The Demetian Mirror

ABERGAVENNY CYMREIGYDDION. The Festival of this year, which was held on Wed- nesday and Thursday, the 17th and 18th inst., ex- ceeded the most sanguine expectations, and al most equalled the fondest hopes. Great as was the con- course of wealth, rank, and beauty, which attended on former occasions, yet the array which graced the Pavilion on Wednesday and Thursday outstripped them by far. On Tuesday night there was a meeting of the Bards and Harpers at the Sun Inn, as usual. On Wednesday morning the President, John Rolls, Esq., of the Hendre, was met by a procession, who received him with loud cheers. An address was read to the President in Welsh and English, and he having briefly replied, the procession returned. After the distribution of prizes on the first day, the Secretary of the Cymreigyddion, leuan ab Gruffydd, addressed the Bishop of St. David's in a Welsh speech, which elicited loud applause from the Cambrian portion of the assembly. His lordship in his reply stated that in the station which he occupied, he knew it was an important and sacred duty to possess that for which he cherished an earnest desire, the key which alone could unlock the treasures of Ancient Welsh Litera- ture.-On the second day, Thursday, a silver ink- stand, value ten guineas, a prize by a Cardiganshire gentleman, was awarded to Mr. Thomas Stephens, of Merthyr—" For the best account of places in Cardi- ganshire, to which tales or legends are attached, or whose names indicate their having been scenes of any remarkable incidents." We shall look forward with pleasure to the publication of this work of Mr. Ste- phens, to whom this very handsome prize was awarded. The most important prize, however, was one of Eighty guineas, consisting of a gold Seal ring, value £10 10s., and a premium oft73 10s., for the best essay on the influence which the Welsh Tradi- tions have had on the literature of Germany, France, and Scandinavia. Chevalier Bunsen forwarded to the President his judgment on three compositions which had been sent in; and it appeared that his de- rision was in favour of an essay in the German lan- guage, but the author's name had not come to hand. The prize was in the meantime placed in the care of the Bishop of St. David's. Mr. William Jones, of Machen, received two prizes,—one for the best speci- men of Welsh woollen, the merit being determined entirely by the brilliancy of the colours; and the other with reference to texture. The Rev. Mostyn Pryce having been called upon, said,- Ladies and Gentlemen, I have this moment been requested to announce to you that a Lady present proposes to offer a prize at the next Eisteddfod for the best essay on a subject connected with the northern part of the principality. I really wish that the announcement had been confided to some on more competent to the task. I have hitherto (to my shame I confess it,) attended but little to matte s connected with the literature of my country. I do hope however that the laudable enthusiasm I have this day witnessed, mav kindle in me a kindred spark and that I may henceforward (so far as my humble abilities may be available,) exert my every effort to the encouragement and support of those measures, which it is the object of the present meeting to carry out. I have indeed always admired such an employ- ment of talent unpossessed of any pretensions to it myself, I have admired it the more in others I have admired such an application of it not only as useful and honourable in itself, but as leading the thoughts to a more refined and sublimer enjoyment. I have at a humble distance, gazed upon its radiant light with the same reverential feeling with which I gaze upon- The star- The gentle star-that smiles at even, That melts into my heart from far, And leads my wandering thoughts to heaven." As it appears I am the only member of North Wales at this moment present, I must be excused if I take this opportunity of saying a few words in behalf of that portion of the principality; too true it is, that in com- parison with the exertions made in this part of it to promote meetings such as the present, we may be ac- cused of want of energy. Let me assure you, we are not deficient in patriotic ardour, and the love of all that tends to the welfare and glory of our Country. Although we have no Lady Charlotte Guest, or Lady Hall, amongst us, who, by the devotion of their lofty energies and splendid attainments to this good cause give to their rank a more exalted dignity,—to talent a higher place,—and render female loveliness more lovely still; yet we have souls to appreciate, and hearts to admire such excellence and I will venture to as- se rt that there is not a spot, not in the remotest cor- ner of North Wales, where these distinguished ladies have not been heard of, admired, and adored for the bright halo they have spread round Cambria's fame, and the adornment her literature has received from the exercise of their talents and their zeal. And I must be permitted to add that our attachment to our native land,—her language, her literature, her glory and greatness, is fostered as warmly as it is cherished here, and rests upon a foundation firm and unshaken as the rocks on which her own dear mountains stand. I have now to announce to you that Lady Ed- wards has offered a Medal of the value of ten gui- neas for the best account, produced at the next Eis- teddfod, of the County of Montgomery, similar to those which have been already proposed for the Coun- ties of Glamorgan, Monmouth, &c., by Sir B. Hall, Sir T. Phillips, and Mr. Vivian." On the morning of Friday a Gorscdd was held at the Pavilion, where three Bards and several Ovates were ordained by Taliesin ab Iolo, Bard and Druid. The following visitors were staying at Llanover during the week :—Bishop of St. David's; Lord Wil- liam Somerset and lady; Sir John and Lady Ed- wards, Greenfields, Machynlleth; Colonel and Mrs. Scudamore; Sir Thomas Phillips, and two daughters, Middle Hall, Worcestershire; the Misses Shirley; Miss Catleys Mrs. Greenfield; Mrs. and Miss Craw- ford Mr. and Mrs. Rolls, of the Hendre. Mail Coach Aecident.-On Tuesday evening last, the Gloucester mail, on its way to Carmarthen, met with a serious accident, but providentially not at- tended with loss of human life. It appears that as the mail was coming along the road at its usual pace, between Trecastle and Llandovery, the guard obser- ved a post chaise before them, keeping the middle of the road upon which he blew his horn, but was not heard by the driver, in consequence, it is supposed, of his driving over some new laid stones at the time. The coachman, however, seeing that there was suffi- cient space for him to pass, drove along, and would have gone by well, had it not been that the driver of the chaise, in his hurried attempt to move on one side, inadvertently took hold of the wrong rein, which brought his horses in collision with those of the mail, by which both were nearly upset. Upon the concus- sion, the mail horses immediately went off at a furious rate, the coachman, in the contact, having been thrown off his box. Mr. Pope, the guard, on obser- ving that the coachman was unseated, attempted to get down, for the purpose of trying to lay hold of the reins, but was thrown with great force on the new-laid stones, thereby receiving a severe fracture of the skull, and other injuries. The four outside passengers, who were luckily experienced travellers, providentially es- caped by climbing over the roof, when the horses were at their utmost speed, but were severely hurt by the fall. The only inside passenger miraculously es- caped, by climbing to the top of the coach, by some means or other, and was unhurt. The horses conti- nued their mad career, till they had crossed Bran bridge, Llandovery, when, on turning an angle, they came in contact with the pine end of a house, by which a great portion of it was knocked in. Luckily no person was in the house at the time. By the con- cussion, one of the horses was killed on the spot. The coach also struck against and upset a tilted cart, dri- ven by an old woman, who was severely injured, and the cart was greatly damaged. We are happy to state that Mr. Pope, the greatest sufferer, is doing well. The coachman was but slightly injured. The coming of age of Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, will be celebrated by splendid festivities at Wynnstay, and other extensive estates of the Hon. and Gallant Baronet in the principality early in the ensuing spring. Sir Watkin's minority will not exceed fif- teen months.