She has been down in Wales for the benefit of the salt water and there had the pleasure of seeing his brother. He is now in Bristol but he told her he would be in town the middle or latter end of next week. 'Pray Pray send him out of England as soon as you Can' - he has promised her he will come with EW to see her. Mrs Morgan has come to Bristol with him - she is an artful designing woman, and he is too good, but likewise too easily imposed upon. She wishes she could see the addressee before she sees him with his brother. Endorsed: 'Mrs Harrison'.
M. Harrison, Cannon Farm, to Mr Ed. Williams, at Mrs Cox's, No. 1 Star-Court, Chancery Lane, London. Wishing to know if his brother has yet sailed as she has a little packet she could wish to send to Br Gilead if he is still in town. Mentioning her request about the gloves and tippet again.
He is busily engaged at intervals in prosecuting his Horae Britannica. A request to have Achau'r Saint, of which he would take the utmost care. He sends these lines by his worthy friend Mr Spencer. 'Mae'n debygol fod Seren Gomer dan gwmwl ..'. Criticism of Cymreigwyr y Gogledd'.
J. Hughes, Birstall near Leeds, to Mr Edward Williams, Flimstone, Near Cowbridge (redirected to Bridgend). How he feels at Birstall. He has lately resumed his Horae Britannicae and hopes to finish his transcribing of it in a month or two. If the addressee could communicate anything about the antiquities of Lantwit, Lancarvan, or Landaff besides what he gave Williams for his Monmouthshire he (JH) would be exceedingly obliged. Poor Townley, who is still at Stockport, would also greatly thank EW for the Peithynen he (EW) had prepared for him and any communications respecting Welsh Bibles. As the writer's friends have dubbed him Bard of Brecon and he does not like nick- names he thinks sometime of publishing a Tom Thumb book of verses that they may no longer plague him for copies. When his History comes out, there will be strange thoughts about it. He is a true Silurian and cannot bear the conceitedness of many of the Northwalians. Some queries. Mr Townley's engraver is in sad want of the Peithynen. Endorsed: 'Rev. John Hughes, Birstal'.
He would be much obliged for any hints respecting the Triads. Will the addressee lend once more his Achau y Saint? He means to give selections from the other Triads as well as the historical ones as the Bishop much wishes it. The addressee has not sent him any remarks on the Essay. (Written inside a sheet containing Proposals for printing ... the Welsh Historical Triads, Translated into English, .. By John Hughes, Author of Horae Britannicae.
Few things could give him more pleasure than to see a second volume of the addressee's incomparable psalms printed. The writer never printed anything at Swansea and there is no Unitarian printer there. In the little dealing he has in books Mr Fag [sic] is his bookseller - he told the writer he would print the addressee's Psalms well in the size of Benjamin Francis's Hymns at 30s. per sheet, EW finding the paper.
He has waited a considerable time for the addressee's long-promised communications for Seren Gomer. They are going on boldly (with the paper) for another year at least. The article on Cantre'r gwaelod is pledged to be given by the addressee.
The enclosed came this moment and he sends the cover to explain the cause of its delay. The addressee has had fine weather for his expedition. Enclosure wanting.
He has delayed answering the addressee's letter 'in hope some of our manufactures would have been returned from the weavers &c.', but he has not heard anything of them. If the addressee will let him know when he sets out or when he will be in London, etc., he will be sure to forward specimens. 'This Country & its worth is perfectly unknown'- his crop of wheat. The greatest drawback he experiences is in the price of lime - the difficulty of transporting burnt lime to Aberystwyth. Asking the addressee to make enquiries about the price of burnt lime on his coast and whether any persons will undertake to deliver a quantity at the Port of Aberystwyth. If the price should be moderate he will contract for 10,000 or 20,000 bushels and a premium shall be given to the three first vessels to enter Aberystwyth port with burnt lime. He hopes the addressee is now quite recovered.
He has engaged to superintend the printing of a new edition of Dr J. D. Rhys's Welsh Grammar: begging the addressee's support and patronage. Opposition from some of the Evangelical Clergy to this humble undertaking. Endorsed: 'Mr Jones, Tutor, Carmn Accademy 1819'.
Asking for instructions what to say to the Rev. Mr Walters about finishing the corrections. He has received another letter from him, and must delay answering no longer.
Reproving him for writing a letter in English. Yes, he received - and believes he acknowledged - the addressee's elegy on the old President. It is a good one in his opinion, and it is a pity that it did not come to London the year before to compete for the silver Medal. Y Rhobin ddu had nothing but praise for it. It is as the addressee says rather too long. He has sent a copy of it to Dick Morris Junr to Bengal and he expects a letter from there about next March and perhaps permission to print the Celtic Remains for the benefit of the two daughters of its old owner. Robin ddu left London in the Spring (on medical advice) and has been since May at Caernarvon occupied as a schoolmaster and lawyer. When the writer heard from him last month he was busy copying Goronwy Owen's letters to Wm Morris of Holyhead now in the possession of the latter's son-in-law. Did not the addressee once tell him that a Caernarvonshire man had a translation by Goronwy [Owen] of Dr Davies's Preface? He has forgotten the man's name - asking EW to tell him and he will tell Robin ddu. An extensive work now in preparation - its intended author was here some months seeking names. He is a ? Presbyterian clergyman ('Offeiriad Pres. yw ef') at Walsall, Staffordshire, who was born in the parish of Ruabon, co. Denb., [and is] about 32 years old [? Thomas Jeffreys]. Cornish literature. Strong words about 'Meddyg Dolgelleu' for not returning his book. Leaving the letter to go to Eiddig's house to smoke a pipe etc. with friend Ceiriog. Resuming on the fifth day of winter. Did not the addressee promise to translate the Gododin? There is a youth from Merioneth here, a neighbour to Rhys Jones, interpreting it surprisingly - some account of this Gwilym Owen. When did the addressee see the good gentleman from Llandudoch? Is Part 14 of the Dictionary ready? Has he seen the Junior (John Walters) since he had the schoolhouse? Another of their friends, 'Y Morcyn', is now going to Wales for the sake of his health. The addressee promised to let them have a 'cywydd' to 'Eiddig Llundain'. Here is a letter from Sion Ceiriog (see No. 145 dated 5 Nov. 1783). Sending a small part of the Gododin as written by Gwilym Owen and his translation (? No. 231a). What does the addressee say about it? He also sends the struggle between them and the Cymmrodorion in defence of the strict metres (? 'Hyriad Gutyn Gwrecsam'). They have it in mind to publish the essay after having the opinion of the addressee and the goodman of Llandudoch, and that as soon as convenient. When did the addressee see 'Y Prydydd Hir'? He was at Caernarvon some time last August, according to Rhobin ddu. And there was quite a row between the two poets. The trouble began when Evan [Evans] spoke rather sarcastically about Goronwy.
The enclosed came to hand this day. He hopes this will find him perfectly recovered, and likewise Iolo, whom he hopes ere long to see in London. Asking him to desire Iolo to acquaint the Rev. Mr Walters that the press now waits for the Dictionary being quite ready. Enclosure wanting.
Owen Jones, London, to Mr Edwd Williams, Y Bardd, at The Rev. John Williams, Llan Rwst, co. Denb. He has received the addressee's (letter) from Machynllaith this morning. On Saturday last he directed to Havod a small parcel - its contents (including a letter to Iolo). He expects to see Will [Owen] this evening and will beg of him to write immediately to Hafod to thank Mr J[ohnes] for his liberal proposal. It hurts him much to keep the addressee so long from home and (he) wishes him to have a good scribe. How the addressee can obtain money. Desiring his compliments to Mr Williams and reminding him (Mr W.) of his promise to send him Llythyrau Gor. Owain for they are only 'benthyg' to the writer.
Hoping this will find him perfectly recovered. He would not wish him to hurry himself for London - telling him to wait for better weather and longer days. He hopes likewise that he has recovered his packet and that the enclosed will reach him safely. He has received from T. Nant 6 MSS and has bargained for them so that they are now his, but he [T. Nant] has kept back Llyfr y Gelli and says that had he known that one of these was transcribed by D. Davies he would not have parted with it at any price, but the writer takes it that the money was full as welcome and he has no doubt of obtaining [a] few more by that powerful engine, money. He says that he has likewise something with 'llaw Sion Tudur' bound with DD ? Dict[ ionar]y. If the writer procures for him another DD he will part with it. He [OJ] hopes to be able to regulate his affairs so as to be able to accompany the addressee to Hengwrt about June or July next if the permission of the owner, Major Vaughan, is obtained.
When the post came in this morning he was out. He yesterday sent a Bank Note of small value to his friend WO, begging of him, as he was going to write, to transmit it to the addressee as soon as possible. Respecting their second vol. of W[elsh] P[oetry] or 'Gwaith y Beirdd diweddar' the addressee may depend (on it that) they will be in no hurry. They have received very safely the packet the addressee described. Endorsed: 'Dau wynebog'.
With this the addressee will receive 6 sets, one for himself, one for R. Fenton, esq., and four to dispose of. The price is fixed at one guinea per vol. They have had no time to examine the Brutt [sic] and other MSS which the addressee sent from Carmarthen; they came too late to be of use - their second vol. was out long before. After seeing the addressee's letter W. Owen will delay writing till they suppose him to be at home. 'Orator Wright & others of the Crindy School make frequent enquiries abt the time of Your being here'. Endorsed: 'Owen Jones Octr 5th 1801. To Carmarthen' and 'Deudneudisms'.
The addressee's letter gives him particular satisfaction as he has a very great desire to see him here as soon as possible. It is probable that he and the writer may have a ramble in Wales when they have settled their affairs here, say about June or July next. He has enclosed a £10 Bank Note - someone has said that it is 1/5 of the amount owing for this year, 1802. Tyddyn Tudur where Owain Myvyr was born and bred, will henceforth be Tyddyn Owain or Trev Owain or Trev Myvyr. Shame on Tudur for selling his patrimony! He hears that the house is almost a ruin, and the outbuildings, etc., and so if he lives he will have to build. He is obliged to purchase two other tenements in the same parish. He has paid £1,000 on account.
He waited some time in hopes of receiving an answer from his friend Edmunds. (See No. 143 dated 19 Oct. 1804.) Mr Churchey recommends EW to call on a Mr James H. Byles, an attorney in Spanish Town. 'Whats this Pwff in all the papers abt the Title a Bard being confer'd by Gwyr Gwynedd ?'.