Ffeil 274B. - Transcripts by Mary Richards, etc.

A volume originally intended as an account book of receipts by T[homas] Richards in respect of Berriew School, 1813-26, and the curacy of Montgomery, 1815-20, and subsequently used by Mary Richards to record transcripts of poetry ('englynion', hymns, free metre stanzas, etc.) by Thomas Llwyd Iangcaf (Pen Maen), Thos Roberts ('Philo Cadfan'), Evan Evans ('[Ieuan] Glangeirionydd'), William Jones ('Gwilym Cawrdaf'), Rowland Parry ('Ieuan Carndochan'), Henri Griffyth ('Hari Goch o Wynedd') (Llanrwst), W. Williams ('Gwilym Bryn Mair'), [John Jones] ('Ioan Tegid'), Aneurin Owen, W[alter] Davies ('Gwallter Mechain'), [David Richards] ('Dafydd Ionawr'), Dafydd Richards ('Dewi Silin'), Robert Davies (Nantglyn), Robert Parry (Eglwysfach), Evan Jones ('y Saer', Darowen), [William Williams] 'Gwilim ab Iorwerth' (Darowen), John Blackwell ['Alun'], Evan Brees, D. Thomas ['Dafydd Ddu Eryri'], David Charles [1803-80], Caerfyrddin, etc.; letters from Philip Vaughan, secretary, Cambrian Society in Gwent, from Brecon to Thomas Richards, Llangynyw, 1821 (an acknowledgement of the receipt of a 'Book of the proceedings in Powys', the election of the recipient to honorary membership of the Society), and to David Richards, Llansilin, secretary, Powis Society, 1821 (the election of the recipient to honorary membership), S. Lovat, Llangedwyn to David Richards, 1820 (a payment, a reference to Pool Eisteddfod), J. Ingram, Douglas to the Reverend Robert Nanney, Dolgelley, 1787 (the writer's financial affairs), W. Williams ('Gwilim ab Iorwerth'), Glan Clywedog Mill, Llan Idloes to Mair [Richards], 1851 (Welsh strict metres, Welsh services at Llanidloes Church, Eisteddfod Madog), John Blackwell, Oxford to [Mary] Richards, 1824 (an enclosed stanza by 'Tegid'), Ann [ ], Glan Machles to her father Evan Robert, Darowen, 1821 (personal), Ch. Meyer, Llanrhaiadr [ym Mochnant] to Thomas Richards, Llangynyw, 1850 (the writer's stay with ['Gwallter Mechain'] and his proposed visit to Llangynyw), W[alter] Davies ['Gwallter Mechain'] (in the third person) to T[homas] Richard[s], Berriew, 1823 (a request for books for E. Ridge, the schoolmaster of Dolgynfelyn), Rowla[n]d Parry ['Ieuan] Carindochan'), 'Ysgol Rhydymain yn agos ir Blaenau' to [Thomas] Richards, Darooen [sic], 1819 (a shortage of books at the writer's school), [David Richards] ('Dewi Silin') to the Reverend [ ], undated (the writer's inability to assist the recipient next Sunday) (incomplete), Dafydd Hywel [David Howells] ('Cyfreithiwr o Fachynlleth'), Llanfair Caer Einion to [Mary] Richards, 1872 (Welsh singers at the Crystal Palace), etc.; depositions of witnesses touching the boundaries of, and rights to, a common called Ty Issa ir Hengwm Cowarch [Llanymawddwy, Merioneth] 1749; adjudications by R. Richards, Caerwys and another on poems on the shipwreck of St Paul; a deposition [after 1780] of Thomas Edward of Llan y Mawddwy, Merioneth, administrator of the estate of Griffith Jones of the parish of Sai[n]t Leonard, Foster Lane, London touching a debt due from Henry Parry of Cleneney, Caernarvonshire, dealer and chapman; 'Henwau y Pedwar ar hugain Marchog oedd yn llys y Brenin Arthur', 'Yr wyth fyd neu uchelderau y mae r Astronomyddion yn crybwyll am danynt', couplets extracted from 'cywyddau' of Edmwnd Prys, Huw Arwystl, Ieuan Tew and others, and an 'englyn' by Ioan Prichard (1670) from a manuscript written by John Morrus, 1784; the memorial inscription of William Foulkes, Ll.D., Mae[s] y Glwyden (ob: 1727/8); etc. Much of the poetry of 'Ieuan Glan Geirionydd', 'Gwilym Cawrdaf' and 'Ieuan Carndochan' was composed at Darowen Vicarage around the period 1822-3 and these transcripts are profusely annotated by the scribe. The volume was largely compiled during the years 1855-60 but there are some later entries dated to 1871. Among the insets and the items mounted on the inside covers is a pen-and-ink portrait of Thomas Richard[s], Darowen.