The North Wales Chronicle and Advertiser for the Principality

CONWAY. I SALMON FISHING IN THft CONWAY.—WO ARE glad to learn that the quantity of salmon in the river Conway this year is unusually large, as indeed it is said, upon good authority, to be "swarming with fish." In conse- quence of the brightness of the weather and the lowness of the water, no sport worth speaking of can be had with the rod and line: but the fishermen, who use nets, are reaping a rich harvest, each of them realising in one day some j67 or so. It would really seem, then, that the destruction of the stake traps at the mouth of the river has done more good than harm even to the fisher- men themselves. Should there be a down fall of rain, the fly fishing in this river would be splendid. COUNTY MAGISTRATES.—Our correspondent writes :— I am sorry to say that great inconvenience often arises ill this town by reason of the very few magistrates which live in Conway and its immediate neighbourhood. i r. J. Lloyd Jones, of Dyganwv, is about one of the most active of the few which there are but he, I understand, will shortly leave the neighbourhood. As it is, the public, to say nothing of the police, are very often put to much trouble and expense on this account; for in- stance, on Monday last, a prisoner had to be taken to Llandudno before he could be even remanded, and the witnesses had to lose time and incur expenses to go from Conway there, solely because there was no magistrate who would or could act in Conway. It is clear, therefore, that either a stipeudary magistrate should be appointed or the present number should be aug- mented. 0 THE VISITORS.—Our correspondent writesThe present season promises to be a very successful one to the little town of Conway, at least so far as it relates to the number of tourist* who visit it. Though not puffed up to any great extent iu either guide books or news- papers, people are beginning to discover that it possesses attractions of no secondary order, and what is more that it has a greater variety than any other town on the coast. It has a noble river, and it is close to the sea; i it boasts a suspension bridge, and a tubular bridge it is admirably sheltered it has its craggy eminences like its giant ncighboiy Llandudno, audit likewise has its! sylvan glens, purling rivulets, and umbrageous woods, which Llandudno has not. Within a mile of the old gristle walls, any one, if he feel so disposed — Mav sit on rocks, and muse o'er flood a id fell, And slowly watch the forest's shady scene, Where things that own not man's dominion dwell, And mortal foot hath ne'er, or rarely been; t May climb the trackless mountain all unseen With the wild flock that never needs a fold Alone o'er steeps and foaming falls m iy le til. Within the old town it-self, too. and independent of the CMtle,'which is well known to be it?4 "rown and gh'ry, there are many things to interest the historian and the antiquary. Its antiquity is so great that its origin cannot be traced; but it nurst have been a place of tome importance even iu the times of the Romans, for it was mentioned by Tacitus, the )iyi-tii author. It was to Conway Castle that the head of the unfortunate Prince Llewelyn was brought to King Edward the First after the former had been traitorously idiiu in Wales, and when high holiday was ke['t within its now crumbling walls. It is not very often that a visitor from England, or elsewhere, can meet with a well-kept old public house, which can show on its front the year "1589" as the date of its erection—that is, about a cen- tury after America was discovered by Columbus, and just one year after Queen Bess had, by her fleet, destroyed the "Invincible Spanish Armada;" yet if any of your English friends choose to pay a passing visit to the Black Lion Inn, in Castle-street, he will assuredly find one in Conway. Near to the present churchyard may be seen the remains, slight they may be, of its once celebrated Abbey, in which Llewelyn the Great was buried, but whose coffin, 49 years afterwards, was removed to Llanrwat. There is another very interesting structure also of the Elizabethan age and order, called Plas mawr, and which is well worthy of more than a cursory glance as a person saunters down High-street on hit way, it may be, to the Castle Hotel. The old parish church is not by any means a modern erection, for its beautiful font is said to have been the gift of Llewelyn the Great, and it also contains a stone figure in memory of the mother of Archbishop Williams, and she died in the year 1535—just 4 years before the Black Lion was built Whether, therefore, we look at Conway with r ference to it< great natinal aDd vilied attractions, its historical remiuiscenes, or interesting antiquities, it is a town deserving of more attention than it seems to have received of late years, but which, I trust, it will meet with in years to come. An idea appears to have been entertained that the accommodation is so very limited that it is impossible to be obtained. Now, this is an entire mistake, although I should be very glad, for the sake of the old town itself, if steps were at once taken to have it greatly extended, and with a little well- directed energy, this could, and it certainly should, be done. We hear and read of parties by the score being compelled to leave Penmaenmawr and Llanfairfechan because there is literally no room for them; whilst in Conway, which possesses much greater accommodation, in some things, than either of them, and which for salubrity and varied scenery cannot be surpassed has "room enough, and to spare," and yet visitors pass it by. Such has been, at least, the state of affairs; but I am happy to say that a glimmering of the truth seems to have beamed upon tourists, and that Conway is now bfung more extensively patronized. A DSSMBATB RUFFIAN.—On last Saturday evening last, Conway was the scene of a terrible shindy caused by the atrocious, vagaries of one of its ruffianly celebri- ties, one Robert Jones, a fisherman, but who is better known in the town and neighbourhood as "Robyn Caddy," and who isalso well-known in Carnarvon jail. The following are the facts as detailed by the several wittlei- aes. About five o'clock in the evening, Captain Richard Owen, two sawyers, and a man with a wooden leg, named John Hughes, were quietly chatting down at the quay, sitting down, when "Robyn" made his appearance in front of them, and accosted Captain Owen with "Oh! you are too much of a gentleman, are you, to bring my coat from Liverpool 1" (rhe coat, it seems, is in a pawnshop there, and sometime ago Captain Owen refused to get it out of pawn for him as he was above having anything to do with pawnshops.) The captain smilingly replied that he really was so. The defendant, without more ado, hit him a tremendous blow with his fist, which he repeated a number of times. At last, the dastardly ruffian saw a piece of iron, used by sawyers, and instantly got hold of it and made an attempt to strike Owen with the dangerous instrument; but the sawyers, perceiving the danger, got hold of his arm?, and for a moment checked him. In the struggle the iron slipped out of his hand and hit Hughes, the one- legged man, who instantly fetched the brute a sharp blow on the side of the head with his stick, which had the effect of sobering him a little. In the meanwhile Owen had run away at full speed, and went to Mr. Hughes' office for a summons. Robyn, being thus far master of the walk, proceeded up Rose Hill, elated with what he had achieved, and ready to further test his prowess. When about half way up Rose Hill-street, he met Mr. Fullwell, the custodian of the suspension bridge, -who was wheeling a hand-cart. Without saying a word, the infuriated brute hit Fullwell a blow in the face, and followed it up by kicking him between the legs. Just at this time, P.C. Griffith Thomas came on the scene and attempted to take him into custody. He went peaceably enough until he got opposite the Vicarage, when he violently assailed the policeman both with his fist., and his feet, and in the most determined and savage manner. Thomas then used his staff and gave a sharp rap or two on his nob, but this only had the effect of making him more furious, and he pulled out a pocket knife, and said he would stick the first person who touched him. There were several men looking on, but they rendered no assistance; but at last Thomas managed to get the knife from him. Just at this juncture Sir Richard Bulkeley, the Lord Lieutenant of the County, with his son, who were temporanly staying at the Erskin Arms Hotel, came up, when Sir Richard at once collared him, and some others then assisted and laid hold of him on the other side. "Caddy," who was for a moment flabbergasted at the sudden appearance of Sir Richard, soon recovered himself, and attempted to kick with all his might (and he is adept at this manly art), but he was too skilfully handled just then to do any further mischief; and so lie was literally carried by the arms and legs to the lock-up in Lancaster-square which, fortunately, was not more than one hundred yards distant. When he was liberated, in the lock up, his fury became doubly furious, and the kicking process was recommenced in fine style, as Inspector Evans, of whom he stands greatly in fear, did not happen to be at home. Before he could be put into the cell, P.C. Ihomas wished to fasten the back kitchen door, and to do this he foolishly pilI. his staff under his arm. Hobyn, in an instant, whun his back was turned, clutched the staff, and hit him two stuart blows on the head with it-thns returning the compliment which he himself had received a few minutes before. At last he was safely secured, and the crowds which had collected during the row disnersed Had it not been for the spirited conduct of ?hard Bulkeley. it is impossible to say what ser- ious results might not have happened, for the bystanders acted in the most cowardly manner, and the man was .1? y too much for the policeman unassisted On the Sunday he was visited by his mother, whom he directed to keep a sharp look for those who gave evidence against him Z he intended to have a word with them when he œm back from prison. On Monday, he was taV n to A Llandudno by train from the Junction ??ion as two ? magistrates conM not be had in CoUwly, be ore the Rev. J, Morgan and J. Lloyd Jones, Esq., Dryganwy, when he was charged with having C()ra ;oitted three MparateaMtulta. viz., on Captain Owen, .Mr. Fullwell, ?d the poliee-otRcer, and a number ()f wl.tnwe,4 were ?minedto prove the offences. Ultimately he was MmMKM to the Conway petty nwom on Friday ?t

I DENBIGH. I ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE DENBIGH- SHIHE INFIUMARV.—Professor Ewart gave a grand enter- tainment far the benefit of the Denbighshire Infirmary, on Monday evening last, at the Town Hall, under the imme,liate patronage of his worship the Mayor and bo- rough magistrates. The reserved and first cl.'ws seats were fully occupied by the elite of the neighbourhood. The Denbigh Stringed Band was in attendance. Mr. Ewart on this occasion displayed unwonted ability as a ventriloquist, magician, dramatist, tragedian, and trans- former. Garibaldi was moat strikingly personified by the Professor, which created intense excitement for the moment, breaking forth in an outburst of cheers for the noble general, the Stringed Hand at the same time play- ing See the conquering hero come with great effect. This part of the performance, we doubt not, will be equally pleasing to an audience in any part of the Princi- pality.

HOLYHEAD. OLD HARBOUR. 10 consequence ot the rapidly-increasing passenger and goods-traflio at Holyhead, the London and Nortli- WestiTu Hallway ^Chester and Holy head Hrancli) have thought it necessary to excavate the Old Harbour, iu order that a broad and deep channel, permitting con- stant business, at all states of the tide, might be af- forded. On that side of the channel, nearest the town, a strong and high quay, with a commodious good-* shed and offi- ces, is to be erected, which wiil permit a water frontage of about three-quarter* ot a mile. The wall is in pro- cess «>t' erection; about one-third being already com- pleted,—hundreds of workmen being employed. Abovt^ the Hailway Station, aud between it and that part of the town called London Road, are built two bridges; one, joining the high road above the Station, is intended to do away with t»i« crossing Uelow the Sta- tion, and to permit ifs being extended the other, a foot bridge, imme liat> 1: below tile other both of them are handsome structures and nearly complete. he lUilway Company's yard is also being enlarged extensive stone building are in process of erection, to serve as offices, boiler aud carpenter shop, with sheds fur a sawing machine, aud iavg < s hears, to permit their vessels being entirely repaired here, instead of, as at pre- sent, in Liverpool. i i.ower down the lLivb mr, pxst the eo^er-d;un, and below the present Good's Sh.;d, where, not ion.; siu^e, Meo, the Admiralty Jetty, important alt-rations are been entirely removed, and th quay wideuedat that part. oil this, ronln are being erected to serve as refresh- ment-room, waiting-room^, &c. The Lighthouse, which, until" the erection of the Great Kastera Jetty, stood at the end of the Harbour, has been found to be unserviceable, where it is at present; cons >qnently, a small iron lUht-hotwe has been stt at the end of the Jetty but the red light, throwing on I soma dangerous rocks iu the vicinity, is retained iu the old building. The Breakwater, in the Outer Harbour, has been car- ried out as far as intended the Lightship which stood there has been removed, and a temporary wooden light erected, until the completion of the proper building. All the*e improvements will undoubtedly atf.;ct the town. New streets will sp.-ing up, the old th itched houses will ti-, business increase, and the iiii-tll fishing village of Holyhead (as it was styled not long ago by one of the Metropolitan papers) take its proper stand, as one of the must important of the seaports of Great Britain. PETTY SESSIONS.—Before Capt. Roberts. W. Jones, labourer, Llangoed, was charged withbeing drunk and disorderly. Committed for seven days. Ann Roberts aud Elizabeth Jones, unfortunates, were charged with being drunk, and soliciting prostitu- tion. Each committed for 14 days. George White, vagrant was charged with being drunk and riotous. Fined 5s. and costs. Mary Anne Brown, an Irish vagrant, wascliarged with beiu drunk and riotous. The Magistrate ordered her to be sent over to Ire- land.

RHYL. MONTHLY MEETING OF THE COMMIS- SIONERS. The first month'}' meeting of the Improvement Commissioners of the new year was held on Friday, the 12th iustaut. Eighteen Commissioner were present. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. The first business transacted was the election ot chairman for the ensuing year, a subject which has oc- cupied much attention since it was known that Mr. Cliurton had fully resolved to resign the chairmanship which he honourably held for four successive years, with untiring zeal and energy. The first candidate proposed was Mr. Thomas Healing, —the proposer being Mr. John Roberta, who made some glowing observations on the liberality and general charac- ter of Mr. Healing. -The motion was seconded by Mr. Thomas Ro- berts. Mr. E. Powell Jones said he had great pleasure in proposing the Rev. Hugh Morgan, a gentleman well known to-them aU; and he felt sure if he was elected he would uphold the dignity of the chair, and would act cautiously and impartially. Mr. William Morris, builder, seconded the mo- tion. Mr. James Taylor begged leave to propose Mr. Hil- ditch. He had not the slightest objection to Mr. Healing or to Mr. Morgan, further than he thought they we less competent to fill the duties of the chair than Mr. Hilditch. With a perfectly charitable feeling he had advised Mr Healing to become a candidate for the office. He (Mr. Healing) was a gentleman that did as much good as anyoue to the town of Rhyl, but being of an excitable temperament he did not think him a proper person to take the chair. (A laugh.) As regard- ed Mr. Morgan, he always held that ministers were out of place when occupying public positions for the control of temporal matters; ministers, in fact, as a rule, were the worse business men in the world; there were, of course, some exceptions. Besides, he was of opinion that Mr. Morgan was not in a position to be thoroughly independent in the fulfilment of the duties of chairman at that board. He did not make these observations from any whim or ill feeliiig,-he was merely expressing the sincere convictions of his heart. (Hear, hear.) Then, with reference to his own candi- date lie would not hesitate in stating that Mr. Hilditch was, in every respect, fitted to be the chairman of the board,—no person in that room better understood the requirements of the town than he did. (Hear.) Mr. Taylor's proposition was seconded by Mr. Edw. Robetts. Result of the voting as follows :-For Mr. Hilditch, 4 (his own vote being one); Mr. Morgan, 9; and nr. Healing, 2. Mr. Morgan was duly elected, amid signs of much ap- probation. Mr^ Morgan, having taken the chair, said1 thank you, gentlemen, for the compliment you have paid me in electing me your chairman for this year, and I trust that my conduct in the chair will be such as, in some measure at all events, to deserve the confidence placed in me (Hear, hear.) It is not a position that I at all coveted or wished for; I should have very much wished, as far as my own personal feelings are concerned, if my friend Mr. Churton whould have consented to go on for another year, or that some other commissioner had been selected by the majority of your votes. But I will say this, -it is a position I feel proud of, because it evinces the confidence reposed in- me by my fellow- townsmen, which certainly is valuable and of service to me; and I sincerely trust my conduct, by word or by deed, will not cause you to repent giving me your sup- port on this occasion. (Hear, hear.) I shall endeavour to discharge my duties in this chair faithfully and im- partially; I will extend every liberty to the commission. ers to express their opinions, and if ever I am compelled to enforce any of the bye-laws and regulations of the commission, I only tru.,t you will fairly support me. (Hear, hear.) The dispatch of business is the greatest duty I have to perform here; and although my friend, Air. Taylor, has gently hinted that ministers, as a rule, are not men of business, I hope, by the end of the year, that he will find an exception in me. (Applause.) A vote of thanks, proposed by Mr. Powell Jones, and seconded by Mr. Morgan, was unanimously accorded to Mr Churton, for his impartial conduct in the chair during the past year, and high encomiums were passed on him for the important services he had rendered to the town at all times. Mr. Churton acknowledged the compliment. The routine business was then transacted.

I KUTHIN. CHRISTY'S MINSTRELS.—A company of American minstrels gave all entertainment in the County Hall, on Wednesday evening, to a select audience. RENT AUDIT.—Lord Bagot's half-yearly rent audit was held on Monday last, at the Assembly Room, Lion Hotel. A sumptuous dinner was provided to 120 te- nants, presided over by M. Turner, Esq., agent of the Estate CRICKET MATCH.—Major Rowley's Eleven v. The Ruthin Grammar School-Cm Thursday, the 11th inst., a spirited and interesting: cricket-match took place be- tween the above clubs, in the Castle Pftric, in the pre- sence of a numerous parij olsgectatoia. Playing begun at one p.m., and was continuo until a late hour. Major Rowley's Eleven scored 98 in the first innings, and the Grammar School 42. The latter Entered the second innings, and scored 58, but before the match could be played out, the shades of evening compelled the con- tending parties to retire. According to the laws of cricket, Major Rowley's Eleven having scored the high- est in the first innings, were declared the victors. The Grammar School, unwilling to loose the palm, challeng. cd their opponents to a return match. The chal- lenge was freely accepted, and the lay fixed for Satur- day last, on the same ground. After a well-fought battle, the Grammar School redeemed their lost glory, aud won the match by a majority of 5. The scores appear thus Major Rowley's Eleveii-Itit innings, 61 2nd ditto. 36; total, 07. Grammar School—1st innings, 52; 2nd ditto, 50 total, 102. Major Rowley's Eleven con- sisted of the following; Lord Langford, Messrs. W. Rowley, Wm, Green, jun., John Morris, North and South IVales Bank, Wm. Lloyd juu., W. V. Jones, (7, Adams, S. Windell, C. J. Maurace, Pierman, and C. D. Jones. The Grammar School Eleven were T. Lloyd, W. Roberts, T Davies, T. Owen, D. Edwards, D. Chailoner, D. Davies, Fitzgerald, Evans, F. Barnwell, and Tudor Owen. At the interval between the innings, the parties adjourned to the Lion Hotel to partake of a grand luncheon at the expense of the Rev. Mr. liavu- well, head master of the Grammar School. COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS, Monday, Aug. 15.—Before James Maurice, Gabriel Roberts, It. G. Johnson, and K. F. F. Birch, EsqrA. Obtain in;/ MOllrYllllrler Ftlse Pretenna.—David Wil- liams, a native of llenllan, was charged with having, on the 12th of July, obtain the sum of OK. from Mr. Will. WitUams, of the Throe Pigejns, Llaufair-Dyffryii-Clwyd, under false pretences. The prisoner,it appear1!, had stated to the prosecutor that he was the son ot R iwlaud Edwards, an old friend of his, who died a tew years ago that he had lost a pony, for which he had been searching, in Oswestry, Wrexham, &< and in order to proceed in his search, he requested the loan of M. 1'r'?'cutor believing the repre- sentation t ) be truj, advanced the money, being assured that it would be repaid in a short time. Heing after- wards satisfied that he had been duped, he gave informa- tion to th- p)iic?, wh > apprehended the prisoner at Fron, near font Cysyllte Prisoner denied the offence, stating that he had never received fn from prosecutor, and had not been in his house on the 12tli of July Committed to the Quarter Sessions. Aasntll. --John Evans, of Naut Ucliaf, (Jyffyliog, charged ll.'iert Uoyd wiih .maulting him, on the 8-11 inst. t Fined and costs. David David Davies also charged John Foulkos with a siniilar oiferice. This case was dismissed, in C (If the non- appearance of complainant. Vagrant'—Mr. Isaac Williams, relieviug-offieer, charged one John Parry with begging. Discharged with a caution. HOAHD OF GUAitnnss.—The fortnightly meeting of the Guardians was held on Monday last. Present- James Maurice, F.-iq., chairman Jos. Peers, Esq., vice- chairman; Rev. H. J Owen J. J. Bancrott, Mr. John Lloyd, Efenechtyd R. G. Johnson, Esq John Barber Esq., Plas Ashpool Mr. Richard Lloyd, 1,lau- gynhafel; Wm. Lloyd, Esq solicitor; Mr. John Jones, Oakland*; Rev. D."Roberts; Mr. Evan Davies, Man- ynys Mr. Thomas Jones, Llanelidan Gabriel Roberts, Esq.; Rev. J. Clement Davies; John Jenkins, Eiq Mr. Hugh Hughes) Llanfwrog; and Mr. John Davies, Llamwen. Having gone through the routine business, the Board proceeded, at Eleven o'clock to The Election of a Schoolmistress for the IVorkhouie.- The appointment became vacant by the resignation of Miss Roberts. There were four candidates, each producing testimo- nials of the highest character. Miss Ellin Jones, late pupil teacher at the Ruthin British School, obtained 10 votes, and was declaredduly elected. No other busiuess of public interest was brought be- fore the board. Out-relief expended during the past fortnight, £ 189 16s. 6d.; amount of cheques drawn for ensuing fort- night, £190. Number of paupers in the Workhouse, 84 corresponding period fast year, 86. Vagrants re- lieved since last Board day, 18.

THE VALLEY. CRICKET MATCH. A match was played at the Valley, on Friday, the 12th inst., between the Anglesey Collegiate School, and Holyhead the School winning in one innings, with 54 runs to spare. SCHOOL. First Innings. Dr. Wavmouth b Cunnah 16 Tompsou run out 2 Naylor b Hughes ••• 0 Jones b Cunnah 33 J. Conry run out 13 Christie e Harmer b Massingbird 1 Leathley run out 1 W. Conry b Massingbird 15 Worthington c Harmer b Hughes 0 Warburton not out 4 A. Naylor c Harmer b Hughes 1 Byes 2 88 HOLYHEAD 1st Innings. 2nd Innings. Mc Coy b Wi Conry 2-b Tompson 0 Tully b Dr. Way mouth 2—hitwtbdo 5 Dr. Nugent c Toinpson b Dr. kvaytiioutli 0—b ditto I Hughes b dilto 0—c andb di^ tto 1 Cunnah b ditto 2—c and b W. Conry 4 Hughes b ditto O-c It Jones b ditto 2 Harmer b ditto 3-c Tompson b ditto. 0 J. W. Jones b W. Conry 0—c ditto b ditto 0 Thomas c Tompson b W. Conry 1.-c R. Jones bditto 4 Blilofk not out 6-b Tompson 2 Massingbird b Dr. Way- mouth I-notout 0 Byes 1 IS 16 First Innings 18 Total 34

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean, have left Melbourne for Sydney, en route for California. A movement is on foot for the purpose of converting Birmingham into an assize town. The high hills on the west coast of Scotland, were last week covered with snow. The Earl of Cavan has been preaching to large num- bers in the North of Scotland. A priest living in Naples has been committed for trial for falsely denouncing certain parties in that city as im- plicated in a Bourbonic plot. A young man in France was choked the other day, whilst foolishly attempting to swallow a ttsli for a wager of lof. Crinoline has been abolished at the Opera in Paris under the penalty of a fine. Other managers are expect- ed to follow the example. Strenuous efforts are now being made to raise sub- scriptions towards erecting a statue to Shakespeare in Melbourne. On Friday evening, while the Rev. m Mr. Edmonds, Vicar of St. Michat's, Southampton, was in conversa- tion with his family, he fell dead upon the drawing- room floor. Mr. J. D. Taylor, a person of considerable property, living in the neighbourhood of Loudon, has been con- victed of barbarous treatmeat of a pony, and fined 40s. and costs. Great suffering prevails amongst the cattle in the ex- treme southern parts of England, where there is a shorter supply of water than has been experienced for the past 40 years. An edifice is about to be erected at Dresden, by the European Academy of Fashion, for a superior schgol to teach the art relating to dress. Messrs. Pearson, Knowles, and party (four guns) kill- ed 124 brace of grouse aud nine hares, on the Kinloch and Tarrich moors, on the 12th. The birds were healthy and strong. Mr. P. G. Booth, said to be a magistrate for Bedford,, has been arrested for obtaining food and lodging at Tho- mas's Hotel, St. James's, Loudon, to the amount of £54, under pretence that he was a member of the Junior United Service Club. It is understood that the Bishop of Arches has com- menced proceedings in the Arches Court, against the Rev. C. Drury, rector of Claydon, Suffolk, for having officiated in the monastery established by brother Ig- natins at Norwich. The shooting season on the Yorkshire moors promises to be the most successful that has occurred for many years. The birds are numerous and in fine condition, but rather wild and strong on the wing A Mrs. Niven died in Fraserburg, Scotland last week, who had not allowed herself the necessaries of lite. Yet after her disease, £ 1700 in cash was fonnd in hcr house, and other property worth X300 or £400, all of which she left to a first cousin. At the conclusion of a temperance festival at the Crystal PaWe, a few days since, 1500 copies of the New Testament were presented to as many members of the Band of Hope, through the liberality of Mr. J. Cruik- shant, and, a, few other friends of the total abstinence causa.. .v.qiv

la this department as A full ami free exin* £ s»ion of opinion of accorded to correspttfidents, the KJitcrr ivishes it to be dis- tinctly understood, that he holds hhmdf responsible for non, All letters ihotti(I be accoinpanie,l by the? naiar anil of the writer, not necessarily for publication, but m a guarantee of good falth,1

I THE RAINFALL. To the Etlitor of the North Wales Vhronide. t Sir,—I concur in the suggestion of your Correspond- ent from the Vale (If Festmiog, W. H. F, and I send you an account of the rainfall at this place for the last seven mouths January, 119 in.; February, 1.50 in.; March, 3'67 in April, 1.30 in.; ilav, 2*17 in.; June, 2 39 in.; July, 1-88 ill. I am, Sir, Yotirs respectfully, i IGth \,86t K. h. D.uif.urfuch?n, IGth Augnat, 1SS4.

TALK ABOUT WALES AND THE WELSH, BY AX OLD MOUNTAINEER. MOI'.YTAI.YEKK MSCORNSES Of NAMKS, AND GIVES THE ENCUSII AN'D TUE: VISITOHS TO WALKS, OKNEIIALLV, LY, OS THE IZPTLIRX OF NAMES Fl)lt K.VALAMI AXD SCOTLAND, AND SHKWS WHY THKIII: AH So FY.W SUIINI" T:or WALKS. TALKS ABOUT 'Jofl.V Jo.VES,' AND GIVES SOME SOUND ADVICE 0.,i THE SUBJECT, wmolT H I CKKTAIN WILL nut Bil. FOLLOWED. 1'AKKS A PUKMATUliK PKK1' AT TilK Lr.A.V- DCDNO EISTEDDFOD, AND HOPES THE ESGLISH WJ;¡T MIIKINI: A TFTTLF AND cufCLUHM BY I'.xuoiiTiNG TIM COUNCIL TO PUBLISH A BAI.ANCK SHKKT, WHICH HE THIXKS TIIEIR WILL Bit WISH }:NOl!UII to DO. Dear Mr. Editor,—The other day a friend of mine j kindly sent me a copy of the H Origin,,1 Llandudno Directory "-the most coriom kind of a newspaper which I' ever I came across. A?aru!e, people look for b'tui?? kind of netc< in a newspaper but this medley of a tliiug is compose 1 for the most part of name* and not. news, and in justice it ought to be Killed The LI includim, Conway and Petiinaenmawr ;V(imc.»pajier" I I presume, however, that you find :i(JfIf.thilJg prljtty tit:->rJing "in a liatne or you would not go to the trouble of printing so many, and for nothing in the first imtance, too, ;M I am told. Why, the lodging house keepers oii<ht to cotne out downright harHhHllllo and present you with a piece of plate or something of that kind-that they ought. Talk abonc advertising q iacks sending you a book to cure you uf the spleen, &j. gratis, ind-jed Whv it ii something to advertise all the houses in Llandudno and the coast towns, free of expense, with all their lodger- visitors in the uu li,,Lt tile Retired Gentle- j mau" ilitt) b t, Well, sir, I looked over the Directory pretty care- fully, and as there was nothing much else forme to read but uame., I read them. But in the name of Jones aud Siiiitli, what odd names many ot them were, to be sure! People must have bee-i outright insane before they would ever have them in the firstinstance --that they must. "Would you not like very much to be intro- duced to Mr. Thromco1," of Liverpool or '? l?. 1I:n- II hanh,!?q." What sort of a man is the Rev. (r. W. liiffs of Dublin, I wonder, or Mr. Lidgett, of Black- heath" 1 "Mis Ui sell, of Great Malvern," may be ;t respectable old lady for ought I know, and she may give coals aud blankets away to the poor at Christmas; but nothing shall ever persuade me that" Ben Sbelmerdine, of Eccles," can be anything but a young (or an old) se-ttiij) prize fight 9, and bets on horse races His very name is dead against him. Then again what a nice thing it is for a refined young lady to be called Miss Sparkes," or more ominous still Mns Spurnin," especially should there be a "gentleman" in the case. Should you not like, air, to possess the autograph of Miss Zhan, with that of Mr. Dewhirst written under ii ? A great number of the names are too indelicate to be noticed by me in this place, and must make the owners blush to their very ears every time they pronounce them, I should think. I cannot pass over, however, a happy and prolific family of "Coxsheada" -eiglitiuiitiinber,and each having" line in the paper to himself I also remarked a large class of depreciatory names, which astonished me a good deal, I can assure you. Why should a man be Compelled to put himself on a level with ? Is it a desirable thing to present a card with "Mr. Snook" lithographed tipoiiit-or Stuckey, or lirassey, or Gunn, or Ace (a safe card is Ace), or Daul- ber-is it ? Why should a decent man be called Dyke, or worse still. Gammon ? I am aware that Miss Cash would be welcome in any society; but how about Mr. Green, or Miss Stains? Mrs. Porter would be proper enough if she kept a public bouse; but how would it sound were she the Proprietress of a Temperance Hotel Miss Grimes too nearly approaches guilt and dirt for my taste, and I should scarcely rejoice in the name of Digger or Slater—both awfully plebeian I wonder how it came to pass that Lieut. H. Gosling," was so called, or why a fat old dame of forty should have been reduced to Wick ?" Mrs. Hodsod, though she hails from West Derby, must be of the earth, earthy if her person and her name at all correspond; and Mrs. Hitch." -wen, I must stop now, as I see I am treading upon ticklish ground, and my intention is not to give offence. We are told to call people by their "right names," but in this particular instance I prefer being excused. Now there has been a good deal of grumbling, in cer- tain quarters, about our Welsh names, and young snobs from over the border affect to sneer at poor John Jones, Evan Evans, Morgan Morgan, Wm. Davies, Evan Roberts, Wm. Williainsi, Edwd. Parry, Wm. Lloyd, to say nothing of Isaiah Jones, Habbakuk E vaiis, Ebel) ezer Morgan, Methusalah Davies, &c. &c. The above names, I grant you, are nothing to boast of, when they are to be divided amongst 1-100,000 IVelsliiiien but I rejoice to say, and I assert it triumphantly, that we have not one John Gosing" nor Wm. "Green "iu the whole of Wales. Oar Sparkes are fast young men, and not modest young ladies, nor are we disgraced with Hod- sods"! It is said that in England and Wales, there are no less than 250,000 Smiths," and that Scotland num- bers 45,000; that is, if you meet with 73 persons in Eng- land one is sure to be a Smith, and one in 68 in Scotland. It is stated that in England there are 8. 4 persons to a surname, or 12 surnames to 190 persons; whilst in Scot- land the per ccntage is 6-5, or 15 persons upon an aver- age to 100 persons. Taking the List of Visitors in your Directory, there must be an awful mistake, although drawn up by Mr. Stork (what a fowl name!) of the Scottish Registry Office, and the Registrar General. As for Wales I do not believe that we have more than 5U real surnames altogether, which is a great pity Tiie cause of this is easy to be explained. Children in former times, and indeed up to a recent period, did not take the surname of their fathers, but the Chi-istian name. For instance David the son of Howell Jones, woaldb e called David Ap Howell, or David the son of Howell, aid this through generation and generation. Many of the common modern Welsh surnames are mere- ly Christian name, with the "Ap" prefixed, but abbre- viated. For instance, Prichard, really signifies, Ap Richard Powell, Ap Howell; and so on; and the re- sult is a great paucity in names. Perhaps the most ex- traordinary proof of the tenacity of the Welsh the old names is the multitude of "John Jones's" for which are to be found in every part of the conntry, so that John Jones has ceased to be a distinguishing name at all. I once knew a friendly society not far from the village of Chirk, and which numbered about 300 members, in which there were no less than 45 John Jones's on the register, and 4 resided in a small hamlet in that Parish the whole four being colliers too Of course, all this is droll, and "John Jones' lim be- come a standing butt to our good neighbours the Eng- lish but sometimes it is really very awkward and in- venient. John Jones" remit" John Jones," does not sound pretty in a Court of Justice, nor in a County Court (mind, I dont mean to say that a County Court is not a Court of Justice); but I've seen it puzzle and mis- lead a judge, advocates, and witnesses altogether, who could not easily tell who was who —the plaintiff or the defendant. I do not know how a reform in this mat- ter could be brought about nor whose place it is to move in the matter but it is clear that something ought to be done. The Smiths, together with the Browns and Robinsons, are spread over a very large area; whilst the Jones's and Davies's occupy a more circumscribed ter- ritory. If, however, parents cannot alter their surnames, they could certainly give their children some distinguish- ing Christian, other than John, William, Evan, or Robert. They ought to do so, I say but I do not believe they ivill, for- Whaei3 in a nitne ?" I suppose you will be very busy next week at the Eisteddfod, reporting the speeches and all their sayings and doings, and praising everybody and everything, as is the custom at all Eisteddfudau. Everything will be coleur de Rose (t am not certain as to the spelling, as I cannot parte vouk but a very little) of course, because the grumbling and the quarrelling does not commence UIl- til after the itftir is over, at least that is the rule. I wouder will that gentleman from South Wales be there to laud the Welsh, and to run down the English accord- ing to his stereotyped custom, and which he did last year at Swansea, in very excellent English, and to the extreme gratification of himself, if of nobody else ? If he does, I hope the English wont mind him, because he is a sort of privileged person, something like a clown in a circus, whose province it is to crack jokes, and to make poor Ie laugh. The poor man does not mean exactly what he says himself, and so I hope no offence will be taken should he denounce the hateful "Saxon" at Llandudno, as he is wont elsewhere. I am told, and I hope it is true, that the Council have taken the affair entirely in their own hands, and that they will see not only that the money subscribed be properly aud judiciously spent, but that it also be pub- licly accounted for. That is the rock upon which most of the Eisteddfod Committees have split, and which has lowered them so seriously in the estimation of the re- flectiug part of their countrymen. As a business man j (at least I was formerly one) I do not approve of the present, system adopted to obtain subscriptions, because it places too much power in the hands of one man, which every one knows is not a wise thing to do. There can lie no efficient check upon the present collector unless a detailed account of the subscriptions be afterwards published; and if this'be not done, then depend upon it, sir, Eisteddfodau will in a few years, go to the dogi, for. Want of funds. Yours, &c. August 16th, 186!. A MOUNTAINEER. August 16th, 1864.

THE GRAMMAR SCHOOLS OF NORTH WALES. To the Editor of the North Wales Chronicle. Sir,—I have penned with much interest a paper upon the endowed Schools of Wales, by the Rev. Ur.Hil), which was road last Thursday week, at Bangor, before a considerable, number of the Clergy of the Diocese. Dr. Hill is entitled to be heard by the conntry, as the Head- master of Beaumaris School. which is one of the leading and most ancient of North Wales Grammar Schools, and as an educator who has laboured long and zealously to render efficient the school over which he presides. His views of the question, however, is the Head- master's views and as it is probable that his paper will excite guneral atelltinu, and be widely read, it is desira- ble that the North Welsh public, for whose benefit these school s were founded, should see this important subject discussed not only by the Head Masters, but by Trustees and Governors like myself, who have for years regarded it with interest, and a sincere desire to solve satisfactorily a most difficult problem. 1. The. pracnt condition of the North Welth Grammar Schools.—By this expreJs on I mem the present state of the tour Scliools Bangor, Beaumaris, Llanrwst, and Riithin. No argument need be entered into to pnfve that, as a whole, they do not flourish. It is not iu my puw -r to furnish statistical details of all these schools but the general results of their working arc admitted to fall sii i-t of their allcient name and liberal endowments. This hot is notorious, and was either stated broadly or implied by the speakers at the Bangor meeting. 2. The reputed cowes of tlte decline of the Grammar Schools.—I use the word "reputed" advisedly, because there is a difference of opinion respecting the causes which have injured these schools. a. Their decav i< attributed In the establishment of the National and Ilritish Sdwi's, which have withdrawn from them the children of the lowest an,1 lower middle c'asses of society, who previously used to avail them- selves, to a certain extent, of the Grammar Schools. I believe that tiiis cauje has contributed to their down- fall,and that they havo suffered in the number of their pupils from the time that the elementary schools came into b. The extent and influence of Xonrorfomiip in is another reputed cause. Its eilect, however, fcutMider. to have been greatly exaggerated. Had the Masters of the Grammar Schools realised and acted upon the truth that classical education alone did not meet the wants of the great middle class of society, aud given sufficient prominence and importance to instruction in modern languages and Commercial subjects, there is reroute suppose that their schools would now occupy a very dif- ferent position, notwithstanding the progress of Dissent. That Dissent would have affected them to a certain de- gree, I do not deny. But the religious question might have been dealt with in a liberal spirit, and parents would not, I apprehend, have objected to their children being brought under the influence of Church teaching had they felt that a sound and useful system of educa- tion had been introduced, calculated to promote the wordly welfare of young men entering upon the com- mercial business of life. The increased facilities of travelling.—Before the construction of railways, the travelling expenses of boys frequenting English schools formed a considerable item in the annual cost The diminished expense and in- creased rapidity of locomotion enable parents to send their boys now at a less cost and in a shorter time to distant schools. Hence it is that access to a good school being easier, parents are not compelled to put up with an indifferent one, although the latter may be in their own neighbourhood. But then facility and diminished c >st of travelling acts two ways. If Welsh parents can send their boys more easily and less expensively to English schools, English parents, on the other hand, can in the same degree have recourse to the schools of the Principality. d. Endowments.—Endowments are at once an evil and a good. They may benefit or injure a school If an endowment is sufficient to provide the foundati< n masters of a school with a fair annual income, irrespec- tive of the success or failure ot the institution, it is ob- vious that one great inducement to exertion does not ex- ist. But I shall have some observations to make upon this subject when I come to discuss the proposed means of resuscitating the schools. c. Tlte altered prospects of the Welsh Clergy.-Ilere, perhaps, is the principal cause of decay. There is a ge- neral complaint that the most promising young men are looking to commercial pursuits, the bar, medicine, the civil service, home or colonial, as their sphere of labour, in which they may expect a reasonable reward fer exer- tion and an adequate maintenance for themselves and their families. It is estimated that there are in Eng- land and Wales about 20,000 clergy, and it is stated that of this number 10,000, or one-half, are receiving less than X 100 a year. It is not surprising, therefore, that parents should discourage their sons from a University career, although assisted by exhibitions from the Grammar Schools, when they find young men of exemplary cha- racter and respectable attainments, who in a more open profession would soon succeed in obtaining a fair profes- sional income, not receiving more than £70, R80, or X100 a year for 10, 15, or 20 years, as the case may be, of their professional life. However undesirable it is that Holy Orders should be tainted by being regarded as a pecuniary speculation, still it is the duty of parents to warn their SlIIS against a contingency which may cripple for years their means of usefulness to others, and subject them to personal privation. Aud, as a matter of fact, we know that there is an increasing dearth of well edu- cated men among the candidates for Holy Orders In the face of these admitted facts, I fear it will be futile for Dr. Hill to suggest that the ill-paid Welsh clergy should contribute to the welfare of the Grammar Schools by sending their sons as pupils, with the ultimate object of their being admitted into" I loly Orders. y. If the views stated above be correct, it follows that the decline of the Grammar Schools being attribu- table chiefly to the establishment of the elementary schools, endowments, and the altered prospects of the Welsh clergy, their regeneration must be looked for by the removal of those causes, so far as is practicable. This is the first step. But it would not be desirable to attempt interference with the elementary schools, which are doing their work, on the whole, satisfactorily. Nor is it possible to improve the incomes of the clergy for many years to come, until the Church property, managed by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, shall have increased in value. Endowments, however, ought to be differ- ently and more wisely managed. Masters should de- pend chiefly, if not entirely, for their incomes upon the condition of the schools and exhibitions and scholar- ships should not be made matters of patronage, but be awarded to merit, which should be ascertained by a com- petitive examination. In addition, however, to the removal or modification of the causes of decline, there are means by which these schools might be stimulated into healthy action. But, in the first instance, the people of North Wales, by the agency of the Press, public meetings, representations to the Charity Commissioners, Trustees, Governors, and Members of Parliament, must shew that they are re- solved in earnest to resuscitate the Grammar Schools and make them useful and vigorous institutions. No man succeeds in work or pastime unless he WILLS suc- cess. And then, if there be not a great disparity be- tween the object to be attained and the means at dis- posal, success, sooner or later, is sure to follow resolute, combined, unwearied efforts. A royal commission will be appointed to inquire into the endowed schools of England and Wales. Let the attention of this commission be called to the Grammar Schools of Wales, once an honour to the country. Le- gislation will doubtless succeed in due time the report of the commission. A bill may be brought in by the Go- vernment at the solicitation of the Welsh members of Parliament, whose special duty it is to take up this great public question, empowering the Governors of the Welsh schools, either collectively or separately, to frame and enforce proper rules and regulations, and remove all abuses. They cannot indeed be conducted on the same principles, or with the same internal liberty as the great public schools, nor can Arnold's system of self govern- ment among the boys be introduced into schools with a limited number of pupils. But Head-master, on whom, above all, the welfare of schools depends, should be se- lected with the greatest possible care, after a vacancy has been advertised in the two English Universities, re- gard being had not only to their attainments, out to their special and pi-oi-ed aptitude in a subordinate posi- tion as assistant-masters to the teaching and training of b jys. Surely, if schools of private adventure can and do succeed, because parents believe that the head-masters of them are in earnest in the cause of education. Our ancient schools, with their former reputation and pre- sent endowments, ought to command sympathy aud gucoeu. Still, although the prosperity of a school must all depend principally upon the head-master, whose powers boold be most aristocratic over assistant masters atki boys, Governors must re- member, who has voluntarily accepted the office, that it is not merely ornamental but involves duties and responsibilities, and that the country look to them to resuscitate institutions, the charge of which they have willingly assumed. Hence, it is for them to find that without undue interference with the head masters, it is their duty to regulate, as between the masters and the public, the amouut of fees for day-boya aud the charges for boarders, and to ascertain through the intervention of a competent and independent examiner, whose annual report should be printed and published, both the nature and relative importance of the school studies, prescri- bing such regulations as may seem in their rliscretion to be best suited to t,itt proposed career and professional intentions of the scholars. It w is the opinion of Ar- nold, the most distinguished of English schoolmasters, that no head master should remain in his office more than fifteen years. In that period of time scholarship and subjects of study change. Moreover, the life of a head master is, or ought to be, a .triiri upon a mans mental and physical energies, and liable to a good deal of wear and tear. Hence, it is only reasonable that he should look forward to a living after a certain term of service,, where there is of daily life, alld ge- nerally fewer every day services, thau must of necessity accompany the management of boys Bat gnglishmen are not q ualitied to discbarge the duties of W dh livings, aud an English head master in Wales ctuuot look for- ward to Welsh preferment. Therefore, it would be de. Bimille cateris pariunB to bestow these appointments upon Welshmen who have achieved their aptitude for teaching as assistant masters in English schools. I am not vain enough to suppose that I have proved the true sources of the evil complained in the foregoing remarks. But governors of schools are entitled to b# heard, and it is their duty to endeavour by every mean* in their power to elicit information and discussion upon this important subject, and endeavour to remove aa acknowledged difficulty, and admitted scandal in North tt ales. I iemain, air, Your obedient servant. BULKELEY 0. JOES, Warder of Ruthin.

THE BANdOll AND BEAUMARIS UNION i EXPENDITURE. V -■ — 1 To the Editor of the North Wales Chronicle. Sir.—A ques ion that is often asked by rate-payers in the above Union i.s, Where the money goes ?" I heard it asserted, more than once, that the poor does not get half the money collected as poor-rates — that the beet share finds its way to the packets of tiie officers. Know- ing this to lie a wrong impression, I attempted to remove it hy a letter you kindly published in your journal of the 6th ics*. My facts an 1 figures were drawn from the Union's statements of accounts," which asserts among other things that 1 i, 12i) os. 7.Jd. wad ex pew led in I ad- mitted that I was unable to ascertain whether this was correct or not, although I was guardian during the year it was expended. 1 am able to know that the said sum was intrusted to the relieving officers, and that they assert that the money was (Iuly paid to the paupers; but I am unable to examine and to find out that the 3,655 paupers received the exact amount put against their names in the Union books, and I defy any guardian or ex-guardian to do it, that has to work 12 hours per diem for 6 days in the week. An assertion to the contrary is all "humbug." I am not aware of the extent of the district No. 1, Carnarvonshire," and if Llanfairfechan and Aberis not included in it, as I thought they were, I am truly sorry that I asserted in my last that the medical officer received R68 15s. lOd. in fees. I pray the forgiveness of the learned gentleman. I have no grudge against any officer of the Union; when I was guardian the demeanour of the clerk and the master was everything that I could have wished, aa far as my experience went; but I firmly believe that it is unjust towards the public, and morally wrong, that any clerk should hold the clerkship of two Unions, such as Bangor and Beaumaris and the Carnarvon Unions are. In my humble opinion it is what is condemned in the Scripture as "Cydio mars wrth faes a thy wrth dy hyd oni byddo eisiau lie." If, when I was guardian, the clerk had addressed the Board and say that he did con- sider it right that he should continue to hold two offices, while he well knew that there were so many able gentle- men that could not get one office, and that therefore he would resign one oillc;) which they should prefer, I would have been very glad to hear that, and would have proposed that he should resign the Carnarvon clerkship, and retain that of the Bangor and Beaumaris one. I was asked why, while I complain of the salaries advanc- ing mania, I seconded a motion that the clerk's salary, as clerk to the Assessment Committee, should be X40 Well, I seconded this to save the Union £ 30; as the honorable chairman and the vice-chairman said at the meeting that we could not give less than 170. An anonymous writer in your last impression leads the public to think that the master of Workhouse told the guardians that the wool I sent to be picked by the pau- pers in the workhouse was a wreck refuse, and that the price I offered for the work was not enough. I do not believe that Mr. Owen ever uttered such an untruth. The facts are these—after my year of guardianship was over, I asked the Board if they would like to have those in the workhouse, that could not be better employed, to be employed in picking wool ? If .0, I could send wool to the workhouse and pay for its picking. The Board acquiesced and told me to send few pounds on trial; this I did, and engaged to pay 3d. per lb. for the picking. This wool is German fleece wool, which cost me 15Jd. per lb. at Liverpool, and for picking which sort they pay in England from 3 farthings to a penny per lb. I am sorry of being "humbugged to write so much that concerns the public so little the question is, can the expenditure of the Union be justly reduced ? I be- lieve it could, and ought to be done. It is shameful to contemplate that the poor-rates are ten times higher in some of the Anglesey parishes than they are generally in Ireland. I wonder that so little interest is taken by some of the Anglesey landowners in this question. Their land is depreciated in value fully one fourth by the ex- cess of poor-rates levied on the same, as compared with other lands. There are two sides to every question. We, the rate- payers, complain of the rates; well, the valuers of lands and tenements, Assessment Committees and magistrates, have good cause to complain of the dishonesty displayed by us in general against submitting to be fairly rated, to our houses and land being properly valued. We try all means, legal and illegal, to get the property we occupy to be undervalued. Every one of us know the lettable value of the tenements we hold. We may ask the in- ward man for what sum we would let the property we hold, if it should be ours. Let us compare the answer by the sum put against it iu the rate book, and if it dues not agree, let us appeal against the valuation when it is too low as well as when it is too high. We may by ex- ample make other men honest—our senators would soon enact that all mines and woodlands should be rated, and that all parishes in a Union should be rated the same. Our Poor Law Board would let free trade to settle the fee and salaries, and not let them to be monopolised as at present; this would save our Union (150 annually in salaries alone. Our Board of Guardians would also administer relief without favour or affection-they would not put the workhouse test to one or two individuals from revenge, while they give liberal out-door relief to scores of others exactly in the same condition thereby souring the fellings of the poor, and make them desperate and un- happy. Assessment Committees would not put a high price on some tenements from mere whim, while they lower another by favour or friendship. These gentle- men would also give timely notice to the public of any alteration in the law that greatly affects the mode of appealing against poor rates, as the A ssessment Com- mittee Amendment Act" that came to force the first inst. does. Yes, when we, the rate-papers, shall become honest, Relieving officers dare not receive pay for paupers that had been dead 18 months, nor to curse from their presence the honest poor, and give liberal relief to strumpets. Really, gentlemen, it would pay us well to prepare honest things before all men. I am, &c., yours, I JOHN MORGAN. Cadnant, August 15th, 1864. JOHN MORGAN.