Marthaforthwithhurriedaway，attendedbyamuchyoungerfemale。
　　"Tillyourroomisprepared，sir，"saidhe，"perhapsyouwillhavenoobjectiontositdownbeforeourfire？"
　　"Nottheleast，"saidI；"nothinggivesmegreaterpleasurethantositbeforeakitchenfire。Firstofall，however，Imustsettlewithmyguide，andlikewiseseethathehassomethingtoeatanddrink。"
　　"ShallIinterpretforyou？"saidthelandlord；"theladhasnotawordofEnglish；Iknowhimwell。"
　　"Ihavenotbeenunderhisguidanceforthelastthreehours，"saidI，"withoutknowingthathecannotspeakEnglish；butIwantnointerpreter。"
　　"Youdonotmeantosay，sir，"saidthelandlord，withasurprisedanddissatisfiedair，"thatyouunderstandWelsh？"
　　Imadenoanswer，butturningtotheguidethankedhimforhiskindness，andgivinghimsomemoneyaskedhimifitwasenough。
　　"Morethanenough，sir，"saidthelad；"Ididnotexpecthalfasmuch。Farewell！"
　　Hewasthenabouttodepart，butIpreventedhimsaying：
　　"Youmustnotgotillyouhaveeatenanddrunk。Whatwillyouhave？"
　　"Merelyacupofale，sir，"saidthelad。
　　"Thatwon’tdo，"saidI；"youshallhavebreadandcheeseandasmuchaleasyoucandrink。Pray，"saidItothelandlord，"letthisyoungmanhavesomebreadandcheeseandalargequartofale。"
　　Thelandlordlookedatmeforamoment，thenturningtotheladhesaid：
　　"Whatdoyouthinkofthat，Shon？Itissometimesinceyouhadaquartofaletoyourowncheek。"
　　"Cheek，"saidI—"cheek！IsthataWelshword？SurelyitisanimportationfromtheEnglish，andnotaverygenteelone。"
　　"Ohcome，sir！"saidthelandlord，"wecandispensewithyourcriticisms。Aprettythingindeedforyou，onthestrengthofknowinghalf—a—dozenwordsofWelsh，tosetupforaWelshcriticinthehouseofapersonwhoknowstheancientBritishlanguageperfectly。"
　　"Dearme！"saidI，"howfortunateIam！apersonthoroughlyversedintheancientBritishlanguageiswhatIhavelongwishedtosee。
　　PraywhatisthemeaningofDarfelGatherel？"
　　"Ohsir！"saidthelandlord，"youmustanswerthatquestionyourself；Idon’tpretendtounderstandgibberish！"
　　"DarfelGatherel，"saidI，"isnotgibberish；itwasthenameofthegreatwoodenimageatTyDewi，orSaintDavid’s，inPembrokeshire，towhichthousandsofpilgrimsinthedaysofpoperyusedtorepairforthepurposeofadoringit，andwhichatthetimeoftheReformationwassentuptoLondonasacuriosity，whereiteventuallyservedasfirewoodtoburnthemonkForrestupon，whowassentencedtothestakebyHenrytheEighthfordenyinghissupremacy。WhatIwanttoknowis，themeaningofthename，whichIcouldnevergetexplained，butwhichyouwhoknowtheancientBritishlanguageperfectlycandoubtlessinterpret。"
　　"Oh，sir，"saidthelandlord，"whenIsaidIknewtheBritishlanguageperfectly，Iperhapswenttoofarthereare，ofcourse，someobsoletetermsintheBritishtongue，whichIdon’tunderstand。Dar，Dar—whatisit？DarmodCotterelamongsttherest；buttoageneralknowledgeoftheWelshlanguageIthinkI
　　maylaysomepretensions；wereInotwellacquaintedwithit，I
　　shouldnothavecarriedofftheprizeatvariouseisteddfodau，asI
　　havedone。Iamapoet，sir—aprydydd。"
　　"Itissingularenough，"saidI，"thattheonlytwoWelshpoetsI
　　haveseenhavebeeninnkeepers—oneisyourself，theotherapersonImetinAnglesey。IsupposetheMuseisfondofcwrwda。"
　　"Youwouldfainbepleasant，sir，"saidthelandlord；"butIbegleavetoinformyouthatIamnotfondofpleasantries；andnow，asmywifeandtheservantarereturned，Iwillhavethepleasureofconductingyoutotheparlour。"
　　"BeforeIgo，"saidI，"IshouldliketoseemyguideprovidedwithwhatIordered。"Istayedtilltheladwasaccommodatedwithbreadandcheeseandafoamingtankardofale，andthenbiddinghimfarewell，Ifollowedthelandlordintotheparlour，whereIfoundafirekindled，which，however，smokedexceedingly。IaskedmyhostwhatIcouldhaveforsupper，andwastoldthathedidnotknow，butthatifIwouldleavethemattertohimhewouldsendthebesthecould。Ashewasgoingaway，Isaid："Soyouareapoet？
　　Well，Iamverygladtohearit，forIhavebeenfondofWelshpoetryfrommyboyhood。Whatkindofversedoyouemployingeneral？Didyoueverwriteanawdlinthefour—and—twentymeasures？Whatarethethemesofyoursongs？ThedeedsoftheancientheroesofSouthWales，Isuppose，andthehospitalityofthegreatmenoftheneighbourhoodwhoreceiveyouasanhonouredguestattheirtables。I’llbetaguineathathowevercleverafellowyoumaybeyouneversanganythinginpraiseofyourlandlord’shousekeepingequaltowhatDafyddNanmorsanginpraiseofthatofRyceofTwynfourhundredyearsago：
　　’ForRyceifhundredthousandsplough’dThelandsaroundhisfairabode；
　　Didvinesofthousandvineyardsbleed，StillcornandwinegreatRycewouldneed；
　　Ifalltheearthhadbread’ssweetsavour，Andwaterallhadcyder’sflavour，ThreeroaringfeastsinRyce’shallWouldswallowearthandoceanall。’
　　Hey？"
　　"Really，sir，"saidthelandlord，"Idon’tknowhowtoreplytoyou，forthegreaterpartofyourdiscourseisutterlyunintelligibletome。PerhapsyouareabetterWelshmanthanmyself；buthoweverthatmaybe，Ishalltakethelibertyofretiringinordertogiveordersaboutyoursupper。"
　　Inabouthalf—an—hourthesuppermadeitsappearanceintheshapeofsomebaconandeggs。OntastingthemIfoundthemverygood，andcallingforsomealeImadeaverytolerablesupper。AfterthethingshadbeenremovedIdrewneartothefire，butasitstillsmoked，Isoonbetookmyselftothekitchen。Myguidehadtakenhisdeparture，buttheotherswhomIhadleftwerestillthere。
　　ThelandlordwastalkinginWelshtoamaninaroughgreat—coat，aboutsheep。SettinghimselfdownnearthefireIcalledforaglassofwhiskeyandwater，andthenobservingthatthelandlordandhisfriendhadsuddenlybecomesilent，Isaid："Praygoonwithyourdiscourse；don’tletmebeanyhindrancetoyou。"
　　"Yes，sir！"saidthelandlordsnappishly，"goonwithourdiscourseforyouredification，Isuppose？"
　　"Well，"saidI，"supposeitisformyedification；surelyyoudon’tgrudgeastrangeralittleedificationwhichwillcostyounothing？"
　　"Idon’tknowthat，sir，"saidthelandlord；"Idon’tknowthat。
　　Really，sir，thekitchenisnottheplaceforagentleman。"
　　"Yes，itis，"saidI，"providedtheparloursmokes。Come，come，I
　　amgoingtohaveaglassofwhiskeyandwater；perhapsyouwilltakeonewithme。"
　　"Well，sir！"saidthelandlord，inratherasoftenedtone，"Ihavenoobjectiontotakeaglasswithyou。"
　　Twoglassesofwhiskeyandwaterwerepresentlybrought，andthelandlordandIdranktoeachother’shealth。
　　"Isthisasheepdistrict？"saidI，afterapauseofaminuteortwo。
　　"Yes，sir，"saidthelandlord；"itmaytoacertainextentbecalledasheepdistrict。"
　　"IsupposetheSouthdownandNorfolkbreedswouldnotdoforthesehereparts，"saidI，witharegularNorfolkwhine。
　　"No，sir，Idon’tthinktheywouldexactly，"saidthelandlord，staringatme。"Doyouknowanythingaboutsheep？"
　　"Plenty，plenty，"saidI；"quiteasmuchindeedasaboutWelshwordsandpoetry。"Theninayetmorewhiningtonethanbefore，I
　　said："Doyouthinkthatabodywithmoneyinhispocketcouldhireanicecomfortablesheepfarmhereabouts？"
　　"Oh，sir！"saidthelandlordinafurioustone，"youhavecometolookoutforafarm，Isee，andtooutbiduspoorWelshmen：itisonthataccountyouhavestudiedWelsh；but，sir，Iwouldhaveyouknow—"
　　"Come！"saidI，"don’tbeafraid；Iwouldn’thaveallthefarmsinyourcountry，providedyouwouldtietheminastringandofferthemtome。IfItalkedaboutafarm，itwasbecauseIaminthehabitoftalkingabouteverything，beingversedinallmatters，doyousee，oraffectingtobeso，whichcomesmuchtothesamething。
　　MyrealbusinessinthisneighbourhoodistoseetheDevil’sBridgeandthesceneryaboutit。"
　　"Verygood，sir，"saidthelandlord；"Ithoughtsoatfirst。A
　　greatmanyEnglishgotoseetheDevil’sBridgeandthescenerynearit，thoughIreallydon’tknowwhy，forthereisnothingsoveryparticularineither。Wehaveabridgeheretoo，quiteasgoodastheDevil’sBridge；andasforscenery，I’llbackthesceneryaboutthishouseagainstanythingofthekindintheneighbourhoodoftheDevil’sBridge。YeteverybodygoestotheDevil’sBridgeandnobodycomeshere！"
　　"Youmighteasilybringeverybodyhere，"saidI，"ifyouwouldbutemployyourtalent。Youshouldcelebratethewondersofyourneighbourhoodincowydds，andyouwouldsoonhaveplentyofvisitors；butyoudon’twantthem，youknow，andprefertobewithoutthem。"
　　Thelandlordlookedatmeforamoment，thentakingsipofhiswhiskeyandwaterheturnedtothemanwithwhomhehadpreviouslybeentalkingandrecommencedthediscourseaboutsheep。Imakenodoubt，however，thatIwasarestraintuponthem；theyfrequentlyglancedatme，andsoonfelltowhispering。Atlastbothgotupandlefttheroom，thelandlordfinishinghisglassofwhiskeyandwaterbeforehewentaway。
　　"SoyouaregoingtotheDevil’sBridge，sir！"saidanelderlyman，dressedinagreycoat，withabroad—brimmedhat，whosatonthesettlesmokingapipeincompanywithanotherelderlymanwithaleatherhat，withwhomIhadheardhimdiscoursesometimesinWelsh，sometimesinEnglish，theWelshwhichhespokebeingratherbroken。
　　"Yes，"saidI，"Iamgoingtohaveasightofthebridgeandtheneighbouringscenery。"
　　"Well，sir，Idon’tthinkyouwillbedisappointed，forbotharewonderful。"
　　"AreyouaWelshman？"saidI。
　　"No，sir，Iamnot；IamanEnglishmanfromDurham，whichisthebestcountyinEngland。"
　　"Soitis，"saidI—"forsomethingsatanyrate。Forexample，wheredoyoufindsuchbeefasinDurham？"
　　"Ah，whereindeed，sir？IhavealwayssaidthatneithertheDevonshirenortheLincolnshirebeefistobenamedinthesamedaywiththatofDurham。"
　　"Well，"saidI，"whatbusinessdoyoufollowintheseparts？I
　　supposeyoufarm？"
　　"No，sir，Idonot；Iamwhattheycallaminingcaptain。"
　　"Isupposethatgentleman，"saidI，motioningtothemanintheleatherhat，"isnotfromDurham？"
　　"No，sir，heisnot；heisfromthisneighbourhood。"
　　"Anddoeshefollowmining？"
　　"No，sir，hedoesnot；hecarriesabouttheletters。"
　　"Isyourminenearthisplace？"
　　"Notvery，sir；itisnearertheDevil’sBridge。"
　　"WhyisthebridgecalledtheDevil’sBridge？"said"Because，sir，’tissaidthattheDevilbuiltitintheoldtime，thoughthatIcanhardlybelieve；fortheDevil，doyesee，delightsinnothingbutmischief，anditisnotlikelythatsuchbeingthecasehewouldhavebuiltathingwhichmusthavebeenofwonderfulservicetopeoplebyenablingthemtopassinsafetyoveradreadfulgulf。"
　　"Ihaveheard，"saidtheoldpostmanwiththeleatherhat，"thattheDevilhadnohandindeworkatall，butthatitwasbuiltbyaMynach，ormonk，onwhichaccountderiveroverwhichdebridgeisbuiltiscalledAfonyMynach—datisdeMonk’sRiver。"
　　"Didyoueverhear，"saidI，"ofthreecreatureswholivedalongtimeagoneartheDevil’sBridge，calledthePlantdeBat？"
　　"Ah，master！"saidtheoldpostman，"Idoseethatyouhavebeeninthesepartsbefore；hadyounot，youwouldnotknowofthePlantdeBat。"
　　"No，"saidI，"Ihaveneverbeenherebefore；butIheardofthemwhenIwasaboy，fromaCumrowhotaughtmeWelsh，andhadlivedforsometimeintheseparts。Well，whatdotheysayhereaboutthePlantdeBat？forhewhomentionedthemtomecouldgivemenofurtherinformationaboutthemthanthattheywerehorridcreatureswholivedinacaveneartheDevil’sBridgeseveralhundredyearsago。"
　　"Well，master，"saidtheoldpostman，thrustinghisforefingertwiceorthriceintothebowlofhispipe，"IwilltellyouwhattheysayshereaboutthePlantdeBat。Indeoldtime—two，threehundredyearago—amanlivedsomewhereaboutherecalledBatorBartholomew；thismanhadthreechildren，twoboysandonegirl，who，becausetheirfather’snamewasBat，weregenerallycalled’PlantdeBat，’orBat’schildren。Verywickedchildrentheywerefromtheircradle，givingtheirfatherandmothermuchtroubleanduneasiness；nogoodinanyoneofthem，neitherintheboysnorthegirl。Nowtheboys，oncewhentheywereramblingidlyabout，lightedbychanceuponacaveneartheDevil’sBridge。Verystrangecaveitwas，withjustonelittleholeattoptogoinby；
　　sotheboyssaidtooneanother：’Nicecavethisforthieftolivein。Supposewecomeherewhenwearealittlemorebigandturnthiefourselves。’Well，theywaitedtilltheywerealittlemorebig，andthenleavingtheirfather’shousetheycametodecaveandturnedthief，lyingsnugtherealldayandgoingoutatnighttorobupontheroads。Well，therewassoonmuchtalkinthecountryabouttherobberieswhichwerebeingcommitted，andpeopleoftenwentoutinsearchofdethieves，butallinvain；andnowonder，fortheywereinacaveveryhardtolightupon，having，asIsaidbefore，merelyonelittleholeattoptogoinby。So，Bat’sboyswentonswimminglyforalongtime，lyingsnugincavebydayandgoingoutatnighttorob，lettingnooneknowwheretheywerebuttheirsister，whowasasbadasthemselves，andusedtocometothemandbringthemfoodandstaywiththemforweeks，andsometimesgooutandrobwiththem。Butasdepitcherwhichgoesoftentodewellcomeshomebrokeatlast，soithappenedwithBat’schildren。Afterrobbingpeopleupontheroadsbynightmanyalongyearandneverbeingfoundout，theyatlastmetonegreatgentlemanupontheroadsbynightandnotonlyrobbed，butkilledhim，leavinghisbodyallcutandgashedneartoDevil’sBridge。
　　ThatjobwastheruinofPlantdeBat，forthegreatgentleman’sfriendsgatheredtogetherandhuntedafterhismurdererswithdogs，andatlengthcametothecave，andgoingin，founditstockedwithriches，andthePlantdeBatsittingupontheriches，notonlytheboysbutthegirlalso。SotheytookouttherichesandthePlantdeBat，andtherichestheydidgivetochurchesandspyttys，andthePlantdeBattheydidexecute，hangingtheboysandburningthegirl。That，master，iswhattheysaysindesepartsaboutthePlantdeBat。"
　　"Thankyou！"saidI。"Isthecaveyettobeseen？"
　　"Ohyes！itisyettobeseen，orpartofit，foritisnotnowwhatitwas，havingbeenpartlyflungopentohinderotherthievesfromnestlinginit。ItisonthebankoftheriverMynach，justbeforeitjoinstheRheidol。ManygentlefolkindesummergotoseethePlantdeBat’scave。"
　　"Areyousure，"saidI，"thatPlantdeBatmeansBat’schildren？"
　　"Iamnotsure，master；ImerelysayswhatIhaveheardotherpeoplesay。Ibelievesomesaysthatitmeans’thewickedchildren，’or’theDevil’schildren。’Andnow，master，wemayaswellhavedonewiththem，forshouldyouquestionmethroughthewholenight，IcouldtellyounothingmoreaboutthePlantdeBat。"
　　Afteralittlefurtherdiscourse，chieflyaboutsheepandtheweather，Iretiredtotheparlour，wherethefirewasnowburningbrightly；seatingmyselfbeforeit，Iremainedforaconsiderabletimestaringattheembersandthinkingovertheeventsoftheday。
　　AtlengthIrangthebellandbeggedtobeshowntomychamber，whereIsoonsanktosleep，lulledbythepatteringofrainagainstthewindowandthesoundofaneighbouringcascade。
　　CHAPTERLXXXIII
　　WildScenery—AwfulChasm—JohnGreaves—DurhamCounty—QueenPhilippa—TheTwoAldens—WelshWife—TheNoblestBusiness—TheWelshandtheSalve—TheLadJohn。
　　ARAINYandboisterousnightwassucceededbyabrightandbeautifulmorning。IaroseandhavingorderedbreakfastwentforthtoseewhatkindofcountryIhadgotinto。Ifoundmyselfamongstwild，strange—lookinghills，not，however，ofanyparticularheight。Thehouse，whichseemedtofronttheeast，stoodonthesideofahill，onawideplatformabuttingonadeepandawfulchasm，atthebottomofwhichchafedandfoamedtheRheidol。ThisriverentersthevalleyofPontErwydfromthenorth—west，thenmakesavarietyofsnake—liketurns，andatlastbearsawaytothesouth—eastjustbelowtheinn。Thebanksaresheerwalls，fromsixtytoahundredfeethigh，andthebedoftheriverhasalltheappearanceofavolcanicrent。Abrook，runningfromthesouthpasttheinn，tumblesintothechasmatanangle，andformsthecascadewhosesoundhadlulledmetosleeptheprecedingnight。
　　AfterbreakfastingIpaidmybill，andsetoutfortheDevil’sBridgewithoutseeinganythingmoreofthatremarkablepersonageinwhomwereunitedlandlord，farmer，poet，andmightyfinegentleman—themasterofthehouse。Isoonreachedthebottomofthevalley，whereareafewhousesandthebridgefromwhichtheplacetakesitsname，PontErwydsignifyingthebridgeofErwyd。AsI
　　waslookingoverthebridge，nearwhicharetwoorthreesmallwaterfalls，anelderlymaninagreycoat，followedbyayoungladanddog，camedowntheroadwhichIhadmyselfjustdescended。
　　"Goodday，sir，"saidhe，stopping，whenhecameuponthebridge。
　　"Isupposeyouareboundmyroad？"
　　"Ah，"saidI，recognisingtheoldminingcaptainwithwhomIhadtalkedinthekitchenthenightbefore，"isityou？Iamgladtoseeyou。Yes，Iamboundyourway，providedyouaregoingtotheDevil’sBridge。"
　　"Then，sir，wecangotogether，forIamboundtomymine，whichliesonlyalittlewayt’othersideoftheDevil’sBridge。"
　　CrossingthebridgeofErwyd，wedirectedourcoursetothesouth—
　　east。
　　"Whatyoungmanisthat，"saidI，"whoisfollowingbehindus？"
　　"Theyoungman，sir，ismysonJohn，andthedogwithhimishisdogJoe。"
　　"Andwhatmayyournamebe，ifImaytakethelibertyofasking？"
　　"Greaves，sir；JohnGreavesfromthecountyofDurham。"
　　"Ah！acapitalcountythat，"saidI。
　　"Youlikethecounty，sir？Godblessyou！John！"saidheinaloudvoice，turningtothelad，"whydon’tyouoffertocarrythegentleman’sknapsack？"
　　"Don’tlethimtroublehimself，"saidI。"AsIwasjustnowsaying，acapitalcountyisDurhamcounty。"
　　"Youreallyhadbetterlettheboycarryyourbag，sir。"
　　"No，"saidI，"Iwouldrathercarryitmyself。IquestionuponthewholewhetherthereisabettercountyinEngland。"
　　"IsitlongsinceyourhonourwasinDurhamcounty？"
　　"Agoodlongtime。Amatteroffortyyears。"
　　"Fortyyears！—whythat’sthelifeofaman。That’slongerthanI
　　havebeenoutofthecountymyself。Isupposeyourhonourcan’tremembermuchaboutthecounty。"
　　"Ohyes，Ican！Irememberagooddeal。"
　　"Please，yourhonour，tellmewhatyourememberaboutthecounty。
　　Itwoulddomegoodtohearit。"
　　"Well，Irememberitwasaveryfinecountyinmorerespectsthanone。Onepartofitwasfullofbighillsandmountains，wheretherewereminesofcoalandlead，withmightyworkswithtallchimneysspoutingoutblacksmoke，andenginesroaring，andbigwheelsgoinground，someturnedbysteam，andothersbywhattheycallforces，thatis，brooksofwaterdashingdownsteepchannels。
　　Anotherpartwasamorelevelcountry，withbeautifulwoods，happy—
　　lookingfarm—houseswell—filledfieldsandrich，gloriousmeadows，inwhichstoodstately，withbrownsidesandshorthorns，theDurhamox。"
　　"Ohdear，ohdear！"saidmycompanion。"Ah！IseeyourhonourknowseverythingaboutDurhamcounty。Forces？nonebutonewhohadbeeninDurhamcountywouldhaveusedthatword。Ihaven’thearditforfive—and—thirtyyears。Forces！therewasaforceclosetomyvillage。IwonderifyourhonourhaseverbeeninDurhamcity？"
　　"Ohyes！Ihavebeenthere。"
　　"DoesyourhonourrememberanythingaboutDurhamcity？"
　　"Ohyes！Irememberagooddealaboutit。"
　　"Then，yourhonour，praytelluswhatyourememberaboutit—praydoIperhapsitwilldomegood。"
　　"Wellthen，Irememberthatitwasafineoldcitystandingonahillwithariverrunningunderit，andthatithadafineoldchurch，oneofthefinestintheofBritain；likewiseafineoldcastle；andlast，notleast，acapitaloldinn，whereIgotacapitaldinneroffroastDurhambeef，andacapitalglassofale，whichIbelievewasthecause，ofmybeingeverafterfondofale。"
　　"Dearme！Ah，IseeyourhonourknowsallaboutDurhamcity。Andnowletmeaskonequestion。HowcameyourhonourtoDurham，cityandcounty？Idon’tthinkyourhonourisaDurhammaneitheroftownorfield。"
　　"Iamnot；butwhenIwasalittleboyIpassedthroughDurhamcountywithmymotherandbrothertoaplacecalledScotland。"
　　"Scotland！aqueercountrythat，yourhonour！"
　　"Soitis，"saidI；"aqueerercountryIneversawinallmylife。"
　　"Andaqueersetofpeople，yourhonour。"
　　"Sotheyare，"saidI；"aqueerersetofpeoplethantheScotchyouwouldscarcelyseeinasummer’sday。"
　　"TheDurhamfolks，neitheroftownorfield，havemuchreasontospeakwelloftheScotch，yourhonour。"
　　"Idaresaynot，"saidI；"veryfewpeoplehave。"
　　"AndyettheDurhamfolks，yourhonour，generallycontrivedtogivethemasgoodastheybrought。"
　　"Thattheydid，"saidI；"aprettylickingtheDurhamfolksoncegavetheScotsunderthewallsofDurhamcity，afterthescampshadbeenplunderingthecountryforthreeweeks—apreciouslickingtheygavethem，slayingIdon’tknowhowmanythousands，andtakingtheirkingprisoner。"
　　"Sotheydid，yourhonour，andunderthecommandofawomantoo。"
　　"Verytrue，"saidI；"QueenPhilippa。"
　　"Justso，yourhonour！TheideathatyourhonourshouldknowsomuchaboutDurham，bothfieldandtown！"
　　"Well，"saidI，"sinceIhavetoldyousomuchaboutDurham，perhapsyouwilltellmesomethingaboutyourself。Howdidyoucomehere？"
　　"Ihadbetterbeginfromthebeginning，yourhonour。IwasborninDurhamcountyclosebesidetheGreatForce，whichnodoubtyourhonourhasseen。Myfatherwasafarmer，andhadabitofashareinaminingconcern。Iwasbroughtupfrommychildhoodbothtofarmingandminingwork，butmosttomining，because，doyousee，I
　　tookmostpleasureinit，beingthemorenoblebusinessofthetwo。
　　ShortlyafterIhadcometoman’sestatemyfatherdied，leavingmeadecentlittleproperty，whereuponIforsookfarmingaltogetherandgavemyselfup，body，soul，andcapital，tomining，whichatlastIthoroughlyunderstandinallitsbranches。Well，yourhonour，aboutfive—and—thirtyyearsago—thatwaswhenIwasabouttwenty—eight—acrywentthroughthenorthcountrythatagreatdealofmoneymightbemadebyopeningWales，thatis，bymininginWalesintheproperfashion，whichmeansthenorthcountryfashion，forthereisnootherfashionofmininggoodformuch。TherehadlongbeenminesinWales，buttheyhadalwaysbeenworkedinapoor，weak，languidmanner，verydifferentfromthatofthenorthcountry。Soacompanywasformed，attheheadofwhichweretheAldens，GeorgeandThomas，foropeningWales，andtheypurchasedcertainminesinthesedistrictswhichtheyknewtobeproductive，andwhichmightbemadeyetmoreso，andsettlingdownherecalledthemselvestheRheidolUnited。Well，aftertheyhadbeenherealittletimetheyfoundthemselvesinwantofamantosuperintendtheirconcerns，aboveallinthesmeltingdepartment。Sotheythoughtofme，whowasknowntomostofthemininggentryinthenorthcountry，andtheymadeaproposaltomethroughGeorgeAlden，afterwardsSirGeorge，tocomehereandsuperintend。Isaidnoatfirst，forIdidn’tliketheideaofleavingDurhamcountytocometosuchanoutlandishplaceasWales；howsomeover，IatlastallowedmyselftobeoverpersuadedbyGeorgeAlden，afterwardsSirGeorge，andhereIcamewithmywifeandfamily—forImusttellyourhonourIhadmarriedarespectableyoungwomanofDurhamcounty，bywhomIhadtwolittleones—hereIcameanddidmybestfortheserviceoftheRheidolUnited。Thecompanywasterriblysettoitforalongtime，spendingamintofmoneyandgettingverypoorreturns。Tomycertainknowledge，thetwoAldens，GeorgeandTom，spentbetweenthemthirtythousandpounds。Thecompany，however，persevered，chieflyattheinstigationoftheAldens，whowereinthehabitofsaying，’Neversaydie！’andatlastgotthebetterofalltheirdifficultiesandrolledinriches，andhadthecreditofbeingthefirstcompanythateveropenedWales，whichtheyrichlydeserved，forIwillupholditthattheRheidolUnited，particularlytheAldens，GeorgeandThomas，werethefirstpeoplewhoreallyopenedWales。IntheirserviceIhavebeenforfive—
　　and—thirtyyears，anddaresayshallcontinuesotillIdie。Ihavebeentolerablycomfortable，yourhonour，thoughIhavehadmygriefs，thebitterestofwhichwasthedeathofmywife，whichhappenedabouteightyearsafterIcametothiscountry。IthoughtIshouldhavegonewildatfirst，yourhonour；having，however，alwaysplentytodo，Iatlastgotthebetterofmyaffliction。I