The Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times

MAYOR'S SUNDAY." Is Welshpool Corporation Past Preaching To ? Eloquent Silence in the Parish Church. [BY A WELSHPOOL BURGESS.] 13th November, 1910. Their embarrassing experience on this Mayor's Sunday" is enough to make the Welshpool Borough Council- believe the old superstition that there is no luck in the number 13. Last Monday our town talk was the silent, but eloquent, rebuke which the civic fathers had received in St. Mary's Parish Church. This was the subject of discussion in shop and street, in public house and Conserva- tive Club. Said one member of this latter organisation: They were in a terrible way there-talking in the billiard room about the Vicar taking no part!" The Mayor of Welshpool described it as a very impressive service." It certainly was so from a certain standpoint. Every- one in the parish church must have realised something of the unspoken meaning of the service. The Vicar, in his private business life, had been willing to sell at a reasonable price land for the public good, which the townspeople were anxious to buy. But cer- tain forces had prevented the community from becoming their own landowners. Re- actionary influence could secure a majority of votes in three wards and in the Council Chamber. There was much soft speech- making over the re-election of the Mayor. But Welshpool's Vicar had not bowed the knee to Baal. And the progressive Liberals and Conservatives honoured him all the more for it. The Mayor and Corporation, with all their annual retinue, went to church without a chaplain, and they returned like- wise to the Council Chamber whence they had come. # Mr Maldwyn Price started the National Anthem on the organ as the procession en- tered church, and the congregation stood loyally. The Mayor and Corporation had arrived before time, and they waited in their seats a few minutes. There was some- thing embarrassing in the air the congre- gation contained a good number of people- hardy annuals" they are called by the regular attendants—who had not been in church since last Mayor's Sunday, unless they were at the King's funeral memorial service. The Mayor, in his scarlet, furred robes, sat in the Corporation pew next to the reading desk. The silver maces were propped up, one in each corner of the pew. What careful attention is paid sometimes to little details. At each end of the Corpora- tion pew's ledge there is a raised receptacle to accommodate the handle of the mace, otherwise they might fall on the floor. The three pews immediately under the pulpit had been reserved for the borough councillors and officials. In the fourth pew sat Mr Forrester Addie, the Earl of Powis's estate agent, behind Councillor Richard Jehkins, master of the Powis Castle stables. Enter up the aisle the choir, followed by the Vicar and a strange clergyman-a clean- shaven and spectacled face, full and fresh, suggesting Mr G. K. Chesterton. Everyone felt that he. and not the Vicar, would preach that morning. But Dr Davis is going to intone the ser- vice, and the Mayor and Corporation and the congregation stand to attention. The Vicar begins in the beginning: "When the wicked man turneth away from his wicked- ness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul." When the general confession" is reached, how many will join in ? How many will be silent? And why ? And of those who repeat after the Vicar, how many will mean what they say ? We have left undone those things which we ought to have done and we have done those things which we ought not to have done and there is no health in us." The strange priest reads the lessons in a pleasant voice that fills the church. He is the Rev Harrington Brown, a Shropshire curate, who is now acting as a locum" until the Vicar gets his new curate. The Vicar gives out some notices of meet- ings. And he makes a request: Will the congregation remain seated at the end of the service, while the Mayor and Corpora- tion leave the church ? The collection-as usual on Mayor's Suday "—will be divided between the Welsh- pool Dispensary and the Welshpool Nursing Institute. And it is the object of the col- lection that inspires the sermon. The Rev Harrington Brown, a stranger, can get no inspiration from the Welshpool Corporation. But perhaps he gets a better impression of them now-all silent councillors seated denurely in their frook-coats-than if he had to do much with their meetings. J There is a distance which lends enchant- ment to the scene. And there is a famil- iarity which breeds contempt. The locum" curate mounts the pulpit steps. The hymn ends, and he gives out his text. It is from the Gospel for the day," the 8th chapter of the Gospel according to St. Matthew, and the 2nd and 3rd verses: And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou can'st make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy was cleansed." The curate preached for thirteen minutes. His discourse had three heads: Firstly-The one who obtained the desired cure. Secondly-The conduct of Christ towards this man. And Thirdly-The lessons. What were the lessons ? I notice there are several," said the curate. But one lesson in particular I suggest that we dwell upon in conclusion. The Lord Jesus Christ did not become man merely to be a sacri- fice for sin on Calvary but also that He should be our example. The act of His touching this man revealed to us something of His compassion, something of His sym- pathy. If Christ, then, upon earth was so sym- pathetic, ought not we who profess to be His followers, to cultivate this noble quality of sympathy and compassion towards others ? Whilst it should be our aim to practice daily such a character, there are occasions on which we should especially show forth our sympathy. And is not the present moment such an occasion ? We ourselves have not, like the Divine Master, the power to heal the sick with a touch or with a word. But, surely, have we not the power to heal the sick by supporting such institu- tions as these for which I plead this morn- ing ? Our contributions are asked for the funds of the Nursing Institute and the Dispensary in this parish. And as a parish priest whose ministerial life has been mostly spent in agricultural parishes, I can bear witness to the enor- mous boon all such institutions are to the sick, to the suffering, and to the dying. Many a sad and dismal cottage has been turned into a home of rejoicing because the one poor, suffering inmate, instead of having to lie racked with pain on a mat- tress of straw in some dark or half-lighted attic, has been removed to an institution where the rooms are light and airy, where the suffering one is well attended to, and where his sufferings are alleviated. Shall not then,, brethren, the sympathy which the Divine Master extended towards the leper in the gospel move us to help these truly Christian causes to-day ? Shall not we, brethren, who have the power, stretch forth our hand to help the sick; shall not we, brethren, who have the power, stretch forth our hand to help the suffering shall not we, brethren, who have the power, stretch forth our hand to help the dying ? The curate paused. His Hospital Sunday" sermon was ended. Would he now pass on to a reference about the Mayor's Sunday,,? Would he welcome the Mayor and Corporation, or, at any rate, tell them that they have administrative powers in their hand to heal some of the 20th century leprosy in Welshpool ? Would he remind them that not only could they subscribe towards the "light and airy" Nursing Institute, but also could abolish "dark, half-lighted" cottages in Powysland slums ? No! Where the Vicar of the parish had failed in past years, a "locum" curate could hardly hope to succeed. Almost be- fore the congregation realized it, the Rev Harrington Brown was in the midst of the sentence which ends every sermon in the Anglican Church, but which is uttered so rapidly and lowly that many of the con- gregation rarely catch more than the words Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." Then came the hospital hymn and the col- lection. When one plate had passed the three pewfuls of councillors, ex-mayors, and officials, it was paved with silver, plus two pennies. The Mayor and Corporation and their retinue marched back to the Town Hall, and in the Council Chamber the Mayor ad- dressed a gathering of expectant burgesses: "Gentlemen, I thank you again heartily and most sincerely for the compliment you have paid the Corporation and myself this morning by attending in such number to divine service. I also wish to thank the officers and men of the Imperial Yeomanry and Territorial forces, also the Boy Scouts and members of the Friendly Societies. "I should also like to thank the Rev Harrington Brown for his excellent sermon, and the organist and the members of the choir. "I am sure we have all had a very im- I pressive and beautiful service this morning, and I trust our little institutions will benefit this morning. I have the privilege for the second time of asking you if you will kindly oblige me by taking a glass of wine with me ? Amid loud applause and some smiles, half- a-dozen waiters and waitresses appeared in the chamber, each carrying a tray laden with wine glasses. Sherry or port, sir Mr Charles Galloway, one of the borough auditors, and the oldest established licensed victualler in the town, has not once missed walking to church on "Mayor's Sunday" since 1880. "A pretty good record that was the appreciative comment of one bur- gess. "Almost as 'good as Mr Harrison's aldermanship." But Mr Galloway, with his long experience of Mayors' Sundays in Welshpool, had to admit that never before had he seen the Borough Council snubbed as they were on November 13th, 1910.

Stitch in Time. There is an old saying, A stitch in time saves nine," and if upon the first symptoms of anything being wrong with our health we were to resort to some simple but proper means of correcting the mischief, nine-tenths of the suffering that invades our homes would be avoided. A dose of Gwilym Evans' Quinine Bitters taken when you feel the least bit out of sorts is just that stitch in time." You can get Gwilym Evans' Quinine Bitters at any Chemists or Stores in bottles 2s. 9d. and Is. 6d. each but remember that the only guarantee of genuineness is the name Gwilym Evans on the label, stamp, and bottle, without which none are genuine. Sole Proprietors:—Quinine Bitters Manu- facturing Company, Limited, Llanelly South Wales.

A serious accident occurred at the Soundwell- road Colliery Deep Pit, St. George's Bristol. Three mpn were killed and thirty injured. Most of them have fractured limbs or concussion. One of the thrpe killed had only been married three weeks. Alfred Weal, a small holder of Doddinghurst, was fined P.5 and oosts at Oogur, for killing a pheasant on his holding. The Chairman of the Ðnob added that if there had be-n a previous codvict,ion the man would have been sent to prison.

NEWTOWN'S OLD CHURCH. An Interesting and Instructive History and Description. A Valuable Keepsake. [By MR. B. BENNETT ROWLANDS.] Officially connected with many historical por- tions of Montgomeryshire, Mr Bennett Rowlands has dedicated much of his leizure to historic research, and has derived infinite pleasure from the collection of local lore with which he might easily compile several volumes of engrossing interest. But the historical subject which claims him above and beyond all others is the Old Church at Newtown, within whose weather beaten belfry he has for seventeen years conducted Sunday service, particularly for the benefit of the old folk. Six or seven hundred years hack men and women gathered to worship within these now hoary, roofless walls, and to-day the bell still calls their descendants to meet in this ancient sanctu- ary. Thus Mr Rowlands has preserved a living link with the remote religious past of Newtown, and naturally enough he has set himself to learn all that can possibly be gleaned of the Old Charch's history. Recently the Cede wain Field Club paid a visit to these sacred ruins, upon which occasion Mr Rowlands read an elaborate paper descriptive of the Church from the date of the earliest records. That paper he has, by request, since revised for the Express' and we have pleasure in now presenting it to our readers, who will no doubt regard it as a valuable keepsake. Standing upon the remains of the north walls of the church, where he stood seven years pre- viously when addressing the Cambrian Archseo- logical Society, Mr Rowland said:— As the history of Newtown centres around the sacred ruins of this old Church, which gave New- town a name, I think it rightly constitutes the first place of interest which the Club should visit to-day. THE DEDICATION OF THE CHURCH. The dedication of this old Church and the Lady well in the town both hand down the name of Llanfair-yng-Nyhedewain (Saint Mary in Caedewen) or as some historians call it-Dyffrin Llanfair (Saint Mary's in the Valley), or inasmuch as the external and internal walls were plastered with lime mortar (small portions of which are still visible). I am rather surprised it was not called Eglwys Gwynn or White Church, the ancient name of which appears to have been changed in the reign of Henry VIII (1535), owing, it is said, to the tradition that the old town was destroyed by fire and a new town built in its place. The only evidence of such an event having taken place is the report that while excavating the well for a pump near what was known then as Mrs Oliver Jones' shop (now Mr Swain's, in High-street) a large piece of charred timber was found. So far as the name of Newtown or Newtown in Kedewen" occurred first in 1321, and if the old town was built, as some state, of timber with sheeting of smooth boards it would have been of very inflammable material and soon destroyed. The following extracts are from the Parish Records:—" The population of the parish of New- town at the close of the year 1821 was 3489 (3486) signed George Foxton, rector. On the 14th July, 1791, houses In the rural parish of Newtown numbered 31 In the Town 137 Total 168 A VAST PRIMEVAL FOREST. This church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The north-west walls were built of rubble stone from the bed of the river. They adjoin the tower at the west end, and this undoubtedly is the oldest part of the edifice, and probably it was the site of a much older building, some think of the eighth or ninth century, and venture so far as to suppose that the first building was a wooden reed- thatched church, and this on the site of a Druidical Temple. For the valley of the Severn was no doubt, at that time, a vast primeval forest containing groves suitable for such worship, and there are in England and Wales several instances where the early Christians sought to erect their churches on the sites of Druidical Temples, thus to show the triumph of Christianity over heathendom. The south-west walls were built partly of rubble and partly of a shale rock, considered by some historians to have obtained from quaries either on Caehillin or Brimmon Farms near this town. It had a double aisle and double roof, which was richly moulded with angel cobbles, resting on five octagonal oak pillars, portions of which may be seen at the Rectory. But the south-east roof is supposed by some experts to have been a ly-by roof when first erected, owing to certain openings in the wall and a different kind of building stone used from a certain height up. ITS INTERIOR ARRANGEMENT. I beg to submit a rough plan (which will be seen in the window of Mr Davies, photographer, NeMtown), in preparation of which I was greatly assisted by Lady Pryce-Jones, Mrs Hannah Taylor (who sang in the Old Church Choir), and in particular by Mr R. A. Powell, decorative painter, of this town (now of Llan- drindod). It shows the positions of the pews, etc., when the church fell into ruin. There is also another plan found amongst parish records, which is almost the same. The altar was an oak chest, which is believed to be that which is now in the cellar at the Rectory, with marble slab forming a table. It was presented by Wm. Evans, rector, ir 1768, and placed in the east end of the north aisle. Near it was an altar piece, painted and presented by Dyer, the poet, the subject being 'The Lord's Supper,' which, after lying for years among some debris in the Rectory cellar, was re- stored by the Rev. John Williams,' rector, and is now hung up in the chancel of the parish church. I hate seen a copy bf the will of Rector Wm. Evans dated 10th July, 1763, and proved 21st May, 1772, by Sarah Wilkey (his sister) and Rebecca Clayton. Mere is an extract from it: "After leaving property in Cyfronydd Township, in the parish of Welshpool, and all burgage house and apurtenances called the Old Tan House, in New- town, and property at St. Giles', Newtown, and all those messuages, tenements, and lands, situate in the parish of Mochdre, to his sister, Sarah Wilkey, for her sole use during her life, but sub- ject to the payment of an annual sum of two pounds and two shillings which I for ever- charge on the Mochtre property,—one i guinie to be given Rector or Curate of Newtown for preach- ing a sermon on New Year's Day and Holy Thurs- day annually, the other J guinie to be distributed among such poor housekeepers of Newtown as attends these services, but who do not receive parochial relief. The above sum of X2 2s Od to be paid by the tenant, and allowed by the land- lord or landlady-the half on New Year's Day, and the other half on Holy Thursday. The Old Tan House is called Trehelig." SOME NOTABLE FEATURES. There was a gallery extending over at least a portion of the south-east aisle, in which it is said Sir John Pryce sat; but subsequently it was used by the Church Choir, in the front of which (so a Montgomeryshire antiquary in 1832 writes) there was a gilt partition of curious devices, which no doubt was meant for the renowned rood screen that extended across both aisles, and which was in 1856 transferred to the new parish church, where it formed a kind of reredos until the new chancel was built, when it was removed to the Rectory, where it is now carefully preserved. A portion of it, however, has been utilised to deco- rate the interior of the chancel. For a descrip- tion and drawing by Mr David Walker, architect, I would refer you to Arch deacon Thomas's His- tory of the Diocese of St. Asaph." A very antique font was reported to have been brought from Abbey Cwmhir by Sir Matthew Pryce, who, it is said, conveyed the beautiful rood screen from that ancient Abbey. Until recently the font had been for years lost sight of, but fortunately it fell into the hands of our late talented local antiquary (Mr Richard Williams), who generously restored it to the parish church I should very much like to see it placed in the Old Church Tower Mission Room, and I would undertake to collect funds to restore it to its original beauty as far as practicable. From a report made by the Rural Dean in 1729 we learn that the Communion plate used in this old church was extraordinarily good, and was given by Sir John Pryce, Bart., and Arthur Pryce, EFq., in the year 1726. It is now in use in the parish church. From another source we learn that amongst the Church plate was a silver basin (the gift of the same Baronet) for christening purposes, but this has entirely disappeared. About the same date (1726-32) the church pews were made uniform, and the services were conducted in English up to 1769, when the Rev. Wm. Evans was rector. But a Welsh sermon was preached once a month and the second lesson was also read in Welsh. Ultimately the Rector dis- continued this, but it was revised for a short time during the incumbency of Rev. John Williams by order of Bishop Hughes, and held in the National Schoolroom, and I assisted our Curate to conduct them. About 1733, Sir John Pryce erected a beautiful organ in his chancel (the Lady Chapel is said to have belonged to the Newtown Hall Estate), and appointed one Edward Benbow, jun., his organist. We are told that the church service was performed in great perfection, but in the year 1743 Sir John Pryce took the organ away and sent it to Buck- land, Breconshire. THE ONLY SURVIVORS. About 1759 the church and chancel were beau- tified. The massive tower, with its wooden belfry, the south-east wall, and portions of the chancel, are the only survivors of this old church's ancient beauty. The walls of the tower are about 5ft. thick, but several fissures formerly appeared in same, and only for the timely repairs done by the Rev. John Williams (and subsequently by the Lay Reader), who had a plan prepared for rebuilding the church, but could not raise the funds, they would to-day be a heap of ruins. There is a plan of restoration prepared by the Lay Reader, which now hangs on the walls of the Mission Room, and had the late Miss Brisco lived a few years longer she would have rebuilt and restored it to its ancient beauty. The Rector had portions of the walls re- built and a new roof placed on the belfry, and Mr Fishbourne (the succeeding rector) fitted it up for holding services, which I have for about 16 years had the honour of conducting. The tower contained a fine peal of six bells of very excellent tone. They were no doubt given by the Newtown Hall family, as some bear their names. There is a report that during the com- monwealth Barnet and Rogers, the bailiffs in charge, quarrelled as to having the bells rung, and that Rogers, in a fit of temper, took a sledge hammer and broke and damaged them. They had to be recast by Reidhall, of Gloucester, in 1749, at a cost of .£600. In 1868 they were re- moved to the present Parish Church by one David Edwards, an ironfounder and blacksmith, and not long ago they were reset and repaired at con- siderable cost. The present Rectory or GJebs House was built in 1814 by William Cleaver, rector. The old Rectory stood in the gardens adjoining the old Churchyard. Several persons living up to a few years ago, recollected some cf its old walls, which were gradually 3leared away by the tenants of the gardens on the site of which the Rectory stood. Several interments are said to have taken place in those gardens, especially when the cholera visited the town: they were originally part of the churchyard. THE CHURCHYARD. The Churchyard, which is a very ancient burial ground, was formerly fenced by wood rails and palings. In the Parish Records there is the fol- lowing entry:—" The churchyard fence was, by unanimous consent, new railed and painted accord- ing to the following list in the year 1761." (See list in Parish books). The present brick wall around the churchyard is said to have been erected by one Goodwin, a native of the town, who returned from Australia after having amassed a considerable fortune. He felt sorry to see the fence around God's acre in such a dilapidated condition, and was prompted in consequence to this act of reverence and Christian liberality. The stone wall adjoining the river was put up, it is stated, by public subscription and the boarded fence between the gardens and it by the Rev John Williams, rector. The gates of the principal entrance and brick pillars were erected by Mr Robert Dale Owen, son af the illustrious philanthropist, who it is thought put coping on the brick walls. There was, according to parish records, a wicket or lych gate entrance from Skinner-street at the end of the avenue of lime trees, which trees, together with a row of Gilead and other firs and Ontario poplars from the entrance, west to the east end of the churchyard, were planted by Rev G. G. Williams, in October, 1838. There was also a Yew tree planted opposite the south side of the Chancel about the year 1694; two yews at the end of the Chancel in 1734, and seven sycamore around the churchyard on the 4th November, 1749. There were walnut trees planted at the east end about the same time. I myself planted several Austrian pine and poplar, but some of them have been maliciously destroyed. I again in February, 1906, replaced the poplars and planted alternately Horse Chestnut trees, which have grown to a con- siderable height and will be quite an ornament to such a burial ground. On the 31st day of January, 1896,1 planted two English yew trees, and subse- quently more, one near the entrance gate and the other nearer the entrance to the vestry. There was a weeping willow tree said to have been planted at the top corner of the south aisle, which stood over the grave of one Sergt.-Major Dolbey, this from a cutting, it is said, brought by him from the one planted on the grave of Napoleon ic St. Helena, over which he had stood guard. THE TOMB OF ROBERT OWEN. Near the same is the tomb of Robert Owen, the philanthropist, which was a few years ago sub- scribed for by the co-operators of Great Britain and Ireland at a cost of X150. This memorial to Owen in the Old Churchyard is only a part of the monument raised to his memory in Newtown. The other forms a section of the Free Library. In addition to the tomb the co-operators renovated a portion of the crumbling walls of the Church at a cost of some .£90. Mr W. Jenkins, the secretary of the Newtown Co-operative Society, whom I asked to furnish me with particulars, says: "The work was completed in July, 1902, and on the 11th of that month the unveiling of the memorial was undertaken by the late George Jacob Holyoake, in the presence of some 500 persons, who assembled within the precincts of this historic Churchyard. The audience was made up of representatives of co-operation from Scotland, England and Wales, and also among those present were our esteemed townsman Sir P. Pryce-Jones, as well as Hugh Lewis, Esq. (high sheriff of the county at the time), Col. E. Pryce- Jones (at that time the Member of Parliament for these Boroughs), Mr Edward Jones, Pendref (chairman of the Urban District Council at the time), Mr Bennett Rowlands, the late Mr William Cooke, Mr C. J. Newell, C.C., Mr T, A. Forster, etc., etc. The upkeep of the memorial is vested in, and attended to, by the local Co-operative Society, and through the courtesy of the Rector of Newtown and Mr Bennett Rowlands the Society are in possession of a key of the gates. Since 1902 several hundreds of people from all parts of the country have visited the tomb of our illustrious townsman. The design of the memorial was the work of that eminent sculptor -Mr Albert Toft, of London." An interesting feature of the Churchyard is "The Lovers' Grave." Here also lie the remains of the illustrious dead of Newtown and neigh- bourhood for at least the last 800 years. Inside the Churchyard is the royal tomb of the Pryces, of Newtown Hall, which was opened in July, 1900, by the late Miss Brisco, and over which a mausoleum is now erected. OPENING OF THE PRYCE'S VAULT. The Lady Chapel is said to belong to the Newtown Hall Estate, and we are informed that the late Sir John Pryce died in London, and was buried there. The late Miss Brisco, of Newtown Hall, after consulting with Mr Edward Powell (her agent) and myself, as to searching for the family vaults, resolved to do so in June, 1900. We were cot long in finding on the right of the entrance of the door into the vestry and chancel a small vault, wherein it is said were buried the favourite servants of the Newtown Hall family, and on opening this we discovered the remains of three bodies, and four iron candlesticks fastened in the sidewalks. One on the left of the vault was so perfect that the coffin I was not quite decayed. It was lined with leather. One old inhabitant, who recollects his death and burial, identified the remains as those of Tommy King," of King's Toll Bridge celebrity. This bridge across the river is said to have been built by the Pryce's family, the tolls to be devoted to Tommy's support. On searching on the site of the mausoleum we found the family vault. Although built with bricks in cement, and puddled with clay. there was six inches of water in it. Also, we discovered a large lead tank about five feet by f )ur feet, with remains of wooden lid and two coffins encased in lead, which appeared to have rested on the lid of the lead tank before it decayed. One coffin had fallen into the tank, and the other partly rested on the tank and partly on the floor. There was a tablet on the wall to the memory of Sir John Powell Pryce, who died in 1710, and four iron candlesticks (two on each side) were fastened to the wall. There were also, it was thought, the remains of the young lady Ann Elizabeth Pryce, eldest daughter of Sir John Pryce, Bart., and Dame Elizabeth, his first wife, who died 18th October, 1736, aged 8 years 5 months and 17 days, whose tablet is in the Parish Church, and several other human remains and massive coffin handles, one of which Miss Brisco handed to me. She also offered me the iron candlesticks, buti I thought it a pity to remove them. In the following year she erected the present mausoleum at a cost of about .£100. Miss Brisco died on the 20th January, 1901, at 79, Portland Place, London, at the age of 72. Her death was a great loss to Newtown, which has enjoyed so largely of her benefactions, most notable of which is the hand- some town clock and tower and the magnificent Cross buildings. THE ECCENTRIC BARONET AND HIS WIVES. Regarding the two lead coffins found in the vaults, in which at least some of the Pryces of Newtown Hall were supposed to be interred, it is not unreasonable to infer that they contained the bodies of Sir John Pryce (the fifth baronet), two of whose wives, as we learn from history, were embalmed and kept in his bedroom, one on each side of his bed, until when he was about to marry Eleanor, widow of Roger Jones, of Buckland, Breconshire. This lady declined the honour of his hand before her defunct rivals were committed to their proper resting place. I don't think it a great stretch of imagination to suppose that the family vault opened by the late Miss Brisco was constructed specially to receive the remains of these two ladies, and that the tank or lead coffer found contained the remains of the Pryce family, which represented several bodies, and which may have been removed from an older vault in this tank. It is said by some old inhabitants that this Sir John Pryce drove to Church in his carriage drawn by four cream colour horses, and that the then inhabitants of the town, all of whom were his tenants, invariably waited his arrival, and lined each side of the path to the Church; to them he spoke in passing up to the Church. Sir John was descended from the 4th Royal Tribe of Wales, and he was entitled to be honoured as a Prince. Sir John Powell Pryce, the 6th Baronet of Newtown Hall, was the only son of Sir John Pryce, the eccentric 5th Baronet. Thr >ugh an accident he lost his eyesight, yet it is said he regularly followed the hounds and though blind was seldom last in the chase. According to folk- lore, Tommy King, his faithful servant, accom- panied him with a long rein to his horse's bridle, and that once they cleared the old narrow lane leading to the Lower Bryn. He died in King's Bench prison, where he was imprisoned for contumacy on the 4th July, 1776, and was buried at Newtown, but not it seems until nearly six weeks after his demise. For her faithfulness to him while in prison he left his wife one shilling under his will. She died in London in reduced circumstances. An oil painting at Newtown Hall dated 1752, is supposed to be her picture. Most of the property was sold under a decree in Chancery, the park fencing having been previously taken down and the deer sold. A relative of the writer, who attended what was said to be one of the first ladies' seminaries held in Newtown in one of the old brick-built houses in Old Church- streeet, had seen the Park well-stocked with deer. The Park extended from Newtown Hall and its surroundings to Black Hall, Castleydail, and Vaynor Farms. This was in the latter part of the 17th and early part of the 18th century.

Forden Clerk Complimented. PAUPERS CAN GET OLD-AGE PENSIONS AND POOR-LAW RELIEF. DODGING THE AUDITOR. H As going over the House, to-day," said Mr. John Pryce Jones to the Forden Board of Guar- dians, last Wednesday, "I found that some of the- inmates wculd like to go out, but they found they could not live on 5s. a week. Now, it would pay us to give them a little extra relief. They will be allowed the doctor, It would be far better for us to allow the poor people 2s. a week in their homes at Welshpool than board them out in some other Union." Mr. Pryce Jones raised this point regarding a deputation to wait on the Local Government Board about handing over the workhouse entirely as a lunatic asylum. The Clerk (Mr. C. S. Pryce) There is nothing on the 1st January to prevent the Guardians sup- plementing the pensions at all. Mr. William Humphreys (a member of Welsh- pool Old Age Pensions Committee) That's a new point Mr. Stafford Price Davies: The whole thing- really hinges on what is the amount they can live upon. Mr. Pryce Jones: That's it. Mr. Price Davies: I don't know quite what they- can live upon. I quite agree THEY CAN'T LIVE ON 5S. A WEEK. Upon a recommendation from the Welshpool Pensions Committee the Beard passed a resolution to inform the old paupers that, if they wished it, medical relief will be continued to them as old-age pensioners. The Clerk remarked he had been instructed to give every assistance he could to the aged paupers to get their birth certificates with a view to old- age pensions. He had done so, but now there was the question of paying for these certificates. He did not think the auditor would pass the payment for these certificates. Bat," added the Clerk, amid laughter appreciative of his shrewdness, I suggest that the relief for the week in these cases be increased by 2s. 61." Mr. Wm. Humphreys: That will cover it. Mr. Price Davies You can drive a coach-and- four through an Act of Parliament (laughter). Mr. Pryce Jones But you must be a lawyer to do it. Mr. Price Davies (in a stage whisper): Yes, That's what they're for.

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With His Own Stick. WORKHOUSE PORTER ASSAULTED BY TRAMPS. The porter's life at Forden is not always a happy one according to the story told last Tues- day at the Welshpool County Police Court. Two tramps, William Foster, aged 23 years, and Albert Pickard, 31, were brought up in custody on a, charge of absconding from the casual ward and assaulting the porter. Mr J. E. Tomley solicitor, Montgomery, told the sitting magistrates-Mr Charles Shuker and Dr. R. D. Thomas-that the Board of Guardians took a serious view of such cases. About 8,000 vagrants a year were accommodated at the work- house, and, with a small staff of officers, it was absolutely necessary that discipline be observed. The vagrants were becoming a menace to the countryside. John Whittingham, the workhouse porter, said that the prisoners were admitted on Sunday evening. They had their supper and night's lodging and breakfast, and then decamped. He followed them, and caught them up about a quarter of a mile from the workhouse, and asked them to return. They struck him, took his stick off him and struck him again with that, and told him to keep bis distance or they would knock him down. He had to leave them and go for P.C. Rees Williams, Forden. With the police "he followed the tramps to Bishop's Castle workhouse, where they were arrested in the casual ward. P.C. Williams corroborated, and prisoners ad- mitted absconding, but denied the assault. In passing a sentence on each of a week's im- prisonment with hard labour for absconding and a fortnight each for the assault, Mr Shuker said the Bench thought people like them, passing through the country and receiving h (ppitxlity, food and lodging, ought to go peaceably about and obey the regulations of the Institution. Instead of that they were a terror to people in country places. The Workhouse Master (Mr E. H. Humphreys) reported the incident to the Board of Guardians last Wednesday, and suggested that the Porter should be provided with a staff to go amongst the tramps. If there ia a bother in the tramp ward," added the Master, i, is bound to be an Irishman without exception flaughter). Mr William Humphreys: I understood they beat him with his own stick! The Master: What he had was no sort of stick. A Guardian: If he had a staff they would have killed him I (laughter). The Board took no action to arm tho Porter against any future unpleawastuabs..