Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
9 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
ftroituB.
ftroituB. Y PER GANIEDYDI) sef Detholiad o Hymnau WM. WIL- I'LAM.S, Pantycelyn, &c. Gan WILLIAM REES, Liverpool. :'[A Selection-from the Hymns of the late Rev. 1Vm. Wil- liams, of Pantycelyn. By the Rev. Wm. Rees, of Liver- ALMOST at the commencement of Welsh Methodism, a meet- ing of the leaders was held somewhere in Brecknockshire, at which each produced a hymn;—one of them was William Williams, of Pantycelyn. When he had repeated his, Howell Harris exclaimed," Will, bia'r camC—" Will, has the singing;"—meaning that Mr. Williams was the man best qualified to compose hymns for the use of the people in pub- lic worship. And never was anything said more truly. The facts of Mr. Williams's personal history are generally well-known, and have been very recently detailed in an English memoir by Mr. Morgan, who has written memoirs of T. Charles, John Elias, &c.-the most bungling and trumpery books of the kind ever published. Not one of them contains scarcely a single quality which such works should possess. It is most mortifying that English readers should have no better means of information with respect to these noble-minded countrymen of ours. But so it is; and we must for the present submit to the annoyance. William Williams was born in 1717, in Cefu-y-coed, in the parish of Llinfair-y-bryn. Pantycelyn is a farm of that Ham., belonging to his family, and where he, for the greater portion of his life, resided. His parents were Nonconformists, and his education was completed at a Dissenting academy, nt: Llwynllwyd, near the Hay. On returning home from the academy in 1738, he passed through Talgarth, and heard a sermon from the renowned Howell Harris, in the graveyard of the parish church. It will be remembered that Howell Harris was not in holy orders, and, therefore, might not preach in the parish church. It was, therefore, his custom to attend the morning service here and there; nnJ afterwards to stand on a tombstone, or on the wall, and act the Boanerges. He must have had some mighty elo- C, (iuence-sollle prodigious power-of startlinLr neoole into consideration and fear on account of sin and its consequences. Our notion is that Howell Harris was, beyond all compa- rison, the greatest Welsh orator of modern times. We have > no proof of this, but in the history of the country during and under the effects of his ministry; and what poor representa- tions of a burning und unquenchable eloquence are the mere copy of the words uttered It requires all the collateral and -fuiuotatory aids which our modern learning has secured to -y study Demosthenes as an orator. The words are there: but where is the voice-its modulations—cadences—empha- sis here, and gentle utterance there—a burning thought insinuated rather than expressed—and that rarest of human Spectacles, the orator transmuted for the time into his theme, till he himself is out of sight, and neither lie nor his hearers taink of him at all, but are irresistibly, and most gladly, in tiie possession and the power of the things that are said? Out then rush the Athenians, thinking no more of the wator. and with mighty vociferations cry, Let us go and tight., Phillip." To come to modern times'^ Professor Wilson finely says of Burke's public speeches, that the thunderbolt is there, but without the hand of Jupiter to wield it." Take a voluaio of John Elias's printed sermons, and, if you never siw and hjard him, and are thereby not able to realise his presence and delivery, of them, they are not very supe- rior affairs we are always sorry they were ever published. C.iris tin is Evans's sermons, though written by himself for the press, after repeated deliveries, are very meagre repre- sentations of the actually living thing—blazing, burning, scorching, on the one hand, in the consciences and hearts of the wicked—illuminating, purifying, and sanctifying, on the other, in the spirit of the believer. It should, perhaps, be no matter of regret that we have no permanent representation, through the press, of Howell Harris's eloquence we have a still m ire permament record of it in the history of religion in his country, and the deathless record upon that history of his name. Tnere it stands, in letters of fire, not to be extinguished even by the convulsions of the last day. Howell Harris'' (or the celestial synonym of it) shall, with all those who turn MANY to righteousness, shine as the stars for ever and for ever. This subject of eloquence has led us out of our intended course; but The light that leads astray, is light from heaven." William Williams proceeded home from Talgarth a re- newed man. Already he was a candidate and student for /the ministry—let it be remembered, among the Dissenters— and needed conversion on his way home frum, the academy At this time, real personal godliness was so rare a thing, that the Nonconformists themselves, not unfreq-uently, encour- aged young men to prepare for the ministry before they became members of a church This opens up a wide subject uoon which we cannot now enter. Mr. Wm. Williams de- termined to enter the Established Church, and in the year 1740, received deacon's order, from Dr. Claget, then Bishop of St. David's (an Englishman, of course !). Mr. Williams curate first of Llall wrtvd, and then of Llanddewi, Aber- gwesdn. In both these places he spent about three years. During this period he held family prayer at his residence t aree times a day, and his entire deportineat was profoundly religious and devout. He wis, however, addicted to "the siu" of preaching in unconsecrated places, and for this sin," id other kindred "sins," the bishop (we do not mean a New Testament bishop, but the then" LORD Bishop of St. David's," a very different article, certainly) refused our coun- tryman "priest's orders;" and, to his infinite damage, poor William Williams never became a priest! Poor, wretched man who Can help regarding him with the deepest com- miseration ? Well, he sjon became acqainted with the apos- lilic Daaiel Rowlands, of Llangeitho, and an intimate friendship continued between them while they lived. He went severally every month to assist Mr. Rowlands at the great sacramental services, then so numerously attended, and becajne henceforth a Nonconformist—a member, and a minister,, of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist body. For t ikty-five years he preached once a-montn at the chapel at LLuilluan and during the same pe.iod, and at equal inter- vals. at Caio and Llansawel. He frequently journeyed into neighbouring counties and went again and again on preach- iu:; taur:; to North Wales. In 1791, he, being seventy-four years of a,e, died at Pantycelyn, surrendering his oftice and "his snirit to the hands of the Redeemer. Blessed are the dead'that die in the Lord for they rest from their labours, and their works do follow them." Mr. Williams printed several works, but his HYMNS alone live. HJwell Harris had discerned well when he said that Will. had the singing." He had it, and retains it still, su- premely and unapproachably. There are not wanting sun- dry small critics-tiny men in reality, hug-e as Titans in their own, esteem—who seem quite at home in making scrib- bling criticisms on Williams's Hymns" some lines are too ion<j% some too short—in some hymns the sentiment is too joyous, in others it is too intensely melancholy. There is a tribe of men, even amongst us, tcise Welsh folks, who were <iptly represented by a little over-indulged fellow, who, hav- ing teased his mother all day for this, that, and the other, even to a brick from the top of the chimney, which the fool- ish woman had actually got down for him, said at last, Af fi ddiint qysfju. hem, os na cha'i bishgn or lleuad''—" I won't go to sleep to-night, unless I shall have a piece of the moon." Thus is it with our sm ill learned friends what they have always insufficient, not because their heads and hearts uVe large, and able to retain more, but that both arc nar- row and contracted, and shrivelled as well, by ineffable self- c.meelt. We leave them to their vocation. On the other side, there has been, no doubt, some sort of almost superstituous reverence for these Hymns. We once heard a minister, of no small note among the Welsh Me- t say, "You have in the Bible one unpardonable offence; our people have three, the first is that in the Bible, the seeond is to say a word against Mr. Charles's Geiriadur,' und the third is to utter a syllable against Williams of l'antycelyn's Hymns." We much prefer the latter feeling to the no feeling of the small men referred to above. Still, this may be wisely and safely corrected. In all the selections published during the last thirty or even forty years, a considerable proportion will be found to have been taken from Mr. Williams. The present volume is a very important work, by a most compe- tent person. The poet thought, felt, and wrote under the 0 w influence, and for the guidance of a state of things very different from what we have now. before our eyes. The country had been awakened into a sense of religion; but 0 great ignorance remained; and the frequent alternation of hope and fear, joy and sorrow, was the necessary result in the experience of religious men. These feelings wanted utterance in the family worship, and in the house of God. The people had few or no means of uttering "them in song, so dear to the Welsh, and enjoyed with so much passion. The man was prepared-the bard was ready, and but came Halleluia," Gloria in'ExceIsis," "Hallefuia again," &"C., putting words in their mouth, in expression of the very feelings by which they were moved. They were caught up by the masses of worshippers, and a hymn of Williams's be- fore the sermon, sung four, or six, or perhaps ten times over, prepared the people to hear and fefel the engrafted word;" nor did a hymn from the same source at the close contribute less to calm and soften down into holy fear and sacred tran- quility the imagination and the heart. Mr. Williams wrote his hymns under circumstances very different from' those of Dr. Watts. The latter was neither itinerant nor Methodist, though a very good, as well as talented, man. He blamed the enthusiasm of Whitfield, and gave him advice; i. e., caution. He composed in the undisturbed calmness of an almost uninterrupted and learned leisure. He never went among the people, and by actual experience knew little of them; while the Welsh evangelist lived amongst, and la- boured for them, and that while much earnest excitement possessed and actuated them. By God's grace and pro- vidence he became pre-eminently the hymnologist of this people, eminent for ages for their passionate devotion to music and song. In some of such compositions there will .1 p occur here and there that, which, to more modern and fas- tiduous ears, seams incongruous in sentiment, infelicitous in allusion or metaphor, and extravagant in the utterance 0 Z3 of both extremes of religious emotion. Hence an editor having no common qualification is needed. Whether we 0 have such an one in the Rev. Wm. Rees or not, we shall endeavour next week to determine. N.B.-We have been somewhat amused at Brutus's floun- dering iu the Haul, during the last year, in his attempt to prove that Mr. William Williams, of Pantycelyn, lived and died a Churchman This he has done in a certain article, called forth by Mr. William Rees's admirable lecture on the poet, delivered by him in several towns in North and South Wales. Whether a man who is refused deacon's orders, be- cause he will preach in unconsecrated places, and then be- comes a member and a minister of a Dissenting denomina- tion, and continues to be so for many long years—indeed, until he dies-was a Churchman or a Nonconformist, is a question about which no man, in the possession of his senses and his reason, can have any doubt at all. The meanin"- of this claim by the Welsh Established Church to the honour of the name of men, rejected by her, and hunted down during their lives, is another thing, and is, we hope, a good omen; not that we give the slightest credit to the writer in the Haul for any virtuous feeling in the matter. It is, one of the tricks" which he has been so long playing before t3 high heavens."
[No title]
THE MODERN THEME: OR EDUCATION THE PEOPLE'S RIGHT AND A NATION'S GLORY," being the substance of a lecture on the British system." By CELATUS. London: Johnstone. THIS little volume is the production of a liberal Churchman, a warm admirer of Lord John Russell, and an advocate for Government Education on the system adopted in the schools of the British and Foreign School Society. The British system is defended on account of its religious nature, its, umectarianism, its catholicity, its capability of riveting r3 information on the mind, and the pleasant and easy mode of instruction resorted to by it. The work is not strictly speaking argumentative, but descriptive of the advantages of education, and the various methods used for acquiring and dispensing knowledge. The volume is disfigured by many typographical errors, and very little attention has been paid to its punctuation. It is the work of a well-meaning man, and has some valuable, remarks on the duty of all classes of society, to work together for the common good.
HENXLLAN, LLANBOIDY,,AND ZOAR…
HENXLLAN, LLANBOIDY,,AND ZOAR BRITISH SCHOOLS, CARMARTHENSHIRE. The half-yearly examination of the Henllan British School came off Dec. 8, 1848, being presided over by the Rev. J. Lloyd. It was conducted by the Rev. J. Lewis, and the following British teachers -.—Messrs. Edwards, Ffvnnon Hughes, Llanboidy; Williams, Blaenconyn; and Jones, Cwimbach. Several other jrentlemen also took part In the proceedings. The subjects of the examination consisted of reading, arithmetic (slate and mental), grammar, natural history, &c. This examination fully convinced the parents and others attending, that the progress of the taught was by no means disparaging to the institution, but that it reflected a due credit on their intellectual powers, and especially on the abilities and perseverance of their teacher, Mr. Hughes. The British School at Llanboidy was examined on Tues- day, Dec. 22nd. The Rev. J. Lewis, Heullan, occupied the chair. The scholars were examined in arithmetic, geogra- phy, grammar, natural philosophy, scripture history, British history, and natural history, by the Revs. W. Davies, Rhyd- yceisiaid J. Lewis, Henllan; and S. Evans, Penygroes and Messrs. Edwards, Ffynnon Hughes, Henllan James, In Soar; and Jones, Cwmbach (British teachers). It was evi- dent that the children possessed a thorough knowledge of the subjects in which they were examined, which reflects great credit on their worthy teacher, Mr. J. It. Hughes. The recitation and singing added much to the interest of all present. In the afternoon, a public meeting was held, and addresses were delivered by the Revs. J. Lewis, W. Davies, and Messrs. Davies, of Treleaeh, Evans, Vron; Williams, Waunfawr and Evans, Llanboidy. At the olose of the meeting, it was suggested by Mr. Evans, Vron, that a pair of globes and an air-pump would be of great service to the school, and a subscription was immediately entered into towards obtaining the same. This is as it should be. When the public generally will appreciate the value of good educa- 0 tion. as they do in this neighbourhood, we need not fear that 11 the inhabitants of Gwyllt Walia will bear comparison with any on the face of the earth. The examination of Zoar British Schools took place on Monday, the 25th Dec. The chair was taken by the Hon. W. hT. Yelverton, Whitlaad Abbey. It being Christmas day, a large number of persons were present. The examin- ation was conducted by the Revs. J. Lewis, Henllan W. Davies, Rhydyceisiaid; and Messrs. Edwards, Ffynnon; Hughes, Henilan; and Hughes, Llanboidy, British teachers. The readiness with which the children answered the different questions submitted to them in arithmetic, grammar, ge07 graphy, English history, &c., fuly convinced all present that their knowledge of these subjects was not of a superfi- cial character, but that they fully understood the principles, upun which those sciences were founded. Appropriate ad- dresses were delivered at the close by the chairman, the Hev. J. Lewis, and Mr. J. Thomas, Forest.' The chairman expressed bpSh his surprise and satisfaction at the children's, acquaintance with the English language. He would, not encourage them to neglect their mother tongue,; at the same time he^cqr^ridered the cultivation of the English language essential to their obtaining lucrative situations. In 'cori- trastiiv the proficiency of the children with the shorbtime that Mr. James (the teacher) ha?-.spent amongst them,'much ■praise is due to him for his unwearied perseverance.
----------PONTYTYPRIDD.
PONTYTYPRIDD. CYMREIGYDDIQN SOCIETY.—This society held its annual Eisteddfod last Christmas day at the house of Mr. Thomas Jones, White Hart, POntypridd; Mr. David Evans (Dewi Haran) presided, and was supported by Mr. David Howells, Bryncwtyn, and Mr. Evan James (leuan ab Iago) appointed vice-chairman. The proceedings of the evening were stated in a brief but appropriate speech by the chair- man, and after the meeting had been addressed by several bards, and also a few Welsh airs on the harp byui-. John Crocket, who played with his usual genius, mpch to the satisfaction of the audience, the chairman read the adjudication by Mr. John Rhys, Penydarran, and Mr. Jonathan Reynolds (Nathan Dyfed), Merthyr. 1. "An Essay on the necessity of being versed in politics;" prize El. Awarded to Mr. David Davies, Pontypridd. 2. For "The best Elegy on the death of the late It. F. Rickards, Esq., Lantrissautprize, a silver medal, value one guinea. Awarded to Mr. W. John, Pontypridd. 3. For The best stanza to be placed under an oil-painting, being the likeness of the above named R. F. Rickards, Esq., the property of Mr. Thomas Jones, White Hart, Pontypridd; prize 5s. Awarded to Mr. Edward Lewis, Graigfach. 4. For the best Song on the Tatf Vale scenery;" prize 10s. Awarded to Mr. Evan Davies (leuan Myfyr), Pontypridd. 5. For the best Elegy on the death of the late Mr. Thos. Williams (Gtvilym Litinwotio,);" prize, a silver medal, value one guinea. Awarded to Mr. Thos. Lewis, Pontypridd. Also, 10s. to the second best. Awarded to Mr. David Evans (Dewi Haran). 6. For the best five stanzas on the five external senses;" prize 10s. Awarded to Mr. Edward Lewis. 7. For the best song descriptive of Pontypridd In p market prize 10s. Awarded to Mr. Walter Coslate. 8. For the best comic song;" prize 10s. Awarded to Mr. Thos. James, Pontypridd. 9. To the best singer in the Gwent and Morganwg style 10s. Mr. James James. A vote of thanks was given to the chairman, and all separated at nine o'clock, well pleased with the proceedings of the evening.
ISIRIIOWY..
SIRIIOWY. Ox CHRISTMAS DAY a lecture was delivered at the Inde- pendent chapel, Sirhowy Iron Works, by the Rev. Noah Stephens, the respected minister of the place. The Rev. E. Davies, classical tutor of Brecon college, was unanimously and enthusiastically voted to the chair. He opened the meeting in a very neat and appropriate speech, and then called upon Mr. Stephens to deliver a lecture upon the "signs of the times." Mr. Stephens then, read a masterly and most carefully prepared address on the above subject. His statement of principle was clear, and his illustrations most happy. He continued for an hour-and-a-half, and rivetted the attention of his audience from beginning to end, and occasionally convulsed them with laughter. At the close, one of the members of the congregation proposed "that they as a congregation should testify their appreciation of the mental feast which Mr. Stephens had just afforded them, by presenting him with some substantial token of respect." The motion was seconded and carried by accla- mation. The chairman expressed his great satisfaction at what he had heard, and congratulated the church and congregation in having such an efficient minister as Mr. Stephens. After warmly acknowledging the kindness of Mr. Davies in presid- ing on the occasion the meeting separated.
LLANELLY, BRECONSHIItE.
LLANELLY, BRECONSHIItE. ON the 25th ult., a public meeting was held in the long room attached to Clydach Inn. The meeting was arranged and con- ducted by the two societies of oddfellows, which meet respec- tively at the Crown Tavern, and the Clydach Inn. The objects of the meeting were tlirdefold:-I. To encourage the foundation of economical habits, and to urge the necessity of timely providing for the many emergencies of life. 2. To explain the nature and enforce the claims of oddfellowship, and more especially its provisions for widows and orphans. 3. To afford the inhabitants a kind of social and intellectual repast, on a day which has been too commonly devoted to drinking and revelling. Mr. John James, one of the managers of Clydach Iron Works, was unanimously voted to the chair, and Mr. Thomas Jones, grocer, to the vice-chair. The chairman said, that he felt great pleasure in presiding on the occasion, for he thought that meetings like this had the best tendency, as they Cultivated the social feelings, and encouraged the formation of right habits. He then called upon Mr, Jos.enh Bevan^jippta- aent state"of"ctdfellowship throughout the world, which was done in a very clear and satisfactory manner. The chairman then said, that he was glad to observe the Rev. John Dayuw, ifulcpcm,v\ f- m! itlsii'1', present, and called upon him to address the meeting! Mr. Davies said, that it afforded him great satis- faction to witness such a large assemblage of the good people of Llanelly, and to see them so ably presided over by Mr. James, a gentleman who was deservedly respected by all the inhabitants, and especially by the workmen of Clydach Iron Works, as well as by the kind and liberal proprietors of those works. After these preliminary remarks, Mr. Davies said that he would select for a subject the life and character of a gentleman, who had been some years ago the curate of their parish, he meant the Rev. Thomas Price, of Cwmdu, the great CarnhuanclIoc. Mr. D. then gave a short account of his life, briefly analysed the many excellencies of his character, and in conclusion said, that he was truly glad to find the vice- chair so worthily filled by a near relative of the celebrated Jones of Llandrindod, who was an intimate friend of Carnhu- anawe's father. The meeting was addressed afterwards by many members of the two societies, mostly workmen of the 'Clydach Iron Works. The knowledge, talent, and kind feel- ings displayed by them proved the inhabitants to be somewhat different from what they are described in the Blue Books." Mf. John Gronow ,proposed the health of the Clydach. Com- pany, which was enthusiastically responded to. Mr, JiYnes acknowledged it, and passed a very high encomium upon the excellent company. A vote of thanks was unanimously given to the chairman and the meeting broke up at an early hour.
r(BRECONSHIRE QUARTER SESSIONS.
r ( BRECONSHIRE QUARTER SESSIONS. These sessions were held on the 2nd and 3rd instant, at the Shire Ilall, Brecon, before John Jones, Esq Glanhonddu, chairman. Colonel Lloyd V. Watkins, M.P., lord-lieutenant ot the county, and a full bench of magistrates. The business commenced with the reading of the report of the finance committee's following estimate of experi(liture. 1818.-Dee. 26th. £ s. d. To balance in treasurer's hands, as per account there audited. 264 1 4i Arrears of countyrate. 710 14 14 To be receive(l, Yiz Half-yearly return of maintenance of prisoners to 30th Septemberlast. 79 15 6 To ditto prosecution expenses, and removal of convicts, to 30th December. 419 0 10 Sheriff, for judge's lodgings. 20 0 0 LI,493 11 104 1848.—Dec. 26th. By payments ordered at the October Sessions, not yet made 5 .9 5 By payments to bo made at tiie BplpUauy £ S. (T. Sessions, including those in respect to the Shire Hall, viz., Shire Hall 340 0 0 Othor payments, as per list 756 0 0-1096 0 0 Probable amount of prosecution expenses,atEpiphany, lg49 40 0 0 Ditto, ditto, at the Spring Assizes 200 0 0 By balance carried down 152 2 5 lg49 40 0 0 Ditto, ditto, at the Spring Assizes 200 0 0 By balance carried down 152 2 5 Mr. De Winton then, in a speech involving a number 01 minute details, proposed that a sum of £ 10,000 should be bor- rowed of Government, to cover the sum of £ 5,200. required for the erection of the lunatic asylum, and £4,000 outstanding debt on the county hall, with a view of spreading the payment over a period of thirty years, as a mere equitable arrangement towards the tenant occupiers. He therefore moved a penny rate instead of three halfpence, offering himself to advance the deficiency on the quarter free of interest, if the money could not be obtained from Government. The Rev. H. Bold seconded'the motion, and with other magistrates, thanked Mr. De Winton foi his liberal offer. The reports of the governor of the county gaol and the bridge surveyor were then read. TUB CWMG.WDY MURDER. The chairman said that he had to call the attention of the court to a very important subject connected with the police of .this county; he meant the frightful outrage unfortunately com- mitted near this town. He was quite aware that there was an opinion, prevalent-that there had been a want of zeal and acti- vity on, the part of the officials of the police. It did appb&r that, from some unfortunate circumstances, two days had. elapsed before any active pursuit had been made, and as the tra<nc il event had occurred near Brecon, it was natural that thepolice of the town should be first looked to. Mr. North, the surgeon to the gaol, having been called in to the injured man, had, with great promptitude, informed Superintendent man, had, with great promptitude, informed Superintendent Stephens, but as the poor fellow was then alive, it was consi- dered a murderous assault. He (the chairman) had since directed Stephens to enter all the circumstances, and evexy- thing he had done, in his journal, which he held in his hand. The chairman then referred to the entries in the journal, and stated that, unfortunately, the crime was committed on the day of the great November Brecon fair, and the mayor, when applied to, declined to allow any of the Brecon police to bti despatched in pursuit, as he was afraid to let the town be neg- lected at such a time. It was also an unfortunate circumstance, that Superintendent Stephens was not only appointed for the hundreds of Merthyr and Penkelly, but was also under the directions to the magistrates for the borough. Being thus without authority, he had taken what he considered the next best step, by circulating handbills with a description, in different directions, and in connexion with the liberal reward so credita- bly offered by the lord-lieutenant, since increased to a handsome sum by the addition made by order of the Secretary of State, the result had been that several individuals, answering the description, had been arrested in different parts of the country, and considerable expense had been incurred in sending persons to those places to see if the right party had been taken, which, untortunately, up to the present time, had not been the case. At the last adjourned sessions a description of a man had been read, corresponding with that, of the party charged, that it was hardly possible for any one to suppose that it was not the right man who was in custody. It had been thought proper to send Mr. Powell, of Cwmgwdy, with Stephens, but they found it was not the man. From former experience in these matters, he was inclined to think that the description which the police had obtained was not a very good one and, pursuant to his orders, Stephens told Powell to point out any boy he might see resem- bling the delinquent, and, in going through a village, he did see a lad whom he said was very like him, and on Stephens exam- ining the lad, there was a considerable variation from the de- scription he had given. Stephen himself did not know the person, but the two policemen did know him, and their descrip- tion of him was much the same. Under this apparent contra- diction, he, the chairman, thought it best to send to Hereford, where he had been in custody, and from the gaol books there they had got particulars of marks on his person which could not be seen without examination, while the external description agreed with that already sent out. Those additional particu- lars had been published in the Police Gazette, and two lads had been taken up at Carmarthen under circumstances detailed in letters (which he would read) from Captain Scott and Mr. JLloyd .Price, The chairman then produced a file of letters received by Superintendent Stephens, and his journal. The chairman then referred to forty letters received and answered by Superintendent Stephens, and two letters received this week from Carmarthen. He recommended that Mr. Powell should be sent with police-constable William Jones, to Car- marthen he was aware that much money had already been paid; but he considered that it was a case in which no expense should be spared. The lord-lieutenant said, that, although something like E70, had already been expended, he was glad to find that so much interest had been excited about this murder, and was particu- larly glad to find that the magistracy of the surrounding coun- ties continued to take such an active part in endeavouring to apprehend the offender. John Powell, Esq., said that, though a magistrate residing in the town, he had not heard of the murder until next day. With regard to the mayor, he could state, that he had shown the greatest anxiety to assist in the capture of the perpetrator of the horrid deed, and had, since the time spoken of, autho- rised the sending our two officers of the borough police for several days. After same further conversation, and the reading of several extracts from Superintendent Stephens' journal, it was re- solved, on the motion of the lord-lie utenant, seconded by II, Gwyne, Esq., M.P., that an association, for the prosecution of felons, open to the county, should be established, D. Thomas, Esq., solicitor, kindly undertaking to act as secretary. The court then adjourned. The learned chairman took his seat at ten o'clock on Wed- nesday, and having briefly charged the grand jury, proceeded with the trials of prisoners. Daniel Lewis, aged 32, miner, charged with stealing, at the parish of Ystradgunlais, one ewe sheep, of the goods and chat- tels of James Price. Guilty. Two years' imprisonment, fort- night solitary. John Morgan, aged 38, mason, charged with stealing at Dukestown, in the parish of Llangynider, one silver watch of the value of two pounds, of the goods and F-r- — Rpvfin ^-1 c^cd* oUj i^oourcrj siid Jofitt 22( labourer, charged with stealing at the parish of Llanspythid, one smock frock, the property of Morgan Jones. Three montKe' ou>oh hard labour. Robert Hunt, aged 31, miner, charged with stealing, at the parish of Llangynider, one goose and one gander, the property of James Thomas. Pleaded Guilty. John Smith, aged 24, blacksmith, charged with stealing at the parish of Llanelly, one pair of cossack boots, the property of John Ricks. Nine months' hard labour. Philip Davies, was charged, on an indictment, with having, on the 3rd of December last, at the parish of Ystradgunlais, stolen a duck, three turkeys, and a goose, the property of David Morgan and another. Verdict Guilty. Sentenced to two calendar months' imprisonment in the house of correction with hard labour. William Davies, aged 30, charged with having on the 22nd day of December, 1848, stolen one sheep, the property of Morgan Williams. No true bill. David Price, charged with stealing wheat at the parish of Llanfihangel Abergwessin. Not Guilty. The court rose at six o'clock p.m.
CARMARTHEN.
CARMARTHEN. WE are happy to announce that the Lord Bishop of St. David's has, with his usual generosity, given iC20 to be distributed at this cold season among the poor of Abergwilly, in coal, blankets, &c. The Rev. Hugh Jones, the talented minister of Lammas-street chapel, in this town, was, on Monday week (new year's day), pre- sented by his congregation with a purse, containing 30 guineas, as a token of their affectionate regard, and tribute of sincere respect for his able superintendence of their religious welfare. The tolls of the market have been let, for the year 1849, for the sum of £ 1,060. At the Borough Quarter Sessions, held on the 29th ult., there were only two prisoners, both of whom were acquitted. They were^the following:—Mary Jones, charged with having, oil the 3rd of November last, stolen a jar, containing brandy, of the value of 5s., the property of Mr. William Morgan. She was also charged with having received the brandy, knowing it to have beeu stolen. Thomas Phillips, labourer, charged with having, on the 7th day of October last, stolen a bag of rice, the property of Messrs. Warren, King-street.
CARMARTHENSHIRE QUARTER SESSIONS.
CARMARTHENSHIRE QUARTER SESSIONS. The January quarter sessions of the peace for this county com- menced yesterday week, at the shire-hall, in Llandilo, before D. Pugh, Esq., chairman It. J. Nevill, R. G. Thomas, W. Peel, Lewis Lewis, Esqrs., and other magistrates. The writ having been read, Mr. R. G. Thomas moved, in pur- suance of notice given at the last sessions, that it is expedient to appoint a committee to treat with the justices of the county of Cardigan, respecting the joint erection of a luck-up-house at New castle-Emlyn, for the use of the two counties. This having been agreed to (and in fact having been suggested by the chairman), Mr, Thomas moved that a committee be appointed for the pur- pose specified, consisting of the following gentlemen :-Captain Lloyd, Dolhaidd W. T. Lewis, Esq., Vehndre Rev. Augustus Brigstocke T. D. Lloyd, Esq., Bronwydd and R. G. Thomas, Esq. This motion was unanimously agreed to. Mr. R. G. Thomas presented a petition from the inhabitants of Llangeler and Penboyr, situate in the petit sessional divison of Newcasilc-Emlyn, praying that one or two policemen might be permanently situated at Llwyudafydd. Tie would make no mo- tion on the subject, but would prefer leaving it in the hands of Capt. Scott. After some conversation, the question was left for the decision of Captain Scott. Mr. Nevill moved that a sum not exceeding ilo should be placed at the disposal of the magistrates of the Llanelly petty ses- sional division, for the purpose of constructing drains under the Llanelly lock-up-house, and making certain repairs and improve- ments therein. Agreed to nern. con. REJECTED BII.I.S. The court then proceeded to consider the several bills which had been rejected by the finance committee, which were respec- tively disposed of as follows:-A bill for the maintenance ot pri- soners in Llanelly lock-up-house, was ordered to be paid in so far as it related to persons charged with felony, but the maintenance of vagrants was directed to be charged to the paiishes from whence they were committed. (Mr. Nevill gave notice that at the next sessions he will move that the question of the maintenance of pri- soners before conviction or commitment be brought before the notice of the court and considered.) A bill of f8 10s., for re- pairs of Llansawel bridge, was rejected, because Mr. Penson cer- tified that the work had not been properly performed. A bill 01