Willm Rees, Llandovery, to [? Edward Williams]. Asking him to accept the enclosed copies of the Coelbren and also his sincere condolence with them all. He (W. R.) has the last year been greatly afflicted by the death of no less than 5 of his nearest relations, including one of his own children and his mother.
Willm Rees, Llandovery, to Mr Edward Williams. In looking over some papers he found the addressee's letter of Feb. 27 unanswered. He well remembers the slip of paper in Vicar Pritchard's handwriting - its contents. As soon as he can lay his hands upon it the addressee shall have it back, although he is not certain whether it was not returned with the old MS containing some of his poems. The Iolo MSS. He fears that an attack will be made upon the MSS Society for purchasing and printing mere extracts of MSS not well verified by the originals. Have the MSS been returned from Carnhuanawc's Executrix? When will the addressee send him the (?) books (specified) he has belonging to the writer's uncle? Asking him to devote some time to the verification of the MSS published, so as to be ready when the attack is made.
Willm Rees, Llandovery, to Ab Iolo. Had he been aware of the circumstances of the non-adoption of Mr Price's suggestion about Glastonbury he would not have expressed himself as he did . The other expressions complained of (by the addressee). The addressee says, and that justly, that his health alone has prevented his proceeding - he (W. R.) has repeatedly urged the same plea and that to personages of distinction. Their reply. He is sorry to say that many of the Society's best friends are greatly dissatisfied and would fain throw it up altogether. Requesting him to return the proof sent this morning as soon as possible. He wishes the notes were shorter and not so discursive. He much fears that Lady Hall's son is in a very dangerous state of health. Sometimes the addressee says Morgan "the Courteous" and at others Morgan "Mwynfawr" - he prefers the latter after having once given the translation of Mwynfawr, 'Proper names ... do not look well when translated'.
Willm Rees, Llandovery, to Ab Iolo. The rivers Burry and Llychwr are not the same. When is he to have a good supply of copy? It is really cruel to keep the men in suspense and without work. Very few authors in the present day do all the work themselves.
Willm Rees, Llandovery, to Ab Iolo. He must again request the addressee to send some copy of the Translation per return of post. The delay in bringing out the work.
Willm Rees, Llandovery, to Ab Iolo (Mr Taliesin Williams, Wellington Street, Merthyr Tydvil. Forwarded to him at John Petherick, esq., Bowrington, Bridgend). Instructions about returning Achau y Saint.
Willm Rees, Llandovery, to Ab Iolo (Mr Taliesin Williams, Wellington Street, Merthyr Tydvil). It occurs to him that if the addressee could, within a month or so, write a Preface to the volume it would be more satisfactory to himself and to the public. What he might there state. He (W. R.) has written to Mr Price about Benwyll.
Willm Rees, Llandovery, to [ ]. He finds the enclosed facsimile (to be inserted at p. 271) was omitted in either the addressee's copy of the Liber or Ab Iolo's.
Wm Rees (Llandovery), Crickhowell, to J. Snow, esq., Guardian Office, Merthyr Tydfil. Complaining of the conduct of the Newspaper Reporters 'who, at the instigation of the Editor of the Silurian agreed to Burke whatever Mr Taliesin Williams spoke', and therefore did not take notes of what he said at the dinner yesterday, which is to be lamented as he brought forward the MSS Society. He hopes the addressee's reporter did not enter into the infamous combination, etc. Marked 'Private'.
W. Rees to [?Taliesin Williams]. A note requesting him to return the English sheet as soon as possible with whatever observations he may have to make on the proper names, places, &c. Telling him to keep the Latin until he has the remainder. A query concerning Aquilensium, Eglwys Elian, and Eli.
Willm Rees to [Taliesin Williams]. The enclosed (?page proof) came from Mr Price with the following observations (on the note on Madog Min). With all his curtailment of poetical translations the addressee will not be able to compress the work into its due limits if scarcely any more notes are introduced. Enclosure.
Wm Redwo[od], Neath, to Mr Taliessin Williams, Merthyr. Is quite ashamed in having delayed so long to execute the commission the addressee gave him at Cardiff. He has been to Hayward and Fagg, and they informed him that [they] have still many of the poems unsold. Mr Owen Rees has left Neath some time ago. The writer's brother is now with his better half in Cheltenham, having been for some [time] indisposed.
Wm R. Davies to Mr Taliesyn Williams. A note in pencil informing him of the sudden death of the writer's cousin, 'Dewi Wyn o Eifion', last Sunday afternoon. The note is written on a piece of paper torn from the back of a letter addressed to 'Rev. W. R. Davies, Baptist Minister, Merthyr Tydfil', with postmark 11 Jan. 1841.
William Owen, No. 22 Penton Place, Pentonville, to Mr Edward Williams, Marble Mason, Flimston, near Cowbridge. He has not yet given up his hopes of seeing the addressee in London. He will soon begin to form the Dictionary for the press - begging him to furnish him with his additions. 'The world must believe at last that Madog ap Owain did truly land with his followers safe in America.' Corroborating testimony given by a Mr Bowles. He is writing this abroad about his business and pressed for time or he would have written another to the same purpose to the Rev. Mr Walters.
He received the enclosed yesterday and could not resist the temptation of opening it as he was sure by the direction who it was from. He has sent the substance of it also in English to Dr Williams whom he saw lately enquiring after the addressee and wishing to hear from him. Hoping he found Mrs W. and the children in health on his arrival at home. They expect his return now shortly.
A brief letter, 3 April 1827, from W[illia]m Owen Pughe, London, to his fellow antiquary the Rev. W[illiam] J[enkins] Rees, Cascob, Radnorshire, regretting that he will not see Rees on his visit to London. Pughe also mentions his son Aneurin Owen. The address (f. 55 verso) is written in a different hand.
A letter, 4 August 1819, from William Owen Pughe, London, to the Rev. Hugh Davies, Beaumaris, relating to Coll Gwynfa (London, 1819), Pughe's recently published translation of Milton's Paradise Lost. Pughe quotes extracts of letters in praise of Coll Gwynfa from John Humphreys Parry (f. 23) and William Probert (f. 23 recto-verso). He also discusses the search for the so-called 'Welsh Indians' and includes a sketch of a Native-American pipe (f. 23 verso).