for part singing, divided between the Taibach and Aberaman Glee-party, led by Mr. Leyshon Davies, and the Maesteg Minstrels, led by Mr. Evan Jenkins. Ten guineas and a silver medal to the Tredegar choir (Mr. Davis Jones, leader), for congregational choir singing. Two guineas for a soprano solo, by young ladies under seventeen, divided between Miss Maggie Beynon, and Miss Amy Ryan. Two guineas (given by Mr. E. Biddle), for harmonium playing, to Miss Mary Jessie Lloyd. Two guineas for a tenor solo, divided between Mr. David Davies of Treherbert, Mr. Tom Felix of Treorky, and Mr. David Howells of Aberaman. Five guineas and a silver medal, for drum and fife playing, divided between the Penydarren and Llantrissant bands. Five guineas for trio singing, to a party from the Rhondda Valley. Three guineas for pedal harp playing, by lads under eighteen (given by Mr. T. T. James of Mountain Ash) to Walter Thomas Barker of Caerphilly, a pupil of the Royal Academy of Music. Five guineas and twenty-five vols. of the "Standard Course" for singing, by male voices only, to the Morriston Glee-party, led by Mr. D. Francis. Two guineas for penillion singing, to Mr. Daniel Lloyd, of the Rhondda Valley. Twenty guineas and a gold medal, to the Cyfarthfa brass band, led by Mr. G. Livesey. A trombone, of the value of eighteen guineas, to the Corris brass band, led by Mr. Tidsbury. Five guineas for pedal harp playing, divided between Miss Annie Jones of Carmarthen, and Mr. Thomas Barker of Caerphilly. Two guineas for piccolo playing by lads under sixteen, to Fred. Griffiths of Swansea. Two guineas for a bass solo, to Gwilym Thomas of Tynewydd. Two guineas for soprano singing, to Miss Nellie Jones. The great prize of £100 and a gold medal, for rendering "Ye Nations" (Mendelssohn), and "Hallelujah, Amen" (Emlyn Evans), to the Rhondda Philharmonic Society, 250 in number, led by Mr. D. Prosser (Eos Cynlais). Four guineas, for a duet, to Mr.

W. Thomas of Neath and Mr. David Phillips of Aberdare. Two violins, viola, and violoncello, for a quartette of stringed instruments, to a party from Merthyr.

The conductor's bâton was wielded on the four successive days by Dafydd Morganwg, the Rev. W. Glanffrwd Thomas, the Rev. A. J. Parry, and the Rev. D. F. Evans (Ednyfed).

Five guineas were awarded for an original bust, to Mr. Alberti of Manchester. Five guineas (given by Mr. W. Merchant of Pontypridd) for an original painting, to Mr. J. C. Fairburn of Aberdare.

In wood-carving, for which a prize of two guineas was offered by Mr. Wm. Jones of Cyfarthfa, there was no competition.

THE CYMMRODORION SECTION.

The Cymmrodorion Section held its meetings in the Temperance Hall on August 29th and 31st, and September 2nd, under the Presidency of the Ven. the Archdeacon of Llandaff. The proceedings were opened on August 29th by an address from the President, dealing with the history, the work, and the position of the Cymmrodorion Society.

At the second meeting, on August 31st, Mr. Gwilym James, High Constable of Merthyr, in the chair, a paper on "The Home Life of the Collier" was read by the Rev. T. D. Jones of Tonyrefail. A second paper, on "The Report of the Departmental Committee", by Mr. T. Marchant Williams, B.A.

At the concluding meeting, on September 2nd, the Rev. W. B. Joseph (Y Myfyr) of Colwyn Bay, in the chair, a paper on "Wasted Energy and Material in Wales", was read by Dr. Humpidge, of the University College of Wales. A second paper, on "Education in Merthyr", by Mr. T. C. Fawcett, M.A., of the Merthyr Proprietary School, was read in his absence by the Secretary of the Section.

Reviews of Books.

WHO ARE THE WELSH? BY JAMES BONWICK, F.R.G.S., etc., etc. London: David Bogue. 1881. Price One Shilling. THE plan of this little book is an excellent one. A work, giving within a small compass the principal facts which archæology and history furnish as data for the ethnologist in determining the composition of the Welsh people, together with the inferences which competent scholars have drawn from those facts, is a desideratum. In preparing himself to answer his own question, the author has not been sparing of labour; he has read very extensively, and gleaned in all sorts of fields, from the ponderous folios of the past centuries to the magazine and newspaper articles of to-day.

But Mr. Bonwick has unfortunately used his authorities far too indiscriminately. His net, like that in the parable, has "gathered of every kind", but he seems to have utterly forgotten to "cast the bad away". A book of this kind, if of any use at all, is for popular use, and should serve as a guide; and to quote in it all the outrageous notions which foolish people have, with the courage of ignorance, thought fit to propound from time to time, is worse than useless. This the author has done much too freely, the result being a most incongruous combination of "authorities", Myfyr Morganwg and Professor Rhys, Zeuss and Margoliouth, Richard of Cirencester and Dr. Freeman, etc., etc. In this way we find on one page (113) Robert Vaughan, Twm Sion Catti, Morien, Nash, Stephens, Sharon Turner, Herbert, Iolo Morganwg, G. D. Barber, Ab Ithel, and Myfyr Morganwg, collected in one happy family! This utter absence of selection makes the

book rather disappointing, not to say exasperating reading, and detracts very largely from any value it might otherwise have.

Among points of detail it is to be observed that Welsh words and proper names are not unfrequently sadly tortured. What does the author mean by saying that "The Welsh of a few hundred years old is so very different from that now spoken' (p. 8), and again that "Even MSS. of the twelfth century can hardly be deciphered now by Gaelic scholars" (p. 58) ?

Again, "It is admitted that the Welsh of the day is far more unlike old Welsh than modern English is unlike the old English" (p. 78). By whom is this remarkable admission made?

On p. 26 "Llyn Savathan of Brecon" and "Lake Llangorse of Brecon" are spoken of in different paragraphs, much as if the writer thought them two distinct lakes.

Such expressions as "Cymry-speaking" and Cymrytongue" do not commend themselves to eye or ear.

If the author had exercised more discrimination in the choice of authorities, and taken more pains to separate the wheat from the chaff, his wide reading should have enabled him to produce something more satisfactory than this tantalising little volume.

But in parting, none of our readers will feel disposed to quarrel with him on the conclusion of his preface, where he says that" For those elements of character constituting a prudent, orderly, virtuous, and happy nation, the Welsh may boldly challenge the whole world in competition".

ST. PAUL IN BRITAIN; OR, THE ORIGIN OF BRITISH AS OPPOSED TO PAPAL CHRISTIANITY. By the Rev. R. W. MORGAN. Oxford and London: James Parker and Co. 1880. AFTER an interval of twenty years, a second edition of this work is issued. The fact may not be regarded as altogether encouraging to those who wish to promote the scientific study of history among us; but it points to a clear conviction in the minds of the publishers that the faith of " true believers" in the Historical Triads and "Barddas" has not grown feeble under the assaults of heretics like the late Mr. Stephens. Properly to enjoy this book the reader must be gifted with an ardent patriotism and an abounding faith. For ourselves we claim the patriotism, but alas! are forced to feel that the necessary faith is not ours. But anyone possessed of these qualifications will feel infinite satisfaction in following the author as he sketches in glowing colours the past greatness and glory of the Cymry. He will learn, for example, that Druidism was founded in Asia by Gwyddon Ganhebon on the 1st of May (the author has unfortunately neglected to state the hour, but we may reasonably assume it was at sunrise) B.C. 3903, 181 years after the creation of man, and 50 years after the birth of Seth; that its symbol, the milkwhite astral bull, superseding, as usual in the East, the thing signified, Druidism thus corrupted became the religion of Mithras in Persia, of Baal in Assyria, of Brahma in India, of Astarte in Syria, etc.; and in illustration of all this he will find the "symbol" in Crete was designated in good Welsh "the Menwtarw", which the Greeks barbarously changed into "the Mino-taur"! He will, however, learn to his comfort that Druidism was carried into Britain in all its purity by Hu Gadarn, who also founded Stonehenge, B.C. c. 1800; that as taught here it recognised an Infinite Being whose essence is "pure, mental light", and who is therefore called Duw, i.e.,