THE union of Ireland with Great Britain rendered it an object of paramount importance to facilitate and expedite communication between the capitals of both kingdoms. The shortness and security of the voyage between Holyhead and Howth at once suggested the advantage of improving the line of road through North Wales to Shrewsbury, and so on to the metropolis of the united kingdom. In the year 1810 a select committee was appointed by the House of Commons, to inquire into the best mode of accomplishing this desirable end, and, amongst the valuable improvements recommended by them, none have given so remarkable and so dignified a character to their proceedings, as the suggestion of throwing a suspension bridge across the Mænai, a deep and rapid strait, where delay always attended transmission, and danger not unfrequently. Amongst the many melancholy tales of disasters that befel passengers in crossing Porthaethwy, {3} two possess a lamentable notoriety, from the number of souls then hurried in an instant to a watery grave. On the 5th of August, 1820, the ferry boat was overturned, containing twenty-six passengers, of which number but one escaped with life; and thirty-seven years before an event of increased horror happened here in a similar way, when sixty-nine poor beings perished, _one_ only, as before, escaping. It is a singular fact that the name of the survivor in both instances was Hugh Williams. The Mænai, or “Narrow Water,” is about fifteen miles in length, its breadth varying from two miles to two hundred yards. Six ferry stations have been established on its banks since the reign of Henry the Eighth, who granted five of them to William Gifford. These stations passed subsequently into the possession of the Bulkeley family, and were afterwards dispersed amongst various owners. Porthaethwy, or Bangor Ferry, when the idea of constructing a bridge over the strait was first suggested, was found to be the property of Lady Erskine, from whom it was purchased at the expense of twenty-six thousand three hundred and ninety-four pounds, being thirty years purchase, according to an average of the annual receipts for a number of years preceding.