have appeared on this subject, and still further the idea of attempting to advance my own pretensions, by any comparison with my own collections; yet I cannot help remarking, that when we divest them of their descriptions of the face of the country, their store of information will claim but a small portion of public applause.

To share the approbation of the wise and good, has ever been the chief object and wish of my heart--and had I' no other reward, the kind notice I have been honoured with, by many valuable characters in the first ranks of learning, would more than gratify my warmest expectations,-and greatly I have to lament, that the distance which separates me from them, prevents my receiving that assistance which would otherwise be conferred on my publications. Delicacy, in a great measure, forbids the mentioning of names,-yet I cannot conceal that of the Rev. Mr. RICHARDSON, Rector of Farley Hungerford, in Wiltshire, whose talents, eminent as they are, in the wide field of literature, are not more to be admired, than the virtues which adorn the Man. Friend, whom my heart reveres, permit this public declaration of my esteem and value for

your character!

Charles Heath.

Sensible of the weight of obligations I feel myself under to the distinguished characters who make the Tour of this County, I cannot suffer this New Edition of my Labours to go forth, without expressing the high value I entertain for the patronage conferred on these Pages; rendered more estimable by the unsought for manner

in which their Favors have flowed.

In return for such marks of their Approbation, I can only assure them, that I shall, at all times, feel the highest satisfaction in affording them every Information in my power, when at Monmouth, either as connected with their Excursion, or in other way in which my services might prove of advantage;-considering it as a moral obligation "to dispense all the rational happiness "possible to every one within our power;" and I should feel honored in being the means of adding to the Stranger's Pleasure in travelling through the beautiful Scenery of Monmouthshire.

A WALK on the Banks of the WYE, from Monmouth to TINTERN

ABBEY, noticing every Object in the Courfe of the Voyage between
thofe Places.

OF TINTERN ABBEY, by Mr. Grose.

by Mr., Gilpin.

i by Mr. Wheatly.

Carriage Excursion to Tintern Abbey,-including New Notices of the
Parish of TRELLECH, with thofe interesting Objects the Druidical
Stones, Tumulus, Chalybeate Well,-the Common, and its Profpects,
never before published, all highly worthy attention.

Of Tintern Abbey, by Charles Heath, including a Variety of Observations
relating to the former and present State of the Monastery.
General Remarks on the Abbey, resulting from these Observations.
Lift of the Noble Perfons, faid to be buried in the Abbey.
On the First Settlement of Tintern as a Wire Manufactory.
Op the fame as an Iron Manufactory.

The Charter of William Earl Mareschal to Tintern Abbey.
Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk, to the fame. ·
Dimensions of the Abbey, from a late Measurement.
Qriginal Sonnet for this Work, by Dr. Booker.

The Reader is folicited to exercife his Candor over a few Typographical
Errors, of little moment in the general reading,-the most prominent
of which are Tumuli for Tumulus, under Trellech,-and lushed for
hushed, in the Evening Scene in the Abbey. Some Apology might be
made for Hafte, but, for fuch Inadvertencies, I hope I shall be for

ON THE BANKS OF THE WYE,

FROM

MONMOUTH TO TINTERN ABBEY.

THE communication between Monmouth and the

surrounding country,-highly beautiful as it is on every side, does not afford a more pleasant excursion, than the walk along the banks of the Wye to Tintern Abbey, and from thence to Chepstow. The distance to Tintern, which is only ten miles, divests it of toil, while the path (to use a poetical expression), presents "a carpet of Nature's velvet" nearly the whole of the way.

On leaving the Town, we pass Wye Bridge,-at the end of which a stone stile, on the right hand, conducts to the side of the river,-which may be deemed the traveller's guide and companion to the place of his destination.

After entering the fine meadows adjoining Monmouth, the mind will be engaged, for nearly two miles, in contemplating the fine scenery which environs the town and neighbourhood. Not a barren spot meets the eye; -the beautiful and lofty eminences, which screen it on every side, being cloathed or cultivated to their utmost summits:

B

summits; while the stream, which embellishes the landscape, proves an inexhaustible source of commercial advantage to the country thro' which it flows.

The fine Mead, called Chippenhamn,-the emboucheure of the river Monnow, which unites its stream to the Wye,-Troy House,-with other interesting objects, successively arrest the attention."

On an eminence, on the right bank of the river, about a mile and an half from Monmouth, stands the Parish and Church of

PENALT.

This place, which is surrounded by a fine open and extensive common, is celebrated for the production of the Breccia, or Pudding Stone, formed more or less compact. Very excellent mill-stones are cut in dovetailed burrs, which millers pronounce equal to the valuable French stones; and the surrounding counties, are also supplied with cider-mills from this parish.

A very fine specimen of the Cornu Ammonis, found in a quarry at this place, was in the possession of the late Mr. Duberly of Monmouth. Such productions are rather rare in this kingdom, being more generally met with in the West Indies.

In a certain part of the common stands a large Oak tree, of many years growth, surrounded by a stone seat. There was a custom, that, when a corpse was brought by, on its way to the church, it was rested here, and the company sung a psalm. Of its origin, tradition has not preserved the least remembrance.

The