REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF THE Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, For the Year ending November 9th, 1893. PRESENTED TO THE ANNUAL MEETING, HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 20TH OF DECEMBER 1893. THE Council, whilst recording with satisfaction the addition during the past year of thirty-three new members to the Society, regret to report that death and other causes have made serious gaps in the ranks. Amongst those removed by death, the Council have to deplore the loss of a valuable and faithful colleague. For many years Mr. Howel W. Lloyd, M.A., was one of the most consistent and unwearied members of the Society and of its Council. The removal of Mr. Owen Lewis (Owain Dyfed), another tried friend of the Society, from London to the country, necessarily vacates his seat on the Council. The two vacancies, according to the Rules, should be filled up at the present Annual Meeting. During the year the following meetings were held :In London:- 1892. : On December 6.-ANNUAL DINNER OF THE SOCIETY, at the Hôtel Métropole President, Sir John H. Puleston. : On December 15.-ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MEMBERS. INAUGURAL ADDRESS on The Work of the Society", by Mr. Stephen Evans (Chairman of the Council). 1893. January 11th.—Joint Meeting of the Cymmrodorion and Folk-Lore Sacred March 8th.-Paper on "Welsh Bards and English Reviewers", by April 12th.-Paper on "The Celt and the Poetry of Nature", by May 17th.-Paper on "Welsh Music", by Mr. Peter Edwards (Pedr Alaw). June 13th.-Paper on "The Legends and Tales of the Vale of Clwyd", by Mr. Isaac Foulkes. ANNUAL CONVERSAZIONE OF THE SOCIETY, at the Hall of the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers. At the Town Hall, Pontypridd, in connection with the National Eisteddfod of Wales, 1893 of Wales, 1893 (Cymmrodorion Section): On Monday, July 31st, at 8 P.M.-Mr. J. Ignatius Williams (VicePresident of the Society) in the chair, an Inaugural Address was delivered by Mr. D. Brynmôr Jones, Q.C., M.P., on "A National Museum for Wales". On Wednesday, August 2nd, at 9 A.M.-(In conjunction with the Society for Utilising the Welsh Language), Mr. Wm. Edwards, H.M. I. Schools, in the chair. Papers were read on "The Claims of the Welsh Language", by Mr. W. Llewelyn Williams, B.A., Swansea, and on "Welsh Arms and English Heraldry", by Mr. T. H. Thomas, R.C.A., Cardiff. On Thursday, August 3rd, at 9 A.M. (in conjunction with the Welsh Students' Union).—Mr. Alderman Walter H. Morgan, Pontypridd, in the chair. Papers were read by Mr. H. Ll. Parry, B.A., Mold, and the Rev. W. H. Williams (Watcyn Wyn) on "Home Classes for the Study of Welsh Literature”. With reference to the Inaugural Address of the Cymmrodorion Section of the Eisteddfod, it may be interesting to note that one of the Welsh Representatives in Parliament has placed a Motion on the notice paper of the House of Commons claiming for Wales a share of the National Grant in aid of Public Museums. The Council are much gratified in being able to announce that the Record Series Fund is making satisfactory progress. Trustees have been appointed, and the following gentlemen have consented to act in that capacity, viz., Sir W. Thomas Lewis, John Williams, Esq., M.D., and Henry Owen, Esq., F.S.A. The Trustees have been requested to invest the funds collected in their joint names in any Trust Securities, and to pay the Capital and Interest from time to time as the Council shall direct. It is a matter of very great gratification to the Trustees to be able to announce that, subject to the sanction of H.R.H. the Duke of York, the Committee of the Welsh National Presentation Fund have decided that the surplus balance of the Presentation to their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of York, shall be handed over to the fund for publishing Welsh Records.1 The Council is happy to state that the second number of the Cymmrodorion Record Series, announced in last year's Report, viz.: THE COURT ROLLS OF THE LORDSHIP OF RUTHIN OR DYFFRYN CLWYD OF THE REIGN OF KING EDWARD THE FIRST; Edited by Mr. Richard Arthur Roberts, of the Public Record Office, a member of the Society's Council, is now ready, and in accordance with a Resolution to that effect, will in a few days be distributed free to all members of the Society. On the recommendation of the Editorial Committee, the Council have adopted for publication as the third number of the Series, a MS. now in the British Museum, called "The Black Book of St. David's." The MS. is a copy made in 1516 of an Extent" or detailed list and valuation of the possessions of the See of St. David's in the year 1326. Nothing is known of the existence of the original survey, or of any older copy thereof than the MS. referred to. The "possessions" dealt with range over the whole diocese, but mostly in Pembrokeshire, chiefly in Pebidiog or Dewisland, 1 The cordial sanction of His Royal Highness was subsequently graciously granted.-[Ed.] and the Lordships of Llawhaden and Llamphey. The interest of the MS. consists in the place-names; the Welsh personal names, many curious and rare, abounding throughout the book, and being of high historical value as showing the relative proportions of English and Welsh in South Wales in 1326; and the lists of field-names, Welsh and English mixed, in some of the parishes of Pembrokeshire. Having regard to the difficulty of publishing, in the ordinary issues of Y Cymmrodor, the papers of each Lecture Session as they occur, the Council have decided to issue a separate publication under the title of THE TRANSACTIONS OF THE HONOURABLE SOCIETY OF CYMMRODORION, to contain all the papers of the Session, subject to the editorial control of the Council. The first volume of the Transactions is nearly ready, and will be distributed to the members before the close of the present year. The ordinary issue of Y Cymmrodor will be carried on as heretofore under the Editorship of Mr. Phillimore. Part II of Owen's Pembrokeshire is approaching completion, and Part I of vol. xii of Y Cymmrodor is in the press. The following presents have been received and duly acknowledged: Carta et Munimenta de Glamorgan, presented by Mr. G. T. Clark. A Pamphlet on Recent Celtic Researches, by Alfred Nutt, presented by Mr. Nutt. The Calendar of the University College of Wales, presented by the Bye-Gones relating to Wales, etc., and Wrexham Town, by Alfred N. The Council is pleased to announce that the following arrangements have been made for the ensuing Session : 1893. On December 13.--ANNUAL DINNER OF THE SOCIETY, at the Hôtel Métropole President, Professor John Rhys, M.A., LL.D. : On December 20.-ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MEMBERS. Discussion on "The Work of the Society". 1894. In January-INAUGURAL ADDRESS by Sir Roland L. VaughanWilliams, one of Her Majesty's Judges. February.-Paper on 66 "The Oldest British Historian", by Mr. Alfred Nutt, Author of "Studies on the Legend of the Holy Grail". March.-Paper on "Welsh Saints", by Mr. J. W. Willis-Bund, F.S.A. April. Paper on "The Quaker Movement in Wales" (historically considered), by Mr. W. Jenkyn Thomas, M.A., University College, Bangor. May.-Paper on "The Distinctively Welsh Church of the VIth Under the Society's Rules the terms of office of the following Officers expire, viz. :— THE PRESIDENT, THE VICE-PRESIDENT, THE AUDITORS, and ten Members of the Council retire, but are eligible for re-election, viz. :— A Financial Statement for the past year is appended to this Report. |