MERIONETHSHIRE, a maritime county in North Wales, is bounded on the north by Caernarvonshire and Denbighshire ; it is divided in part from the former coun ty by an immense ravine, through which flows a small river; on the east by Denbighshire and Montgomeryshire; the division of it from the latter county is partly formed by one of the most celebrated passes in Wales, called the Stoney Mile; on the west it is bounded by the Irish Sea ; and on the south by Cardiganshire, from which it is divided by the river Hovey. Its form is nearly that of a triangle, the apex of which is to the south. Its length, from the vicinity of Snowdon to the confines of Montgomeryshire, is 43 miles, and from Harlech to the boundary of Llangollen parish, it is about 38 miles broad. Its circumference is about 154 miles, and its area 691 square miles, or 442,240 acres. It is divi ded into 5 hundreds, and contains one county town, Harlech; the other towns are Dolgelly, Bala, and Bur mouth. The surface of the county, though on the whole very mountainous, is a good deal varied, as there are some lower hills, and beautiful and fertile valleys, in terspersed with woods, lakes, rivers and cataracts. These circumstances, together with the grandeur of its sea views, render it one of the most romantic and pic turesque of the Welsh counties. Some of the principal mountains and vales deserve a short notice. At the north-eastern angle of the county is a long chain of mountains which branches into Denbighshire and Mont gomeryshire ; they are called the Ferergn Mountains ; their northern bcundery is the Dee, and their southern the Tannad ; their length from north to south is about 16 miles, and their breadth varies from 5 to 10. There are no lakes in these mountains, and no river of conse quence flows from them. The fine vale of the Dee lies below them. The other most celebrated mountains are Cader Idris and the two Arrans. Cader Idris is the beginning of a chain of mountains which, beginning near the sea, about a mile above Towyn, extends in a north and north-easterly direction, and includes the Arrans. It is in height the second in all Wales. Its
peak rises above the town of Dolgelly about 2,850 feet. It is very steep and craggy on every side, and nearly peipendicular on its southern, on the border's of Ta lyllyn lake. The breadth of this chain in no part ex ceeds 4i miles, and in some parts it is a mere ridge. The loftiest of the Arrans is said to be only 120 feet be low Cader Idris. Beyond this mountain, towards the sea, are round smooth hills, which form a rich and ex cellent sheep walk, and then meadows and bogs. To the north of Dolgelly there is a mountainous tract, con taining several lakes ; this tract extends to the north part of the county, which is celebrated for the beautiful vale of Festiniog This vale is scarcely 3 miles long, and not one in breadth. There are few vales which af ford such delightful prospects ; the hills which bound it arc covered with oaks, and a small and beautiful ri ver flows in a serpentine course through it, in the midst of rich cultivated fields. Near the vale are the falls of the Cynfaol : the upper consists of three steep rocks, over which the water falls into a black bason, which is overshadowed by other rocks ; the other is formed by a broad sheet of water precipitated about forty feet. The principal lalte in this county, and indeed the largest lake in all \Vales, is Pemblemoer or Bala Pool, on the banks of which stands the town of Baia ; from narth-east to south-west it is 4 miles long ; its greatest breadth is 1,200 yards. Its water is said to be so pure that the most delicate taste cannot detect any admix ture. The scenery around it is mountainous, but not grand or picturesque. In stormy weather its waters are raised 8 or 9 feet, covering. the adjoining vale, and sometimes threatening destruction to the town of Bala. The river Dee flows through this lake. There are several other lakes of smaller size, some of which are remarkable for the beauty of the surrounding scenery.