys of Llangollen which is justly celebrated for its rural beauty. It is traversed by “Deva’s wizard stream” which is now a rushing river of ample breadth swolen[sic] by the rains;– Today I went to see the famous aqueduct of Pont y Cysyllte, where the Ellesmere canal crosses the Dee – the arches are 120 feet high, both ends of the aqueduct are concealed in woods. The effect is magnificent. I think the Dee does not yield in beauty to any seen in Britain. I am going by way of Dolgelly, Barmouth, &c to Bangor where I expect to arrive this day week. I shall pay a visit at Penrhyn if they are at home. Afterwards I shall move towards you.

Your aff^te Son
Henry Talbot

Lady Elisabeth Feilding