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Four hundred letters, 1834-1841, 1847-1848, and undated, relating to Cymdeithas Cymreigyddion y Fenni (Abergavenny Cymreigyddion Society). About half their number are addressed to Thomas Bevan ('Caradawc'), the Society's first secretary. Of the remainder some are addressed to John Evans ('Ieuan ab Gruffydd'), who succeeded Thomas Bevan as secretary, and to the Reverend John Evans, Llanover, who was chairman of the Society for more than one term and secretary from (?) April 1846 onwards, while a few are addressed to other individuals, among them Sir Benjamin Hall, Lady [Augusta] Hall, J. Hiley Morgan, Abergavenny, and the Reverend Thomas Price ('Carnhuanawc'). The matters discussed include subjects for competition, prizes, subscriptions, arrangements for the Anniversaries, etc. The letters have been rearranged slightly and renumbered and a list of the old and new series numbers has been supplied. The correspondents are: (Mr.) Ashwell, Blaenavon, Jos. Bailey, Jun., Glanusk Park, Richd. Bailey, [Thomas Bevan] 'Caradawc', Jos. Banning (for Postmaster), Post Office, Liverpool, Reginald J. Blewitt, Llantarnam Abbey, Thos. W. Booker, Velindra, Benjn. Bowen alias Meudwy Glàn Tâf, Allen's Bank nr. Cardiff, Henry A. Bruce, Duffryn, Cardiff, Madame Bunsen (extract), Lady Chetwynd, Longdon, nr. Lichfield, John Daniel, Abergavenny, [Revd.] David Davies, Lantarnam, [John Davies] 'Brychan Bach', Tredegar, Thomas Davies, Harpist, Merthyr Tydvil, Tho. Davies, Penmyarth, Geo. French Davis, Harper, Newport, J. Edward Davis, Presteign, Valentine Davis, Carmarthen, J. Jeffreys De Winton, Priory Hill, Brecon, Julia de Winton, Maesllwch, John Edward Dibb, Guardian Office, Merthyr Tydvil, Philip W. Dodd, Newport, James Dowle, Newport, F. M. A. Dowling (Mrs. Brinsley Dowling), Ross, [Revd.] G. Edwards, Llangollen, Lady Edwards, Machynlleth, Thomas Edwards, Corwen, D. Ellis, London, and Geo. Munday for D. Ellis, Daniel (or D.S.) Evans ('Daniel Lâs o Geredigion'), Llanarth ger Aberaeron, Hy. Evans ['H. Ddu'], Caerdydd, J. B. Evans ('Cattwg'), Talachddu, [Revd. J. Evans] 'Ioan ap Ieuan', Crickhowell Vicarage, [Revd.] J. Evans, Llanover Vicarage, M. Evans ('Tegwedd'), Newport, Samuel. Evans, Carmarthen, Lady Feilding, Downing, Holywell, James Furney, Jr., Monmouth, L. W. G., Post Office, Brynllys, (?) Tho. Gratrex [name given as W. Gratrex on dorse], Monmouth, E. B. C. Greenly (Lady Coffin Greenly, 'Llwydlas'), Titley Court, Mrs. Greenly and Mrs. Hastings, Titley Court, Amelia Gregory, Cardiff, Elizabeth Griffiths, Sirhowy, Thomas Griffiths [Harpist], Tredegar, C. E. Guest (Lady Charlotte Guest), Dowlais, H. Gwyn, Baglan House, Neath, Augusta Hall (afterwards Lady Hall) 'Gwenynen Gwent', Llanover, B. Hall (afterwards Sir Benjamin Hall), Llanover, Henry Hallam, Watford, J. Dorney Harding, Bridgend and Doctors' Commons, Daniel Davies Harries, London, Lady Hastings, R. N. College, H. S. Hayden, Organist, Carnarvon, Roger Hopkins [Victoria Iron Works], William Howel, Merthyr Tudfil, John Howell ('Bardd Coch'), Llangrallo (Coychurch), John Howells ('Ieuan ab Hywel'), Doncaster, E. E. Hughes, Bodfari nr. Mold, John Hughes, Wrexham, John Hughes, Llwydiarth Esgob, Llanerchymedd, T. Hughes (? 'Tau'), L[iver]pool, [ William Hughes] 'Gwilym Huw - Llanfair', Nant y glo, David Humphreys, Llansantfraid nr. Conway, E. (?) A. Hutchins, London, Thos. Jacob, Infirmary, Cardiff, J[ames] James ('Iago Emlyn'), Bristol and Caermarthen, Thos. Jenkins, Dowlais Free School, Bassett Jones ('Ieuan Delynawr'), Cardiff, Edwd. Jones, 'Proffesor [sic] of Music', L[iver]pool, John Jones, Harper, Hotwells [Clifton, Bristol], John Jones, Harper, Kings Arms, Bangor, John Jones ('Tegid' or 'Ioan Tegid'), Oxford, Josiah Thomas Jones, Merthyr and Cowbridge, (continued)

Samuel Jones, Builder, Abergavenny, Thos. Jones, Abergavenny, [Revd.] T[hos.] Jones, Sporle, Swaffham, [William Jones] 'Gwilym Ilid', Machen, [W. E. Jones] 'Cawrdaf', Caerfyrddin, Caerdydd, Merthyr Tudful, and Cowbridge, Joseph Latch, Newport, C. H. Leigh, Ponty Pool Park, Mrs. Hanbury Leigh, Ponty Pool Park, D. S. Lewis ('Ifor Gwent'), Coalbrook Vale Shop, Enoch Lewis, Weaver, Coytrahen nr. Bridgend, Rees Lewis, Merthyr Tydfil, Angharad Lhwyd, Plas yn Rhyl, Rhyl, Mark Marks, Cardiff, [Sir] Sam'. R. Meyrick, Goodrich Court near Ross, writing also under the pseudonym 'Pren Tanlwyd (Tanllyd)', (?) Th[eodosi]a Monson [Lady Monson], Malvern Wells, Sir Charles Morgan, Cheltenham, I[sl.] Morgan, Blaenavon, J. Hiley Morgan, [Abergavenny], M. Morgan, Nant y deri [ ], Mrs. Morgan, Ruperra Castle, W. W. Morgan, Newport, Robert Lloyd Morris, Liverpool, Iltyd Nicholl, Usk, Rowland (Rholant) fab Owen, South Trenton, Oneida, co. New York, J. P[ ], Eliza Palmer, [London], Edwd. Parry, Exchange, Chester, John Parry ('Bardd Alaw'), [London], Lady Jones Parry, Madryn Park, Richard Parry, Independent Minister, Conway, Thos. Parry ('Llanerchydd'), Llanerchymedd, Mrs. (?) Peirce, Navigation House [Abergavenny postmark], Eliza Phillips alias Morfydd Glantaf, Newbridge, W. W. Phillips, Pontypool (Park) Estate Office, Mrs. Rhys Powel, Abergavenny, Mrs. Charles Powell, Lanwenarth, John Price, Junr, Abergavenny, T. Price ('Carnhuanawc'), Crughywel, Edwd. Pritchard, Auctioneer, Newport, [Revd] Chas. Proberts, Clodock Vicarage, J. Bruce Pryce, Dyffryn Goluch, Cardiff, [Revd.] R. Mostyn Pryce, Gunley, Thomas Prytherch (for Cymdeithas Cymreigyddion Llangynydr), Brinley Richards, Treberfydd, Brecon, E. P. Richards, Cardiff, Apollonia Rio, Llanarth Court, John Roberts (Ton Bach), Aberdare, John Roberts, Journal Office, Bristol, Thomas Roberts, (Llwynrhudol), Llundain, Wm. Roberts [i.e. 'Nefydd'], Baptist Minister, Blaina Works, Lord Rodney, Tredegar, John E. W. Rolls, Courtfield and The Hendre, Sir Charles Salusbury, Llanwern, T. Cox Savory, London, John L. Scudamore, Kentchurch, [Lord] G. C. H. Somerset, Liverpool, D. (ab) Rhys Stephen, Aber Tawy and Manchester, Thos. Stephens, Merthyr Tydfil, Lord James Stuart, Mountstuart, Rothesay, C. [Thirlwall], Bishop of St. Davids, Jenkin Thomas, Cheltenham, John Thomas, Chester, John Thomas ('Ieuan Morganwg'), Dowlais, John Thomas ('Ab Dafydd'), Glyn Nedd (Glyn Neath), Jno. Thomas, Llanelli, Jno. Thomas [i.e. 'Ieuan Ddu'], Merthyr Tydfil, Rees Thomas, 'Flanel [sic] weaver', Swansea, W. Thomas, 'Gwilym Mai', Caerfyrddin, Wm. Thomas, Excise Office, London, Thos. Turner, Newport, William H. Twyning, Pont y Pandy, Cardiff, John Vaughan, Penmaen Dovey, J. F. Vaughan, Court Field, T. Vaughan, Sirhowy Iron Works, [Miss] Clara Waddington, [London], Thos. Wakeman, Graig House, J. Walkinsham, Dowlais, [T. E. Watkins] 'Eiddil Ifor', Blaenau Gwent, John White, Times Office, Hereford, Math Willett, Chepstow, (?) A. Williams [London], Dan'. Williams, London, David Williams ('Morgrygun') [at] Bristol, Edward Williams ('Iolo fardd Glâs'), Pontfaen (Cowbridge), [Edward Williams] 'Iolo Mynwy', Merthyr, Howell Williams, Hugh Williams [London], [Revd.] John Williams, Cilycwm [Nr. Llandovery], John Williams, Llandovery, M[aria] J[ane] Williams ('Llinos'), Aberpergwm and Ynislas Cottage, M[orris] Williams [i. e. 'Nicander'], Amlwch, Mrs. Williams, Aberbaiden, Penry Williams, Penpont , [Revd.] Rowland Williams, Ysceifiog, Holywell, Taliesin Williams ('Ab Iolo'), Merthyr Tydfil, Thos. Williams ['Cynydr'], Crickhowel, W. Williams, Aberpergwm, Wm. Williams, Cardiff, Wm. Williams ('G[wilym] Caledfryn'), Independent Minister, Caerynarfon, Wm. A. Williams [M.P.], Wm. J. Williams ('Gwilym ab loan'), New York, W. Penry Williams, Harpist, &c., Swansea, Osmond A. Wyatt, Troy House [Monmouth postmark], and one or two unidentified correspondents including 'Gwenynedd Gwynedd', 'Iago ap Gwalchmai', 'Meillion Meirion', Merthyr, and 'Philo', also of Merthyr.

A composite volume containing notes, lists, transcripts, etc., of a very miscellaneous nature in the hand of Edward Williams ('Iolo Morganwg'). The contents, pagination in brackets, include reflections on looking at the ruins of medieval castles more particularly those of Glamorgan (xi + xiv); lists or groups of Welsh words, sometimes with English definitions and / or illustrative excerpts from Welsh poems (5-8, 11, 13, 42-3, 45-52 72, 117, 124, 145-7, 163, 215, 218, 221-2, 227-9, 231, 233, 243-7, 251-4, 268, 302, 307, 316); a list of the titles of 'Cywyddau Ior[wer]th Morganwg' i.e. Edward Williams himself (9-10); a seven-stanza poem entitled 'Cân y Bore' by [Edward Williams] 'Iorwerth Morganwg' (15-19); brief lists of events with dates extracted from [Henry Rowlands:] Mona antiqua [restaurata] and [William] Camden [:?Britannia] (20-21); an extract relating to the 'cantrefi' of Morgannwg from 'Vol. 17, Plas Gwynn' [i.e. Panton MS 17 now NLW MS 1986] (22); notes on laws promulgated by Sir Robert Fitshammon [in Glamorgan in the late eleventh century] (53); brief notes headed 'Peculiarities of the orthography of Mr. Bassett of Lanelays Welsh MS. History of the 13 Knights' (41); brief notes referring to the Norman knights Sir Lawrence Berckrolls, Gilbert Humphrefil, and Sir William Le Esterling and the lands given to them [on the conquest of Glamorgan] (39- 40); brief notes headed 'Llyma son am Dywysogaeth a Phendefigaeth a Bonedd Morganwg' (36-7); a list of sixteen [Glamorgan] castles with brief notes thereon (34-5); notes relating to Morgannwg ? in the late eleventh and first half of the twelfth century with references to Paen Twrbil, an attack on Cardiff Castle ? led by Ifor Bach, a political and judicial system ? set up by Ifor Bach, a law promulgated by 'ffwg Morganwg' against foreigners, etc. (30-33); brief notes relating to meetings of the Welsh bards held in the various princes' courts four times a year ? during the second half of the eleventh century, the supervision of the bards' use of Welsh by the princes, the patronage of the bards by Rhys fab Tydyr Fawr and Nest, wife of Iestyn [ap Gwrgant], and a meeting arranged between the said Rhys, Nest, and Iestyn (27-9); brief notes relating to the division of his domain by Rhodri Mawr amongst his sons, the conditions imposed on them, the status and duties of the kings of various parts of Wales, etc. (24-6); drafts of a proposed title-page for Cyfrinach Beirdd Ynys Prydain to be published in 1822 (57, 68); lines of Welsh verse to illustrate 'cynghanedd' of the 'groes rywiog' type (58, 67); brief notes on and a sketch to illustrate 'Cylch yr Abred', 'Cylch y Gwynfyd', and 'Cylch y Ceugant' (59); a list of bardic 'gorseddau' (60-61); notes relating to the creation of the twenty-four Knights of the Round Table by King Arthur and to the qualities and duties expected of such knights, a list of the twenty- four accomplishments they should be capable of, and a list of the names of sixteen of the said knights (62-6); a brief note relating to the bardic 'Cadair Tir Iarll' ? instituted in the time of Gilbart y Clâr (69); a brief note referring to the bards Risiart ap Iorwerth Fynglwyd and Hywel Hir ap Rhys ap Llywelyn (78); notes headed 'Y Ford Gron' referring to the organising of the Welsh bards, musicians, etc. (81-2); notes relating to procedure in connection with bardic meetings (86-7); a brief note attacking 'Win. Owen, Edward Davies, a'r Hen darn Tant E. Jones' (87); a note relating to the contents of 'Greal Beirdd Morganwg' ? an intended quarterly periodical (94); notes relating to the knowledge of letters amongst the Cimmeri on their arrival in Britain and amongst the Druids with references to Roman inscriptions and ancient British inscriptions (95- 6); brief notes on solemn days or festivals observed by Glamorgan bards and the bardic 'Round Table' of Morgannwg (113); an extract from a 'cywydd' attributed to William Cynwal ? illustrating certain bardic terms (115); an example of the bardic alphabet allegedly used by the Welsh bards (118-19); notes relating to the migrations of the Cymry and their coming to Britain ( 125); a brief note on the possible uses of inscribing on billets of wood, etc. (127); a list of ancient Welsh musical instruments ('offer cerdd oslef yr hen Gymry') extracted allegedly from 'an old imperfect MS. in Goetre Hen Library circa 1767 borrowed by John Bradford' (128); a note referring to the genuine poems of Taliesin and the spurious poems attributed to him, the writer disclaiming responsibility for including some of the latter in the 'Welsh Archaiology' stating that his main work in connection therewith had been 'travelling thro' Wales in search of old MSS.' (132 + 129); notes relating to 'coelbrenni rhin', 'coelfeini cyfrin', etc. (137-8); notes referring to the reintroduction of the bardic 'Dosparth y Ford Gron' into Wales from Brittany by Rhys ap Tewdwr, a meeting ? in 1075 between Rhys and Iestyn ap Gwrgan for this purpose and ? to organise the order of Welsh bards and musicians, a further meeting between the two in 1077 leading to a quarrel concerning Nest, wife of Iestyn, the coming of Robert fab Ammon and the Norman knights to Iestyn's aid, and their eventual conquest of his realm (139-41); a suggestion relating to 'Y Bardd Glas o'r Gadair' and 'cynghanedd' (142-3); notes relating to bardic ceremonial headed 'Dosparth y Ford Gronn' (149-51); notes relating to ? the proclaiming of 'eisteddfodau', etc. (161-2); a brief note on the 'bardd teulu' (163); a brief note relating to the intellectual state of the [early] Cymry (169); general remarks contrasting the poets of North and South Wales (170-71); notes relating to the fate of the souls and spirits of men after death (177-9); a note relating to the work of the 'Welsh bards as tutors' (181); an anecdote relating to Einigan Gawr and Menw ap y Teirgwaedd and the origin of knowledge (183); transcripts of two 'awdlau' attributed to Prolh o Gil Fai and Iorwerth Llwyd ap y Gargam, stanzas attributed to Gwalchmai ap Meilir, and unattributed verse (187-97); extracts from [Edward Davies's series of 'Letters on Celtic Literature to Mr. Justice Harding previous to the publication of The Celtic Researches'] with occasional comments [by Edward Williams] (205-11); (continued)

A transcript of three of the old Welsh 'englynion' usually designated 'englynion y Juvencus' with a version in modern orthography [all probably transcribed from Edward Lhuyd: Archaeologia Britannica, p. 221] (212); copies of two 'englynion' by [Edward Williams] 'Iolo Morganwg' himself (215); extracts relating to the early Cimbrians or Kimmeri and their connection with Thrace (223); miscellaneous extracts from Welsh verse (225-6, 239-40); a list of titles headed 'Odes by E. Wins.' (232); an agricultural note headed 'Irish Course of Culture' (233); a list of personal names headed 'July 28th Bath. Poems delivered to' (234); a list of Welsh phrases headed 'Phrases in common use in Glamorgan & also amongst the Persians and other Mahometans' (249-50); two lists of Welsh triads the first headed 'Dewisolion o Drioed[d] Cerdd Iaco ap Dewi gerllaw dechreu Llyfr Mr. Thos. Evans o Frechfa', and the second 'Trioedd gweddus ar ddyn & ex idem (Dewisolion)' (273-6); extracts by [Edward Williams] 'Iolo Morganwg' from one of Lewis Morris's manuscripts called Prif Ancwyn Gorhoff' being No. 43 of the Welsh School Manuscript Collection in London including a version of the statute for Welsh bards and musicians attributed to Gruffydd ab Cynan ('Statud y Gwyr wrth Gerdd o waith Gruffydd ab Cynan'), bardic triads, a list, with examples of some, of the twenty-four Welsh strict poetic metres, lists with headings such as 'Saith cas ar ferched', 'Chwe casbeth gan Dduw', and 'Cas gan hwsmon bum peth', etc. (277-93; this manuscript numbered 43 was one of the manuscripts listed as missing from the Welsh School Collection when it was presented to the British Museum in 1844, see B. M. Additional MS 14955); a list of Welsh triads headed 'Dewisolion o Drioedd gweddus eu dysgu Iaco ab Dewi (Ll. Th. Evans)' (294-6); a copy of a proclamation that a 'Cadair wrth Gerdd Dafawd' would be held 'ar dwyn y Bettws yn Nhir Iarll' in 18[?2]1 (301); extracts from the preface to Thomas Jones: [An] English [and] Welsh Dictionary, 1811, with a comment by E[dward] W[illiams] (304-05); a list of eleven Glamorgan river-names ('enwau nentydd ag afonydd Morganwg') (312); historical notes relating to Welsh poetry including notes on the 'Silurian School', 'a monster to whom we may apply the appellation of the School of Carmarthen . . . engendered between the false Taste of Dafydd ap Edmund and the ignorance of Gruffudd ap Nicolas', the establishing of the Carmarthen school in North Wales and its duration for two centuries, the decline of the said school and the emergence of a new school with the coming of bards such as Hugh Morris, Edward Morys, etc., the attempts of the Gwyneddigion Society to revive the Carmarthen school in North Wales, the song-writing tradition in South Wales, and Richard Hughes, the sixteenth century Caernarvonshire poet, described as 'the oldest song writer of undoubted authenticity' [in North Wales] (313-14, 311-12); horticultural and agricultural notes giving instructions what to do in each month of the year (324, 321-3, 326, 319-20 ); and notes headed 'Llyma'r ddosparth a wnaeth y Brenin Arthur ar gadw achau a chof am fonhedd Cynhenid Cenedl y Cymry' (328-9). Some of the notes are written on the verso or margins of an incomplete copy of a pamphlet announcing a literary competition (composing a 'cywydd') organised by the Gwyneddigion in 1822, a ? holograph letter from William Williams from Cowbridge to Mr. Williams, Geilston, 1806 (requesting assistance in 'taking estimat of the work unfinis'd at the bridwell'), and copies of a pamphlet announcing the printing of Edward Williams's two volumes of English poems entitled Poems Lyric and Pastoral. Inset is a printed copy of a circular letter from Thomas Stephens as honorary secretary of the Merthyr Cymreigyddion Society, 184 . . ., announcing the society's intention of holding an eisteddfod on (blank), stating what the objectives of the society were, and asking for subscriptions.