The Principality

This is almost a parallel case with that of Robert ab Gwtlvn< TM.i V~rf' "T wmpeiettMv • the prize of a silver harp, tor the best Englyn pti Y Delyn Newydd Dantio" (The Newly Strung Harp). This is his Englyn Peiriant i gerddawr, parawd,—areithfa Yr wythfys a'r wythfawd Tery eithaftri wythawd,— Eurllaes gorff yn arllwys gwawd, That is,- The musician's instrument, ready !-the theatre Of the eight fingers and the two thumbs It strikes out the utmost (power) of three octaves,— A gold-burnished body pouring forth praise (or song)." The Rev. Walter Davies, of Maenafon, was a competitor on the same occasion, and this is his Englyn:- Pletliiadau, tannau, tynion-y delyn, I'r dilesg feddylion; Odlan saint yw adlais hon- Llais lieu fawl Ilys riefolioti." This we cannot put even into prose, for it is deficient, as to mean- ing, in every necessary attribute of an Englyn. In alliteration, or cynghanedd, we suppose it is perfect. To Mr. Davies was ad- judged the silver harp and long and furious was the wordy war that ensued—not between the two competitors, for, as far as we know, Mr. Davies never deigned to take any notice of the matter —but Robert ab Gwilym Ddu wrote to Sereu Gomer a most elo- quent, indignantly eloquent, letter, in defence of his Englyn, ob- jurgative of Mr. Gomer for printing it incorrectly, and triumphant criticism on the Englyn of Mr. Davies. After all, the refusal of good R. ab G. Ddu's Englyn was right and just. It refers to the eight fingers and two thumbs," while the little finger is never used in harp playing. This observation was made upon it, when it was read over, before giving judgment, to a distinguished scholar —no bard himself, but still a judge of fact and of common sense. Under the circumstances, we are by no means astonished at the awarding of the prize to Plethiadau, tannau, tynion." The venerable Mr. Robert Williams is still alive in extreme old agr, and has survived almost every one of his bardic colite nipora rlies. The following is his Christ before Pilate Dros fai na's haeddai, mae'n syn—ei weled Yn nwylaw Rhufeinddyn Ei brofi gan wael bryfyn, A barou Duw gerhron dyn His hymn on the virtue of the blood of Christ will be sung in pub- lic worship by the Welsh people as long as they continue a people, and serve their God; it is all devout feeling, significance, truth,' power, gratitude, wonderment, everything in short that constitutes the complete fitness y,f a song of praise to God in the congregation of his people. The English reader will be kind enough to i/xeuse its insertion entire. Mae'r gwaed a redodd ar y groes "• 0 oes i oes i'w gofio Rhy fyr yw tragwyddoldeb llawn I ddweyd yn iawn am dano. Prif destui holl ganiadau'r nef Yw "Iddo ef a'i haeddiant; A dyna sain telynau glan Ar uchel gan gogoniant. "Mae hynod rinwedd gwaed yr Oen, A'i boen wrth achub enaid, Yn seinio'n uwch ar dannau'r nef Na hyfryd lef seraphiaid. 'Mhen oesoedd rhif y tywod man Ni fydd.y-gan ond dechreu; Rhyw newydd wyrth o'i angeu drud A ddaw o hyd i'r goleu. Nid yw caniad tu'r nef yn awr Ond megys gwawr yn tori, Yr hon fel amnaid fechan iawn Arddengys lawn oleurii. "Paoddelotorfycystuddmawr O'r anial dirfawr yno, Dylenwir croth pob dwyfol dant Ag uwch g'igoniant iddo. Er adrodd sain pob dosparth glan Ar ddirfawr gan ddiddarfod, Ni bydd eu dawn and isel fri Am waed i oIchi pechod." house to hear a good song, or not hear it at all; but that in such collections as this now in our hand, there may be found materials to entertain and instruct them, and calculated, by humour, wit, happy conceit, an:1 felicitous phrase, to make a family of brothers and sisters happy together at home. The heroic poem on the Summer," written twenty-two years ago, is a noble composition, and is itself enough to es- tablish the author's bardic fame. With all singleness and earnestness we congratulate Mr. James on the appearance of this volume, and recommend our friends to aid in its distribution by all possible means. Had we the power we would put a copy into every hut on the mountain side, every farm-house in every valley, and on every hill, in old Cymru, with the unquestioning belief that it would promote innocent hilarity, rational entertainment, and sound instruction, wherever it was read, understood, and felt. We have whiled away our time with Iago Emlyn, so that we cannot now indulge in the remarks on the present state of Welsh poetry, which at the commencement of this article we intended; but we shall soon have occasion to do so in a review of the Rev. Wm. Rees's selection from the Hymns.of Williams, of Pantyeelyn, a work which we have too long neglected.

THE WELSH IN LONDON. We have been requested to insert the following report of an interesting meeting of. Welshmen held in London lately we feel great pleasure in doing so, and shall always be glad to hear of the doings of our brethren in the great metropolis; at the same time we wish to inform them that they have no claim to our columns (as some of our correspondents have intimated). Few, ve;-y few Welshmen in London take the PRINCIPALITY; and the majority of those who receive it are, to a great extent, Anglicised. Our remarks, therefore, have no reference whatever to them. Most of the Welshmen who talk largely of their nationality, language, and love of fatherland, care but little for the PRINCIPALITY. We fear that the nationality of many of them, like some of their bre- thren at home, begins and ends-in talk. Of late an importa- tion of thoroughgoing honest and true Welshmen has been introduced into London, who will, we trust, direct the loudly proclaimed zeal of their brethren into some practical form. There are many useful institutions in Wales deserving and requiring aid, but few of our London Welshmen come for- ward to their help. Let them prove the sincerity of their zeal by liberally contributing to the support of valuable insti- tutions and other deserving objects in the land of their birth. It had been for a long time a matter of regret to many, that there existed no institution by means of which Welsh- men in London might be brought into closer contact with one another, and discuss matters'connected with their native country and native literature. The disadvantages, too, under which young men coming from Wales, many of them scarcely understanding English, most of them unable to speak it with fluency, laboured in joining any of the many institutions now established in London for the purpose of encouraging intel- lectual pursuits, were strongly felt, and a determination was come to to set about the immediate establishment of an insti- tution, where Welshmen might feel themselves at home, and where they might receive the instruction and enjoy the ad- vantages which the English institutions present. To get together a small band interested in the accomplishment of this end, it was deemed expedient, in the meantime, to organ- ise a society under the name of the Cambrian Literary Soci- ety. For this purpose, and to make the objects of the soci- ety better known, a public meeting was called together, on Friday evening, December 1st, at the Literary and Scientific Institution, Aldersgate-street, London. It was proposed by R. G. Williams, Esq., B.A., seconded by Mr. S. Evans, and unanimously carried, that Evan Jones, Esq. (late of Tredegar), should take the chair. The chairman, who was received with loud acclamations, then addressed the meeting as follows In appearing before you this evening to occupy the post which I now do, I can sincerely and unaffectedly say, that I wish my duties had fallen into abler hands. I do not deem myself worthy the honour you have conferred upon me, espe- cially when there are many present who could have served you with much more efficiency than it will be in my power to do. I conceive, however, that in presiding over an assembly of in- telligent and patriotic Welshmen, no insurmountable difficul- ties yvill present themselves.„ .We„ars W s-h- n- p KtVancement of Welsh interests—an object both lawful and honourable. Gentlemen, I do not hold the modern utilitarian views that all nationalities are improper and ought to be done away with. Difference of language among mankind, no doubt, is a serious inconvenience. So are seas, and mountains, and deserts. The natural world is not deficient in analogies to explain what may seem anomalous in the political, social, and moral condition of man. Nationality is perfectly compatible with the love of men; and sure I am that there is in it nothing, if rightly understood, inconsistent with the love of God. Nations are but families on a large scale, and the game kind of affections which bind us to the one clearly indicate some duty to the other. The destruction of nationality is impossible. It is the immutable law of both nature and Providence, and no human attempts to be "wise above what is written," will ever destroy that which has been established by unerring wisdom, and sanctioned by that boundless mercy, which directed the disciples of the Great Teacher to commence their world-wide mission at Jerusalem" (cheers). Gentlemen, the fate of our own nation is suggestive of profound thoughts. Here we are the descendants of a people whose history is fraught with romance, and brimful of instruction. Our language has never changed; our love of country has never perished. The impe- rial government of Rome, which imposed its ironrule upon us as a nation two thousand years ago, has crumbled into nothingness; the throne of the Caesars is no more remembered, and the proud flight of the imperial eagle has been stayed; but we, the descendants of the ancient Britons, yet remain we were cast down but not destroyed." Our attachment to the land of our birth is as warm to-night as on that eventful day when our ancestors repulsed the legions of Julius Coasar. The Saxon in- vaded our borders; his language, the alphabet of which we gave him, has long perished, whilst ours remains in all the freshness and vigour of blooming youth (cheers). The triads of our forefathers, the poetical effusions of Taliesin, Aneurin, and Llywarch. Hen, bespeak our connexion with the past; and the present ferment of mind indicates that there is yet in store a noble career in the future. The bloody edicts which the first Edward promulgated against our bards and minstrels have become dead—dead as the invader himself—and the descendants of the people, the head of whose prince was exposed on the White Tower of London, are to-night assembled in that very city to promote their language and literature (cheers). Gentle- men, I need not remind you that our venerable language and rich stores of ancient literature are now studied by the learned among all the continental nations. Our history will unravel many a dark passage in the past history of Europe, and our future destiny will have no unimportant effect on the ecclesias- tical movements of the age. Let us who are now expatriated from our native land cherish the language of our parents—the language whichconveycd the first accents of tender love and parental affection to our infant ears, 'and the language in which were first revealed to us the love of our Father who is in heaven (cheers). London during the last century exercised a potent influence on our literature. It was Owen Jones, the Thames-street furrier, that gave to the world the Myvjrian Archaiology." Here Dr. Owen Pugh compiled his dictionary, and here did John Humphreys Parry pour light on many a dark passage in our history. I see no reason why London, in the present century, may not perform similar services. In looking at the amount of talent by which I am now surrounded—when I think that two of our countrymen are presiding over important collegiate institutions in this metropolis, and that others arc doing noble service to some benevolent institutions of the day here—I am sure that we have all the necessary elements to form a combination which may do immense good in advancing and improving the social and moral condition of Wales. We have the power, let us rightly exercise it (cheers). Let us remember our fellow-countrymen in Wales, and endeavour to put them in possession of all the advantages which we ourselves enjoy. Some individuals think that the very best thing that could befal Wales would be the annihilation of our language. This piece of wisdom is very, very profound and philosophical (laughter). We are told by gentlemen, who are not able to read our lan- guage, that we have no literature worthy the name. This has been echoed by others among ourselves who are never in the habit of reading Welsh works. If they read and yet express this opinion, we need not engage a phrenologist to determine their calibre. Gentlemen, it would be vain, useless, and foolish to attempt the suppression of the English language in the princi- pality. Let it be taught until all the children will become authorities in pronunciation and teachers of elocution, if you please. But why suppress the Welsh- would it make our people more intelligent ? Gentlemen, the squirearchy of Wales have forgotten their language. Need we inquire what f^ure they have subsequently cut in the fields of intellect > Thfir status is such as not to render repetition invitin^ Let us hrmly embrace our language, and the wise and intdli-ont will bid Us God speed (cheers). There will be difficulties in our oTfho ftv 7aUisl-V >ve Sha11 have distance. Some of the gentry of W ales will assist us, though as a class I do not expect much from them. Our own arm must- save us,, and Heaven helps those who help themselves." Let us go on with vigour and decision, and the institution we now form will live grow, and flourish. Ihe day of small things will become the day of great things (loud and continued cheering). The secretary was then called upon to read the laws of the intended society, of which the following is a short summary The objects of the society are principally the discussion of subjects connected with the history and literature of Wales and its social and moral condition. The meetings of the society shall take place once a week, on Friday evening. Papers shall be read to the society by the authors, and after being read members shall be at liberty to make observations thereon. The papers shall be on subjects mentioned above but once a month a paper on a general subject may be read. Public lectures, exclusively on Welsh literature, shall be delivered as often as can be arranged. The society will keep in view the establishment of a reading room and library; and the formation of the institution above mentioned. The chairman then called upon the Rev. John Mills (leuan Glan Alarch) to cleaver the introductory address, of which the following is a brief abstract. After stating the objects the so- ciety had in view, and the means whereby these objects were sought to be attained, he proceeded to give an outline of the literary history of the Welsh. The Welsh are mentioned and their manners are described by Roman authors before the inva- sion of Britain. But although these authors seek to lower their characters, yet, from incidental allusfions, sufficient testi- mony is given to their literary character. The learning of the Druids is also proved by the remains now existing so that there is no doubt respecting their character in that early-period, From that time downwards a succession of literary men has followed, and taste for Welsh literature has been kept up in spite of all difficulties through the dark ages. Although the Welsh/have sustained great losses in the destruction of their MSS., a sufficient number yet remains to testify to the labours and learning of our forefathers. Some of them are (le, posited in the British Museum, the Bodleian Library, in the li- brary of Jesus College, Oxon; and in those of many private gentlemen. From these remainsthe poetic fire of the Welsh is discernible. To the high character of these effusions of the ancient sons of Cambria, as'well as those of modern times, high eulogiums are paid by Bishop Percy and Sharon Turner, well known English authors and critics. Handel, and Dr. Bunney, and Dr. Crotch, all concur in admitting the very early superiority of Welsh music, and its equality in fact with the scientific productions of the 17th and 18th century. The an- tiquity of the Welsh language, the improvement of its gram- mar, which was first published in the 9th, and afterwards in the 12th and 13th centuries, the strength and precision of its phraseology, are qualities in which it is superior to many modern languages. Books were printed in Welsh as early as the be- ginning of the 16th century, and from that time they have con- tinued increasing in number as well as in quality. A charac- teristic of Welsh periodicals worthy of notice, is that they are supported principally by the working class. The rev. gentle- man concluded by an eloquent peroration, in which, in heartfelt and glowing words, he expressed a wish that the day should never dawn on Wales, in which its language would be for- gotten, a sentiment well expressed in the emphatic words Oes y Byd i'r Iaith Gymraey." It was then proposed by the Rev. John Mills, seconded by the Rev. W. Caledfryn Williams, and with one voice agreed- "That this meeting expresses its deep regret for the severe loss which Wales and Welsh literature has received in the death of one of its most enthusiastic admirers and brightest ornaments —'Carnhuanawc,' the Rev. Thos. Price, ofCwmdu." A vote of thanks was then proposed by H. Owen, Esq., se- conded by J. II. Puleston, Esq., and unanimously carried, to the Rev. John Mills for his eloquent and learned introductory address. The Rev. D. Davies afterwards proposed, and D. C. Davies, Esq., B. A., seconded a vote of thanks to Evan Jones, Esq., for his kindness in consenting to preside over the proceedings of the evening. This was carried with considerable enthusiasm. In the course of the evening letters were read from the Rev. T. W. Jenkyn, D.D., and from the Rev. H. Richards, express- ing then- interest in the success of the society, and their regret at vfe^t>m««?atT:OrtS-Trnarthei'ance ot tne oojects of the society, are invited to be sent to the honorary secretary, Mr. R. G. Williams, Hart's Hotel, Aldersgate-street, London.

NORMAL COLLEGE FOR WALES. PUBLIC MEETING AT CARDIFF. On Tuesday evening, the 5th instant, a public meeting was held at the Independent Chapel, Trinity-street, Cardiff, for the promotion of the objects of the Normal College for Wales. The Rev. D. Evans, of Swansea, and the Rev. E. Davies, of Haverfordwest, attended as a deputation from the executive committee. T. Hopkins, Esq., occupied the chair. The chairman briefly addressed the meeting, explained the object for which it was convened, and expressed his warm interest in the success of the Normal College, and the cause of free education generally. The Rev. Wm. Jones, Baptist minister, moved the first resolu- tion. He observed that the state of education in Wales had, of late years, attracted much attention. It was such as to call for the inter- ference of those who were the friends of Wales, while at the same time he was not prepared to concede that things were so bad as some people would have them to be. We all agreed that the people must be educated j and the great point to which our thoughts should be directed was, how was this object to be attained? There was a feeling abroad in favour of education and many thought that Z, the voluntary principle would prove the most efficient in effecting the object all sought to attain. Competent teachers must be pro- vided—men duly qualified to communicate instruction—other- wise the object which the country esteemed so highly could not be effected. Now, one of the greatest impediments in the way of progress-of sound and useful education in this country-has been the want of men possessing the necessary qualification to commu- nicate instruction to those committed to their charge. Some of those present might be prepared to ask, how is it that such is the case ? It was a fact, ascertained by those who had turned their attention to this subject, that there are no men worse paid than the schoolmasters who are engaged in teaching the children of the lower classes of society. We all wish to have educated medical men, to whose care we commit our health. We desire to have well-informed lawyers, to whose judgment we entrust cases in which our worldly interests and prosperity are involved. But we had not been so careful to have men of education to teach children- to train them up, and to put them in possession of knowledge (hear). This defect was now fully impressed upon the minds of the friends of education, and it had caused them to engage in a new movement, by means of which the country might be furnished with a class of efficient: teachers, ^possessing the necessary qualifications to teach others (hear).; It had been the custom of late years to send young men to London, to be trained at the Borough-road School. We niust acknowledge- ourselves, indebted to that institution for many teachers who are now usefully employed in our country. It was, however, to be borne in mind that with reference to ministers and schoolmasters, if the individuals promised much usefulness, they were too generally retained on the other side of the river; and those who gave but little indication of intellectual development were alone permitted to return to Wales (laughter). There are some noble exceptions many able and useful men have returned to their native land, and have laboured therein with great success but they are only exceptions to the rule. In order to avoid the continuation of such a system, it had been determined to establish a college in Wales, to train men in our own country, where we might retain thena. A few years ago, a Normal School had been establi-hed at Brecon, in which there were many teachiers under instruction, and many had gone forth to impart informal oil to others. It had been found expedient to remove that school to Swansea. Efforts were now made to erect a college in the imme- diate neighbourhood-of that town. We feel interested in the ob- jects of that college, and pray that God would bless it, and induce the friends of education to aid it. Wales was once in a very dif- ferent position with regard to education from what it is now. It was then common for people to come from the continent of Europe to Anglesey to finish their education. That was before the Roman invasion of Britain. There was a period when Britons had their university at Bangor Iscoed. There were at one time two thou- sand students in that institution. But the sword entered the land; the seminary at Bangor Iscoed was destroyed, and the books belonging to it were burnt. The consequences of that event affect our nation, more or less, up to the present day (hear). But now our prospects were brightening; a new state of things has taken place, and a better era is about to dawn upon our hills and our valleys, and the people shall be put in possession of