EXTRACTS FROM DIARY.

153

harvest abundant-the society of the neighbourhood just what I could wish.'

The diary for these autumnal months gives pleasing proof of the manner in which the bishop was wont to combine with the active discharge of his diocesan duties, the enjoyments of fine scenery and domestic hospitality.

'September 9, Sunday. Preached at Llanarth. Went with Captain and Mrs. Nares to the evening service at Abergavenny, and heard Mr. of Iver preach: an interesting and impressive sermon on the parable of the sower.'

'September 15. Viewed Lanfoist church and parsonage ; the church admirably repaired and furnished. The parsonage in a sadly dilapidated state. After this, ascended the Blorenge by the tram-road with Captain Nares; one hour took us to the top. After enjoying the noble prospect towards Brecon, and in every other direction, descended to Llanellen, where my carriage met us and took us home. The weather was beautiful, and the walk, though fatiguing, by no means unpleasant.'

'September 27. Confirmed in Abergavenny church about two hundred and forty. After church ascended the great Skerrid with Dr. Macbride; a fine cloudless day. Returned to friends staying with me at Llansanfraed.'

'October 12, Friday. Mr. and Mrs. Traherne left me, and I went to Cardiff, taking up Mr. Bruce Knight at Newport.'

'October 13. Met the candidates, and delivered a charge at Llandaff.'

'October 14, Sunday. Ordination. Six priests. Eight deacons. I preached, and went in the evening to Coedriglan.'

'October 15. Consecrated the burial ground at Whit

church. Preached from Job, xix. 25-27. The whole service solemn and well conducted.'

'October 29, Tuesday. Mr. Conybeare and his son till Thursday.'

'November 15. Consecrated the new church at Abersychem. The weather bad-but there was a large attendance, and the people behaved with great seriousness and respect. Last year there was a very different temper. Captain Nares went and returned with me. I had no regular chaplain, but there were fourteen or fifteen clergymen present.'

'November 25. Preached at Offwell. Old Wakeley still a singer in the gallery, whom I remember in the same situation when I was a child.'

'December 25. Preached at St. Paul's. After church administered the sacrament to Dr. Hughes, who does not seem likely to live many days.'

This year, although it has been full of anxiety on political grounds, has been one of the happiest in my life; no chronic disease: the residence in my diocese, from the latter end of July to that of November, was most agreeable. No token of disaffection either towards myself or the church.'

'Jan. 6, 1833, Sunday. My excellent friend, Dr. Hughes, died about four o'clock this morning; he was much emaciated, but for the last two or three weeks had felt no pain or distress.'

'March 1, Friday, St. David's Day. Preached for the Welsh School, Gray's Inn Lane, St. Martin's in the Fields.'

'April 19. Sir C. Grey dined with me to meet a party after his return from India. I had not seen him for twelve years, having married him in April, 1821, just before his departure for India. He has now his health, his pension, a wife, and seven fine children, at an age when he may fairly look forward to the enjoyment of many years of life.

A bottle of claret was produced of the present he sent me, as a marriage fee, in April 1821.'

April 26, Thursday. Set out for Offwell.'

April 27. Stopped at Hindon, and walked to Fonthill, the weather being bright and dry, but the season backward. The scene was to me delightful. The tall ruins standing in solitude, the lawns freshly mown, the disposition of the groups of trees and shrubs, with green irregular glades, the profusion of Rhododendrons and other American plants, the beautiful form of the ground, the tranquillity of the scene, nothing but the singing of birds and the occasional springing of game, or leaping of fish in the silent pool, the spacious and solitary woodland scene, broken by lawnall gave it the effect of fairy land. My imagination was powerfully affected, especially as I recollected the contrast, when the scene was thronged with company, and all its gorgeous wealth and elegance in full display.'

'Jan. 2, 1834. Dined with Sir Robert Inglis at Clapham Common. Several East Indians; Lock, Bayley, &c., and Mr. Burnes, of the Indian army, lately returned from exploring the Indus, and the countries between India and the Caspian. He had visited Bokhara, a city not seen by any European for 400 years. I had the pleasure of conversing with him on this subject with the map before us.

The introduction of letters in the midst of diary memoranda may seem to have an abrupt effect. But I have thought it best to preserve, so far as may be, the chronological order of the materials, and not to risk truthful effect by any attempt at a classification, which, after all, could be but most imperfect, from the nature of the case.

The first of the two letters which follow contains

a sketch of character done to the life-a sketch suggested by that warmth of friendship which might belong to many, but executed in a manner that could belong but to few. In the second will be found much weighty remark upon a very important subject, while it will be thought, perhaps, the more valuable, from being exchanged with one who is known to have given deep attention to that subject.

My dear Sir,

Llansanfraed, October 27, 1834.

Having now completed my confirmation tour, I cannot omit to thank you for one of the many delightful occurrences attending it, your kind visit to Merthyrmawr. If I had not seen you I should not have known how to estimate the accounts I had heard of your amended health. It is, I trust, now quite restored. Of myself I can report most favourably. Never do I remember to have spent a happier month than the last. In addition to recovered health, after a long and severe privation, the fineness of the weather, the beauty of the country, the hospitality of the gentry, nearly all of whom I saw, and the general improvement of the disposition of the people towards the church, conspired to raise my spirits, and to give uninterrupted enjoyment. But in the enumeration of causes, it would be most ungrateful not to mention the kind, intelligent, agreeable, and cheerful companion,* who was always at my side. It is impossible for a man to unite in himself more estimable and pleasing qualities-cheerfulness, literary taste, talent for business, constant activity, and invariable good-nature, frankness of disposition, wit, humour, and good sense. There is a character in his pleasantry which is often wanting in witty men-it is never ill-timed nor excessive. It forms,

*The late Dean of Llandaff, Bruce Knight.

as wit ought to do, the seasoning, not the substance of conversation. And when to all this I add devotion to serious duties, and great theological attainments, I have sketched a character which it grieves me to think is almost unrewarded, when there is no reward too high for it.

In the course of my circuit we met with warm-hearted hospitality everywhere, but nowhere, I think, was the domestic scene more interesting than at Duffryn, Aberdare. I shall set down the three entire days spent there as among the happiest of my life. It realized my ideal picture of a Highland chief among his vassals, all looking up to him with affection and veneration. Mr. Bruce's fine intelligent countenance, his clear, loud, cheerful voice, his animated eye, his activity of mind and body, seemed to form him for ruling volentes per populos. Every countenance that met him beamed with pleasure. The wild mountain scenery gave a charm to the kind hospitality and hearty goodhumour which pervaded the whole family. A more interesting and affectionate one I have never seen, and am not likely again to see.

Your opinion of the Eistedfodd poetry does not much differ from my own. Why M should make his bard of the present day traverse mountains rude and vast, and sleep on the bare heath, when he might have come down from Merthyr by an excellent road, and have been well lodged at Cardiff, is not so clear. Lloyd's Ode to the Princess Victoria struck me as highly poetical, with the exception of one or two passages. He and Miss W. redeem much dulness, and reflect real lustre upon their country. Next summer I shall be much disappointed if you do not give me an opportunity of showing Mrs. Traherne some of the sights yet unseen by her in this neighbourhood.

Believe me, ever yours sincerely,

E. LLANDAFF.