The Merthyr Telegraph and General Advertiser for the Iron Districts of South Wales

BLAINA. BLAINA PETTY SESIONS. FRIDAY, JUNE 29.- Before F. Levick, Esq. The parish of Abcrystruth charged Henry Hatton with illegally hawking without a license. —Sentenced to twenty-one days at Usk. These hills are infested with a class of vagrants who, carrying a few miserable trinkets, keep an open eye on the stray chance. Superintendent Mackintosh v. Thos. Francis.- Breach of the peace by fighting with two other men who did not answer the summons.—Fined lis. 6d. Superintendent Mackintosh v. Thos. Davies- Drunkenness.-To pay fine and costs, or twenty- one'i.days* imprisonment. Margaret Habbakuk, servant of Mr. Hancock, Colliers' Arms, Biaina, was charged with stealing from her master a piece of flannel and a pair of shoes, his property. The case being clearly made < ut againat prisoner, she was committed to Usk sessions, but admitted to bail. Ann Saunders v. Thomas Morgan, for non- payment of a bastardy order.-Paid. Richard Griffiths v. Evan Grovell, for an as- sault.-Settled by defendant paying costs. Rhymney Iron Company v. Evan Lewis, for leaving work without notice.—One calendar month hard labour. BLACK WOOD. ROCK PETTY SESSIONS. SATURDAY, JUNE 30.—Before Capt. Marsh. John Caffell-charged G ->o. Pickford (who uses another name at need,) with stealing two basins and four cabbages on the 26th ult., his property. The depositions leaving little doubt of the priso- ner's guilt, he was fully committed to take his trial at the Usk sessions. TREDEGAR. AN inquest was held last Friday at the Grey- hound, on the body of John Trace, collier, who was killed a few days previously in the new pits of these works. On the re-assembling of the jury, the coroner, C. M. Ashwin, Esq., called William Trace and Thomas Williams, who gave evidence to the following effect: -Williams said that the deceased had been shooting (blasting) early in the morning. The explosion brought down a good deal of rubbish from the roof at the time, after which it appearei all safe. The deceased went on with his work for some hours afterwards. The boy Trace ran to witness and said that his father was buried under a stene. Witness found that the stone was of immense weight, and quite covered deceased, so that wit- ness sent for assistance, but in the interval he managed to prise the block and uncover the body. He was quite dead. It is probable that the blasting had loosened this stone, for tIn viewer found all right in the morning, but even after the shot he did not see any danger. Ver- dict, "Accidental death. W e regret to say that the same day another young man named David was killed in the same place and in a similar manner. INQUEST AT TREDEGAR.-An enquiry took place at the Black Prince on Tuesday, which is important, as throwing some light upon the causes of the great loss of life by falls from the mine roof. The jury having viewed the body, called Edward Wigley, who deposed I work in a double stall at the new pit, of which David Lewis, the master of deceased William Davies. a boy twelve years of age, occupies the other halt. I was going from my stall to his on Thurs- day morning, as I frequently do, when I saw a stone three or four cwt. fall upon the head of the deceased, who died soon after the stone was re- moved. These stones generally come down with the coal, but this did not, and it was left, accord- ing to custom" to come down with the next blasting. There was no coal under it, nor had any been taken away that day. We do not think it necessary to timber the roof in these cases. The boy had been forbidden to go there, butwo men do not consider it dangerous, as we can tell by the sound when it is moving. The stone was not drawn down at the time, because it was firm, and would have taken two or three hours' work to remove it.-David Lewis deposed The deceased was employed by me at the rate of 4s. 6d. a week to fill coal A few minutes before the accident, on Thursday morning, I set him to help me to fill the same tram. Without missing him, I heard a cry from Wigley at the instant of the fall, and then I thought it was the boy. He was neglecting his own work, and I should not have allowed him to go there had I known. I tried the stone that morning, and found it firm and safe, as I thought, until I got more coal down. We do not timber in those cases, because the stones ought to come with the coal. I did not think it dangerous.—Much of the above evidence was elicited by the severest examination, showing by their manner plainly enough what they thought of such culpable negligence, and we give their names, in order to thank them publicly for a very searching enquiry. After the evidence was taken, the room was cleared for a private examination, which lasted only a few minutes: the foreman announced a verdict of "Accidental death," praying the coroner, at the same time, to take such steps as would put an end to this dangerous practice. The coroner told the jury that he thought they had done right in refusing to entertain a verdict of man- slaughter in this case, as it was evident, from the testimony of both witnesses, that they were not conscious of having done anything out of the common order of mining operations, but he would write to the agency of the Tredegar Com- pany and also to the Government inspector of mines on the subject. How is it that the in. spector never attends any of these inquests when ample notice is given? Is a Welsh life less valuable than an English one ? PUNCH HAS been informed that an apostle of a new order addressed the people in our Acropolis last Sunday. Laid up with the gout, he could not attend £n propria, but it is said that the speaker particularly requeste-I. thu attendance of the ministry of the town, in order to persuade them to give away the bread of life for nothing. He does not say how their material daily bread is to come, but Punch presumes that the speaker has in his eye the mendicant friars" of the Catholic Church. In this case the Prince would advise the scarcely fledged apostle to get fixed at the top of the clock, and give us a specimen of his own powers of endurance in the manner of Simeon Stylites. A SERIOUS ADDRESS TO THE WORKING CLASSES ON THE IMPENDING CRISIS. According to all appearances, there is a crisis of unexampled severity impending over the tradesmen and working men of this country. The prince, seeing in the gray mists of autumn and under the icy grasp of winter, wheat at Ía- mine prices, enliyn so high as to be unattainable, trade languishing from the enormous drain of specie for food and national defenee, and always anxious for the welfare of the people, he quits his lotty position for once, to come among tnem and talk earnestly about their prospects. And first to show the critical position we are in, let us glance at the immense value and im- portance of our corn crops. The total value of our agricultural produce approaches 300 million sterling. Now in 1845, the corn produce alone was 51 million quarters, and at the present tllliC it cannot be much less than 60 millions, which, averaging the price at t2 a quarter, will amount to two years of our national Government expenditure. This does not represent the whole case, for if Europe shares only partially our fate in a failure of the harvest, the price will be doubled, and thus an enormous dram upon our national recources, as fearful as an utter suspen- sion ot credit, and equal in amount to one third of our national debt, must be submitted to, ac- cording to tho present rate of eonsurapton. The alternatives are an Irish famine, with starvation and pestilence, or pucb a voluntary change of tiiet .and increase of eeocomy as will tend lo break the force of' this visitation. It. is to this last point that Punch weuld direct attention, and if he spea^. harshly otsome of our habits, the gravity of the occasion must be his apology. When the Prince looks abroad and sees all Europe shivering under the frown of a Napoleon, he is reminded that famine-a greater power than he—may step in at any moment, with its gaunt and wolfish countenance, and shake down these tyrannies-these gilt gingerbread thrones as easily as a child throws down a house of cards. What will the faubourg say to Louis Bonaparte when he can no longer give them bread, as he has hitherto done? Will Sicily, from her granaries, feed the tyrant of Naples? and if not, what is to be done with Bomba's national guard—the Lazzaroni. But Punch wanders from his subject and sub- jects. The question is, can we reef our sails in time to weather the storm? Can we by any management save ourselves and the lives of our countrymen if we really get no harvest or only a small one ? The Prince of Gwent thinks we can, and offers his suggestions as an early con- tribution to a subject which, if the weather do not speedily change, will soon engage every mind. The two special modes by which we may hope to mitigate the force of this possible cala- mity are— first, by economising our present re- sources, and secondly, by extending of our edible materials. As examples of the first, for the Prince can only indicate methods in a short newspaper arti- cle, he would say, retrench in the article .of luxuries, such as tea, coffee, and tobacco. Re- place butchers' meat as much as possible by those vegetables which contain abundance of the ni- trogenous principle, such as onions, parsnips, greens, cabbage, cross, &c., with which every available yard of ground ought to bo sown or planted. Abolish that wasteful thing the wash tub, with its crusts, scraps of meat, and other valuable food swimming about in extravagant profusion. Keep a pot on the hob as a common receptacle for the scraps, crumbs, parings, onion cuttings, stray cabbage leaves, and bruised bones. Many a relishing and nutritious dinner comes out of this brown earthen jar, which our French neighbours call pot an feu, (pot on the fire.) Send professional beggars to the parish instead of giving them white bread to sell for the pig trough, and be content to eat brown bread with as large a proportion of green food (greens boiled or salad) as your stomach will permit, if you can get it. Our waste of garden stuff is enormous, and is a standing riddle to our neighbours on the Continent. Lastly, see that the butchers throw away no part of the animal fit for food, in which even blood may be reckoned at a pinch, seeing that hog's puddings are made of it even present. With regard to the second item, that is the extension of our edible resources, there are three principal heads under which the vegetable part may be classed, namely, Indian corn, pulse, and wildings. The first named saved Ireland during the famine, and that kind of pulse called lentels (small beans), were much used even in England during the scarcity caused by the failure of the potato. Under the head of wildings, Punch includes all wall cresses and cruciferous plants, many of the fungi, nettles, charlicks, pig-nuts, acorns, chesnuts, sloes, crabs, and berries. Let every herb doctor be ducked in a horse-pond, who comes into a market place without being able to tell of one new plant growing in field or ditch, or mountain or com- mon. Let our prejudices against snails, frogs, horse-flesh, and other nutritious animal food yield to the dictates of reason, and the example of Gallic brethren; and finally, let our gentry, warned by the imminence of this new danger, learn to be more liberal of their waste lands to the working classes. What would be the feel- ings of a Bute were he to see those outcasts perishing before his eyes who were so lately turned adrift from a comfortable home and a good garden, the honest reward of many years' toil and self-denial F DUKESTOWN. THE OPENING OF A NEW CATHOLIC CHAPEL. For many years the Catholics of these and the contiguous works of Tredegar, Ebbw Vale. and Rhymney, who have laboured under the great disadvantage and opprobrium (certainly unmeri- ted) of having divine worship in a club-room, are about to be accommodated by the opening of a fine chapel in the above central locality, which it is calculated will afford enough of space for all the works. This happy result we are told, has been brought about principally by the efforts of the hard working and accomplished priest who is the shepherd of this flock. The Rev. John Dawson has merited, by uniform urbanity and devotion to the duties of his profession, the good will of all classes, and it is expected that a signal testimony to this fact will be given at the opening of the chapel, by the attendance of the leading people of the district, of all creeds, on that c ces- sion. The position of the Irish Catholics in this district is so singular that perhaps our readers may be glad to have it defined. Most of them we believe migrate from the western part of their island, and obtain employment here as labourers. We shall not be far wrong in saying that their wages are doubled by the change, though in con- sequence of the high prices here, their condition on the whole is not much improved. The native population, which used to be extremely hostile, are yet jealous, and profess to hold Paddy and his religion in extreme contempt, a state of feeling which when beer is in question, often breaks out into open violence; for Paddy, who is the most polite and courteous of men when well treated, becomes quite intractable when his nation or re- ligion are spoken of scornfully. Our Emeralder has a mortal dislike to burying himself under- ground, and as all the best places in the forge are taken up by Weish boys according to senio. rity, there are few lucrative jobs left to the western Celt except at the furnaces, where the labour and heat require a man in the very prime of strength and manhood to face them. There is no disguising the fact, they are regarded as a lower caste by the Welsh and Scotch, the latter being generally fine athletic specimens of their country, chosen as bagmen for broad shoulders and canny wags; but if self-sacrifice and a noble generosity of speech and action will cover many mirier blemishes, we have a right-to quarrel with this verdict. We claim to know something of the Saxon character, and must admit that John Bud's rectitude and independence are frequently qualified by rude selfishness that has often made us blush for the national credit. Among the English of these iron works, there is no active sympathies—there is little care for religion—and often a complete forgetfulness of the ties of re- lationsnip. The Irish emigrants are a brother- hood, constantly assisting each other; their re- ligion, under scorn and insult, is unstained by apostacy; and their families, in whatever quarter of the world they may happen to be, they never desert in the hour of need cr forget in their own day of prosperity. So much to give us a claim on the reader's attention for a narrative of the most important event in the annals of our Hi- bernian fellow workers here, whose occasional little disloyalty is amply atoned tor by the ill paid and arduous services they perform, and indeed this much is necessary to account for the length of time they have been without a chapel. If we only consider the low wages they earn, their nu- merous families, the constant drain on their purses for mutual help, and their princely way of spending money when they meet occasionally at tue tavern to talk over the pleasures of ould Ireland, and occasionally, its wrongs, we shall no longer wonder at the difficulty of raising money for a building in a country where they do not possess a foot of land. « Tuesday the 3rd in at. will long be remembered with joy in this district by all, as ushering in the long expected summer, and an era of mutual good-will on the religious platform, and by Catho- lics especially, as restoring to them in the sight of people of other creeds, the dignity of their re- ligious worship. At an early hour in the morning the doors were thronged with people in their holiday dress, while the refreshment stalls which lined the roacl indicatedthe shrewd f orcsight d their owners, and at 11 o'clock the whole cbapel was densely crowded witil-ict us hope—worshippers, lor we could not detect a word in the service or in the excellent sermon delivered by Father MtSweeny, Prior of the Benedictines at Hereford, to offend the most scrupulous protestant. The reserved seats were well filled with the gentry and trades- people of the town and neighbourhood, who, as far as we could learn, expressed unmixed satis- faction with the manner of conducting the ser- vice. The music was of an excellence both of quality and execution we seldom hear in Trede- gar, and the capacity of the building for accom- mod2ting a large congregation comfortably in summer was fully demonstrated. Father Garrelli, Cardiff, performed the High Mass in a very impressive manner, assisted by Fathers Watkins, Abergavenny, a venerable army chaplain, Millea, Dowlais, Sinnett, Mer- thyr, Lewis, Swansea, Herbert, Forest of Dean, Richardson and Ackroyd, Newport, and Pierey, Blackwood. The musical part of the service was conducted by a selection from the choirs at Dowlais, New- port, and Cardiff, over which Mr. Tilley presided on the harmonium. The opening Gloria" of Haydn, containing a difficult figure, exhibited a slight unsteadiness of time, but the "Credo" from Mozart's Twelfth Mass, the Sanctus" of Carl Von Weber, and the Agnus Dei" of the' same author were admirably given. Of the sermon which intervened, our limits forbid us to speak at any length. The Rev.* gentleman, after insisting upon the importance which Catholics attach to the temple of God as the antichamber of heaven, proceeded in a very eloquent address, delivered with earnestness and simplicity, with an elaborate argument on the beauty, cogency, and stability of God's law, written even in the hearts of children and sealed with the blood of his only begotten Son. To those, who, when the power of this splendid ceremonial has passed away, may feel inclined to consider it as a trivial adjunct or unseemly in- terruption to the communion of souls we may say, bear with us. If you have attained to that lofty eminence which enables your devotion to dispense with forms and material aids we envy you, but confess at the same time, that good music, painting, sculpture, all perhaps inglorious substitutes for that glorious nature which our climate refuses to our needs, these things we say form the devotional flame in our hearts and help to purify the grosser parts of our humanity. A dinner was provided at the club-room of the Miners' Arms (the old chapel), for the refection of the clergy and the out-town visitors. Besides these, however, a good sprinking of our own people dropped in and partook of an excellent dejeuner, the preparation of which does great credit to the liberality and skill of Mrs. Jenkins, and was partaken of with infinite relish by the guests. After a somewhat ample allowance of time for private conversation, Father Wilson, vicar general of the district and chairman, rose and proposed to enlarge the circle of listeners by contracting that of the speakers. They were not bound down to secresy, so every man would have liberty to speak aloud his mind. For him. self, he rose to propose the health of the chief actor in this day's proceedings—Mr. Dawson. These hills, indeed, he finds vocal with his praises, and there is not one in his holy office who stands higher in the good will of differing creeds. Instead of the rancorous feeling which has not unfrequently burst forth on these occa- sions; what do we see but peace and good will, rival churches shaking hands over a forgotten past. (Adverting to the sermon, the Rev. gentle- man continued.) I defy you to have said to what sect the preacher belonged. It was chrip- tian. It was catholic in the best sense of the word. To the other agreeable features of this day of rejoicing were added music, and a sky worthy of Italy land of brightness and of song. He would only add that this chapel is so con- structed as to serve for a school in the week days, and he had no doubt, under the fostering care of Father Dawson, would soon have in training another generation of workers who would do credit to their teachers. Father Dawson thanked the chairman and company for the hearty manner in which his health had been drunk. He felt under great obligations to his brother priests, the choir, and other strangers who had come here this day to do honour to his flock and himself, and to add dignity to the day's proceedings. He felt deeply grateful to the townspeople who had come for- ward that day to give him so direct a proof of their good will, to which he could lay no claim. The good feeling of these his friends, bad enabled him to get through a work which would be of immense benefit to the people; but amongst all those friends, he could not refrain from naming one, who by money and counsel had been of the greatest assistance in bringing these efforts to a happy conclusion, and he begged therefore to propose the health of Mr. Murphy, who, to all the other obligations under which he had laid him, (the speaker), had just added a ten pound note. Mr. Murphy (Newport) feared he did not deserve all the flattering things said of him. The fact was, priests are rather novices in building now-a-days; they have lost many useful ancient crafts, and building among the rest. He was pleased to give some assistance, feeling in a man- ner he did a double duty here, where he counted some of his best and oldest friends, and the good he had received, it gratified him to return in another shape. He was glad to see Mr. Hunter, his coal collector, here to day. and for the interest he had taken in this cause, begged to drink his very good health. Mr. Hunter, thanking the company for the honour, said he felt proud of being there that day. He knew* that there was hardly a trades- man in the town who either did not attend, or who was not unavoidably absent, and it was sin- cere respect for Mr. Dawson which prompted them; for his own part, he never respected man more than he did Father Dawson, and he could say as much for the tradesmen generally. Father Richardson, with a humorous preface, suggested that they had passed by one important section of the actors in that day's proceedings, the very root of the whole thing, that was, the poor Irish. He begged to propose the health of Erin go bragh. The chairman then proposed the health of Father Sweeny, whom he might characterise as the star of the day," and whom fortune had made his inferior for some years: after that day's sermon however he was quite ready to yield the palm of superiority. The worthy prior acknowledged the health with humor and becoming humility, proposing in return, that of the chairman and the Bishop of the Diocese, to which the patriarch chaplain of Australia and the Caffre land, (who accounted for the cannibals not eating him, by saying he was too fat), begged to add the ladies, with the mu- sical nine, which the octogenarian gave himself as the signal for dispersion. There was an evening service, but our space fails us. ■^>1111 ■ ■■ —II I YSTALYFERA EISTEDDFOD. Thi'? Eisteddfod, which was held last week, ap- pears to have been a most successful one,'not- withstanding the unpropitiousness of the weather. Among the successful competitors of this district we notice the followingMiss Forcy and Mrs Kruger, who took seven prizes for singing' amounting to £ 6 14s.; Llew LlwyÍo for the best poem on the wreck of the Royal Charter," 95 5s.; Mr. J-homas Lewis, Siraowy, for the best performance on the Welsh Harp, 94 43, the] udor choir, Aberdare, for the best singing of the glee All among the barley," 15s.; Ifor I -v, Cwm GWYR, Merthyr. for the best Welsh comic song, LL 10s., also t2 2s. for the best Welsh song Mr. Thomas Lewis, Aberdare,^second best on the harp, £ 1 K>s.; Mr. Rees Williams, Blaenau, best psalm tune, £ 1; Mr. W. Hopkins, of Merthyr, £ 1 Is. for the best singing of a duett, in conjunction with Miss Foiey. A he pr;Z<? for the best English essay in refuta- ti of Mr. Henry Austin Brace's assertion j *'That Wales lias produced no men who nave influenced the public opinion of Great Britain,' was won by Mr, William Morris, (Gwilym Tawe,) Stamp Office, Swansea. Dr. Davies, if' in delivering his adjudication on this subject, said that two essays were sent for competi- tion, one of which was hardly elaborate enough to be satisfactory on this subject. The other, signed "Y Gwir yn erbyn y Byd," was, he said, a very lengthy and talented production, extending to 90 pages. In this elaborate essay the author discusses the true meaning of great- ness and of influence, and defines the conditions out of which they arise, as well as indicates the results in which they manifest themselves. Reviewing the History of Wales, he first shows that there would be little disgrace supposing she did not influence the mind of England, and this he proves not from the facts of history alone, but also from statistics and its kindred sciences. By a large induction of the lives and efforts of Welsh- men, he proves conclusively that much of the noblest thoughts, acts, and writings of England has been the result of Welsh impulses. In a series of tables he classes together, in groups under the heads of authors, divines,statesmen, inventors, warriors, &c., the "Welshmen who have contributed to the progress of Great Bri. tain, and from these indubitable premises infers that a great mistake is committed by every one who ventures to affirm that the Cymric mind has exerted little or no influence upon Saxon success. The refutation of this idea is made complete by the carefullv drawn up sketches of the biogra* phies of eminent Cambrians, and the lucid state- ment of the times and circumstances in-which they lived, as well as by the effective argument by which he brings out the facts that however adaptive the intellect of the Saxons may be, the earliest touches of thought have been derived, in many cases, from some lone thinker of the Cymry. The array of biographical lore, critical skill, and fair argument brought to bear upon the subject show great, industry and scope of mind. This is a faint outline of its method rather than of its facts, and all that can now be given. It is, how- ever, disfigured by one or two trivial errors, such as Edward Williams instead of William Edwards, the celebrated Caerphilly bridge builder; but upon the whole he considered it a very able production, and completely exhaustive of the subject, and did infinite credit to the author.- Mr. Morris observed that the essay had been copied by a young man employed in his printing office, and fully accounted for the inaccuracies referred to by the adjudicator. LINES DELIVERED AT THE YSTALYFERA EIS- TEDDFOD, MONDAY, JUNE 25TH. 1860. IN June's itlad month-the sunniest of the year— In sardic Congress, while a'semMel here. Daughters of Tawe's Vale Glamorgan's sons !— In whom the antique Cymric genius runs- How risht that we to-dsy, with one consent, Should shew due homage to our President, Whose manly form and gentlrmar ly grace; But more-whose cllAracter-hefit his place; Long may he live—may BUDS of promise grow Around his hearth, and as the season flow, May friendship, fsith and love to him be shewn, And hearts surwund him-that are all his own. Let love be duly, and let all unite To shew due honour—yet defend the right. To-day we meet to hear the words of sages— To see the vorthy win true honour's gauges; To feel themusic of the Cymric harp Aronnd oar souls its glorious magic wrap— To listen, while the charms of Walia's song Sweep "heir wild way th* entranced air along- To shtw by feeling's sympathetic thrill- Thej'oys extatic which our bosoms fill. Th-tt our hearts throb, as in the days of old, With no slow tide, with no pulsation cold, VLIEA genius throws the glowing life of thought Into our souls-that there indeed is nought So dear, so hallowed to the Cymry's heart- So vitally inwoven with each part, As is our country's glory, speech, and fame, And all the memories 'twined around its name J Swift through the channels of our every vein, May tides of Patriot feeling flow amain. Ever may Cambria hold aloft unfurled, Her banner mottoed—" Truth against the world;" Ever with heart and hand unite as one, Let Cymry strive to see each duty done; Blench less in valour may her soldiers be,— Her merchants from the greed of gain be free. May the soul's virtue of her matchless daughters, Be pure as are the Tawe's earliest waters; Her workmen active, honest, sterling, true; Her gentry famed for wealth and honour too; Her Prince be valiant, upright, and sincere, Alike in truth and state without a peer Wales in the vanguard of the world be seen, For love of Freedom, Home, our God, and Queen. Stamp-Office, Swansea. W. MOBEIS, (Gwilym Tawe.)