A volume containing general observations and instructions relating to agricultural and horticultural matters, a corpus of data relating to agricultural practices, agricultural and rural economy, animal husbandry, horticulture, and related matters in various counties in England and Wales, ?incomplete accounts of journeys in parts of Wales [by Edward Williams ('Iolo Morganwg')], and other miscellaneous items, all in the hand of the aforesaid Edward Williams ('Iolo Morganwg'). The general observations and instructions relating to agriculture and horticulture have usually been extracted from such sources as, according to the superscriptions to the notes, 'Will's Almanack, 1804', [Arthur] Young: [The Farmer's] Calendar, and [ ] Lawrence: The New Farmer's Calendar. The data relating to agricultural practices, etc., in the counties of England consists mainly of extracts from, or notes based upon, sections of the published surveys of agriculture, etc., in these counties which appeared largely under the auspices of the Board of Agriculture in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, viz. those of Jacob Malcolm and William James for rather William, James, and Jacob Malcolm] for the county of Surrey, George Turner for the county of Gloucester, John Boys for the county of Kent, John Monk for the county of Leicester, Nathaniel Kent for the county of Norfolk, Robert Lowe for the county of Nottingham, John Billingsley for the county of Somerset, and John Middleton for the county of Middlesex. The data concerning agriculture, etc., in Wales relates to the counties of South Wales. Some of this data has been extracted from, or is based upon, published agricultural surveys similar to those for the English counties also made in respect of the Welsh counties, e.g., those of Charles Hassall for the counties of Carmarthen and Pembroke, John Clark for the county of Brecknock, and Thomas Lloyd and the Reverend Mr. Turner for the county of Cardigan. It would appear, however, that most of the data relating to the counties of South Wales has not been extracted from such sources but it may possibly be linked with the work which Edward Williams ('Iolo Morganwg') himself undertook in 1796 in surveying the counties of Glamorgan and Carmarthen on behalf of the Board of Agriculture and with the work he undertook in assisting the Reverend Walter Davies ('Gwallter Mechain') in collecting material for his review of the economy of South Wales subsequently published under the title General View of the Agriculture and Domestic Economy of South Wales . . . Drawn up for the Consideration of the Board of Agriculture and Internal Improvement (London, 1815) (see the introduction for references to the assistance rendered by Edward Williams to the Reverend Walter Davies in respect of this project). Pp. 73-88 of the present manuscript contain an account of a journey undertaken [by Edward Williams] in the course of which he passed through or by the following neighbourhoods, places, buildings, etc., commenting on the features noted in brackets after the names - Penygored or Llechryd (tin works, salmon weir, coracle), Kilgeran, Cardigan, Blaen y Ffos Baptist meeting house, Fryni Vawr, Llanfernach ('a rich lead mine on the Estate of Captain Lloyd of Bronwydd worked by Lord Milford about 7 years ago . . .'), Bribwll ('a large old mansion'), Glandwr Meeting House ('very large, Independants'), Llangludwen Mill ('saw the place where they had been without any success digging for coal'), Llanboidy (adverse comments on the inhabitants of the area and also on the 'Pembrokeshire Peasantry'), Meidrym ('a decent village'), Job's Well near Caermarthen, and Gillimoor near Caerm[arthe]n Town ('100 acres of the rankest moor or bog drained by . . . Philips, Esqr.'). (continued)

Pp. 149-71 contain further notes relating to a journey [by Edward Williams] proceeding from Aber Cothi via Llanegwad, Hendre Wencyn Farm, Plas Newydd, Middleton Hall ('fine seat of Sir William Paxton . . . highly finished appartments and numerous flourishing plantations'), Grongar Hill, Dryslwyn Castle, Llanarthne, Golden Grove ('a fine old Mansion'), Llandeilo ('an ill planned and in general ill-built Town . . . some good houses . . . a large clumsy old Church', adverse comments on the inhabitants of the district, comments on a local custom of hanging jugs on nails 'all round the rooms of their houses', rather adverse comments on Dinevor Castle, Dryslwyn Castle, Carreg Cennen Castle, and the tomb of Sir Rhys ap Thomas in the church of Caermarthen), Newton Dinevor ('Fine seat of Lord Dinevor, the Park . . . one of the finest in the whole Kingdom', report on a conversation with Lord Dinevor), Derwen fawr, Aberglasney ('Mr. Dyer's, the Birth place of the Bard of Grongar Hill', praise of Grongar Hill and the views of the surrounding country to be seen from there), Crongaer Farm House, and Cross Inn (a brief note on and a sketch of 'Caermarthenshire Gates and Posts'), to Allt y Gog (a note here on 'Caermarthen Trade' with mention of 'Vaughan's anchor smithery', 'Vaughan's foundery', shipping, and ship building). Pp. 177-205 contain a further account of a journey [by Edward Williams] from Landilo ('Scattered Town with some good houses others wretched') via Dinefwr Park, Dinefor Castle, Llanfynydd village ('neat without & whitened, dirty & black within'), Glyn Cothi Mountains, Bryn Llywelyn Mountain, Llanybyddar, Llanwnen ('people most intelligent of any in Wales, mostly Presbiterians, very little English'), Cribin Clottas, Silien ('a scattered village of shabby aspect'), Langybi ('Church no Windows . . . a grammar school in the church . . . women do all the works of husbandry, threshing, grubbing, hedging . . . . have a tone or brogue that is far from pleasant . . . meeting houses numerous'), Llonio isa farm house, John's of hafod's estate, Llonio Mill, Llan Ddewi Brevi ('large double Isle Church & large village'), Tregaron New Bridge, Tregaron ('ragged Town that has a market, inferior to a Glamorgan village . . . Church large and long a clumsy high Tower, no windows in front'), House of Twm Siôn Catty ('½ mile out of town in ruins'), Llynn maes y llynn, Pont Rhyd fendigaid, Ross Fair ('4 or 5 houses only'), Yspytty ystwyth, the great bog between Tregaron & Ystrad Meuryg ('the property of Johns, Lisburne, &c., who are paid 5s per day for as much as one man can cut . . . this is called Corsgoch ar Deifi'), Ystrad Meuryg ('a dry healthy place, fine views . . .', note on E[dward] Rich[ar]ds and his school and library), Devils Bridge ('meet Messrs. Boddington & Este . . . walk over Havod grounds'), Ystrad Flur (brief note on the ruins of the abbey), dreary mountainous Country for many miles in Lanbadarn parish (' the inhabitants very stupid and extremely ignorant . . .'), foot of Pumlumon, Glasbwll village, Machynlleth ('a very good Town for Wales, many neat houses, good hall recently built. . . '), Pennegos, Dolgeiog, Llanwryn, Llancemais ('Decent Church & good village'), Mallwyd ('a very pleasant village . . . Church is a rude building with a Tower of oaken boards constructed in 1640', notes on Dr. John Davies 'the saviour of the Welsh language', his 'grammar of the Welsh language', his 'Welsh & Latin Dictionary', his revision of 'the Welsh Bible and prayer book' and his translation of 'some useful books of practical devotion into the Welsh language'), Mallwyd Bridge (sketch of bridge), Dinas ym Mowddwy ('a Market weekly but its number of houses do not exceed 30, here is a new meeting house built about 4 years ago'), Abercowarch village ('many new cottages . . . a spinning mill at work', a note here on South walians who were thronging 'to the Methodist Association at Bala' and on one young woman whom the writer had met who had come '100 miles on a pilgrimage to this circulating Mecca of Welsh fanaticism'), and Llanymowddwy, as far as Bwlch y Groes (further note on the Methodists looking forward to hearing [David] Jones of Llangan preaching at Bala). The accounts of the three journeys noted contain observations on topographical, agricultural, and geological features of the areas through which the traveller passed.

Holograph letters and miscellaneous papers of the family of John Jones, Junior, of Wrexham, etc. The writers include Anne Vaughan, Corsygedol, to her brother Collonell Hugh Wynne, Bodscallan near Conway, [16]72 (a dispute with Mr. Jones of Wrexam over a right of way); Humphrey Jones to John Jones, 1673-1681 (4), and to [his step-daughter] Mary Jones, [16]86 (James Payne's portion, a debt due from Tho. Humphreys, and other money matters, a tenant for the ferry at Conway; the receipt of the writer's rent, the troubles of 'poor Dicke' [Richard Jones of Llanenddwyn]); J[onathan] Edwardes [archdeacon of Londonderry], Newtown Limavady, to his nephew [John] Jones, [16]79 (news of the writer's family); Charles Price, Machynlleth, to [John Jones] 1683 (Humffrey Jones's estate) (endorsed with a letter from Thomas Griffith, Llanciling, [16]83); Ann Major, London, to her aunt Mrs. Mary Jones, Brynnyfunon in Wrexham, 1684 (news of the writer's family); Jo. Jones to [his father-in-law Humphrey Jones], [16]84, and from Wrexham, etc., to his wife Mary Jones, Brin y ffynnon, etc., 1686-1690 (9) (an account of the possession of Penamnen, the likely ruin of the Taltreithin estate, personal, concerns in Mallwyd, Sir Richard Middleton's death, hangings in the Wrexham area, news of friends, money matters, the writer's term of office as sheriff [of Denbighshire], elections of 1690, Merioneth sessions); Roger Sontley, Wrexham, to Mr. 'Debity' Jones, Aldermanbury, London, 1689 (legal, news of actions in Ireland); Mary (Marry) Jones to her [step-]father Humphrey Jones, Aldermanbury, London, [16]86, and to [her husband John Jones], undated (2) (the recipient's concerns, losses caused by Tho. Jones, a visit to Sir W[illiam] W[illiams]); Wm. Williams to [ ] Jones, 1688 (arrears of rent) (fragment); F[ranics] Prichard, Jesus Coll[ege, Oxford], to John Jones, [16]88 (Oxford University news); Vrsula Mathewes, Blodwell, to her aunt Mary Jones, Cheapside, London [1689/90] (personal, the elections) (together with a postscript by the recipient's niece F[rances] Edwards); Thomas ?Speed, London, to John Jones, 169[ ] (the passing of Sir J. Fenwick's Act, Hugh Nanny's appointment as Vice-Admiral of North Wales, the negotiation of a treaty, a proclamation concerning hammered money) (mutilated); E. Wynne to John Jones, [16]92 (a transaction with the recipient's uncle) (endorsed with a note by John Jones); O[wen] P[richard] to John Jones, 1693 (money matters, alms money belonging to Beaumaris School, Dyffryn [Ardudwy] and Mallwyd rents, the employment of a miner); [Sir] Wi[lliam] Williams [1st bart.], Greys Inn, to Mr. Sergeant Rutland, [16]95 (the sealing of cousin Jones's deed); George Wooller, Chester, to John Jones, [16]95 (Mrs. Anne Jones's poor and low condition); Jo. Nicholas, Hook Norton, etc., to John Jones, 1696-1709 (2) (an invitation, family news); Richard Vaughan, Dolegwin, [16]99 (the writings belonging to Vchlawrcoed, etc., the recipient's rights to Talwrn); Charles King, Oxon., to John Jones, 1705 (the sale of the recipient's books, life in Oxford); U. Bridgeman, Blod[well], to her uncle John Jones, 1710 (legal); and John Williams, London, to John Jones, 1714/15 (lottery tickets). The miscellaneous papers include the certificate, 1663, by John Taylor, clerk of the parish of Woolwich, of the marriage of John Jones and Mary Paine on 9 February, 1662/3 (mutilated); rentals and memoranda, 1665-1696 and undated, relating to estates in Mallwyd, Montgomeryshire, and in Dyffryn [Ardudwy], Merioneth; the instrument, 17 April, 1696, of the appointment of John Jones, esquire, to be deputy lieutenant of the county of Merioneth (seal wanting); a sheet containing particulars of the location and measurements of parcels of land, 1701; lists of title-deeds, temp. Edward VI-1695 and undated, relating to land in Ardidwy, Merioneth; the will of John Jones of the township of Dudliston, co. Salop, esquire, 24 February, 1714/15 (cancelled 17 April, 1717); a poem, undated, by John Carless entitled 'To His Ever Honoured Patron Mr. Humphry Jones of Aldermanbury. And one of the Common Counsell of this Great Matropolis'; instructions, undated, to Owen Prichard concerning deeds and writings [of John Jones]; a list of manors in the lordshp of Bromfield and Yale, with an estimate of the profits of their courts, 11-14 Charles [II] (1659-1662); an account of the reprises due to the purchasers of Bromfield and Yale [after 1653]; and a list, undated, of the hundreds, parishes, and parts of parishes in the lordship of Englefeild.

Records, 1837-1955, of former local government bodies of Machynlleth, Montgomeryshire, and neighbouring parts of Merionethshire, comprising minute books, letter books, ledgers, account books, reports, valuations, registers and rate books of the Machynlleth Poor Law Union, 1837-1930, minute books, letter books, ledgers, account books, reports, valuations, registers and rate books of the Machynlleth Rural District Council, 1892-1957, a letter book and rate account books of the Mallwyd Urban District Council, 1922-1930, and minute books, account books, registers and other records of the Machynlleth and Estimaner (Ystumanner) Petty Sessions, 1853-1953, together with miscellaneous administrative, financial and personal papers, 1837-1931, from the offices of Henry Evans relating to clients, local government, local businesses, and other solicitors who practised in and around Machynlleth.

Letters, 18 January 1697/8-1827, from Thomas Tanner (1674-1735), bishop of St Asaph, two of them to Peter Le Neve (1661-1729) and one to an unknown recipient relating to a petition from some of 'the Parishioners of Mallwyd against Mr. Meredith their Minister'; from John Egerton (1721-1787), bishop of Bangor, to Richard Phelps, Whitehall; from Richard Watson (1737-1816), bishop of Llandaff, to Thomas Percival (1740-1804), physician, Manchester, and to an unknown recipient; from Thomas Burgess (1756-1837), bishop of St Davids, to the Duke of Sussex [Prince Augustus Frederick (1773-1843)]; from Robert Watson (?1730-1781) to an unknown recipient.

The tune book of John Lewis, 1857, containing hymn-tunes and anthems copied from several English and Welsh printed sources and from unpublished manuscripts, e.g. the tune 'Bryncleifion', which was awarded a prize at the Mallwyd Music Competition, 1857, from the original manuscript by the author, D[avid] Jones ('Dewi Wyllt'), Mallwyd, and tunes from a manuscript in the possession of William Pugh, Rhydgaled Isaf, Harlech, 1817, 'Llyfr Robert Jones, Ffridd, Harlech, 1848', 'Llyfr John Owen, Glanymor, Harlech', 'MSS. Thomas Jenkins, Corn, Llanychaiarn, 1881'; with notes on authorship and sources by David Lewis. The following note is written at the head of the copy of the anthem 'Dyn a aned o wraig': 'Sef anthem a gyfansoddwyd ar yr achlysur o farwolaeth R. R. Parry, Frondeg, gan Robert Davies (Asaph Llechid) yr hwn a laddwyd yn chwarel Cae-braich-y-cafn, dydd Sadwrn, Awst 28, 1858. A chanwyd yr anthem yn angladd yr Awdwr'.