prose-writing showed a marked improvement, and the encomiums of the adjudicators were merited by not a few of the pieces of verse submitted. Six choirs of undoubted merit competed for the great choral prize, a respectable number came into the arena for those of lesser note, and no falling off was evinced by the vocal music generally; but Dr. Parry felt constrained to remark on the unfavourable comparison which the instrumental execution of the Principality bore to that he had witnessed in the North of England. The orchestral competition instituted by the committee is a return to former practice that, it may be hoped, will be generally followed. What the Eisteddfod has done in the past for vocal, it may be trusted to do in the future for instrumental music.

A noticeable feature of the Eisteddfod was the strictly appropriate character impressed on the evening concerts. In place of the well known pieces usually selected, two out of the four evenings were devoted to the performance of important new works by Welsh composers: the " Emmanuel" of Dr. Parry, and Mr. David Jenkins' Cantata, " David and Saul", written expressly for the occasion. A more questionable exercise of patriotism restricted the execution of the concerts to purely Cymric artistes; a bold measure, the best defence of which must be found in its success.

To our readers a matter of no less interest is the position occupied at Merthyr by the meetings of the Cymmrodorion Section. These meetings, held tentatively at Carnarvon in 1880, were at Merthyr made an integral part of the proceedings of the Eisteddfod, and announced as such in its programmes. The evident appreciation on the part of visitors of the proceedings in the Temperance Hall, and the ready response given to the Archdeacon of Llandaff, when, in the pavilion, he called for a popular verdict on the Cymmrodorion's experiment, would seem to indicate that the Society has met a

real want in instituting this Section, and taken a measure fraught with beneficial results. Though education and social science have hitherto formed the staple of the Section's proceedings, and probably will always prove the most attractive topics, it is to be hoped that philology and archæology will not fail to prefer an early claim to its attention. It must not be forgotten, how large a share of the success of this year's "Section" was due to Mr. Wm. Davies (Mynorydd), and Mr. W. Cadwaladr Davies, of Bangor, who acted as its secretaries and managers.

An innovation introduced into the Gorsedd ceremony is worthy of note. The repetition of the Gorsedd prayer by the whole circle of bards, instead of, as heretofore, by the Arch-Druid alone, gave additional impressiveness to the rite which has now at least the prescription of a hundred years' continuous usage, whatever may be its remote origin. The scene of the Gorsedd was the Market-place of Merthyr, and Clwydfardd presided.

In spite of the singular fatality which deprived the Eisteddfod of three out of its four expected presidents, the committee were fortunate in the presence of gentlemen so well qualified to fill the vacant chair as Mr. Lewis Morris, the Rector of Merthyr, and the Ven. Archdeacon Griffiths. Mr. Lewis Morris, who occupied it on the first day, in the stead of Sir Hugh Owen, paid an appropriate tribute to the selfdenying labours of the venerable patriot whom his countrymen had hoped that morning to honour in person. It was to be expected that educational prospects should occupy a large share of Mr. Morris' address; and nothing could well have been more to the purpose than the lucid sketch which he presented of the educational status of the country, as revealed by the investigation which he had recently been associated in carrying out. Mr. Lewis Morris' example was not followed by his late colleague on the Committee, Mr.

Henry Richard, the president of the third session, whose excellent address, delivered in "yr hen iaith", ranged over a much greater variety of topics. Could anything reconcile a Welsh audience to the absence of Sir Watkin Wynn, the speech of the Rector of Merthyr, who presided in his room on the second day of the Eisteddfod, would have gone far to do so. The theme of his address was the Eisteddfod itself, which he handled with his usual vigour and practical sense. The Rector would look at the institution in the light, neither of the historical past, nor of the ideal future, but in that of the actual present. It is not, in his view, a thing to be explained or justified by its traditions or possibilities, which are dwelt upon, perhaps, unduly in presidential addresses, but by the tastes and habits of the working men of modern Wales, from which it has in reality grown, and upon which it in reality rests.

The Ven. Archdeacon Griffiths, who had already contributed a long and able address in his capacity as chairman of the Cymmrodorion Section, perhaps considered it a matter of congratulation that the length of the programme precluded a formal presidential speech on the last day of the Eisteddfod, when the absence of Sir Edward Reed called him to the chair. A few well-chosen words, mainly in reference to the newly introduced department over which he had lately presided, alone prefaced the business of the meeting. The expression of popular approbation which his remarks on the Cymmrcdorion Section called forth, has been already alluded to.

Of incidental speeches, other than those delivered in the course of adjudications, but few were inserted in the programme. The most noticeable was that of Mr. C. W. Jones, the well known Secretary of the Society of Cymmrodorion, upon the permanence of the Welsh language, an historical phenomenon that well deserves the attention which the

speaker demanded for it. Hwfa Môn delivered the address upon the occasion of the chairing of the Bard.

The following prizes were awarded during the four days of the Eisteddfod:

IN THE DEPARTMENT OF POETRY.

Five guineas and a gold medal for a Welsh operatic libretto, divided between the Rev. D. C. Harris (Caeronwy), and Mr. T. D. Thomas (Tydfilfab). Two guineas (given by the Herald Cymraeg), for a descriptive song, "The Newspaper", to Dyfedfab (Mr. Evan Rees). Ten guineas and a gold medal for an epic poem, "The Duke of Wellington", to Mr. Morgan Rees Williams, of Cefncoedycymer. Two guineas for a translation into Welsh of the "Prisoner of Chillon", to Ioan Ddu (Mr. J. S. Jones, of Coedllai, Mold). Two guineas and a silver medal for an eclogue, to the Rev. D. C. Harris (Caeronwy). Two guineas and a silver medal for a song, "Tydfil the Martyr", to Miss Parry, of Llandudno. The CHAIR PRIZE, twenty guineas and an oak chair, for an "Ode on Love", to Dyfedfab (Mr. Evan Rees, of Cardiff, late of Aberdare). Five guineas and a silver medal for a cywydd “Iron”, divided between Mr. John Jones, of Bangor, and Mr. R. Parry, of Bangor. Six guineas (given by Madame Wynne), for a Welsh ode, "The Chairing of the Bard", to Mr. John Jones (Ogwenydd), of Bangor. Five guineas and a silver medal for an awdl bryddest, "Ioan Emlyn", to the Rev. J. C. Williams, of Merthyr. Two guineas for satirical verses, "The Persecutors of Eisteddfodau", to Dyfedfab. A gold medal and £3 10s. for a poem, "Iolo Morganwg", to the Rev. D. C. Harris (Caeronwy); and £7 to Mr. Onllwyn Brace, of Ystalyfera. Twenty guineas and a gold medal for a poem on "Life", to Watcyn Wyn", of Brynaman.

In two cases the judges refused award.

IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PROSE COMPOSITION.

Ten guineas for an essay on "The History of Religion in Wales, from A.D. 500 to 1280", to Gweirydd ap Rhys (R. J. Pryse of Holyhead). Three guineas for an essay on "The Life, Character, and Achievements of Sir William Jones" (given by Mr. Aviet Agabeg) to Mr. William Evans, barrister-at-law, of Merthyr. Sixteen guineas (given by Mr. D. Williams), for an essay on "The Advantages of Incorporating Merthyr Tydfil", to Mr. D. J. Rowlands of Merthyr. Ten guineas for a Welsh essay on "The Cause, or Causes, of Periodical Panics, etc.", divided between ap Tydfil (Rev. J. R. Thomas of Narberth); and Peel (Rev. Owen Jones of Newtown). Three guineas (given by Mr. Walter Lloyd of Aberdare), for a Welsh novel, to Mr. Isaac Evans (Craigfryn) of Quaker's Yard. Twenty guineas and a gold medal, for a History of the Literature of Monmouthshire and Glamorgan", to Mr. Charles Wilkins, of Merthyr. Five guineas for a Welsh essay on "The Etymology of Place-names”, to Mr. Edward Hughes of Swansea. Ten guineas (given by Mr. Frank James, and Mr. W. Harries, of Merthyr) for an essay on "The Adaptability of Merthyr to other Trades than those already carried on there", divided between Mr. John Howells of St. Athan (who wrote in English), and the Rev. William Thomas of Gwylfa, whose essay was in Welsh.

Three important prizes the judges refused to award.

IN THE DEPARTMENT OF MUSICAL COMPOSITION.

Three guineas (given by Mr. Lucas Williams) and a silver medal, for a song to English and Welsh words, to Mr. R. S. Hughes of London. Five guineas for a string quartette, to Mr. W. C. Lewis of Workington. Ten guineas (given by Mr. B. Evans of Swansea) for three four-part songs, to the well known composer, Gwilym Gwent, who is still