North Wales Gazette

To the Editor of the North Wales Gazelle. SIR. I have the pleasure, in addition to some former papers which I have transmitted to you. on .Planting, to offer to your notice some extracts which I have made from a late valuable publi- cation, and which has merited high encomiums fro:,i ail the Reviewers. SYLVA. PONTEY'S PROFITABLE PLANTER. Among the different objects of improve m tnenis, which present tiiellis,-I,,es to.ille atten- tion of persons of landed property, that. of Planting will always hold a distinguished rank — probably, if it were inquired on which ol 111"111 a person, so situated, could expend n part of his disposable income to the greatest advantage, Ihe decision, in at least eight cases i" ten, would he in favour of Planting. In deed, the matter comes recommended by so many consideralions, that it is somewhat diffi- cult to conceive how any one, in affluent cir- cumstances, can excuse himself in the neglect of it—Whoever plants to a considerable ex- tent, becomes a benefactor to his own poste- rity and the public, and therefore while his ",ork remains, the man will not be forgotten. From the best observations I have been ena- bled to make, there seems no doubt but the expence which would have planted five acres, sixty years ago, w,)uld now plant twenty, if properly managed. There are numerous situ- ations, on almost every estate, which- in them selves produce but little, and mock the darings oi the cautious cultivator, which only require to be planted with judgement, to be abund- 1!1 antly productive of limber." As your paper has furnished your readers wilh ample directions for the raising and plant- ing Trees, I shall now proceed to Mr. Pont fy's further observations on the beneficial advantages of planting Firs. Since the time that the foreign Fir timber first introduced into this country, its use- fulness and consequent reputation have been constantly iiici-cisillq, and we import annu- ally, immense quantities, at an enormous ex- pence the greater part, if not the whole, THay be avoided, by extending and improving their culture. That we have few English-grown furs of «u(lifient scantlings for the larger purposes of building, will readily he admitld- hul whence proceeds the deficiency ? Prfjudtce savg, I we cannot grow them good,' and igiiorauce and indolence have hitherto very generally assented to li,e assertion—it is true, with respect to the Scotch, silver fir, and Weymouth pine, the young quirk grown wood is somewhat soft and spungy, but this prevails in the other parts of vegetable and animal creation, with. out at all impeaching the strength or value of the matured subjects of fisher. Certainly, in regard to I lie Firs.every observation has shewn that the Timber improves with age, probably b the same proportion as the growth decreases after a certain period. Experience has war- ranted au opinion that the ilai-ch, is equal to the foreign, for all the useful purposes to which that article is usually applied, and sti. perior to it for many others. First, it may be grown abundantly clearer of knots, pro vided some little attention he paid to pruning and dressing it-ecotidly, it is much tougher, a circumstance which, connected with its du rability, will fit it for numerous purposes, in boards of the least possible thickness. Three sights of a Larch must, in almost any case, be superior to half an iiich of Foreign Deal- Thirdly, when once seasoned, it is ess to shrink, and it admits of a very considerable degree of heat, without endangering itscrack illg.-Fourlhly, it is much superior in colour, a» the application of raw linseed oil, only, turns it to a beautiful nut-brown. It likewise admits of being stained to resemble mahoga- ny and takes a polish equal to Box, Holly, or-eveu Satin-wood. Fifthly—It is very proper for posts to put iii the ground, ising trees of a proper size, and the part intended to stand in the earth should have the whole of the bark leftupolI it, and it is clearly superior in the import ant point of durability when exposed to the weather."

To the Editor of the North fJ-alel Gazelle. SIR, In the early part of my life I was well acquainted with the late W. Dimmock, Esqv of Penley, in Flintshire, who has ofren signified to me, that he was descended from the Diinmocks who held the office of the Champion of England. I have' enclosed a Copy of a warrant of Henry VI. to the keeper of the wardrobe, for equipping a horse for Sir Philip Dimmock, Champion, at the ensuing coronation," anno 1430, taken from a MS. in the British Museum. Overton. ANTIQUARJUS. Henry, &c. to our beloved clerk Robert Rolleston, keeper of our great wardrobe, greeting. Whereas our beloved Esquire Phi- lip Dymmock, has certified to us how his an- cestors, within memory, have been accustom ed to perform certain solemnities and services at the coronation of our noble progenitors, kings of England, heretofore that is to say, to be armed on the.day of our coronation, and mounted on a charger, and beside, to do and exercise all that appertains to Ihe said servi- ce?; taking the accustomed fees for each. We therefore, with the advice and assent of our counce!, will and command you, that against the day of our coronation, you prepare trap- pings and all other things in such case usual, and deliver them to the said Philip, in the manner deliveries have bee 'i heretofore made by the keepers of the wardrobe of our said progenitors to his ancestors, and we willlhat these our letters he your warrant, and that due attention he paid to them. Given, &c. the 4th day of November, in the gili year of our reign."

For the North Wales Gazette. NUMBER r. In the discovery of error, as well as in the examination of truth, it is obvious that we cannot proceed with any well-grounded hopes of success in our researches, if we are .it tili under the influence of prejudice: and for this reason it is necessary to recur as seldom as possible to preconceived opinions. Events can never be traced to their causes, if the process he established upon wrong princi- ples: for the result in such cases will be in- volved in error and uncertainty. When, there- fore, the hypothesis which an Author, as- sumes as the groundwork of his enquiries, and by which he estimates the probability or im- probability of any historical events, be ill- founded, or improperly conceived, he will of course often deviate from the truth, and the fruit of his labours will be found to consist of erroneous deductions. An hypothesis, in such a case, only serves to mislead the reason- ing faculties, and la bewilder the understand- ing. Instead of arriving at the truth, the author will find himself i;i au inexplicable maze of conjecture, without any olli -,r clue to extricate himself, than of denying every his- torical tradition which does not favour his conjectures, lu support of an imaginary hy- pothesis, it has of late been attempted to prove that the Coll] III') ii I*v attributed to Gildas, are spurious productions. The an thor is so thoroughly satisfied with the sue- cess of his undertaking as to pronounce his arguments irrefragable. If the author will he found to have succeeded iu his attempt, it will materially affect the productions of some of the most distinguished writers, by whom the history and epistle of Gildas have uniform- ly been considered as containing very impor- tant and correct information, and affording much mailer for further investigation in Church history. The positive manner in which they are now condemned as spurious gives us every reason to believe that ihe au- thor of such an assertion, was at least well acquainted with these writings, and had con- sidered all the circumstances connected with them, and had not come to this conclusion without mature deliberation, and being able to advance some substantial reasons for dif- fering from the most eminent writers on ec- clesiastical history. Since the publication of the Collectanea Cambrica, in which these ob. jections are stated at length, the same decla- ration has been made in a visitation sermon at St. Asaph in 1812, in which the author con- siders it is an imperious duly upon him to do so,for the Truth's sake. An opinion advanc- ed with so much confidence demands particu- lar attention, and it is but just to enquirc into the merits of the author's performance, and upon what foundation he has ventured to make so decisive an objection to the genuine- ness of Gildas, and laboured to give publicity to this discovery. It willullùoubtedly create surprise, when it is understood that there is not a single argument, than can stand the test of an enquiry, and that the irrcfragable proofs are merely the suggestions of filncy, without the slightcst foundation in truth. The author confesses that what first ex- cited his suspicions respecting the genuineness of Gildas, was the denial of the existence of any British records, which "occurs in the com- mencement of his History. Giidas certainly y-) ,Il;lt he met with no records, but with this specification, viz. relative to the calami- ties which Britain became subject to, during the period of its subjection by the Romans.— In this respect also, he does not absolutely deny their existence, but supposes that if any records did exist, they were either lost in the convulsions which ensued, or were carried off to foreign countries. This appears more like an ackuowledttcmeol that written testimonies did actually exist, than all absolute denial of them & therefore cannot, as the author ima- gines,affect IheBritishChronicle.Thisassertiou however, first provoked the aulhor's resent- ment, and led him to pronounce the whole to be a spurious production, and moreover that the history is little or nothing, and often known Ip be false, and the epistle a mere far- rago of calumny," The slightest acquain- tance with the works of Gildas, will, I am confident, convince any impartial reader that these assertions are completely ill-founded but as they are supported by what the au- thor styles irrefragable arguments, a refuta lion of them will not, I hope, be deemed un- interesting, in the course of which I shall en deavour to give the most convincing proofs, that the works attributed to Gildas arc really genuine, and that the historic narrative is strictly authentic, and in fact the corner-stone ofantient British history, and moreover that it affords a true picture of the times in which Gildas lived. Bangor. J. J.

To the Editor of the North Wales Gazette. Sin,—I take the liberty to offer to your no- tice an agricultural experiment which 1 lately made on a limited scale. Having observed the usefulness of parsnips and carrots, I dug, and trenched a plot of loamy ground, and sowed it with parsnip seed in March, Having weeded and thinned them to proper distances, I when they were arrived to a good strength of leaves, I cut, and gave them to the colts, cows, calves, hogs and sheep, who eat them readily. They soo-n sprouted again, and within a month I cut. them a second time. I cut about half of them the third time; but as the weather became dry, it had been better if 1 had not done so, as at the taking up, the rootsot these last cut were not so large as the others, but had the weather continued moist, I think they would have increased in leaves and size; however I had a fair crop. After each cut- ting I loosened the earth with a potatoe fork. The long thin tops and rough roots I boiled Z, in the copper with potatoe chats, in the pro- portion of two bushels of chat,to half a bushel of offal parsnips, having first washed them.— When they are boited so as to break easily, I took them out as dry as I could, and put them into a tub. 1 then put about a peck of rye (having been coarsely ground in a malt mill) into the water remaining in the copper, and let it boil to the consistency like unto sago, stirring it frequently to prevent it burn- ing the copper. I should have observed, this peck of rye will take five or six pails full of i water to produce it to the above substance.— I put this into another tub, and I fed the hogs j with the boiled potatoe chats, and Ihis gruel mixed it will fatten hogs speedily. The above proportions will suffice two hogs a week, and may be placed at the following expence and may be placed at the following expence s. d. 1 peck of rye 1 () 2 bushels of chats 1 3 Coiis or wood. 0 6 A boy, half a day will attend ) the copper, and grind (he rye> 0 6 with ease ) ■ 3 3 The offal parsnips I set no value upon. The hlllk of leaves and stalks of parsnipscut in the above way, must be very useful upon a large scale, for cattle, tec. at the time I fie fields are shut liP; all kinds of stock will eat the roots raw, alld thrive fast.-I meall to try thc same method with carrots and white beet the present year. Denbighshire. H. LL,

On forming Plantations of OAK, £ >e. in con- junction scilh FIOMjY GRASS. J/oy, Ireland, Jp ril 5, ISIS. Your readiness to insert Communications, induces me to transmit some observations, on a suhject of milch importance, upon which I have touchcd more than once-in different pub- lications they contain a plan for facilitating the supply of our Navy with Oak Timber, by calling in the aid of Fiorin Grass. I atll induced to take up (his subject by the perusal of a most valuable Pii)er,iii II)c Quar- terly Review for September last, in which, the topic is discussed with much ability, and at great length. It is there said, That the scarcity of Oak Timber, for ship building, is nol imaginary, but a real evil of alarming ex-' tent; that it lias been ascertained beyond a possibility of doubt, that the wood lands, in general, of Great Britain, but plantations of Oak in particular, have diminished in propor- tion us the population and prosperity of the country have increased." There can lie no doubt but the increased no- pulation of the country has induced the neces- sity of extending if* cultivation, and encroach- ing upon its wood lands; thai the plough has advanced upon its forests, and that many tracts, well wooded formerly, now yield Corn instead of Timber. It will be )1. serious misfortune should the means of sustaining our population be found to clash with the means of defending our country, and that plenty must he followed by insecurity. And it will he a fortunate circum- stance if these two favourite objects, in place of interfering with each other, as rivals, can be made to co-operate together, and advance hand in hand and if we can shew that the same field may be cultivated so as to afford a copious supply of food to mail (indireclly in- deed,) and at the same litiie to licar crol) of Oak Timber, under the most favourable cir- cumstances we shall be still more fortunate, should we be able to obiain this double crop, from grounds hitherto unapplied to any use. I shall now shew thallbere is nothing ex- travagant m these speculations nor even lead- ingto weighty expence;, that I am merely | availing myself of the known habit of parti cular vegetables, in order to dmw from them the greatest possible benefits. I have repeatedly shewn that Fiorin Grass bears shade (that is, a partial privation of air and light) better than any other vegdahle np- plicable to the use of mill ? that Ihe dactylia, hovers on the hedges of our plantations, ad- vancing somewhat tllrther than other grasses, but that Fiorin penetrates into the interior, and that, until the umbrella closes so thick over head as to sloi) all vegetation, the last i«jmuant of verdure is formed by Ibis Grass, which continues to exist IIIHler IhcJe uufa vourable circumstances, long aftcr it has oc- casion to luxuriate, and that it perseveres in producing a good fleece, when all other t, grasses ceases to exist. To avail ourselves of this properly, let us suppose a field to be laid down with FlORIN GRASS, and at the smme lime- planted very thinly with Oak, or sown with Acorns, at great distances, or managed in such other manner us those most skilful in the culture of the Oak shall recommend ;-let us see the result. This meadow if laid down in the Spring, will produce a Rreat crop of Hay the same year, and every successive year, until the Oak attains such a size as to iuterfere somewhat by their projecting branches but little injury to the crop of Hay will be done for 40 or 50 years. This Oak plantation will thus be found a more productive field than any other in the farm will require little attention, merely slight weeding iu the Spring, to preserve the Fiorin in exclusive possession while such oc- casiuual top dressing* II would make a com. mon meadow continue to produce two loads of Hay per English acre, will preserve a Fio- rin meadow in a succession of crops of 7 loads, and of far better quality. A little circle, 4 or 5 feet Radius, may be left round each tree by often lightly digging, or scuffling patch, the young Oak wil not be choaked either by weeds or grass. 1 shall be told that Oaks, thinly dispersed through a field, will fait for want of shelter, such as is now afforded in all plantations, by thick planting at first, then occasionally thin- ning when requisite. Perhaps so. (for I be- lieve the experiment was never t-ried,) but so serious an advantage as valuable crops, during the whole period the young trees are advanc- ing, is not to be given up ou theory and spe- culations. Besides, the very sensible Paper before me states- That hedgerow Oak, or trees growing singly; are less subject to decay, than trees growing in the middle of a forest. The more exposed trees are to the wind and sun, the more compact and durable will the Timber be; while that from dense forests, into which the sun never penetrates, is more porous, more abundant in sap, and more prone to the dry rot." Can we then carry this new speculation into grounds hitherto uncultivated, (as no doubt we cau,) the acquisition still becomes more serious. The English moors open an immense field At a most trifling expellee they can be rapidly thrown into Fiorin meadows, and they are then also ready for Oak plantations. I may be told, Oak would not thrive on nioors-I doubt the fact and I know both Larch and Alder thrive admirably on these useless tracts, when properly prepared, that is, lightly scarified by frequent surface drains, to prevent the water from stagnating, and be- coming acrid about the roots of the plants, whether Grass or Trees, whether Grass or Trees. The Paper before mentioned dwells on the excellence of Larch Timber, saying, the Larch is very little inferior to Oak, and in some instances preferable; it arrives at per- fection in 50 or 60 years." It is recently discovered that Larch Bark tans admirably last April, at a great public meeting in Scotland, 1 saw specimens of Leather produced, some tanned with Oak Bark, and others with Larch there was ob- viously a difference, but we could not decide where the superiority lay. Alder Timber is known to be excellent for most Agricultural purposes, and this tree is of very rapid growth. Surely then, when our Moors, are 90 very extensive, so easily prepared for, and so well adapted to, this double stile of crop, Fiorin meadow, iininteruptedly productive and va- luable, Larch and Alder advancing rapidly towards perfection, we may scatter a few Oaks among them, was it only for experi- ment, and even should these fail, we are se- cure of forests affording better Pine Timber than any now imported from Foreigncountries. Public money is not the instrument I wish to see employed for carrying on or stimulat- ing improvement; too much of it flies off when in motion. We had lately a good les- son on the subject in my own country; three successive granls, amounting to iiE22,000, were appropriated by Ilarlittijeiit totliedraiii. age of the Irish bogs, of which sum, every shilling has passed into the pockets of indi- viduals, before a spade has been put into the ground; so soon as the money was gone, it was discovered that drainage was perfectly un- necessary 1 I remember hearing the acquisition of a large fortune accounted for; the Gentleman, I it was said, counted the King's money on a gridiron, and all that fell through was his own." 1 hare repeatedly stated, that the agent I wish alwuys to see employed on extensive im- provement, is the mass of the people it is in such mighty hands the work will advance in all directions at once: nor was there ever a case better fitted for such powerful exertions than the present. Can we tempt the common proprietor of the arable moor, contiguous with each other, to pass the line, and to encroach upon the waste, even on a very small scale, suppose only an acre or two what a change is made instantaneously on the face of the country I The circumference of every dreary moor, con- verted into a girdle, beautifully dotted with meadow and rising forest, which upon encou- ragement by success, may be increased ad li- r,i I bitum, by spreading on the periphery, and ad- r, vancing on the interior. To return to Ihe speculation on the improv- ment of the Peripheries of our numerous and extensive Moors, by aid of the mass of the People surrounding them, x How shall we contrive to put this vast ma- chine 111 motion ?—Who is to set the example, which is to be followed by so many ?—Who is to prove it is their interest to tread In his steps ? The answer is made by the Author of the able memoir which hasgiveu rise to these spe- b culations. It is to the Crown Lands we must look with any confidence for a future supply of Timber. In the last Session, Bills were pas- sed for the planting and enclosing 1,600 acres in the forest of Alice Holt, and 2,000 acres in that of Wolmar." do not look forward to tracts of such for- midable magnitude; I call upon Government merelvlo shew the practicabilities of measures, for the encouragement of others, and which afterwards may be followed still further if themselves should think fit. 1 shall state a very simple plan let parks of 20 acres, or such other dimensions as shall seem convenient, be inclosed in different un- cultivated parts of Crown Lands, laid down with Fiorin Grass, planted with Oak, and, where moor, Larch and Alder also. Though this be a public measure, it opens little source of fraud, or peculation inclosure I always consider as a distinct word, which may be contracted for by advertisement; and if a given number of men be steadily employed oil the interior area, expenee will be ascertain- ed with precision, and those who wish to learn a lesson, will soon discover if it be their inte- rest to follow the same plan. I need not recapitulate the statements of the alarming scarcity of Navy Timber—but we are also alarmed by the prospect of ano- ther scarcity, perhaps more formidable; want of food for our inhabitants; 42 millions of | money having been sent abroad in the last ten years to purchase Corn. The measures I recommend most necessarily prove an effectual remedy against both evils they will indeed operate slowly in the former case, as the trees must attain their futt growth; but in the latter case, rapidly. nay almost in stantaiieouslv, for every Fiorin meadow, form- ed on ground hitherto uncultivated, adds to our quantity of Hay, with which we must soon be overstocked, unless we throw some of our present rich meadows into tillage increasing thereby our Agricultural field, exactly in the proportion we increase our meadow ground, by advancing on lJur Wastes and what Waste in England could not beconverted into Fiorin meadow ? and through how manv of these might not Oak be planted successfully ? W. RICHARDSON, D. D.

It may appear scarcely credible to those un- acquainted with human nature in its depravi- ty, but it is a fact, that the wife of one of the unhappy wretches condemned at the last War- wick Assizes, and afterwards reprieved, has since been openly married to another man- availing herself of that form of fiction of law by which the capitally condemned are consi- dered as having no longer legal existence A house directly in view of the prison walls within which her former husband is still cou- fined, was even chosen as the scene of those festivities and rejoicings (such as lhOfrere) which took place on the occasion. Tht late Russian Campaign.-The followino* description of the dreadful situation of the French army, after the passage of the Bere- sina, is extracted from a small pamphlet, written by a German Officer, in the service of Russia, which has been published at St. Pe- tersburgh A rigorous cold now perfected their misery --no longer capable of supporting the severity of their sufferings, arms and baggage were thrown away. The greater part, without thoes or gait- ers, had wrapped their legs in pieces of blankets, and twisted old hats about their feet. Each en- deavoured to secure his head and shoulders from the cold, with whatever covering he could find some with old sacks and matts, others with the. skins of animals recently flayed-happy those who were possessed of scraps of fur. The offi- cers and soldiers, overtaken with death-like numbness, with arms folded, and countenances fixed, followed each other. The guards fared no better than the rest; covered with rags, and dy- ing with hunger, and without arms, all resistance was impossible. The cry of Cossacks put whole columns in consternation; the line of march was strewed with bodies: each bivouac resembled next day a field of battle. No sooner had one fallen from fatigue and cold, than he was strip- ped by his comrades, to cover themselves with his clothes. All the houses and barns were set on fire; and every burnt space was covered with- the bodies of those who, having approached, and unable to retire when the flames reached them, were consumed. The roads were strewed with prisoners unable to proceed. To such horrors succeeded others, if possible still more dreadful. Pale and disfigured by the smoke, they were seen ranged round the fire like spectres, sitting on the dead bodies of their comrades, until, likS them, they fell and expired. The feet of num- bers, by being exposed to the cold, were gan. grened, and reduced to a state of perfect imbeci- lity-they with difficulty walked; others lost their speech. Some, from excess of cold and hunger, were seized with madness; and roasted and eat the flesh of their dead comrades, or gnaw- ed their own hands and arms. In this state of phremy, many rushed into the flames and perish- ed, uttering the most dreadful cries. In fine, it is impossible for any one, who has not witnessed this most frightful spectacle, to form any true. idea of these united calamitiesi, such as the an- nals of the world afford no example.

COPPER ORE Sold at TRURO, on Thursday, April 29. Mines. Tuns. Purchasers. At per Ton. Wheal Towan 143 Rose Co £ \o 6 (t ditto 84 Ditto and Daniell 9 14 6 ditto 74 Brass Wire Co. 10 6 6 ditto 65 Rose Co. 9 6 6 ditto 62 Brass Wire&Dan. 8IO United Mines J08 English Co. 8 9 0 ditto 93 Crown Co. 7 15 6 ditto 72 English Co 8 9 0 Treskerby 100 Freeman Co 8 3 0 ditto go di(to 7 11 6 ditto 71 Chead. W. &G.. 8 5 0 w tvi,Ur. 4 4 Ur>ion Co 19 16 O W.Wh.Fortune 72 Mines Royal 9 17 O ditto 70 ditto 9 3 0 ditto 50 Cornish & Union 14 12 « ditto 49 Cheadie W. & G. 14 17 6 North Downs 78 elitto 7 6 o ditto 70 Rose Co. 6 16 6 ditro 61 Crown Co 7 16 Wheal CIlead 94 Mines Royal 11 is 9 ditto 86 Crown Co. 816 6 Total 1594 tons.

EXTRACTS From Comber's History of the Parisian Massacre. 11 If the Romanists would content them, selves, with the many acts of Parliament which particularly passed in their favour, whereby, uot only the most complete toleration is grant- ed. in respect to their religious worship, but the severity of the pellilllaw is done away and every indulgence, consistent with the safety and well being of the Established Reli- gion, granted them in that case, it would he immediately opposite to the gentle spirit of the reformed religion, to even hint at any thins that might, in the most remote degree, tefld to make them appear in an unpleasant point of view. But if. on the contrary, they are so far from resting contented with the multiplied acts of the British Legislature in their favour, passed during the long, glorious, and happy reign of our present most amia- ble, and, by all good men, sincerely beloved Sovereign, that they seem to consider them only a* grounds for their demanding, we cannot, with truth, call it soliciting, for more and greater indigencies; our conduct then begins to assume a very different complexion, to what it would have otherwise done. Self preservation is, beyoud all controversy, the first law of nature and in tile present case, this supreme law is most nearly and deenly j concerned. We may have the same tender' concern as before, for those who profess the Romish religion, hut we may, and otighi to have, a greater concern for our safety, which appears to be directly endangered by everv repeated pelitio i which is, or can, he brought forward by them. It must evidently appear. that, if we granted the prayer of the petition- ers, to hold civil and nulitary offices of the highest ranks, they would very soon bring forth others, and would never he satisfied till they had, in fact, turned out those of the es tahlished religion, whom thev consider as usurpers, and were themselves quietly, seated in their different preferments. which, it is a well known fact, they consider, of ri.;ht be- to Lli longing to themselves. In one word, it seems as if they would never be contented till Proles ta "t."Stll was completely ousted, and Popery established in its place. To this point all their efforts are u.innately directed, and till it is accomplished they will never, lam persuaded, desist from their attempts.