this kingdom as a minifter, has been but little employed and foon rejected; thofe who buzz in royal ears, did not conceive the defigns of his fuperior genius; or rather jealous, and preferring themfelves to their country's welfare, duped their master and the public good to their res fentments.

SUCH is the fate of fuperior genius: It is my wifh and ambition, ut fit mens fana in corpore fano, and a heart warmed with gratitude for your goodness.

薯

I am yours most affectionately.

LET

LETTER XXX.

To the Reverend Father DIODATO FRANZONI, at Rome.

Dear Sir,

NOT long fince on a journey into that

part of this kingdom, which is called Wales, from whence the eldeft fons of the kings of GreatBritain take their titles, I found more remains of ancient vaffalage amongst the common people, and a greater fimplicity of manners, than is to be met with in England.

THE language is yet spoken by the prefent people, which was in ufe in the time of Cafar's invasion; and, if you believe the natives, as it was by our firft parents in paradife; it has not an ill found when put into verfe, as it was repeated to my ears by a gentleman of the country; yet I believe, it would be difficult for a stranger to acquire it; particularly an Italian. Nothing can be more different than the pronunciation of these, two languages; the words in our tongue terminating in vowels, and those in this having scarce

any

any in ufe in their alphabet. For this reafon ftrength makes the excellence in the Welch, as sweetness does in the present Roman; and it feems impoffible for a ftranger to obtain a true pronunciation, without practifing with fomething boiling hot in his mouth. There is a fingular custom amongst the people of this part of the island, which is extremely useful, and worthy imitation: Whenever two fervants have an inclination to marry, they make it known to their mafters, and he to his friends, who all fend them something to begin housekeeping; befides this, there are in different parts, perfons who are called bidders,: from the use they make of them, who are fent round from houfe to houfe to their whole acquaintance.

WHEN a couple is to be wedded, there is one chosen on each fide; they are dreft in their best apparel, and with a long ftaff to which are tyed knots of ribbands, their hats being decorated with the fame finery, are fent out as ambaffadors. These are the public orators, and chofen from the best speakers amongst the common people, which office they always preferve, Deck'd out in this pomp they proceed two diffe

rent

rent ways, and entering into the houses, where they are ordered to go, make their speeches much in this manner:

DAVID and Mary intend to marry on such a day; their father and mother, David and Mary, and their relations, have sent me to bid you to the wedding; whatever you shall give them at that time, fhall be restored at your nuptials (if they are unmarried), or to thofe of your friends, when they fhall be married; and in their names I bid you a good day.

By this means it often happens, that if the couple which intends being married, has lived in reputable service, they fhall receive a hundred guineas to begin the world; and from this fum down to thirty is the general receipt.

Two days before the wedding they meet together in the house where this couple is to live, and bring their gifts, when they pass the evening in merryment, and dance; and, what is fomething furprizing, they all perform that exercife with an ease and grace, which I have not seen amongst any peasants in Europe.

THEY

THEY then meet at the fame houfe on the nuptial day; whence thy proceed on horseback to the church, two women upon fome horses, two men upon others, a man and a woman, women before men, void of all order: Before them is the best mufic they can get, the harp always, which being fufpended about the harper's fhoulders; he plays as the horfe trots along, as fast as he can, a random ftruming of the ftrings. The harp and St. David are the moft venerable objects of the Welch people; they are great lovers of mufic and finging; and have one poet very renouned, whose works they fing at all feftivals.

In this manner they ride with great fwiftnefs to the church to be married; the hafte they make is to fignify the impetuofity of their love for each other. The ceremony being finished, the com-, pany returns to make merry, which continues till evening: When having put the new couple to bed, they retire below again; and after. paffing an hour in mirth, and making caudel for the bridegroom, they return again into the chamber, and carry him this invigorating liquor, as a restorative, confider'd highly neceffary in this

moment;