The North Wales Chronicle and Advertiser for the Principality

TUESDAY. At half-past nine o'clock, the members of the local committee, ovates, bards, Ac., met opposite the Commis- .ioner.' Office, in Church Walks, and proceeded to the Gorsedd, in an open space near the 1 arade, where Qwalchmai officiated in the usual manner. Here the circle was formed with great care and veneration, the stones forming the circle, twelve in number, being placed in their proper position so as to receive their ancient symbolic meaning. The iron railings that surround it, we are told, did not form part of the circle proper, but were intended to protect its saereduess against the intru- aion of the uuitiated multitude. We find that the .tones formed a circle, with a very large stone in the centre, and other three stones running out of the circle -towards the east. The large stone in the centre repre- sented the sun.thetwelvesuiallerstonesforuimgthecircle were thesymbolsof thetwolvo signs of the zodiac, and the three stones leading out of the circle were intended to represent the sun in the summer solstice, in the winter solstice, and in the vernal and autumnal equinox, form- ing the bardic symbol seen at the head of all bills and papers connected with the Eisteddfod. The meaning of the word Oorsedd is a throne, and as its name would signify, it was the source of all authori- its name would i?, tv Among our ancestors, the circle and throne consti- tuted their Parliament, in which the laws were consi- dered, and received the sanction which made them binding on all the subjects of the Oorsedd. Laws were enacted, criminals tried, and questions of law decided; and the bardic customs were also regulated and prornul- Bated in it. A division of labour took place in more modern times. The Imperial Parliament takes place first, the various Courts of Law administer the function of the second, and the third, to which the bards and minstrels were invited to swell the songs in honour of the brave, and to celebrate the chronicles of their native land, was the Eisteddfod, the usage of which, in a modi- fied form, it still retains. Here aspirants to honourable fame presented themselves for bardic and other degrees, having undergone a pre- vious examination by the appointed exarniuers, The orders are three in uumber-ovate.9, bards, and druids. The first direct their attention more especially to prose writing; the second to poetry and the third to the teaching of the principles of morality and religion. The following having passed the requisite « were declared worthy of the distinction which they 8Ought, according to the proficiency which they may have manifested under examination:- Bards :■ Thomas Jones F. W. Kittermaster, (Hho- wynedd o Arden); W. Williams, (Creuddynfab); E. Roberts, (Iorwerth Glan Aled). (hates J. Williams, (R. O. Machuo); Sior Felton, (Caswallou); Thomas fMry, (Cattwg); 0. Griffith, and B. Williams. DruÍ<ú: Dr. Thomas Nicholas, (Gwyddon Dyfed); R. t. M- wards, (Biaiart Ddu o Wynedd). Arch Druid: Rev. J. Morgan. After the procession had returned to Moatyn-streat, I the inenibers of the general and local committees, hards, ovatoa, druids, minstrels, &c., went to escort the provi- dent of the day, W. Bulkeley Hughes, Esq., to the I pavillion, the Penrhyn Royal Brass Biitid leading, aud the streeta meanwhile being crowded with curiotigipee- tatora, numbers of whom were English visitors to Llan- dudno. After the President had taken his seat, and a few necessary preliminaries had been gone through, The Rev. J. Mo HOAX, rector of Llandudno, and chair- man of the local committee, rose and read the following address, which was beautifully written in coloured cha- racters, by a London Firm, and which was very greatly admired "TO WILLIAM BULKF.LEY HTJGHES, ESQ., "Cf Plas cock, Anglesey, as President of the first day of the National Eisteddfod held at Llandudno, 1864. "Sir,—The council desire to expr&w their heartfelt pleasure and sincere gratitude for the honour you have conferred upon them by consenting to preside over the proceedings of this congre.one of the most ancient literary institutions in the known world, which has for its object the diffusion of useful knowledge, the eliciting of native talent, and the cherUhing of love for hotn" and honourable fame by the cultivation of poetry, music, and art. "Representing as you do one of the moat noble branches of ancient ancestry, descended as you are ill direct line from the powerful chieftain, Liywarch ab liran, and the lords of acknow- ledging this they fenl proud also to reco^iHd traces of true nobility in your public ftud private life, and exfcen- sive local usefulness. ";Ut.H'U hth"y are not acoustff.ned to 1 m^ua^e of adulation, th>y feel constrained on the ;>iv*ent occni m to express themselves in strong terms and to indulge iu tho enthn-usni of one of the Welsh bins, Sion ( more than three c-uturi«s aH1 when ad lr«^- i'lg nis country with all allusion fro one of your fore- Atarch o Lywarch "ï i>s j it iir.if! y-.i n'i-»p 3 r Of Llywareh's princely race the prii Thy Slnna's guardian and her guide." Permit them, -ir, further to aid, that they rejoin! in the. fact that the real o->j *cfc of Eisteddfodau is now so well understood and appreciated by the c nintry at !tt?. proving as rhey do, by their »oy-lty—or rather the renovation of d»rnant customs—attractive to the: r.?k ?nd intellect of the Ho?nh ))Mnch of the d??.-n- ? dum of the Ancient Britons, who now vist n in kmdfy spirit, participating in our nationul ?.tt)f'rtmp, aud )'fj"ic:n? iu the happier days of peace, nni?y, and mutual good. May vou be blessed from on High with a long life of us-fubvss and happiness; and that your na ne may he hau led d. "rn to posterity as a 'Cynm> o gal.)I)" t)14 distinguished ornament of your age and country, we assure von, sir, is tho united desire of every iudividual cjtnpodmg this immense .i^sembly. GiVell tijkl lIe"l of the council, thi. of August, 1S61. The PKKSID/.XT tne I, a uid general applause, rose and said,—Rev. and Dear Sir,—ladies and (lentlemen,—I esteem it. the n?'atest honour tu?t could have been con- ferred upon me to receive this ti),ire ei!)eciill 'v coming, as it doe?, from the hands of one whom greatly respect, and who is generally respected in this 1 place. Yon have heard in the language generally known and spoken in Mii* country, tho address delivered to me —an a 1 Iress which, 1 a n perfectly aware, I do not de- serve. But, at the same time, knowing the quarter from whence it comes, I am constrained to feel that tltê observations just addressed to me must be those of truth and sincerity. (Hear, hear.) I accept them, therefore, as a Welshman should, as the spontaneous feelings of my friend, being devoid of undue adulation or wordswhich they do not think or feel. It has been alluded to in; he L,Iilraii tti it I have descended from an ancient is true, and of which I am proud. Bur, I ask what is birth aud ancestry with- (itit a man rendering himself useful to his country ? (Cheers.) What I ii;iv-- (IL)iie, I know falls far short from what I desire to do Stiil, I may have done some good. I have desired to do so; and as long as I live I I hope to cherish a similar desire in the future. But whether I have proved myself useful or not in connec- tion with this or any other institution, I shall endeavour, by every means in my power, to support Listeddfodau, The origin of this institution, I believe, was the Oorsedd —a council of b;tr(Is-wlio were a council that made laws and regulations, not only for themselves, but, at that time, for the whole country. The Gorsedd ceased to exist 60 years after the hirth of our Saviour, and the Eisteddfod succee led the Gorsedd. It is a singular co- incidence that, within one mile from this place the first Eisteddfod was held, presided over by the then King of North Wales. At that Eisteddfod Talieain, and (ael. gwyn Gwynedd s bards, were assembled there in poetical contest. That wonld date, I think, 1,200 yews ago, and since that time it has continued, with little interruption till this day, and I hope that it will con- tinue for 1,200 years longer. (Cheers.) Latterly His- teddfudau have been based upon a new system or prin. eiple; but this is the first Eisteddfod which has been held in North Wales since the establishment of the National Council I know that there are men of genius and of learning who dispute the fact of the antiquity of the Eisteddfod, and the geuuinesa of our original poetry. But whether that be so or not, here we are, in the 19th centtiryi endeavouriug to afford social, rational, and intellectual amusement to t.he people, which I hope you will receive at this meeting. There is too common an idea prevalent, that in keeping up these Eisteddfodau it is the desire and object of those who support them to perpetuate the Welsh language, to the exclusion of the English. I am sorry to say that such an idea still exists in the minds of few, and only of a few But that notion is fast diminishing. The really intellectual and sober- minded men do not eu tertaiu that notion, and are per- fectly convinced, as I am myself, that that is not the object of Eisteddfodau. (Hear, hear.) Our intention is, whilst we desire to cherish and perpetuate the Welsh language—and we do desire it—as I believe it to be the must beautiful and expresisve in the known world. (Hear and cheers.) That may excite a smile; but if you knew it even as imperfectly as I do, I think you would be convinced of the truth of that observation. But our intention is not, as I have said before, to perpetuate the Welsh language to the exclusion of the English; and in proof of that assertion 1 may say that last year we had the honour of witnessing the Eisteddfod held at Swan- sea under the presidency of a spiritual lord, who per trayed the rational and intellectual objects of our meet- ing. The day after to-morrow I expect the Bishop of ¡lhngOr will preside over the proceedings of this National ? C,atheriii, We have other gentlemen who will occupy this chair after me, who will still continue to advocate the objects we have in view, and I trust we shall be able to give every satisfaction and delight to those w ho have assembled together on this great occasion. Tile rreH. dent then went on to enumerate what they had to enjoy in prospect, in connection with which he mentioned the principal" Stars of Wales present at the meeting. He also went on to observe that, probably, some of the com- positions produced at the Eisteddfod did not entirely possess great merit, still, he maintained that the various competitors created a healthful desire to emulate what was good, and would result in great benefit to all classes, and in the dii ffunion of useful knowledge amongst the people. Without detaining them any longer he thanked them for the address which they had placed in his hands. He would feel great pleasure in handing it down to those who would follow him, who, he hoped, would also prize it as much as he did. In conclusion, he expressed a wish that whatever might be his lot in this world, he should endeavour to do his duty, more than ever, to hia country. (Loud cheering.) Poetic il addresses were then delivered by the follow- ing Balds on the subject of ,Kisteddfodau, in one or two of which the President was highly complimented :-Al!- tudHinon.H Jonei (Gtan Conwv), Tudno Jones, and I John Jones after whicb the conductor for the day Qwalchmai delivered the following Yn mawr barcii Liywarch eiu Llyw,—Llyw ein bro A lliu Bran ddileilry w, Derwyddon o Fon Ry'n iyw Yn eu swydd ddawnus lieddyw. Ar y Fenni der tluion-pa lys geir Fel y l'las Coch tirion, A oeg;tiinekl(i a'i s%yiiion Rydd fwy enwogrwydd i Fon ? Ar ei gaerydd mor gy Nvr,,tizi, -a'i goedydd Sy'n gauedig lydain, Dew A PDAHPAH gan arwain Eu hiawn bryd t'n cywion BHAIN Yn ymyl dwr .\loel-y-dou—yr erys Gororau hen goiion, Uhufeinwyr yn dorf union Itoosai her w rtli groesi hou. Eu nifer a'u gwnai n liyfion,-nid dewredd, Ond dur eu harfogion, Suetonius at Eiuinn Wyrai i fraw ger ei fron. Ni rifir mwy i r.N,fel,-neu echrys Ddychryn, fel Pot thamel; Tuedd Eisteddfod dawel Yw minio dysg man y del. Nid un ystryw dynai estron-ar gam Drwy Geoiaea gai'r Goron, Gwr y lirynddu fu i Fou I'w gario fel ei gw.ou. Ac oni enwai y CANON—O hapus Epil yr hen Fiython; M oniaid, nid Mouiaid meinioo. A trys byd yr oea hon. i0 Rev. R. PABB? (Qwalchmai) then addressed the as- semblage in Welsh He said that the President alluded t) the objections urged against Eisteddfodau, one of which was that the only object of the promoters were to perpetuate the Welsh language. Now, to those who brought forward that objection, he wished to say the premises were bad, and the eouclusion was equally er- roneous. Their object was to elevate the people by the diffusion of Bound and useful knowledge among the masses, and that through the medium of the language best understood by the n -t) encourage native talent and industry, and develops the unexplored treasuresof Welsh literature. The rise and perpetuation of a languageis not the work of man, it belongs to" Uod who made of one blood all nations of the earth." Kvery effort to an- hihilate a is certain to produce in a country an amount of reaction in its favour (Hear, hear). There is a sort of national jealousy which arises in the breast of every man who has a soark of patriotism in his heart, when an attempt is made to destroy his mother's tongue, which perhaps would not have otherwise existed. The sturdy Romans who stood the proud conquerors of the then known world attempted to wipe the name of their native tongue from off the page of history; but where are they now? In the 11th century the Normans made a similar unsuccessful attempt., and their descendants were now actually becoming Oyinreigyddion. lie would not. refer to the massacre of the Bards in Beaumaris Castle, which, perhaps, was based upon no very autlien- tii-authority, I he attacks of foes and friends in modern I davs h d e j ially failed in eradicating frcm the native soil yr ha Frt/thoni vtk (i I ear, h.*ar). A m uuber of Par- li ( Nir Roebuck) lately stated in the House of Commons that. Welshmen to this very day detested Kng!ishme:i, which was the greatest libel waicli conl l have lieeu cast upon the loyal inhabitants of the Princi- pality. Wliv, yhat a monstrous idea to hat." the very people with xvinitii they were a'lied by the most sabred ties of friendship and a!fe ;fcion—ivaose interests were their interests —whose laws were their laws—and whose very Queen (God bless her) ha I more of the Celtic \111)1,1 iu h-r veim than perhaps that of aav other nation ex- ta'it. cheers). After a happy allusion to the loyalty of cpnry, Jr. Parry itt down ami 1 loud apolause O.vai i AI uv wis then reqieste I to sing the M'.sr. >11- f,,l .Song," wliielt he did, ill English, the choir Birken- head i joining in the chorus, as did also a portion of the company. An .,ljn1inÜt¡):J on the best song on the following s.ioject Tin Mother t • her Firstborn," by Llawd ten and Ceirio, Femiles oily to compete. Tliu prise wis awar led to B:lon I'ry.lii'i. win. was not present, bit w is represe oted oy l,ei.' Cue-woo }■>, who \y is in vested ov the cnee.rs. and a There being s ,oi • d -lay at. this stasia of the proeee.l- I, a.id explained that the delay ar if,e from the me I lis h i ving been mislaid but they ha I been found, and he hoped the company would ex/nise them a little on the tirst day. Cmioetitioa—Singing the '-Murp a choir of mixed voices,—not fewer than IS voices. Welsh ..r Kneliili words. A prize of Four (ioineas, given by Messrs Roberts, Cocks, & Co., London. No Competition. Adjudication on the best Congregational Tune. Prize, 12; second ditto, £1, OWAIN Al,.tiv announced that no less a number than between SO and 90 pieces had been sent in, which at- though many of them were but of moderate merit, yet it proved what good c > uoetitiou w is likely to ac.iieve II}' inducing young men to cultivate the theory and prac- tice ot music. The Prií' were. as foUowsi-Iat Prize to Mr. John Thom:tS, !!iaen Annerch, S .nth tY'atss 2nd, to a p n-s in wii i signe 1 hi:}} {lIi "û }.; irta,, but who did not answer to his name. \djudi;atioii by Mi -an leran I E nrvs, on "The Leek ( —an liiiglyn. I'ri/.s, Oae Guinea. This was award-si to liachgen o U'alia, who (ii I not answer to his name. It did not nanspire who the author w is, and Mrs Davies ( \I wyuwen Vlon) Cheltenham, was invested by the Chairman as his representative. There were 53 competitors for this prize An impromptu ejiriltin to on her invest- ing the sllcceddful candidate on the leek, was given by Gwalchi. ai. Mwynwen, heb ei chamenwi,—man y bo Myn y beiidd ei pherchij Uundithion yr Ion hebri* Eneiniont eu phenwyni. The Chairman then said he should call upon the Rev. Dr. Vaughan of London, to address the company, and he fett sure that he should receive their warmest thanks for doing so. Dr. VAUGHAN, who in coming forward, was received with loud cheers, then spoke to the following effect — lie said he supposed he was called upon to speak be- cause his name indicated that he must have something of the Celtic blood in his veins. (Hear, hear). He had, and he was not ashamed of it. ( Hear. hear.) His ances- tors unquestionably were Welsh, and he thought none the worse of them on that account. (Hear, hear.) In England it was very common for men to make them- selves merry with their Welsh neighbours under the idea that the latter attached a great deal of credit to very doubtful matters connected with their history— that they were prone to believe in very much more con- cerning the ancient glory of their country than the cool English intellect could see its way to credit. (Hear, hear.) Perhaps that was in some degree true, yet it must be admitted, lie thought, that if the Welsh had erred a little in that direction they had only done so m common with the Celt wherever they found him. It they went to Scotland they found it so there—if they went to Ireland they found it so there, for all had a con- siderable remote ancestry, and that ancestry had a great deal of glory thrown about them (Hear, hear.) There was no doubt a great deal more of truth in that than the people of England generally supposed. The English did not credit to the extent they should the ancient character and grandeur of the ancient British race in thi country. Historians knew nothing about it, and what they said was anything but favourable to the just claims of the British race. He was sorry to say that so influ- ential an historian as Lord Macaulay came under that censure. The reverend gentleman quoted a statement of Lord Macaulay's to the effect that at the time of the Roman invasion the inhabitants of this country were not more advanced in civilization than were the inhabi- tants of the Sandwich Islands when discovered by Cap- tain Cook. This assertion was ably combatted by the reverend gentleman, who quoted Gibbon on the other side of the question. It was a libel. He, Robert Vaughan, with Celtic blood in his veins, stood up on that platform and said it was a libel. (Hear, hear, and applause). Coming back to the question immediately before him, the reverend doctor said the original of their festival might be a myth; but a people who could con- ceive a noble myth and admire it when they had created it were and must be a noble people. (Hear, hear.) Let it be that King Arthur was not all that the romances, as they were called, had described him, still it was the British intellect and British heart that gave to the stories of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table-that gave to the conception of King Arthur the chivalry that was associated with it in the Luropean literature and the European mind of modern times. (Hear hear.) The present festival had come down from those times. He knew it used to be said 50 years ago that it had not come from Wales, but from IJrittany or Germauy. It was there that all these chivalrous tales were devised. He declared it was no such thing. (Hear, hear.) They would find the substance, the outlines of the whole, iu the Welsh annals attributed to Tysillio, nearly a thousand years ago; but in Brittany at the time when Jefferyof Monmonth sent out his history containing those romantic tales there was not a line of literature in the language of Breton. No one could show that there was anything at all to warrant the conception that those things originated with them. 'I hey might have been brought back from Brittany, but if so, they had been sent over from Wales. They were never the growth of Brittany they were the growth of the Celtic mind of Wales. (Hear, hear ) He need not say to that audience that those stories had enchanted the imagina- tion of the genius not only of English literature but of the literature of Europe. Shakspjare took them up and turned them to account, and John Milton could gaze upon those Celtic effusions and promise to himselt that he would some, time write a poem about that King Arthur that the world should not willingly let die. Even our own Tennyson, if he was to be roused out of his heavy slumber to do anything like what we had a right to expect, he must go to that old Celtic inspiration if he was to get it. (Cheers I. What, was wanted therefore, was that meetings like the present should have the effect of making their Welsh friends sensible that they had a history and an ancestry in which there were noble elements. (Cheers.) And it was always a noble thing for a man to have a history and an ancestry ill which there were nobleelements. (Hear, hetr ) lie was quite sure that ill England there was no hostile feel- ing towards Wales. They never heard the cry Justice to Wales!" Why not ? Because it was known that England was willing that the justice she herself had Wales might have with her. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Englishmen were willing to do justice oy vi ate", JU@L they would have Wales do to England, and as long as the relation together was united upon priuciple of that kind there was no fear of their being other than side by side when the perils of their common country should come. (Cheers.) One thing, however, might seem Btrang-i to some of his English friends—that all this should be done 80 much in connection with the Druids. Why, in England they thought of the Druids as terrible priests, an.1 as scarcelv anything else. Their mends in Wales, however, had to do with Druids not as priesti, but as the depositaries of the intelligence of their mce, I and they wished to take up, as he understood it, not the priestly element, which was pagaa Md bad, but the in- I telligent and cultivated element of science, learning, and rtttiaemeut of which they, aftac tiifliCwnafir of the priest- hoods of the Extern world from which they came, were the great depositaries. (Cheers.) They were there that day not to listen to hards with heroic songs, stimulating race against race to the last drop of blood that might he shed, but they were there to listen to poems upon such themes as a motht)r's love for lil!l- fit-iitborn-( cheers) they were there to be occupied with that which would tend to make their nation, their common country, one- (hear, hear)—to make that emmtry more what it ought to be for the glory of God and the good of man. (Hear, hear, and loud cheers.) lie liked that love of ancestry. (flear, hear.) The love of ancient things was the pas- sion of refined minds. (Cheers.) The man who cared nothing for the past, he (the reverend gentleman) said, let the future care nothing for him. (Loud cheers, ditr- ing which the reverend geutleman resumed his seat.) At the call of the chairman, three hearty cheers were given to Mr. Vaughan for his address. Competition—Female performer on the Pianoforte. Prize One Guinea, and a volume of "Recollections of Wales," given by Mrs. E,1 ward Westbrook. No com- petitor. Adjudication on F,<mvs on Punctuali.ty* in Welsh. by Nofydd (liev. W. Roberts. Blaenau Uwent), and Thai. Stephens, Esq., Nlertliyr. Irli,.re were 12 com- petitors and \h R )bei-t,,A ann mnced that the best one wa5* by "Groheithiol"—the second being "Timotheus and the third "Conoviumus." Mr. STIVPUHXS, Merthyr, said the prize offered in this instance was but a small one, and the 12 compositions which had been sent in were the productions of yonng men. fie must say, however, that three of them were very exjelleut compositions indeed—much better than they had any right to expect from the smallness of the t)rizi offered, and he should therefore PUggast to the committee that an additional prize he given to one or two of them Competition at Kisteddfodau was like a race, in which only one horse could win but when he mentioned the matter to Mr. Roberts, he said that the c nnmittee could not give extra prizes, as they could wish. All he could say was that if they did not do it, in that instance, he should. (Loud cheers.) The Cii.vmMAN said that the committee would consi- der the matter. The winner of the prize WM Mr. W. Griffith*, "f Carnarvon, who was invented by .\frs. Frank 1\ W shute. Subsequently prizes were given to the second and third best, Mrs. Price, Glanfcwrch, investing "Timotheus," and Mrs. Griffiths, Neath, the third (Wr. John Roberts, of Conway), who was represented by bis hrotlier Penillion sinking then to..k plane by lolo Mon and Idris Vychaii, Mr. Ellis Huberts accompanying oil the harp. Adjudication on a Libretto, the subject to be selec- ted from the Holy .Scripture- not to exceed 300 lines for which a pri/.e of live pounds and a III", III was oifer- ed. This prize was awnrded to %vll(, proved to be Mr. John Joins, of St. Asaph, represented by \|r. Partington, who was invested by Lady Chete- Wood. A lju licition on Aingin a duett—subject, How. £ .oitle Deva," by Owain \law and \fr. Ambrose Lloyd. Five couples competed for this prize three pounds), viz., Messrs. Pierce and friend, Liverpool; Mewrs. Win. Hoberts and Tiios. Roberts, Liverpool; Messrs..1. Richards and J. It. J one", Hangor; Mr. Robert It ees, and Mr. A. Bowen, South Wales; and M'-ssrs. Williams and 0. Griffith. In adjudicating, Nir, Ambrose Lloyd sai .l t.he si.ngi.ng had been so good, and even that it was a most difficult matter for them to decide who really was the One or two had committed very slight faults, but tailing it altogether they thought that Mr. Pierce and his friend rendered the piece the most conscientiously. The winners were then invested by Miss W illiams (E is Civvna), Llanfairynghoriiwy. Adjudication on a U elsh ti'ausla*i"n of Hamlet, in eonioiernoration of the tercentenary of Shakespeare prize five guineas, given by Edwin Lander, Esq., Bir. mingham. Only one translation had been sent in by William Stratford;" hot the translation was so excellent in it- self, and had retained ao well the spirit of the original that it was deemed worthy the prize. The winner was Mr. David Griffiths, printer, Holy- well, who was invested by Miss Hughes, Bryndu, Anglesey. The Adjudicators were Llawdden and Ceiriog Competition for female iingerq -"The Harp of Wales. „ Prize one guinea, and a volume of Mr. Brinley Richards'^ vocal works, given bv Mrs. Ldivard Gilbertson. Only one competitor appeared (Miss Margaret Evans, Cwm y glo, Carnarvon), to whom the prize was awarded, W10 W,IS high y complimented by the Hev. John Griffith, of Neath, who invested her with the medal. Competition—male performer on the harmonium Subject, the "Harmonious Blacksmith "-a somewhat difficult piece of music. There was one competitor for this prize also, Ifr. T. If. Roberts, Tregarth, Bangor, to whom the prize was awar- ded, who was invested by Miss Williams, of Bodafon. The prize consisted of a copy of Mr. Thomass Welsh Melodies. The Rev. HICKS OWKN, in a highly complimentary but brief speech, proposed the thanks of the meeting to Mr. Bulkeley Hughes, for his kindness in presiding, and who had so ably performed the duties of his very diffi- cult ofifce. (Cheers.) Mr. HUGHES returned thanks, and said it ivoillfl alwavs give him much pleasure in doing what he possibly could for them at all times.. (Applause.) The Conductor (Qwalchmai) then named the extem- pore subjects for which prizes would be awarded on the Thursday morning. The Prince of Wales' Anthem was then sung, which concluded the morning's performances. THE CONCERT. I The concert which took place this, the first evening of the Eisteddfod, was exceedingly well attended by a large and fashionable company, but by reason of its vast extent the pavillion was by no means crowded, and the ventilation was so well arranged that it was kept comparatively cool and pleasant. The musical talent present, both vocal and itistrtimen- tal, was fully equal to that or any previous Eisteddfod which we ever attended, and they fully juitified the ex- pectations which had been formed of them by the pub- lic. The names of Miss Kdith and Miss Kate Wynne, and Mr. Lewis Thomas, amongst the vocalists, and Mr. John Thomas (Pencerdd Gwalia), Miss Kate Roberts, Mr. E. W. Thomas, and Mr. Edward Matthews (Beau- maris), amongst the instrumentalists, were, of themselves, a snffioient attraction to bring together all those who etii understand and appreciate first-class music, whether it were Welsh or English The consequence was, that the first concert was, upon the whole, a success. After a slight delay, the concert commenced with an introductory chorus by the Birkenhead choir, ac- compared by a band of harps, which was tastefully and musically rendered. This was followed by Ltew Llwyvo singing a Welsh song in his usual style. Mims Kate Roberts gave a solo on the pianoforte—the "Rising of the lark," with variations, the arrangement being by Brinley Richards, which was cheered at its termination. I cannot mind my wheel," was then sung with much pathos and artistic skill by Miss Kate Wynne, who re- ceived a warm and hearty encore, to which she respond- ed. Mr. Lewis Thomas, who was cheered on his coming to the front of the platform, next gave, 0 ruddier than the cherry," in lieu of the Suleote war song," which had been set down for him in the programme, of which it was said he was not cognizant. His powerful bass had a wonderful effect, and he received a loud encore. Miss Edith Wynne, on coming forward, was receiv- ed with prolonged cheering. She then sang the beauti- ful song entitled the Pilgrim's path," with great sweet- ness, power, and effect, the stillness during the song being almost painful, but when she had finished, a burst of applause arose from all parts of the house," and an encore was insisted upon, which she kindly gave. There was another ovation of applawse, when a lady stepped forward and presented her with a beautiful bouquet. This was followed by a solo on the violin, by Mr. E. W. Thomas, which wan cheered, then a chorus, by the ('ioir, Who will o'er the downs," which was likewise applauded. Mr. Cummings then gave the song The pilgrim of love," in a splendid style, and was loudly and deservedly encored. This was followed by the instru- mental gem of the evening, viz., a duett on the harp, by Mr. John Thomas aud Alr. J. Balsir Chatterton, and was altogether a most wonderful performance, and quite electrified the audience. The soldier's wife's lament," a song, was next sang in a sweet plaintive voice and manner, by Miss Jane Owen, Dinorwic, a very young little lady indeed. This soug was also encored. Owain AJaw then gave The Train," in his usual droll manner, which caused much laughter; and on this being encored he gave Hen wlad fy uhad^u," in which nearly every- body about the platform joined in chorus. The second part was concluded by the choir singing the "March of the men of Harlech, accompanied by Mr. John Thomas, and two other harpists. It was most magnificently rendered, and was warmly ap- plauded.

WEDNESDAY. The Social Science Section connected with the Eis- teddfod, met this morning, in the National Sehoolroom, Church Walks, for the purpose of reiidiug papers bear- ing 011 the social condition of the people. The chair was taken by the Rev. J. Griffith, Rector of Neath, the Chairman of the Council- The attendance was influential, but very limited. Dr. Nicholas, of Carmarthen, then rose, and proceed- ed to read a most able paper on the Education of the Middle Classes," which was listened to throughout with marked and very great attention. The substance of the lecture was, that the education now at the command of the middle classes, and especially in Wales, is not only moat defective and deficient, but it is far behind that which is now at the command of the higher and the poorer classes. During the past 15 years, since the estab- lishment of National and British Schools in nearly every parish, the poor man's child has had far better means of acquiring a superior education, comparatively, than has the child of the farmer and the tradesman, and this was a condition of tilings which he thought should not and ought not to be continued. Something should be done to restore the proper equilibrium in society, and the important question was—what could be done to reitnre it ? He thought, with Lord Wodehouse, that the chief remedy lay with the middle class parents themselves, who were more directly interested than any one else. Of late years the schools of the poor had pro- gressed greatly and well, but not those of the middle classes. What really was required were good schools, and at reasonable cost,—for a poor school, though a cheap one, was a decided evil. He would repeat, that the country wanted good and cheap schooli for the in- struction of the children of the middle classes in Wales; for as it was now, the children of the firmer and the shopkeeper had not the means of obtaining a better edu- cation than had the children of their ploughmen and servants. Something should be suggested to act as a stimulant; and he would recommend that good seh Mils, c inducted by able teachers, should be established in difterent parts of the country, and at' a reasonable cost, and he believed that if they were establish ■d, they would be found to pay an, I to atwvcr well. What was the state of tliiiig4 now ? I (of the Welsh having good Schools of their own, and in their own country, they had to send their chil- dren to Liverpool, Manchester, Chester, or Shrewsbury, and there to pick up Kuglish Provincialisms. They were making endeavours to establish a University for Wales, and if such schools as he alluded to were numer- oils and efficient, they would operate as streams and feeders to the University. Instead of their children being sent to England to obtain an education to fit them for the liberal professions, such schools would tend to draw children from England, and especially those chil. dren whose parents were. Welsh, and who now resided in large towns and if for 110 other reason than this, that they won Id acquire and secure health from the bracing sea breezes on tiiecoastsof Wales. Middle Class Schools, such as he was advocating, would act as a connecting link between the schools of the poor, and the higher class schools ami the Universities. Such was the case in Scotland, where the way was open for the poorest liov, if he had talent and pjrseverance, to enter the best University. This was pretty much the case in Germany, and even in France, where, perhaps, there was too mush Governneiit there was an excellent system for the e.lueif;on of all classes. In England there was an innumerable number of common schools, and there was a determined eltort to extend schools for the middle classes in connection with the Established Church; and even should the attempt not* iccecd, still it would show that it was deemed desirable and advisable to make the effort. In his opinion, the regeneration of the Welsh pe.ipK intellectually, depended upon the establishment of Middle Class Schools. Tins class in ■» ales was more numerous aud more important than in most other countries and he was sorry to say that their education was very low indeed, and they all knew what was usual- ly said in reference to Welsh juries; and at Mold, the other day, theii stolid ignorance was adverted to by the Judge. Now, why should education be confined to the English, and not. likewise be alfordcd to the Welsh ? In a few years Wales would be more popu- lous, and much more rich than she was at the pre- "Pllt rinw English capitalists had cast their eyes upon the copper, lead. and gold, which abounded in their mountains, and tourists were annually visi ting them, and the country was surely destined to be rich and pros- perous; but the greatness of a country did not arise from mere material riches, but upon its moral and intel- lectual str ngth. The Welsh intellect must he trained and developed, and then he believed the Welsh would be second to none, neither to the English nor the Scotch, but this result could only be arrived at by the establish- ment of good schools for tho middle classes. He con- cluded by hoping that the Council would he induced to take the matter in hand 113 it was one of paramount im- portance to the Welsh people. They were a religious people, and at the Eisteddfodau they attended to the old Gorsedd, the. Bards attended to poetical alliteration and so on; but something more was wanted than this-they required that the intellect of the middle classes should be cultured, and this, he repeatNI, could only be done, by establishing suitable schools for the children of the middle classes. (Loud and protracted cheering). The CHAIRMAN thanked Dr Micholas for his plain- spoken and able discourse, and then called "pon any gentleman present to speak upon the very interesting subject, and to do so as plainly as possible, as lie was sure Dr. Nicholas would not mind to have his views verv plainly canvassed The Rev. W. JO.VKS, Dyffryn, said that with all due deference to Dr. Nicholas, he himself did not think the Knglish were so far a-liead of the Welsh in the mat- ter of education as some people seemed to think. What- ever may have been the case with the jury at Mold, lie knew of c,es in Enghnrl which were much worse. In one case a man was indicted for a burglary, and the Jury brought in a verdict of Manslaughter (Much laughter). In another instance, one of those celebrated English juries brought ill a verdict that a man was guilty of six months on the wheel (Renewed laughter), When told by the Judge that it was no part of their duty to decide upon the man's sentence, they re- considered their verdict, and then returned one of bur- glary, when he was only charged with a common theft, lie quite agreed with Dr. Nicholasas to the desirability of their having good schools, and then the Welsh would be beaten by neither the English nor the Scotch. (Hear, hear.) Mr. W. p, CHAPMAN said he quite agreed with the opinions of Dr. Nicholas, and he wished they would be acted upon. That good schools were sadly wanted, everybody knew, and the knowledge kept English fami- lies from coming to reside in the country. He knew of a particular person, who would prefer residing in Wales, but was prevented from doing so out of regard for his children's education as there were no good .Middle Class Schools ill Wales. GR.AM ALUN (Mr. Jones, Mold,) generally agreed with the remarks of Dr, Nicholas, but did not think that the difference in education between the two countries was very great. Instead of making their children pre- pared for holding important situations in England, he thought it would be a better object to drive the English into Wales and not tho Welsh into England. He did not want to send their young men and their young wo- men, who were the strength and the heart of the land, out of their country. (Cheers.) Mr. JOlIN WILLIAMS, (Rodafon), next addressed a few words to the meeting:—He wished to thank Dr. Nicho- las from the bottom of his heart for his valuable sug- gestions on this, very important subject.. lie spoke from experience, and he could say that there was a sad want of education amongst many of the farm- ers in Wales—men of morality and men of probity, but who had not had the advantages of a good education. He often felt sorry for them in his heart, !or it was im- possible that they could have had an education. He remembered when the first National School was opened in Carnarvon, and he was lucky enough to get into. the school, and, with what he had learnt there, and what he had taught himself, he had been enabled to conduct the Mostyn estate for 37 years; and from his personal knowledge he could say that that there was a great lack of opportunities for farmers, and others of that class, to obtain a good education, and he pitied them from his heart. To carry out the suggestion of Dr. Nicholas, he thought it would be well if the matter were to be taken up by the Council of the Eisteddfod, who could practically do something to promote better education amongst the middle class of Wales, and he really hoped the Council would make a move in the matter (Loud cheers ) M r. JAMES, Crewe, who stated that lie had been for- merly connected with the press, and therefore knew something about juries, English as well as Welsh, I still that the juries in both countries were sufficiently A, ,t difficult thing to fij)d stolid enough, and that it was a difficult thing to find one possessed of common sense, or of a juror ever ask- ing a commoy-sense question. He then alluded to the proposed University for Wales, which he approved of; and found fault with the way the Gtammar Schools are misapplied, as in several cases which he instanced (Hrecnock being one), when the money, L8,000, had been taken by the government, and applied for general pur- poses. He thought this money should be refunded, and given to the proposed university, for mouey given for a local object should not, in justice, be applied for general purposes. Once or twice this speaker was interrupted by GL.<I AIAJN as t" t.he irrelevancy of his remarks, but his ob- jections were over-ruled by the Chairman. Mr. FttAXcrs, of Manchester, then made a few practi- cal remarks on the subject, and whilst admitting its great importance, said, the question was one which was surrounded with great difficulties. In Manchester he knew there had been very great efforts made to establish good middle class schools, but he was afraid they had not been, hitherto, very successful. If it cotil(I be managed in Wales, it was the duty of everyone of them to assist in every way. Mr. DAVIRS, Cheltenham, then made an admimble speech, and comm».iced by remarking, that excellent and praiseworthy as was the essay of Dr. Nicholas, yet the only practical suggestion which he had heard on the subject was by the gentleman who sat on the right of the Chairman (Mr. Williams, Bodafon), who had sugges- ted that the matter be taken up by the Council of the Eisteddfod. He then remarked that preparatory schools had, as a rule, been a failure; and he denied that the English, class for class, and circumstance for circum- stance, were much iu advance of the Welsh. Of course it would not be fair to compare the great centres of population and learning in England to the rural dis- tricts of Wales, and virtually it was all rural; but take theMid)andConnti?aHdthenwon)dbet'onndthe same amount of "stolid ignorance" w hich unhappily prevailed in some paits of Wales. As to Welsh juiieff, he really was afraid that in this matter the Legislature had not done justice. He did not remember since the Welsh Act has passed in the year 1826, that one Wetsh- man had been appointed as a judge; and they were not in the habit of teaching religion to the Welsh ilk the Welsh language. (Loud cheers.) Again, he thought; that the Welsh M.K's had scarcely done their dnty in Parliament, for when Welshmen were attacked, as they were sometimes, he did not recollect one instance in which a Welsh member had defended them, or had ever pressed their claims upon the Government He thought it would be desirable if the Council, in their individual and collective capacities, were to attempt to influence their members, so that perhaps, by a roundabout way, they uiay influence the Government in the matter of education for the middle classes. The speaker sat dowa amidst prolonged applause. Mr. WILLIAMS (Bodafon) then suggested that the Council be requested to offer a prize for the best essay shewing the best way of promoting middle class educa- tion in Wales. After a few words from G[,A- ALUIl, who deprecated the everlasting comparison of Englishmen with Wt,.Ish- men, awl recommending that thej should meet every subject upon its own positive merits- Mr. W. LIT/LKKLKR HUUlHS rose and said, that he had taken an active part in education nearly all his life, al- though lie was not a practical man, and he had dis- covered this that it was a very difficult matter to es- tablish good schools ill Wales. As to what had fallen from his friend Mr. Davies in reference to the Welak members, he said it really was not correct; and as to the Government, why they really had done and were doing a great deal of good for the whole country. For himself, he really could not approve of the appointment of purely Welsh judges; and at all events they all know that the appointment of judges was invested ill the Crown and in the Government, and it was usually pontiealanair. Mr. DAVIES—I beg pardon, but all I meant to say was, that as the x et wis passed so ago, did think it very strange that not one person belonging to Wales had ever been anpoiuted to the t'.eiicb. For himself, he certainly would be opposed to the appoint*' ment of a elsli judge. Mr, 11IK1HF.S said lie trusted it woiil,i to cii-i-y otit Or Nicholas' suggestions; and ai<o that in time persons would be found in Wales > till an* post. [u the meanwhile lie was afraid that the Council c »ul<§ not ;,Li,i,t ;t g),cat ileai, and, moreover, til present Council's year of office had nearly expirei I. He hoped, however, that the time would soon arrive when Walee would be. able to siiccess/ully compete with "oth Eng- laud all I Scotland. (Loud cheers.) After a spiirted address from the Chairman, who said he never anticipate such an interesting di-citssion, and h'pin^ tiiat it would I-vid to some practical result, the meeting was adjourned until Thursday ujoniitig. The proceedings of the Eisteddfod were <J uo'uenced by a procession being formed at half-past ten o'clock, a8 oa the previous day, to escort tbe President (George Esq. to the pavillion, which heing done, he was installed into the chair at the sound oF the trumpet. Tile llev. Canon WILLIAMS then read the following address, on behalf of the Council, to the President:— [THE ADDReSS J Y gwir yii crbyn ybyd." "Yn ngwyneb haul a llygai goleuni. "TO GEORGE OSBORNE MORGAN, E^, As President of the second day of the National His- teddfod held at Llandudno, 18U4. Sir,—The Council beg leave to record their sincere gratitude for the kind manner in which you acceded to their request to become President of this National Con- gress of Hards and Literati Being fully per-inded of your approval of the avowed objects of this ancient In- stitution, and that you have the interests of your country dearly at heart, they feel happy ill bdlli; placed under your patronage. It is a lamenlable fact that for a long period, a re- markable want of information prevailed lv-pecting the character of the literature, institution, and history if that portion of Great Britain in which such of the ab- original race as had survived the repeated ns of foreign powers sought their last asylum from the op- pression of their enemies. While the national peCIl- liarities of the other portion of the Island have been industriously explored, Cambria has been regarded with an indifference, quite inconsistent with the enterprizing spirit by which the literary republic of Great Britain is kiiowi) to be aiiiuiated. But they rejoice in the happy change that, has been effected, the darkness is dispersing, and a brighter day is dawning upon the land of the a wen and the harp. Welsh nationality is more severally respected, the literature of our country commands a wider circle of admirers, its study is introduced to foreign colleges, it is universally admitted that all Europe is indebted to the ancient Welsh for the germ of their romance literature, and the discovery of its ety- mological excellencies has procured for it an honourable place in the libraries of the Philologists, among the various tongues of the great human family. They cannot conclude this address without adding their e.xoression of hope that you may be long spared to be the distinguished patron of the literature of our noble country. "Given under the seal of the Council, this 24th day of August, 180-1." The I'RKSIDSNT then spoke as follows :—Ladies and g(,iitleiiieii,-I,et me begin by thanking the gentlemen of the Council, and you, Mr. Canon Williams, in par- ticular, for the great honour you have done me in elec- ting me to preside on this occasion, and for the eloquent and complimentary address which you have presented to me. (Cheers.) It is, indeed, a matter of astonish- ment and regret, that while all the powers of modem criticism have been devoted to throw light upon the Anglo-Saxon and Norman periods of our history, the British period, the oldest of all, should have been com- paritively neglected, and that we should have been driven to German professors and German Universities in order to learn the history of our own race. (Hear, hear.) Certainly, if the pretensions of a nation to hia- torical interest are to be measured by their antiquity, there is not one of the numerous races inhabiting this island which can compete with us. (Cheers.) Com- pared with the Celts, in the family of nations, the Saxon is a parvenu, the Dane an upstart, and the Kor- man a creature of yesterday. The selfsame race which now tills the sides of these mountains, wandered over them for centuries, Ere Danish lances blushed with Ella's bloo 1, Or blue-eyed Saxon sailed on Medway's flood therefore 1 rejoice, and say that these Eisteddfodau, which I may now consider as fairly replanted in this country, as having revived among us an interest for Celtic history and Celtic antiquities. But with all this, I thiuk it would ue a mllitake to say that these meetings possess for us only an archaeological interest. (Hear, hear.) I think they may fairly attain a higher scope aud wider range. To them the Eisteddfod was at once a national rallying point—a centre round which the whole nation gathered, and a means of keeping alive a love of what was beautiful and true in the people. What the Olympic games were to the ancient Greeks, what the tournament was to the knights of the middle ages, that was the Eisteddfod to the ancient Briton; and surely the Briton has the advantage of the com- parison in many, perhaps in all, respects. (H ear, hear.) With the era of physical force the Olympic games and the tournament have passed away; but the Eisteddfod still remains, and the same strains which evoked the brief repose of our Dafydd and Llewelyns still fall sweetly oil the ears of their descendants of the 19th century (cheers), for 1 need hardly remind you that the Eisteddfod, which we celebrate to-day, is 1111 exact coun- terpart, of that which our ancestors celebrated 600 years ago.mr dulDot mean to say, of course, that if an ancient Briton were to walk straight into this distinguished assembly, he would not see a great deal to astonish him. But it would not be the fault of the Eisteddfod if he did. There is a danger in allowing ourselves to be much engrossed by the antiquity of this institution, for we know there are many persons who consider every- thing good that is old, a mistake into which I nm glad to see that the council have not fallen. I congratulate them on having, while resem tiling the form and substance of the Eisteddfod entirely, skilfully adapted it, by a careful selection of the subjects for competition, to the interests of the age and country in which we live. (Hear, hear.) I congratulate them on having added to their programme that latest invention of modern times "a social science department." But I dare say there are many of our English friends who think this part of our proceedings very good, but who would add Why cannot you do all this in English ?" Is not the effect of all this to keep up a language which is a bar to you in your social progress, which isolates you from the rest of your countrymen, and which, therefore, ought to be put down a, soon as possible, or, at any rate, to be driven out of our cities and towns, and, like an old pony that has outgrown its work, be turned out to graze upon the mountains ? (Laughter.) But, surely, people who speak in this way reason very unphilosophio- ally. (Hear, hear.) They forget that language is the reflection of thought—that it is utterly impossible to force the ideas of one people into the language of ano- ther. Those rugged words, which to the stranger con- vev no idea except that of a number of consonants with a very small proportion of vowels, are to the man who uses them bound up with a network of associations, which underlies his whole existence—associations which I are aa deep and dear to him as life itself. It waa in that I (Continued in 4th Page.)