\"Idon’tunderstandWelsh，\"saidI；\"Idon’tunderstandWelsh。
That’swhatIcallagoodone。\"
\"MedrwchsiaradCumraeg？\"saidtheshortfigurespittingonthecarpet。
\"Medraf，\"saidI。
\"Youcan，Mr！Well，ifthatdon’twhiptheUnion。ButIsee：youwerebornintheStatesofWelshparents。\"
\"NoharminbeingbornintheStatesofWelshparents，\"saidI。
\"Noneatall，Mr；Iwasmyself，andthefirstlanguageIlearnttospeakwasWelsh。DidyourpeoplecomefromBala，Mr？\"
\"Whyno！Didyourn？\"
\"Whyyaas—atleastfromtheneighbourhood。WhatStatedoyoucomefrom？Virginny？\"
\"Whyno！\"
\"PerhapsPensilvanycountry？\"
\"PensilvanyisafineState，\"saidI。
\"Soitis，Mr。Oh，thatisyourState，isit？IcomefromVarmont。\"
\"Youdo，doyou？Well，Varmontisnotabadstate，butnotequaltoPensilvany，andI’lltellyoutworeasonswhy；firstithasnotbeensolongsettled，andsecondthereisnotsomuchWelshbloodinitasthereisinPensilvany。\"
\"IstheremuchWelshbloodinPensilvanythen？\"
\"Plenty，Mr，plenty。WelshflockedovertoPensilvanyevenasfarbackasthetimeofWilliamPen，whoasyouknow，Mr，wasthefirstfounderofthePensilvanyState。AndthatputsmeinmindthatthereisacuriousaccountextantoftheadventuresofoneoftheoldWelshsettlersinPensilvania。ItistobefoundinaletterinanoldWelshbook。Theletterisdated1705，andisfromoneHuwJones，bornofWelshparentsinPensilvanycountry，toacousinofhisofthesamenameresidingintheneighbourhoodofthisverytownofBalainMerionethshire，whereyouandI，Mr，noware。Itisinanswertocertaininquiriesmadebythecousin，andiswritteninpureoldWelshlanguage。Itgivesanaccountofhowthewriter’sfatherleftthisneighbourhoodtogotoPensilvania；howheembarkedonboardtheshipWILLIAMPEN；howhewasthirtyweeksonthevoyagefromtheThamestotheDelaware。Onlythink，Mr，ofashipnow—a—daysbeingthirtyweeksonthepassagefromtheThamestotheDelawareriver；howhelearnttheEnglishlanguageonthevoyage；howheandhiscompanionsnearlyperishedwithhungerinthewildwoodaftertheylanded；howPensilvaniacitywasbuilt；
howhebecameafarmerandmarriedaWelshwoman，thewidowofaWelshmanfromshireDenbigh，bywhomhehadthewriterandseveralotherchildren；howthefatherusedtotalktohischildrenabouthisnativeregionandtheplacesroundaboutBala，andfilltheirbreastswithlongingforthelandoftheirfathers；andfinallyhowtheoldmandiedleavinghischildrenandtheirmotherinprosperouscircumstances。Itisawonderfulletter，Mr，allwritteninthepureoldWelshlanguage。\"
\"Isay，Mr，youareacuteoneandknowathingortwo。IsupposeWelshwasthefirstlanguageyoulearnt，likemyself？\"
\"No，itwasn’t—Iliketospeakthetruth—nevertooktoeitherspeakingorreadingtheWelshlanguagetillIwaspastsixteen。\"
\"’Stonishing！butseetheforceofbloodatlast。Inanylineofbusiness？\"
\"No，Mr，can’tsayIam。\"
\"Havemoneyinyourpocket，andtravelforpleasure。Cometoseefather’sland。\"
\"CometoseeoldWales。Andwhatbringsyouhere，Hiraeth？\"
\"That’slonging。No，notexactly。CameovertoEnglandtoseewhatIcoulddo。GotinwithhouseatLiverpoolinthedraperybusiness。Travelforithereabouts，havingconnectionsandspeakingthelanguage。Dobranchbusinesshereforabanking—housebesides。Managetogetonsmartly。\"
\"Youlookasmart’un。Butdon’tyoufinditsometimeshardtocompetewithEnglishtravellersinthedraperyline？\"
\"Iguessnot。Englishtravellers！setofnat’rals。Don’tknowthelanguageandnothingelse。Couldwhipadozenanyday。Regularlyflummoxthem。\"
\"Youdo，Mr？Ah，Iseeyou’reacute’un。Gladtohavemetyou。\"
\"Isay，Mr，youhavenottoldmefromwhatcountyyourforefatherswere。\"
\"FromNorfolkandCornwallcounties。\"
\"Didn’tknowthereweresuchcountiesinWales。\"
\"ButthereareinEngland。\"
\"Why，youtoldmeyouwereofWelshparents。\"
\"No，Ididn’t。Youtoldyourselfso。\"
\"ButhowdidyoucometoknowWelsh？\"
\"Why，that’smybitofasecret。\"
\"ButyouareoftheUnitedStates？\"
\"Neverknewthatbefore。\"
\"Mr，youflummoxme。\"
\"JustasyoudotheEnglishdraperytravellers。Ah，you’reacute’un—butdoyouthinkitaltogetheracutetricktostowallthosesovereignsinthatdrawer？\"
\"Whoshouldtakethemout，Mr？\"
\"Whoshouldtakethemout？Why，anyoftheswellmobthatshouldchancetobeinthehousemightunlockthedrawerwiththeirflashkeysassoonasyourbackisturned，andtakeoutallthecoin。\"
\"Buttherearenoneoftheswellmobhere。\"
\"Howdoyouknow，that？\"saidI，\"theswellmobtravelwideabout—
howdoyouknowthatIamnotoneofthem？\"
\"Theswellmobdon’tspeakWelsh，Iguess。\"
\"Don’tbetoosureofthat，\"saidI—\"theswellcovessparenoexpensefortheireducation—sothattheymaybeabletoplaypartsaccordingtocircumstances。Istronglyadviseyou，Mr，toputthatbagsomewhereelselestsomethingshouldhappentoit。\"
\"Well，Mr，I’lltakeyouradvice。Thesearemyquarters，andIwasmerelygoingtokeepthemoneyhereforconvenience’sake。Themoneybelongstothebank，soitisbutrighttostowitawayinthebanksafe。Icertainlyshouldbelothtoleaveitherewithyouintheroom，afterwhatyouhavesaid。\"Hethengotup，unlockedthedrawer，tookoutthebag，andwitha\"Goodnight，Mr，\"
lefttheroom。
I\"trifled\"overmybrandyandwatertillIfinishedit，andthenwalkedforthtolookatthetown。Iturnedupastreet，whichledtotheeast，andsoonfoundmyselfbesidethelakeatthenorth—
westextremityofwhichBalastands。Itappearedaverynoblesheetofwaterstretchingfromnorthtosouthforseveralmiles。
As，however，nightwasfastcomingonIdidnotseeittoitsfulladvantage。AftergazinguponitforafewminutesIsaunteredbacktothesquare，ormarketplace，andleaningmybackagainstawall，listenedtotheconversationoftwoorthreegroupsofpeoplewhowerestandingnear，mymotivefordoingsobeingadesiretoknowwhatkindofWelshtheyspoke。TheirlanguageasfarasIhearditdifferedinscarcelyanyrespectfromthatofLlangollen。I，however，heardverylittleofit，forIhadscarcelykeptmystationaminutewhenthegoodfolksbecameuneasy，castside—
glancesatme，firstdroppedtheirconversationtowhispers，nextheldtheirtonguesaltogether，andfinallymovedoff，somegoingtotheirhomes，othersmovingtoadistanceandthengroupingtogether—evencertainraggedboyswhowereplayingandchatteringnearmebecameuneasy，firststoodstill，thenstaredatme，andthentookthemselvesoffandplayedandchatteredatadistance。Nowwhatwasthecauseofallthis？Why，suspicionoftheSaxon。TheWelshareafraidlestanEnglishmanshouldunderstandtheirlanguage，and，byhearingtheirconversation，becomeacquaintedwiththeirprivateaffairs，orbylisteningtoit，pickuptheirlanguagewhichtheyhavenomindthatheshouldknow—andtheirverychildrensympathisewiththem。Allconqueredpeoplearesuspiciousoftheirconquerors，TheEnglishhaveforgotthattheyeverconqueredtheWelsh，butsomeageswillelapsebeforetheWelshforgetthattheEnglishhaveconqueredthem。
CHAPTERL
TheBreakfast—TheTomenBala—ElPuntodelaVana。
ISLEPTsoundlythatnight，aswellImight，mybedbeinggoodandmybodyweary。Iaroseaboutnine，dressedandwentdowntotheparlourwhichwasvacant。Irangthebell，andonTomJenkinsmakinghisappearanceIorderedbreakfast，andthenaskedfortheWelshAmerican，andlearnedthathehadbreakfastedveryearlyandhadsetoutinagigonajourneytosomedistance。InabouttwentyminutesafterIhadordereditmybreakfastmadeitsappearance。Anoblebreakfastitwas；suchindeedasImighthavereadof，buthadneverbeforeseen。Therewasteaandcoffee，agoodlywhiteloafandbutter；therewereacoupleofeggsandtwomuttonchops。Therewasbroiledandpickledsalmon—therewasfriedtrout—therewerealsopottedtroutandpottedshrimps。
Mercyuponme！Ihadneverpreviouslyseensuchabreakfastsetbeforeme，norindeedhaveIsubsequently。Yes，Ihavesubsequently，andatthatveryhousewhenIvisiteditsomemonthsafter。
AfterbreakfastIcalledforthebill。Iforgettheexactamountofthebill，butrememberthatitwasverymoderate。IpaiditandgavethenobleThomasashilling，whichhereceivedwithabowandtrulyFrenchsmile，thatisagrimace。WhenIdepartedthelandlordandlandlady，highlyrespectable—lookingelderlypeople，werestandingatthedoor，oneoneachside，anddismissedmewithsuitablehonour，hewithalowbow，shewithaprofoundcurtsey。
Havingseenlittleofthetownontheprecedingevening，I
determinedbeforesettingoutforLlangollentobecomebetteracquaintedwithit，andaccordinglytookanotherstrollaboutit。
Balaisatowncontainingthreeorfourthousandinhabitants，situatednearthenorthernendofanoblongvalley，atleasttwo—
thirdsofwhichareoccupiedbyLlynTegid。Ithastwolongstreets，extendingfromnorthtosouth，afewnarrowcrossones，anancientchurch，partlyovergrownwithivy，withaverypointedsteeple，andatown—hallofsomeantiquity，inwhichWelshinterludesusedtobeperformed。Aftergratifyingmycuriositywithrespecttothetown，Ivisitedthemound—thewondrousTomenBala。
TheTomenBalastandsatthenorthernendofthetown。Itisapparentlyformedofclay，issteepandofdifficultascent。Inheightitisaboutthirtyfeet，andindiameteratthetopaboutfifty。Onthetopgrowsagwernoralder—tree，aboutafootthick，itsbarkterriblyscotchedwithlettersanduncouthcharacters，carvedbytheidlersofthetownwhoarefondofresortingtothetopofthemoundinfineweather，andlyingdownonthegrasswhichcoversit。TheTomenisaboutthesamesizeasGlendower’sMountontheDee，whichitmuchresemblesinshape。Bothbelongtothatbrotherhoodofartificialmoundsofunknownantiquity，foundscattered，hereandthere，throughoutEuropeandthegreaterpartofAsia，themostremarkablespecimenofwhichis，perhaps，thatwhichstandsontherightsideofthewayfromAdrianopletoStamboul，andwhichiscalledbytheTurksMouradTepehsi，orthetombofMourad。Whichmoundsseemtohavebeenoriginallyintendedasplacesofsepulture，butinmanyinstanceswereafterwardsusedasstrongholds，bonhillsorbeacon—heights，orasplacesonwhichadorationwaspaidtothehostofheaven。
FromtheTomenthereisanobleviewoftheBalavalley，theLakeofBeautyuptoitssouthernextremity，andtheneighbouringanddistantmountains。OfBala，itslakeandTomen，Ishallhavesomethingtosayonafutureoccasion。
LeavingBalaIpassedthroughthevillageofLlanfairandfoundmyselfbytheDee，whosecourseIfollowedforsomeway。ComingtothenorthernextremityoftheBalavalley，Ienteredapasstendingduenorth。Heretheroadslightlydivergedfromtheriver。Ispedalong，delightedwiththebeautyofthescenery。Onmyleftwasahighbankcoveredwithtrees，onmyrightagrove，throughopeningsinwhichIoccasionallycaughtglimpsesoftheriver，overwhosefarthersidetowerednoblehills。Anhour’swalkingbroughtmeintoacomparativelyopencountry，fruitfulandcharming。Ataboutoneo’clockIreachedalargevillage，thenameofwhich，likethoseofmostWelshvillages，beganwithLlan。ThereIrefreshedmyselfforanhourortwoinanold—fashionedinn，andthenresumedmyjourney。
IpassedthroughCorwen；againvisitedGlendower’smonticleupontheDee，andreachedLlangollenshortlyaftersunset，whereIfoundmybelovedtwowellandgladtoseeme。
Thatnight，aftertea，Henriettaplayedontheguitartheoldmuleteertuneof\"ElPuntodelaVana，\"orthemainpointattheHavanna，whilstIsangthewords—
\"Nevertrustthesamplewhenyougoyourclothtobuy：
Thewoman’smostdeceitfulthat’sdressedmostdaintily。
ThelassesofHavannaridetomassincoachesyellow，Buteretheygotheyaskifthepriest’sahandsomefellow。
ThelassesofHavannaasmulberriesaredark，AndtrytomakethemfairerbytakingJesuit’sbark。\"
CHAPTERLI
TheLadiesofLlangollen—SirAlured—Eisteddfodau—PleasureandCare。
SHORTLYaftermyreturnIpaidavisittomyfriendsattheVicarage，whowererejoicedtoseemeback，andweremuchentertainedwiththeaccountIgaveofmytravels。InextwenttovisittheoldchurchclerkofwhomIhadsomuchtosayonaformeroccasion。Afterhavingtoldhimsomeparticularsofmyexpedition，toallofwhichhelistenedwithgreatattention，especiallytothatpartwhichrelatedtothechurchofPenmynyddandthetomboftheTudors，IgothimtotalkabouttheladiesofLlangollen，ofwhomIknewverylittlesavewhatIhadheardfromgeneralreport。
IfoundherememberedtheirfirstcomingtoLlangollen，theirlivinginlodgings，theirpurchasingthegroundcalledPenymaes，andtheirerectinguponitthemansiontowhichthenameofPlasNewyddwasgiven。Hesaidtheywereveryeccentric，butgoodandkind，andhadalwaysshownmostparticularfavourtohimself；thatbothwerehighlyconnected，especiallyLadyEleanorButler，whowasconnectedbybloodwiththegreatDukeofOrmondwhocommandedthearmiesofCharlesinIrelandinthetimeofthegreatrebellion，andalsowiththeDukeofOrmondwhosucceededMarlboroughinthecommandofthearmiesintheLowCountriesinthetimeofQueenAnne，andwhofledtoFranceshortlyaftertheaccessionofGeorgetheFirsttothethrone，onaccountofbeingimplicatedinthetreasonofHarleyandBolingbroke；andthatherladyshipwasparticularlyfondoftalkingofboththesedukes，andrelatinganecdotesconcerningthem。HesaidthattheladieswereinthehabitofreceivingtheveryfirstpeopleinBritain，\"amongstwhom，\"saidtheoldchurchclerk，\"wasanancientgentlemanofmostengagingappearanceandcaptivatingmanners，calledSirAluredC—。
Hewasinthearmy，andinhisyouth，owingtothebeautyofhisperson，wascalled，’thehandsomecaptain。’Itwassaidthatoneoftheroyalprincesseswasdesperatelyinlovewithhim，andthatonthataccountGeorgetheThirdinsistedonhisgoingtoIndia。
Whetherornottherewastruthinthereport，toIndiahewent，whereheservedwithdistinctionforagreatmanyyears。Onhisreturn，whichwasnottillhewasupwardsofeighty，hewasreceivedwithgreatfavourbyWilliamtheFourth，whoamongstotherthingsmadehimafield—marshal。AsoftenasOctobercamerounddidthisinterestingandvenerablegentlemanmakehisappearanceatLlangollentopayhisrespectstotheladies，especiallytoLadyEleanor，whomhehadknownatCourtasfarbacktheysayastheAmericanwar。ItwasrumouredatLlangollenthatLadyEleanor’sdeathwasagrievousblowtoSirAlured，andthathewouldneverbeseenthereagain。However，whenOctobercameroundhemadehisappearanceattheVicarage，wherehehadalwaysbeeninthehabitoftakinguphisquarters，andcalledonanddinedwithMissPonsonbyatPlasNewydd，butitwasobservedthathewasnotsogayashehadformerlybeen。Intheevening，onhistakingleaveofMissPonsonby，shesaidthathehadusedherill。SirAluredcoloured，andaskedherwhatshemeant，addingthathehadnottohisknowledgeusedanypersonillinthecourseofhislife。’ButIsayyouhaveusedmeill，veryill，’saidMissPonsonby，raisinghervoice，andthewords’veryill’sherepeatedseveraltimes。Atlasttheoldsoldierwaxingratherwarmdemandedanexplanation。
’I’llgiveityou，’saidMissPonsonby；’wereyounotgoingawayafterhavingonlykissedmyhand？’’Oh，’saidthegeneral，’ifthatismyoffence，Iwillsoonmakeyoureparation，’andinstantlygaveheraheartysmackonthelips，whichceremonyheneverforgottorepeatafterdiningwithheronsubsequentoccasions。\"
Wegotonthesubjectofbards，andImentionedtohimGruffyddHiraethog，theoldpoetburiedinthechancelofLlangollenchurch。
Theoldclerkwasnotawarethathewasburiedthere，andsaidthatthoughhehadheardofhimheknewlittleornothingabouthim。
\"Wherewasheborn？\"saidhe。
\"InDenbighshire，\"Ireplied，\"nearthemountainHiraethog，fromwhichcircumstancehecalledhimselfinpoetryGruffyddHiraethog。\"
\"Whendidheflourish？\"
\"Aboutthemiddleofthesixteenthcentury。\"
\"Whatdidhewrite？\"
\"Agreatmanydidacticpieces，\"saidIinoneofwhichisafamouscouplettothiseffect：
\"HewhosatirelovestosingOnhimselfwillsatirebring。\"
\"DidyoueverhearofWilliamLleyn？\"saidtheoldgentleman。
\"Yes，\"saidI；\"hewasapupilofHiraethog，andwroteanelegyonhisdeath，inwhichhealludestoGruffydd’sskillinanoldWelshmetre，calledtheCrossConsonancy，inthefollowingmanner：
’\"InEden’sgrovefromAdam’smouthUpsprangamuseofnoblegrowth；
Sofromthygrave，Opoetwise，CrossConsonancy’sboughsshallrise。’\"
\"Really，\"saidtheoldclerk，\"youseemtoknowsomethingaboutWelshpoetry。ButwhatismeantbyamusespringingupfromAdam’smouthinEden？\"
\"Why，Isuppose，\"saidI，\"thatAdaminventedpoetry。\"
Imadeinquiriesofhimabouttheeisteddfodauorsessionsofbards，andexpressedawishtobepresentatoneofthem。Hesaidthattheywereveryinteresting；thatbardsmetatparticularperiodsandrecitedpoemsonvarioussubjectswhichhadbeengivenoutbeforehand，andthatprizeswereallottedtothosewhosecompositionsweredeemedthebestbythejudges。HesaidthathehadhimselfwontheprizeforthebestenglynonaparticularsubjectataneisteddfodatwhichSirWatkinWilliamsWynnpresided，andatwhichHeber，afterwardsBishopofCalcutta，waspresent，whoappearedtounderstandWelshwell，andwhotookmuchinterestintheproceedingsofthemeeting。
OurdiscourseturningonthelatterWelshpoetsIaskedhimifhehadbeenacquaintedwithJonathanHughes，whothereaderwillrememberwasthepersonwhosegrandsonImetandinwhosearm—chairIsatatTyynypistyll，shortlyaftermycomingtoLlangollen。
Hesaidthathehadbeenwellacquaintedwithhim，andhadhelpedtocarryhimtothegrave，adding，thathewassomethingofapoet，butthathehadalwaysconsideredhisfortelayinstronggoodsenseratherthanpoetry。ImentionedThomasEdwards，whosepictureIhadseeninValleCrucisAbbey。Hesaidthatheknewhimtolerablywell，andthatthelasttimehesawhimwaswhenhe，Edwards，wasaboutseventyyearsofage，whenhesenthiminacarttothehouseofagreatgentlemanneartheaqueductwherehewasgoingtostayonavisit。ThatTomwasaboutfivefeeteightincheshigh，lusty，andverystronglybuilt；thathehadsomethingthematterwithhisrighteye；thathewasverysatiricalandveryclever；thathiswifewasaverycleverwomanandsatirical；histwodaughtersbothcleverandsatirical，andhisservant—maidremarkablysatiricalandclever，andthatitwasimpossibletolivewithTwmO’rNantwithoutlearningtobecleverandsatirical；thathealwaysappearedtobeoccupiedwithsomething，andthathehadheardhimsaytherewassomethinginhimthatwouldneverlethimbeidle；thathewouldwalkfifteenmilestoaplacewherehewastoplayaninterlude，andthatassoonashegottherehewouldbeginplayingitatonce，howevertiredhemightbe。TheoldgentlemanconcludedbysayingthathehadneverreadtheworksofTwmO’rNant，buthehadheardthathisbestpiecewastheinterludecalled\"PleasureandCare。\"
CHAPTERLII
TheTreacheryoftheLongKnives—TheNorthBriton—TheWoundedButcher—ThePrisoner。
ONthetenthofSeptemberourlittletownwasflungintosomeconfusionbyonebutcherhavingattemptedtocutthethroatofanother。ThedelinquentwasaWelshman，whoitwassaidhadforsometimepastbeensomewhatoutofhismind；theotherpartywasanEnglishman，whoescapedwithoutfurtherinjurythanadeepgashinthecheek。TheWelshmanmightbemad，butitappearedtomethattherewassomemethodinhismadness。Hetriedtocutthethroatofabutcher：didn’tthislooklikewishingtoputarivaloutoftheway？andthatbutcheranEnglishman：didn’tthislooklikewishingtopaybackupontheSaxonwhattheWelshcallbradwriaethycyllyllhirion，thetreacheryofthelongknives？SoreasonedItomyself。Buthereperhapsthereaderwillaskwhatismeantby\"thetreacheryofthelongknives？\"whetherhedoesornotIwilltellhim。
HengistwishingtobecomeparamountinSouthernBritainthoughtthattheeasiestwaytoaccomplishhiswishwouldbebydestroyingtheSouthBritishchieftains。Notbelievingthatheshouldbeabletomakeawaywiththembyopenforcehedeterminedtoseewhathecoulddobytreachery。AccordinglyheinvitedthechieftainstoabanquettobeheldnearStonehenge，ortheHangingStones，onSalisburyPlains。Theunsuspectingchieftainsacceptedtheinvitation，andontheappointeddayrepairedtothebanquet，whichwasheldinahugetent。Hengistreceivedthemwithasmilingcountenanceandeveryappearanceofhospitality，andcausedthemtositdowntotable，placingbythesideofeveryBritononeofhisownpeople。Thebanquetcommenced，andallseeminglywasmirthandhilarity。NowHengisthadcommandedhispeoplethatwhenheshouldgetupandcry\"nemeteouresaxes，\"thatis，takeyourknives，eachSaxonshoulddrawhislongsax，orknife，whichheworeathisside，andshouldplungeitintothethroatofhisneighbour。Thebanquetwenton，andinthemidstofit，whentheunsuspectingBritonswererevellingonthegoodcheerwhichhadbeenprovidedforthem，andhalf—drunkenwiththemeadandbeerwhichflowedintorrents，uproseHengist，andwithavoiceofthunderutteredthefatalwords\"nemeteouresaxes：\"thecrywasobeyed，eachSaxongraspedhisknifeandstruckwithitatthethroatofhisdefencelessneighbour。Almosteveryblowtookeffect；onlythreeBritishchieftainsescapingfromthebanquetofblood。ThisinfernalcarnagetheWelshhaveappropriatelydenominatedthetreacheryofthelongknives。ItwillbeaswelltoobservethattheSaxonsderivedtheirnamefromthesaxes，orlongknives，whichtheyworeattheirsides，andattheuseofwhichtheywereterriblyproficient。
TwoorthreedaysaftertheattemptatmurderatLlangollen，hearingthattheWelshbutcherwasabouttobebroughtbeforethemagistrates，Ideterminedtomakeanefforttobepresentattheexamination。AccordinglyIwenttothepolicestationandinquiredofthesuperintendentwhetherIcouldbepermittedtoattend。HewasaNorthBriton，asIhavestatedsomewherebefore，andIhadscrapedacquaintancewithhim，andhadgotsomewhatintohisgoodgracesbypraisingDumfries，hisnativeplace，anddescantingtohimuponthebeautiesofthepoetryofhiscelebratedcountryman，myoldfriend，AllanCunningham，someofwhoseworkshehadperused，andwithwhomashesaid，hehadoncethehonourofshakinghands。Inreplytomyquestionhetoldmethatitwasdoubtfulwhetheranyexaminationwouldtakeplace，asthewoundedmanwasinaveryweakstate，butthatifIwouldreturninhalf—
an—hourhewouldletmeknow。Iwentaway，andattheendofthehalf—hourreturned，whenhetoldmethattherewouldbenopublicexamination，owingtotheextremedebilityofthewoundedman，butthatoneofthemagistrateswasabouttoproceedtohishouseandtakehisdepositioninthepresenceofthecriminalandalsoofthewitnessesofthedeed，andthatifIpleasedImightgoalongwithhim，andhehadnodoubtthatthemagistratewouldhavenoobjectiontomybeingpresent。Wesetouttogether；asweweregoingalongIquestionedhimaboutthestateofthecountry，andgatheredfromhimthattherewasoccasionallyagooddealofcrimeinWales。
\"AretheWelshaclannishpeople？\"Idemanded。
\"Very，\"saidhe。
\"AsclannishastheHighlanders？\"saidI。
\"Yes，\"saidhe，\"andagooddealmore。\"
Wecametothehouseofthewoundedbutcher，whichwassomewayoutofthetowninthenorth—westernsuburb。Themagistratewasinthelowerapartmentwiththeclerk，oneortwoofficials，andthesurgeonofthetown。Hewasagentlemanofabouttwoorthreeandforty，withamilitaryairandlargemoustaches，forbesidesbeingajusticeofthepeaceandalandedproprietor，hewasanofficerinthearmy。HemademeapolitebowwhenIentered，andI
requestedofhimpermissiontobepresentattheexamination。Hehesitatedamomentandthenaskedmemymotiveforwishingtobepresentatit。
\"Merelycuriosity，\"saidI。
Hethenobservedthatastheexaminationwouldbeaprivateone，mybeingpermittedornotwasquiteoptional。
\"Iamawareofthat，\"saidI，\"andifyouthinkmyremainingisobjectionableIwillforthwithretire。\"Helookedattheclerk，whosaidtherecouldbenoobjectiontomystaying，andturningroundtohissuperiorsaidsomethingtohimwhichIdidnothear，whereuponthemagistrateagainbowedandsaidthatheshouldheveryhappytograntmyrequest。
Wewentupstairsandfoundthewoundedmaninbedwithabandageroundhisforehead，andhiswifesittingbyhisbedside。Themagistrateandhisofficialstooktheirseats，andIwasaccommodatedwithachair。Presentlytheprisonerwasintroducedunderthechargeofapoliceman。Hewasafellowsomewhatabovethirty，ofthemiddlesize，andworeadirtywhitefrockcoat；hisrightarmwaspartlyconfinedbyamanacle。Ayounggirlwassworn，whodeposedthatshesawtheprisonerrunaftertheotherwithsomethinginhishand。Thewoundedmanwasthenaskedwhetherhethoughthewasabletomakeadeposition；herepliedinaveryfeebletonethathethoughthewas，andafterbeingsworndeposedthatontheprecedingSaturday，ashewasgoingtohisstall，theprisonercameuptohimandaskedwhetherhehadeverdonehimanyinjury？hesaidno。\"Ithen，\"saidhe，\"observedtheprisoner’scountenanceundergoachange，andsawhimputhishandtohiswaistcoat—pocketandpulloutaknife。Istraightbecamefrightened，andranawayasfastasIcould；theprisonerfollowed，andovertakingme，stabbedmeintheface。Iranintotheyardofapublic—houseandintotheshopofanacquaintance，whereIfelldown，thebloodspoutingoutofmywound。\"Suchwasthedepositionofthewoundedbutcher。Hewasthenaskedwhethertherehadbeenanyquarrelbetweenhimandtheprisoner？Hesaidtherehadbeennoquarrel，butthathehadrefusedtodrinkwiththeprisonerwhenherequestedhim，whichhehaddoneveryfrequently，andhadmorethanoncetoldhimthathedidnotwishforhisacquaintance。Theprisoner，onbeingasked，aftertheusualcaution，whetherhehadanythingtosay，saidthathemerelywishedtomarkthemanbutnottokillhim。Thesurgeonoftheplacedeposedtothenatureofthewound，andonbeingaskedhisopinionwithrespecttothestateoftheprisoner’smind，saidthathebelievedthathemightbelabouringunderadelusion。Aftertheprisoner’sbloodyweaponandcoathadbeenproducedhewascommitted。