A folder containing eight files of original letters and copies of letters and poetry from the eighteenth to the twentieth century. Files 1-3: Transcripts of letters by Lewis and Richard Morris, mainly to Evan Evans ('Ieuan Fardd') and Dafydd Jones of Trefriw, almost all published in Hugh Owen (ed.), Additional Letters of the Morrises of Anglesey (1735-1786), Y Cymmrodor, Vol. XLIX, 1947-9, the remainder published in G. J. Williams (gol.) Llythyrau at Ddafydd Jones o Drefriw. Cylchgrawn Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru. Atodiad. Cyfres III, Rhif 2 (1942), and J. H. Davies (ed.), The Letters of Lewis, Richard, William and John Morris of Anglesey (Morrisiaid Mon) (Aberystwyth, 1907-9). The original letters or copies from which these copies were transcribed are in the British Museum (Add MSS 14929, 15021, 15024, 15029) and the National Library of Wales (mainly Panton 74 and NLW MS 476). There is also a transcript of a letter from the Reverend Thomas Ellis, Holyhead to the Reverend Humphrey Owen and the Reverend J. Hoare, 1742 (the original letter is preserved in NLW MS 478), and a copy of Evan Evans's elegy to Lewis Morris, with notes on the text. File 4: Transcripts of letters from Edward Richard, Ystrad Meurig, c. 1759-1766, to Evan Evans ('Ieuan Fardd'). There are also copies of two short letters to Evan Evans from Roderick Lewis, Trefeglwys, and William Howell, Llanidloes, which were written on the same sheet as Edward Richard's letter of 1 March 1766. The original letters are preserved in NLW MS Panton 74. A transcript of a letter from Edward Richard, 1766, to Richard Morris (from BM Add MS 15025), and extracts from letters from Edward Richard to Lewis Morris, 1759 and undated (from BM Add MS 15029). A holograph letter from Edward Richard, Ystradmeuryg, 1762, to Lewis Morris, Penbryn (published in Hugh Owen, op. cit. Part II, pp. 562-3). File 5: A holograph letter from [the Reverend] W[illiam] Davies, Llanwryn [Montgomeryshire], 1710, to Henry Newman at the Reverend Mr Shute's in Bartlet's Buildings, London (receipt of letter and a packet from the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, subscriptions from other parishes, has partly prevailed with a certain minister to become a corresponding member). The letter bears the number 2381 (see Mary Clement (ed.), Correspondence and minutes of the S.P.C.K. relating to Wales 1699-1740 (Cardiff, 1952), p. 35. Abstract No. 2381). Holograph letters (13) and some poetry,1791-1819, of D[avid] Thomas ('Dafydd Ddu Eryri'), Waunfawr, Bettws St Garmon, etc. Some of the letters have been published in [John Jones] 'Myrddin Fardd', Adgof uwch Anghof (Penygroes, 1883). The letters are addressed to John Roberts ('Sion Lleyn'), Pwllheli (4), 1791-1806 (corrections to addressee's poetry, tributes to writer's brother, Humphrey, after his death, some short poetical compositions by the writer), to Griffith Williams ('Gutyn Peris'), Llandygai (8), 1799-1819, (poetry, subjects upon which writer desired addressee to compose hymns, meetings of bards and eisteddfodau, comments and news of contemporary poets, writer's health and work), and one letter, addressee not named, 1804, (addressee's poetry which writer had received, desires addressee to render 2 Samuel XXII in strict metres and to ask other poets to do the same). The poetry includes verses entitled 'Y Cynauaf mawr diweddaf' subscribed 'D. T. a'i cant allan o'r Saesneg ar ddymuniad John Jones Llandwrog Medi 10d 1804 (cf. Dafydd Thomas (Dafydd Ddû Eryri), Corph y Gaingc (Caernarfon, 1834), pp. 323-4), and 'Englynion newyddion i Long newydd o Gaernarfon yr hon a elwir Valiant'. There is also some poetry in English by [John Blackwell ('Alun')] and in Welsh by Evan Evans ('Ieuan Glan Geirionydd'). A holograph letter from the Reverend P[eter] B[ailey] Williams, [1828], to David Owen ('Dewi Wyn o Eifion'), Gaerwen (seeking to persuade addressee to become one of the adjudicators at the [?Denbigh] Eisteddfod etc.). File 6: Holograph letters (17) to Ebenezer Thomas ('Eben Fardd'), Clynnog, 1826-58, from John Breese, Pwllheli (5), 1851, 1958, (the Madog eisteddfod, 1851, presentation of a portrait of the addressee and the publication of an engraving; addressee's son, James), William Evans, Llandwrog, 1852 (entreating addressee to visit him, a number of other people also invited addressee to visit them), Walter Griffith ('Walter Bach'), Bethesda, 1835 (writer and his brother had moved to Bethesda from Nazareth, his brother had emigrated to America in 1834, writer had been in a school and was now an apprentice, he had learnt the rules of poetry in the evenings whilst attending school, John Athelston Owen ('Bardd Meirion') had lodged in part of his father's house, details concerning Cymdeithas Gymreigyddol Bethesda), Robert Hughes ('Robyn Wyn o Eifion'), Liverpool, 1843 (enclosing a 'cywydd' in reply to addressee, states he was born on New Year's day, 1824, does not know when he will return), [Reverend] David Jones, Caernarfon (2) 1855-6 [to Ebenezer Thomas ('Eben Fardd')] (case of a young man to be brought before the Monthly Meeting, adjudication in a competition for an elegy to the Reverend Thomas Richards, Fishguard), short comments on the competitors and note of correspondence by 'Eben Fardd' attached, R[obert] Jones ('Tecwyn Meirion'), Liverpool, 1837 (enclosing his translation of Charles Wolfe's 'The Burial of Sir John Moore', which he compares with the translations published in Y Gwladgarwr [Mai 1837, pp 131-2], recollection of a meeting at Clynnog some years earlier), John Morgan, Merthyr Tydfil, 1850 (request by the committee of the Cymrodorion Dirwestol that the addressee should be the adjudicator of the poetry competition in the eisteddfod to be held on Christmas Day, [Evan Jones] ('Ieuan Gwynedd')'s criticism of an essay on 'Athroniaeth Dirwest'), copy of a reply by 'Eben Fardd' attached in which he states his opinion of 'Ieuan Gwynedd', Evan Prichard ('Ieuan Lleyn'), Tydweiliog, 1826 (enclosing verses greeting the addressee, desires to have a copy of addressee's 'Awdl ar Ddynystr Caersalem' if it was printed), William Roberts ('Nefydd'), Blaenau Works, 1851 (enclosing ten shillings towards addressee's portrait, requests addressee to keep the engraving until he would call for it, comments on matters connected with the eisteddfod and the award of a chair for a 'pryddest'), J[ohn] Thomas ('Sion Wyn o Eifion'), Chwilog, 1843, (writer's health, enclosing 'englynion' to greet addressee's newly-born son, possibility of writer and addressee writing something jointly), S. Prideaux Tregelles, Neath Abbey, 1845 (writer's journey to Italy, sending a prospectus of his proposed work, he had requested a friend to send addressee tracts on prophetic subjects, requests a copy of addressee's 'Awdl on the harvest' if it was printed), the Reverend D[avid] Williams, Bottwnog 1834, and Llandwrog 1844 (addressee's appointment as master of the school at Pwllheli), with a copy made by 'Eben Fardd' of an extract from a letter written by Lord Newborough to Mr Mostyn relating to Ebenezer Thomas's Methodism and that a clergyman had always been appointed master of the Pwllheli school, the Reverend M[orris] Williams (Nicander'), Bangor, 1841 (considers the Book of Job was poetry as well as history, the addressee's 'awdl' on Job, titles for books of poems, English bishops in Wales), and 'englynion' to greet 'Eben Fardd' by John Jones and a carol (1834). Copies made by Ebenezer Thomas ('Eben Fardd') of letters written by him to [William Davies] 'Gwilym Teilo', 1855 (reminds addressee of the promise of renumeration for adjudicating at an eisteddfod made when writer was asked to be an adjudicator), John Breese, 1858 (death of writer's daughter, requests to withdraw his son from addressee's office to remain at home with his bereaved mother), the Reverend Morris Williams ('Nicander'), Amlwch (2) 1849 (their personal relationship after the Aberffraw eisteddfod), Robert Jones, draper, Portmadog (2), 1852 (reasons for his resignation from the post of schoolmaster of Ynys-y-galch school, Portmadoc, which he had accepted, his family did not wish to leave Clynnog and the Monthly Meeting had guaranteed him £30 p.a. for five years).
Holograph letters (5), 1812-43 and undated, to John Thomas ('Sion Wyn o Eifion'), Chwilog, from William [Ellis] Jones ('Cawrdaf'), London, 1818 (has received little support after coming to London, the Royal Academy of Arts was closed at present and he had not been able to show anything substantial there but intends to show eight or nine [pictures] there the following year), William Owen, Llangybi, 1812 (seeks addressee's opinion on a religious matter, hopes to meet him on Saturday), Ebenezer Thomas ('Eben Fardd') (hopes he has not upset addressee by his note, feels addressee is more depressed than usual, hopes to visit Chwilog soon, enjoys reading and meditating but finds strict poetry a burden although he enjoys free metre poetry similar to the English), David Williams, Bron Eryri, 1843 (regrets he us unable to help addressee as agent for his landlord, he has decided to give up his agency because Sir Love and Lady Parry were so averse to reduce their tenants' rents and place them on the same footing as the tenants of other landlords), Robert Williams ('Robert ap Gwilym Ddu'), undated (enclosing poetry, has heard that addressee intended to be baptised, religious sentiments). Holograph letters and poetry, 1795-1806, addressed to John Roberts ('Sion Lleyn'), Pwllheli from Jonathan Hughes (1753-1834?), Pengwern, [1806] (poetry in remembrance of his father, seeks help in obtaining subscribers for his book [Gemau Awen (Croesoswallt, 1806)]), T[homas] Roberts [Llwynrhudol], Llundain (2), 1801, 1804 (despatch of copies of addressee's 'awdl', has also sent six copies of [Llythyrau Mr Edward Jones (Llundain, 1801)], Gwyneddigion meeting, news of addressee's daughters in London, details of the 'awdl' competition in the Gwyneddigion eisteddfod of 1804), a 'cywydd' in the form of a dialogue between the bard and the muse by [Thomas Williams] 'Twm Pedrog' from Edeyrn, 1795 (see J. Jones, Cynfeirdd Lleyn (Pwllheli, 1905), pp. 242-6) addressed to [John Roberts] 'Sion Lleyn', 'Awdl ar Ddedwyddwch' by 'Gwilym ab Gwilym' [William Williams ('Gwilym Peris')], Llanberis, the subject set at the Llanddeiniolen eisteddfod 1802, with some comments by 'Sion Lleyn' (cf. William Williams, Awen-Gerdd Peris (Trefriw, 1813), pp. 19-24). Holograph letters from Daniel Davies, Llundain, [18]20, to David Thomas ('Dafydd Ddu Eryri') (agrees with addressee's opinion of 'Awdl y Dryw' [i.e. the 'awdl' entitled 'Elusengarwch' by the Reverend Edward Hughes ('Y Dryw'), which was judged the best at the Denbigh eisteddfod 1819], the controversy concerning the decision, future eisteddfodau, a large number of copies of the 'awdl' by D[avid] O[wen] ('Dewi Wyn o Eifion') had been sold, sending two papers to be forwarded to Bron y gader and to D[avid] O[wen], wishes to be remembered to his relatives in Pontnewydd), J[ohn] Williams ('Ioan Twrog'), Pandybach, 1836, to Richard Jones ('Gwyndaf Eryri'), Caernarvon (conduct of 'Alltud', a competitor in the 'pryddest' competition, see letter in Cw. 863), J. Robert, Ty Dû, 1795, to Dafydd Thomas ('Dafydd Ddu Eryri') (enclosing a 'cywydd' which addressee could recite at the Penmorfa eisteddfod if he thought it appropriate, gives details of the singing of his 'cywydd', poets in the Bala district), [William Rowlands] 'Gwilym Lleyn', Aberystwyth (2) 1860-1, to [?Owen Jones ('Manoethwy')] (enquiring concerning John Jones, author of Considerations on the Illegality and Impropriety of preferring Clergymen who are unacquainted with the Welsh Language to Benefices in Wales (1768), suggestion that he was John Jones of Gelliwig in Lleyn, the Brut published in Trysorfa Gwybodaeth neu Eurgrawn Gymraeg 1770), the Reverend Owen Jones ('Meudwy Môn'), Llandudno, (4 letters and a fragment), 1870-78, to J[ohn] Jones ('Myrddin Fardd') (sale of manuscripts, loan of books and manuscripts, writer's literary work), Edgar Bennett, Portmadoc, 1886, to John Jones ('Myrddin Fardd') (has read the books addressee had lent him, hopes to see him the following Saturday, sending documents which addressee could copy), D. ap Huw, 1856, addressee not named (disgust at the contents of Yr Herald Cymraeg, wishes to cease to be a subscriber), a copy of a statement deploring the state of the Welsh press, 1856, stated to have accompanied a letter addressed to [William] R[ees], portion of a letter which states the writer does not care if [ ] hears that he has informed addressee and referring to the work writer had undertaken, a statement in defence of the present generation of poets of Arfon, 1804, in reply to a letter by [John Roberts] 'Sion Lleyn', a holograph letter from Norman Penney, librarian of the Friends' Reference Library, London, 1911, to D. R. Daniel, London (the family of Thomas Roberts [Llwynrhudol]), a song (to the tune 'Bryniau yr Iwerddon') entitled "Can newydd yn gosod allan hardd a doeth deyrnasiad yr Arglwydd ar y ddaer' by D[avid] Edwards, Bala, c. 1830, 'Cywydd Marwnad Sion Evan Griffith' by [?Evan Pritchard] 'Evan Lleun', 'Englynion i'r Parchedig John Jones, A.M., a elwir ymysg y Beirdd Ioan Tegyd' by 'Sion Brwynog o Edeirnion', a copy of 'englynion', etc. from BM Add MS 14974, some temperance poetry, a folio from a manuscript bearing the statement 'Rhys ap Sion o'r Tyddyn Mawr yn y Brynaich o Blwyf Llanfachreth yw Iawn Berchenog y Llyfr hwn, a ysgrifenodd ef yn y Flwyddyn o oedran ein Iachawdwr Iesu Grist 1754'. Some of the letters in this file (No. 6) have been published in Adgof Uwch Anghof. File 7: Holograph letters from Lady Eleanor Butler, Llangollen Vale, Feb. 28 [ ], endorsed in another hand 'to Miss Hayman sub Governess to the Princess Charlotte of Wales' (regrets addressee had not been able to visit them before leaving Wales, gratitude for the help of addressee, Lady Sheffield and the Princess in their unsuccessful attempt to obtain a post in the Foreign Office for their (writer and Miss Ponsonby) protege Dalby, who was a gifted linguist, additions to her book collection), [the Reverend] John Williams ('Williams Lledrod'; 1747-1831), Pentre [Padarn, Llanbadarn Odwyn], 1829, to his son, John Williams, Excise Officer, Stroudwater, Gloucestershire, (death of writer's wife, family and local news), the Reverend David Charles (1803-80), Caervyrddin, and the Reverend Thomas Evans, Llanstephan (the letter was written by the Reverend David Charles) to The Committee of the Aberystwith Association, [1837], (the preparation of a new collection of hymns following the death of the Reverend Ebenezer Richards [sic], who had been preparing the collection), [the Reverend] James Hughes ('Iago Trichrug'), [1842], to the Reverend D. Roberts (portion of letter only) (verses giving details of writer's life, promises to give addressee details of his life if he would give him details of addressee's life, death of the Reverend Jenkin Davies, writer's opinion of William Morris, religious matters). A holograph letter from the Reverend Thomas Charles, Bala, [2 July 1784], to Mrs [Sarah] Charles, [at] Mr Boult's, Chester, (the writer and the colt had arrived home safely, looking forward to the day of their meeting again) (published in D. E. Jenkins, The Life of the Rev. Thomas Charles of Bala ... , 3 vols (Denbigh, 1908), Vol I, p. 495), copies of (3) letters from the Reverend Thomas Charles to [Mrs Foulkes, Machynlleth, and ?Miss Foulkes], 1811 and undated, (sending addressee an extra fine copy of the Welsh Bible, his wife's health and local news) (published in D. E. Jenkins, op. cit. Vol III, 205-6, 384-5, 410-11). File 8: A holograph letter from T. Vaughan Roberts, London, 1908, to J. H. Davies, Aberystwyth (sending copies of letters he had transcribed), lists of letters in [NLW MS] Panton 74 and BM Add MSS 14929, 15023-6 and 15028-33, a transcript of 'A Dialogue between a Highland Welshman newly come to London and a citizen, upon the situation of affairs in Britain' from BM Add MS 14929.
