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CAMBRIAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION-I

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Dyfynnu
Rhannu

CAMBRIAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION- Prior to giving an account of the first meeting of the above association at Aberystwith, on Tuesday last, many of our readers will no doubt be pleased with a short detail of its origin and object. This information we derived from that admirable and truly Welsh periodical the ArchtecJojia Cambrensis In the number for July 1840, a correspondent signing himself A Welsh Anti- quary, addresses the editor to the effect that since so much good has been effected throughout England ge- nerally, by the existence of societies for the encourage- ment and promotion of researches into the arts and movements of the early and middle ages, and since the enthusiasm exerted by these societies is still on the increase, why should we not establish a similar society or association for Wales, and form ourselves into a body of Archaeologists for the study and preservation of Welsli iiationil antiquities. Archaeology is not now the dry and dusty, because speculative and theoretical study, which it once was. It is like geoloy, it has taken firm hold of the national mind and has numerous votaries in all parts, not of these only, bil of the civilized world. The IVelsh Antiquary," after adducing other arguments for establishing an Archseolog'cal association, and com- bating objections founded on the liabilities of such institutions to become extinct, concludes by proposing that an Antiquarian association be formed to be called the Cambrian Archteological association for the study and preservation of the national antiquities of Wales; and that the most eminent Welsh Antiquaries and other personages, the natural friends and protectors of the antiquities of the country be requested to put themselves at the head of the society, and that the Archceologia Cambrensis be adopted as the official organ of the society. The above suggestion was adopted and warmly advo- cated by the editor of the above periodical, and in their next number, October 1816, they announced that they had no hesitation in declaring that the association pro- posed by 4 Welsh Antiquary might be established with every prospect of success and that if property organized and carried out .vith energy, it would prove of great benefit to the cause of antiquarian and historical know- ledge throughout Wales-the main object of the asso- ciation evidently being that of forming Cambrian Archseologists into something like, an organized and harmonious body, whereby they might be able to com- municate to each other their observations, and to act together for the common cause with greater rapidity and effect than if they remained isolated. The editors at the same time suggested that as an act of courtesy to all the members at the commencement, it would be desi- rable to choose some central town for the first place of meeting, where the members might congregate, appoint their officers, and transact their business. The above proposal of establishing a Cambrian Arch- teological Association having been received with great approbation by a great number of the Literati, clergy, and gentry of the principality, it was agreed that the first meeting should take place at Aberystwith. which from its centrality is considered to offer every conve- nience for the members of the association, TUESDAY, SEPT. 7. I The Rev. H. Longueville Jones, one of the general secretaries, and the members of the Local Committee, met at 10 o'clock at the Public Roorns, for the purpose of enrolling and admitting new members, and at 4 p.m. the first meeting of the Committee and officers of the Association was held at the Committee-room, when the formal recognition of the various ofifcers of the Society took place, ai,,d *,lie general course of proceedings for the meeting; was settl?d. At 7 o'clock the first general meeting of the whole Association took place at the Pubijc Rooms. Shortly after the doors were opened the company began to ariive, and in a short time the room was very nearly filled. Amongst the gentry present we observed the following :—Sir Stephen Richard Glynne, Bart., F S.A., Lord Lieutenant of Flintshire The Very n,(J, Dean of Bangor; the Very Rev. the Dean of He- reford toe Right Hon Lord Viscount Dungannon Sir Samuel Rush Meyrick, K.H., L.L.D., F.S.A. W. W. E. Wynne. Esq., F.S. A., Prniarth; the Rev. J. Hughes, Vicar of Lias jadarn-vaw; the Rev. W. J. liees, M.A., Casecb; David Edwards, Esti., Itayor of Abervs'with Jidward Rogers, Esq. and :\1. Rogers, Stannasje Park, Knighton: James Dearden, Esq., F.S.A., the Manor, Roc hdale, Treasurer of the Association T. L. D. Jones Parry, Esq., Mardyn Park, Carnarvonshire; J. Hughes, Esq. and Miss IlLiglies Pierce Evans, Esq. and Miss Evans,—Johnson, E-q. and the Misses Maggs; Major aim Mrs. Williams; T. 0. Morgan, Esq. and the Misses Morgan Miss Griffiths and the Misses Williams, of CWrt); Dr. R. Williams ifnd the Misses Williams the Rev Mr. Gilbertson and Miss Gilbertson; Alderman J. Roberts and the Misses Roberts; Rev. John Morgan, Llanuchairn, and the Misses loran; Rev. M. H MilW and Mrs. Miller; Willoughby Miller, Esq. J. B. Lloyd Phiiipps, Esq. and Frederick Philipps, Esq., Mabws Edward Evans, Esq., Pier House; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas; John Davies, Esq Rev. John Morgan; Rev. James Evans, Llanfihangel-y-crellddyrl; Robert Edwards, Esq. Alfred Stephens, Esq. Hugh Hughes, Esq.; R. O. Powtll, Esq.; J,,hii Hughes, Esq., Lluest Gwiilim John M. Davies, Esq Pantyvedwen Richard James. Esq., Aberystwith John Hughes, Esq., Allt- }..TJd; WiJ!¡n! \V¡Uia.mo, E.q" nrth Parade, Aberyst- with Morris, Esq., Ati(,rllolwyn Lewis Jones, Esq., J. P., AbeiysUvith; John Evans, Esq, J. P., Lo\e-gi-ovc, X'c. &e. About a quarter to eight, the President, Sir Stephen Richard Glynne, Bart., entered the room, and took the chair. He addressed the meeting in a short and very appropriate speech. He wished it had devolved on some one abler than himself to preside at the first establishment of an Archteological Society in Wales. He was, highly pleased at the establishment of the As- sociation, and, honoured as he felt himself at being failed on to preside on the present occasion, he wished it to be understood that the chief merit of establishing the the Association belonged to the Editor of the Archaeolo- gia Cambrensis, the able periodical which is now the organ of the Association. He did not wish to dispa- raaeany other Archaeological Association he vet thought that Wales was fully entitled to have a Society e\- cinsiiely its own, and he hoped hence we should be able to cultivate with more success an acquaintance with the antiquities of our native country. (Applause.) The Rev. H. Longueville Jones, one of the general secretaries of the association and joint editor of the Archceologia Cambrensis, then rose and addressed the meeting. He stated that the prospects of the association were eminently favorable. It had met with the highest encouragement in Wales, as well as in England, Scot- land, and Ireland, and even in France and Brittany and there was every prospect of their having some of their brethren from Brittany to meet them at the next annual meeting. They had met with the highest patronage from the clergy of the diocese, and the fact of the four Bishops being patrons of the Association, sufficiently evinced the ardour with which the undertaking was countenanced. Indeed, it may be said, that all the rank and intellect of the principality is ranged in our favour. Comparing the short time since the association has been establishfd with its present flourishing state, it may be said that the experiment has signally succeeded. The love of antiquity flourishes even where it had never before penetrated. Our researches are not confined to one class of antiquities, but to all. It is hardly possible to be too minute in our observations, nor should we deem any observations of antiquity too insignificant or non-conducive to some useful purpose. The object of the association is to go to every county in its turn, and to carry the study of the ancient arts and glories of Wales into every part of the principality. They, however, began with Aberystwyth as the most central, but they meant to go throughout Wales, as well as the Marches, where some of their best friends resided. It may be said of Wales more than of any other part of the empire, that the march of society has committed the least ravages upon its antique remains, for our mountains are now teeming with monuments of the past, which it is our duty to study and preserve. When this association commenced, he was told that the objects of Welsh anti- quity would he exhausted in two years Two years! Why, as editors, we can point out work, which at least will occupy us ten years to write out and print without the least cessation. (Applause.) One of the great objects of the association is to promote good feeling amongst antiquaries, who, it must be said, sometimes when they think to ride away with a theory, find the theory ridiug away with them. He touched upon the feud amongst English Archoelogists, and he hoped the Welsh would avoid the faults of those who had gone before them. (Applause.) Unless we work together we can do no good. The government in France had, he was glad to say, enconraged the study of antiquity. The same may be said of the Department of Woods and forests in this country. He then dwelt con amove upon the study of antiquities and the advantage of its diffusion amongst all classes. He observed you cannot go too high or too low in the inculcation of this study. The debt due by history to the study of anti- quities is incalculable. Since the revival of the study of antiquities, it is found that the history of England must be wiitten over again. The obligations we owe to our forefathers are iiiiiiiense, ind in transmitting to posterity the memorials of their actions, we ought to scorn the dread of ridicule of being called Pickwickians." He lamented that a considerable number of the members for North Wales, including one of the general secretaries and three of the local secretaries were prevented from at- tending the meeting, in consequence of a visitation held this week by the Lord Bishop of St. Asaph, He concluded by saying that the prospects of the association were most flattering. The members were daily increasing, and would be considerably augmented before the close of the present meeting. The state of its funds was also most satisfactory. He sat down amidst loud applause. Sir Samuel R. Meyrick then rose and read a most erudite paper on the Druidic religion in Britain during the residence of the Romans To attempt to give either any reasonable limits or an analysis of the dissertation so as to be intelligible to the general reader, is hopeless, and we give up the task with less reluctance beoause the whole will be published in extenso at the commence- ment of next month in the Archcgologia Cambrensis. But its drift seemed to be to prove that the Romans, after having long pursued the Druids with the most unrelenting crudty, had at length compromised matters, ond even hit; fo a certain extent, been converted to the Druidic religion, and sacrificed to the Pagan Dr uidic Deities. This Sir Samuel attempted to prove by quoting the iaiin inscriptions of several altars discovered in lliiferent parts )f tiie kingdom. He alluded to Boadicea in the couise of the evening. We are rather surprised he forgot to avail himself of Cowper's celebrated poem, tiie reading of which would here be strictly in keeping, &i,e! wuuid h, rdilVw the tedjurn ot too much learning" in a mixed assembly. We take the liberty of suppiying Sir Samuel's omission When the British warrior queen, Bleeding from the Roman rods, Sought, with an indignant mien, Counsel of her country's gods, Sage beneath the spreading oak Sat the Druid, hoary chief; Every burning word he spoke > Full of rage, and full of grief. Princess if our aged eyes Weep upon thy matchless wrongs, 'Tis because resentment ties All the terrors of our tongues. Rome shall perish—write that word In the blood that she has spilt; Perish, hopeless and abhorr'd, Deep in ruin as in guilt. Rome, for empire far renown'd, Tramples on a thousand states Soon her pride shall kiss the ground- Hark! the Gaul is at her gates! Other Romans shall arise, Heedless of a soldier's name; Sounds, not arms, shall win the prize, Harmony the path to fame. Then the progeny that springs From the forests of our land, Arm'd with thunder, clad with wings, Shall a wider world command. Regions Caesar never knew Thy posterity shall sway 1, Where his eagles never flew None invincible as they. Such the bard's prophetic words, Pregnant with celestial fire, Bending as he swept the chords Of his sweet and tuneful lyre. She, with all a monarch's pride, Felt them in her bosom glow: Rush'd to battle, fought, and died; Dying, hurl'd them at the foe. Ruffians, pitiless as proud, Heaven awards the vengeance due Empire is on us bestow'd, Shame and ruin wait for you. At the close of the reading the general secretary, Mr. H. L. Jones asked Sir Samuel if there was in Wales a collection of the altars referred to in nis papers, and we understood the answer to be that there was not. The general secretary then read a paper on ihe his- tory and architecture of Clynnog, Carnarvonshire, by H. Kennedy, Esq., R. Kyike Pensoti, Esq., architect, Oswestry, and by the Rev. H. L. Jones. This paper is wholly uninteresting to the general reader. There were hung up in the room some most beautiful drawings by Mr. Penson, illustrative of the dissertation, which were deservedly admired. Lord Dungannon then moved that previous to the separation of the meeting for the year, the names of the members of the association willing to contribute to the fund for the restoration of St. Beuno's chapel at Clynnog Vawr, in Carnarvonshire, be received on a paper, to be left in the room for that purpose, Ri.t! that circulars to that effect be issued throughout North Wales. The Dean of Bangor seconded the motion, which after a few observations from the Dean of Hereford and Lord Dungannon, was put to the vote and carried by a shew of hands. The general secretary then read a paper on the church, &c. at Pilleth, Radnorshire, by Evan Williams, Esq. The following passages may be interesting to the reacier:- What gives most celebrity to this parish is the battle fought on June 2nd. 1402, between Sir Edmund Mor- timer, uncle to the young Eail of March, afterwards Edward 4th, and Owen Glyndwr, wherein the former was defeated, and taken prisoner by Glyndwr himself, after a hard personal encounter, leaving 1100 of his men slaughtered on the field. Mortimer afterwards married Glyndwr's daughter, and entered into a league with him, Percy and Douglas. The battle is said to have commenced on a hill called Bryn Glas, which lies a little distance from the church, and to have raged into the peaceful itlley below. Mortimer had hastily col- lected his tenants and retainers against Glyndwr, who had in his progress devastated the monastery of Cwmhin, and the town and castle of Radnor, and it being of great importance to check if possible the fur- ther march of fire and sword, the Castle of Wigmore being only twelve miles distant from Pilleth. The great dramatist in his Henry 4th alludes to this battle, the news of which coupled with unfavourable reports from the north, which reached the council at the same time, but which afterwards turned out to be untrue, had the effect of putting off the intended second crusade. King Henry.-It seems then that the tidings of this broil brake off our business for the holy land. Westmoreland.—This matched with others did, my Gracious Lord." The personal combat between Mortimer and Glyndwr is finely depictured in the lines put into the mouth of Hotspur in his defence of Mortimer to the King :— In single opposition hand to hand, He did confound the best part of an hour, In changing hnrdiment with great Glendower;" Shakspeare has taken the liberty of changing the scene from the banks of the meandering Lugg to those of the distant Severn. There are circular intrenchments in that part of the vale bordering on the river, and tradition says, these were occupied by Mortimer's forces previous to the en- gagement. The article on Pilleth Church was the last paper read on Tuesday evening. There were several favourite airs on the Welsh Harp performed in the room during the evpniirg by Mr. John Roberts. Serch Hudol," the March of the Men of Harlech," and several others gave great satisfaction. WEDNESDAY. I After a public breakfast at the Public Rooms, which was supplied in Mrs. and Mr. Careswell's usual style of excellence, a party consisting of Sir Stephen R. Glynne, the Deans of Hereford and Bangor, Messrs. Wakeman, Wynne, (Pelliarth,) Philipps, (Mabws,) Hughes, (Lluest Gwiilim,) Dearden, treasurer, Rees, Llandovery, &c. &c. started olf on an excursion to Bedd Taliesin, the Ro- man road on Pensarn Ddu, and other British remains in that neighbourhood. Having arrived at the Cairn,they saw the Cist-Vaen reputed to be the burial place of the Chief of the Bards" (lien Beii-tld.) The Cairn is about 13-3 feet in circumference, and the Cist-Vaen has in its centre several rough slabs forming a grave eight feet long and two feet six inches wide, which has evidently been covered by other slabs, one of which, five feet nine inches by three feet nine, lies close to the grave. Whilst at the grave, Mr. Rees, of Llandovery, read several in- teresting notices of the history of Taliesin, out of an unpublished volume of selections from the ancient Welsh MbS. by the late iolo Morganwg. These notices corro- borate the tradition of 1 aliesin's having resided in this neighbourhood upon property bestowed upon him by Gwyddus Garan Hir, Lord of Cautref-y-Gwaelod, and that he must have ended his days here and been buried in the Cairn, now bearing his name. The party then proceeded several miles up the mountain, forming one of the Plinliini-noii range, and at a spot above Nant-y- Nod, they discovered a Druidical circte, consisting of above seventy-six upright stones placed at the distance of three feet from each other, and forming a circle of about two hundred and twenty-eight feet. They also discovered another Druidical circle higher up in the mountain of about ninety feet in circumference, and on the submit of Moel-y-Gaer, they were much gratified with the view of what appears to have been an ancient British fortress formed of loose stones rudelv piled toge- ther, having several hollows near the centre of about eight feet diameter. The circumference of the fortress is about one hundred and fifty feet, and the view from it is most extensive and commanding. The party after- wards examined the Roman Road at Peuaarn Ddu, and returned to Aberystwyth about half-past six, highly gra- tified with this most interesting excursion. A public dinner took place at the Belle Vue Hotel; Sir Stephen R. Glynne presided, supported in the vice- chair by Sir S. R. Mcyrick. In consequence of the excur- sion lasting longer than had been anticipated, the party were not able to sit down to dinner much before 7, there was, therefore, considerable delay in the commencement of the business of the evening. The meeting was crowded, and the following were present this evening, who had not attended the former meeting :— The Countess of Lisburne, Lady Lucy Vaughan, and Miss Hanson, Matthew Davies, Esq., High Sheriff of the County, and lady, Alfred Stephens, Esq., and lady, Miss Morris, and Miss Jones, Charles Parry, Esq., and lady, and Mrs. and Miss Holmes, Mrs. Jas. Davies, Trevechau, and family, Richard Gilbertson, Esq., Sur- geon, Mrs. and Miss Parry, Llediarde, John Parry, Esq., Glanfraith, and lady, Miss Brindley, and school, John M. Davies, Esq., Pantyvedwen, and lady, and Miss Davies, Capt. Bonsall, and Miss Lozen, Mr. Rowland Parry, Mr. and Mn. Lambert, Wm. Williams, Esq., Mrs. Williams, and Mrs. Edwards, John Fossett, Esq., and lady, Joseph Downie, Esq., and Miss Downie, Ed- ward Evans, Esq., of Glanfraed, and lady, Mr John Davies, Aberystwith, and Miss Davies, Mr. John Cox, R. O. Walker, Esq., and Miss Walker, Johnson, Esq., from Oxford, and lady, Miss Lawrence, and party, Mrs. Leon, Mr. and Mrs. Jones, John Hughes, Esq., of Laura Place, and Miss Hughes, of Glanrheidol, Itan- dall, Esq., Mr. and Miss Walford, Lieut. T. H. Ford, R.N., and Miss Ford, &c. &c. &c. Shortly after eight the president took the chair, and immediately apologized to the meeting for the delay, ascribing it to the excursion party being detained by the great interest of the scenes they had that day visited. The Dean of Hereford afterwards rose, and having also apologized for the delay, he, in a luminous manner described the grave of Taliesin as well as the other ancient remains which have been already briefly men- tioned. The Dean of Bangor followed on the same topic. top'Ii'hc.e secretary, the Rev. H. L. Jones, then introduced the rules and regulations of the association, and having read them over, they were unanimously passed and approved of. The rev. secretary then proceeded to read a dissertation on the history and architecture of Strata Florida, written by the Rev. G. Roberts. The essay being a lengthened one, only half of it was read, and as the remainder was to be read on the 9th instant, we shall, therefore, defer introducing any passages from it until our next. The Rev. W. J, Rees, Cascob, then read a paper on the ancient tomb of Kington, Herefordshire, in memory of Thomas Vaughan, of Heroes, the most interesting part of which we have copied for our readers. The said Thomas Vaughan for whom the tomb was more immediately erected, wa3 the second son of Sir Roger Vaughan, of Bredwardene, in the county of Here- ford, by his wife Guladus, daughter of the celebrated Sir David Gam, and he was called Thomas ap Rhosser by the Welsh, from the Christian name of his father, who with Sir David Gam, greatly distinguished himself in the important battle of Agincourt, and after having saved the life of fletiry V. by their exertions, both of them, when mortally wounded, received the order of Knighthood foT their loyal an4 heroic achievements. Thomas Vaughan was a person of great importance in his day, exercised great hospitality at Hergest, and possessed as many as eight mansions, where he treated his guests with wine. In the bloody contests between the royal rival houses of York and Lancaster, he took a decided part in favour of that of York, and having joined the forces of his half brother William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, who, in behalf of Edward IV. had ten thousand Welshmen in his army, was present at the bloody battle of Danesmore, about four and five miles from Banbury where he lost his life. The army having marched to the neighbourhood of Banbury, was joined by Lord Stafford with six hundred bowmen, but the two chiefs quarrelling about lodgings at Banbury, separated their forces. The Earl of Pembroke hazarding a battle without the bow- men, was after a contest fought with determined bravery, defeated, to which a mistake during the engagement greatly contributed. The Welsh suffered severely on the occasion, and left five thousand dead on the field of battle. Several persons of consideration were also taken prisoners at the time, and the next day beheaded at Banbury, among whom was the Earl of Pembroke, and Thomas Vaughan. Ellen Vaughan, his wife, whose effigy is with that of her husband, placed on the tomb, was of Linevent in the parish of Llanbister, in the county of Radnor. She was a high spirited lady and was called Ellen Gethin, or Eilen the terrible, on account of her intrepid con- duct, she having herself slain her cousin John Hir ap Philip Vaughan, who had before taken away the life of her brother David Vaughan. Ellen on the death of her husband greatly lamented the loss she had sustained, and to shew her respect for him had his remains brought to Hergest, and buried at ivington, and caused the mag- nificent tomb to be erected to his memory. The Welsh Poet, Lewis, of Glyncothi, who was living at the time, has in his poeins given a vivid description of the battle which caused the ueath of Thomas Vaughan, and also a minute account of the tomb where his remains were deposited, of which the following is an English transla- tion extracted from his seventh poem. A tomb which cost as much as a distant conquest, Its expence was greater than the walls of u tastlo There is an inscription above the tomb. Tne two names are placed together; rilt: name of iibeial Thomas, *ud without separation The name of -L, licii is there likewise. On every part of the Totnb of the departed couple Aie piiiars of white alabaster stone, And thereon is a man with a great head, Anti a beautiful woman under a gilt hillock; Angels are there likewise. And not one of them without an emblazoned shield. It was a good work, a work of three days; A gilt chest full of relics, A large bed with a coloured edge, Bright, square, like the Church of St. Cyrie; A carved stone like a white cock, A stone of defence of the choir of St. David's Cathedral; A white chest, which no one can describe, A white stone closing on its surface. Steel armour above the head of the soldier. A cottin about the bones of the man, A stone altar like the full moon Aud the giit colour on the altar A representation of a wooden chest beneath a light red taper, A representation of a choir closing on the Earl's brother; Insignificant is a grave beneath a mean monument, When compared with the Tomb of Thomas Thomas has happened to have his Tomb In a giit hiilock on a beautiful wall; A second tomb of Huail himself of Canterbury Has been had for the buck of Kington. By the kindness of the secretary, Mr. H. L. Jones, we insert the following extracts from an essay on certain Welsh tombs, and peculiarities connected with them, written by J. O. Westwood, Esq., and which is to be read during the meeting :— None of these English tomb-stones, however, eqnal in interest an elegant slab, being the tomb-stone of Joan, princess of North Wales, daughter of king John. This stone is now preserved in the park of Sir R. Bulkeley, at Baron Hill, near Beaumaris, having been originally at the neighbouring monastery of Llanvaes, founded by Llewelyn ap Jorwerth, Prince of Wales, whose consort Joan, a natural daughter of king John, is represented upon it. At the dissolution of the monastery it was removed from its present situation, and at the com- mencement of the present century was found, face downwards, in a ditch near Llanvaes, the stone coffin which it had covered being used as a watering-trough. It is six feet long, three inches thick, the carving being still quite sharp. It is peculiar for the head dress and ornament of the neck, and especially for having the hands lying open upon the breast; the lower part is entirely filled with beautiful foliated branches, exactly corresponding in style with the illuminated manuscripts of the period. The lower part of the stem is seized by the mouth of a winged dragon. It was this princess who was engaged, according to tradition, in a romantic but tragical intrigue with William de Braose, in 1229,* who had been taken prisoner by Llewellyn at the siege of Montgomery. She appears, however, subse- quently to have regained the affections of Llewellyn, who erected the monastery at Llanvaes over her re- mains, and which was consecrated in 1240. Another figure represents one of three tombs in the church-yard of Llanfihangel Aber Cowin, Carmarthen- shire, near St. Clears, which are affirmed to be the sepulchres of certain holy palmers, who wandered thither in poverty and distress, and about to perish for want, slew each other, the last survivor burying himself in one of the graves which they had prepared, and pulling the stone over, left it ill adjusted in an oblique posture. One of these stones is said to be the grave of a mason, the stone being perforated with a hole its upper half contains a figure of the head, neck, and crossed arms of a man having a cross sculptured on the breast, and with the feet visible at the bottom of the stone; the second has the upper part similar, but the part below the crossed hand is covered with a lattice- like ornament, and the feet are not represented. This is said to cover a glazier an d the third, which is copeu, has merely certain cora-tike mouldings, with a cross at the head, and is referred to a rope-maker. The sanctity of these pilgrims, the natives affirm, keeps the peninsular of Llanfihangel parish free from serpents, toads, or venomous reptiles, the exception being when the tonib-siones are overrun with weeds two similar memorials, one coffin-shaped, the other bearing a head, cross, &c., lie a few yards further to the south. On opening the middle grave, there was found at the depth of four feet, a sort of kistvaen, composed of six slabs of stone, arranged in the shape of an ordinary coffin, two more slabs formed a top and a bottom for the sepulchral chest. In it were found some small bones of a youth or female, and half a dozen shells, each about the size of the palm of the hand, by description precisely eOl rpsponding to the cockle-shells of piigrims, thus evi- dently proving the graves to be those of persons under a vow of pilgrimage, performed by, or attributed to, them. I apprehend these graves may be referred to the fifteenth century. On the floor of the north aisle of Llalldaff cathedrals is a grave-stone, containing 2 heads, which appear to be those of a male and female, the latter in a s quare topped cap of the fifteenth century the remainder of the stone is occupied by a cross with nearly equal arms, connected by fleurs-de-iys, the lower arm testing on the top of a staff, whidl termillalps at the bottom in allot her lkllr-dc- lys. Around the edge of the stone is an im-ciiption, the letters are so clogged with dirt that it was not able to make it out. It commences with >4 i- If I L I P Gtsr It extends round the four edges of the stone, the face of which has also a word or two on the left hand side of the cross. As this stone is not noticed in Browne Willie's Survey of the cathe- dral, it merits attention." The Secretary read some extracts from the Bulklev MSS. which had been placed in his hands by Sir Richari Buikley, with liberty to publish any portions which he considered interesting. The extracts gave an interesting and amusing account of the household expenses of Lord Buikley in the time ofcllarles the First. The Secretary having announced the business of the morrow, the meeting broke up, it being then about 11 o'clock. The Dean of Hereford then in a brief speech moved that previously to the separation of the meeting for this year, the names of the members of the association will- ing to contribute towards the fund for the repairs of the parish Church of Llanbadarn Fawr, in the neighbour- hood of Aberystwyth, be received on a paper to be left in the room of the meeting for that purpose, and that cir- culars to that effect be issued throughout South Wales. W. W. Wynne, Esq., seconded tne motion, which after a few words from Lord Dungannon, and the Rev. John Hughes, Vicar of Llanbadarn Fawr, was put to the vote, and carried unanimously. As an immense number of strangers now resident at Aberystwith, have expressed a wish to be supplied with copies of our present week's impression, a short account of the Castle of Aberystwith, abridged from a recent number of the Welshman, will no doubt be acceptable to them, as conveying some account of the place of meeting. ABERYSTWITH CASTLE AND THE OLDEN TjilE. Abejystwith Castle is well deserving of attention. Looked upon by those who see nothing beyond the ignorant present" it is a heap of ruins, nothing more, but to those whose mental vision can pierce the gloom of the past, these ruins are the emblems of the burning hatred that for cen- turies existed between the Welsh and the English. Though the name of the First Edward is associated in the minds of Englishmen, with everything great in warlike achievements, and wise in civil polity yet to the Welsh he was for centuries known only as the Ruthless King"—the conqueror of Wales, and the slayer of the last of their native sovereigns. It will, therefore be no slight stimulus to the curiosity of the stranger in view- ing the ruins, to be informed that this was one of the castles which Edward the Frst erected for curbing this part of the Principality immediately after the final subju- gation of Wales and the death of Llewellyn. But it should be kept in mind there were other castles success- ively built and destroyed near the same spot in the mur- derous warfare between the English and Welsh for cen- turies before. That Henry the 5th, the hero of Agincourt, fleshed his maiden sword in Wales is well known, though not equally so, that Aberystwith was for many years the arena of contest between him and the fiery Glendower, and that it was here or in the immediate neighbourhood that the latter (then crowned Prince of Wales) received the ambassadors of the French King. After the final pacification of the Principality upon the death of Glen- dower, we hear little of Aberystwith Castle, until the time of Charles the First, when the silver dug out of the neighbouring hills was deposited within its walls, and coined by royal authority. There are several pieces then coined at the Aberystwith mint, still extant. The catas- trophe may be soon related. After holding out for some time in favour of Charles, the castle was taken and re duced to its present state by the troops of the Common- wealth; and it may be said of it that it was erected in consequence of the hatred of the Welsh to one English monarch, and destroyed as a proof of their lore for ano- ther, thus showing the healing influence of time iu re- m(ljtJ3.nationallUJtitathic6.

I * -- THURSDAY. -,

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LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

CARMARTHEN TOWN COUNCIL.

_.-SOUTH WALES RAILWAY.

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LLANELLY RAILWAY. I

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