I stopped and entered into conversation with one, who appeared to be the principal man.
He told me amongst other things that he was a blacksmith from the neighbourhood of Rhiwabon, and that the flags were intended for the flooring of his premises.

In the boat was an old bareheaded, bare-armed fellow, who presently joined in the conversation in very broken English.
He told me that his name was Joseph Hughes, and that he was a real Welshman and was proud of being so; he expressed a great dislike for the English, who he said were in the habit of making fun of him and ridiculing his language; he said that all the fools that he had known were Englishmen.

I told him that all Englishmen were not fools; "but the greater part are," said he.

"Look how they work," said I.

"Yes," said he, "some of them are good at breaking stones for the road, but not more than one in a hundred." "There seems to be something of the old Celtic hatred to the Saxon in this old fellow," said I to myself, as I walked away.
I proceeded till I came to the head of the canal, where the navigation first commences.