"ANN OF SWANSEA" (viii. 199, 304; x.-565; xi.-190, 281).—If I did err in stating that this nom de plume was borne by Mrs. Curtis, rather than by Mrs. Hatton, it was by relying upon the Oracle, from an old number of which defunct magazine I clipped the paragraph under notice. I have searched, but have been unable to discover other information concerning the authoress.

Cardiff.

GEO. H. BRIERLEY.

PRESTATYN-PRESTEIGN (xi.-277).-Prestatyn is on the L. & N. W. Railway, just east of Rhyl, in Flint; Presteign is in Radnorshire.

Cardiff.

E. J. NEWELL.

JOHN PENRY (xi.—277).—For an interesting account of Penry, see Dr. Rees's History of Nonconformity in Wales. Dr. Abraham Rees, of Encyclopædic note, was descended on his mother's side from John Penry.

Aberdare.

66

T.C.U.

WALTERS' DICTIONARY (xi.—177, 268).—The dedication to "The Right Reverend Richard Watson, D.D., Lord Bishop of Llandaff," is dated Cowbridge, November 6, 1793." The date of the second edition, which I have now before me, is 1815, and it was printed at Dolgelley, by R. Jones.

Aberdare.

T.C.U.

WELSH MSS. (xi.—278).-Iolo's MSS. are said to be in the possession of Lady Llanover. I do not know that they have ever been catalogued, so that little is known what they consist of. It is not generally known that Iolo was a great Hymnologist, being the author of some three thousand hymns. About five hundred only have been published. For power and polish combined, none of the old Welsh hymn writers will compare with Iolo.

Aberdare.

T.C.U.

THE CHAIRED BARDS OF THE CENTURY (xi.---275).-A list of the Eisteddfodau held during this century, of the subjects of the chair prizes, and of the successful competitors, can be found in the Transactions of the Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales, held at Cardiff, 1883. Edited by D. Tudor Evans, Cardiff. (South Wales Printing Works, 1884.) Page 240 et. sq.

Cardiff.

E. J. NEWELL.

HENRY JENKINS, THE YORKSHIRE PATRIARCH (x.-278).-I do not think Jenkins was a Welshman, or that he had any connection with Wales. At least no inquiry I have been able to make has proved otherwise. The parish register of Bolton in Swale describes him as "a very aged and poore man, of Ellerton" [onSwale.] He is said to have been born in 1501, dying in 1670, at the extraordinary age of one hundred and sixty-nine. I find that before an Exchequer Commission issued to try a "tythe cause between Charles Anthony, vicar of Catterick, complainant, and Calvert Smithson, owner and occupier of lands in Kipling, in the parish of Catterick, Henry Jenkins, then aged one hundred and fifty-seven or thereabouts," gave evidence, April 15th, 1667, respecting the tithe-paying customs of Catterick parish. Catterick, it is pretty well agreed, is the old Welsh Cattraeth, the battle at which forms the subject of Aneurin's Gododin. Perhaps it was in this way the connection between Jenkins and Wales suggested itself to your Llangollen correspondent "Sexagenarian.”

Cardiff.

BLACKLETTER FOLIO.

THE MOTTO OF PRICE OF TREGWAINTON (x.-371).-The motto of Sir Rose Lambart-Price, of Tregwainton, Cornwall, as given by Burke, is manifestly erroneous. It should read "Ar Dduw i Gyd" -"all on God," or as Burke not so closely but more idiomatically translates it," All depends upon God."

Taunton.

GEORGE.

WELSHING (x.-277, 375, 469; xi.-88).-I repeat what I said in the Western Mail. A blackleg book-maker named Welsh became celebrated for running away from the paddock, just before the first or winning horses were declared. Many a time was he lynched and half killed for it. Anyone, and there are plenty of them in the libraries of sporting gentlemen, who will go to the trouble of consulting a Sporting Calendar for the years 1861 to 1866 will find I am correct. The origin of the word in my recollection is much more clear and distinct than that of Captain Boycott, John Bull, or Judge Lynch. Welsh is also a name for the butt of a wagon-shaft.

Caersws.

JOHN CEIRIOG HUGHES.

OTWAY'S "VENICE PRESERVED" (xi.-274).-Is it not probable that Otway alluded to some of the soldiers or crew of the Spanish Armada, several of whom were cast ashore on the coast of Ireland and "The Western Isles"? Of course, the Armada sailed long before Otway wrote his poem, but there may have been tales extant in his day of the members of the expedition. Apropos of Otway, I have seen his monument, or rather I should say a brass plate which hangs on the walls of Trotton Church in memory of him. His father was rector of Trotton, but neither the poet nor the parson were buried at Trotton. The old clergyman and his wife lie at Woolbeding, a village near by. Sussex gave birth to four celebrated poets, Fletcher, Otway, Collins, and Shelley, and Trotton Church is rich in antiquarian relics. It has a splendid sarcophagus, wherein lie the bodies of Sir John Camois and his wife, "Dame Elizabeth," the widow of Hotspur. The beauty and antiquity of the brass effigies on this tomb are the admiration of all archæologists. I went over this church about three years ago with a family at whose house I was spending the day, and I should have much enjoyed staying there for as many hours as the party of merry visitors did minutes, but they were all young people, full of life and spirits, who no doubt would have said, had they been in the "Palace of Truth," that a quarter of an hour was ample time to devote to musty tombs and old brasses.

Lyss, Hants.

HELEN WATNEY.

DRACONIGENÆ.

St. David's Day this year was celebrated with unusual warmth and enthusiasm. Nearly every important Welsh centre had its festive gathering, the occasion being also honoured in London, Liverpool, Edinburgh, and every other place in the three kingdoms where Welshmen most do congregate. The New York Tribune of March 2nd contains a long and most interesting account of the St. David's Society Dinner, at the Westminster Hotel (Delmonico's not being available), in that city on the previous day. From this it would appear that over one hundred and twenty-five members and guests were present. The big dining-room could not hold them all and there was an overflow into the neighbouring restaurant. Welsh songs were sung and Welsh speeches made amid an old-time show of enthusiasm, and with the speeches and the table-talk and the singing, the dinner turned out one of the jolliest and most delightful of the season. The big banner of the Llewellyn Society, with its red dragon or griffin spitting fire and its old legends in the Celtic tongue, flamed down upon the dining tables from the wall behind the president's chair. To the right of it were the green banner of Ireland and the flag of the United States. To the left was a big British flag. On the side walls hung the coats-of-arms of New York City and New York State. A little red dragon in confection work strutted and glared on the guest table, and on the banner above was the old motto of Welsh kings who fought against the Edwards and the Henrys, "The Red Dragon will give the signal for the march." The guest table stretched across the upper end of the dining-hall, and two other tables, a foot or two lower, ran along the sides of the room. Ex-Postmaster-General

Thomas L. James, the president of St. David's, was at the head of the raised table. On his right were Ellis H. Roberts, Editor of the Utica Herald; ex-Mayor Grace, representing New York City in Mayor Hewitt's absence: President Edye, representing the St. George's Society, and Captain C. C. Coburn. On his left were ex-Judge Noah Davis, General Stewart L. Woodford, ex-Judge Horace Russell, representing the New England Society; J. R. Cuming, representing the St. Patrick's Society; ex-Judge Hooper C. Van Vroost, representing the Holland Society; Commodore Van Santvoord,

and the Rev. D. Parker Morgan. Among the others present were Park Commissioner Borden, Postmaster Pearson, James R. Garfield, Assistant-Postmaster Gaylor, John R. Van Wormer, John T. Davis, Hugh Roberts, Henry W. Morgan, Richard J. Lewis, Daniel L. Jones, Dr. John Jenkins, Richard Williams, jun., Senator Edwards, of New Jersey; Morgan V. Powell, the Rev. John Evans, and R. W. Hughes. President Cleveland wrote an autograph letter, in the course of which he stated:

My knowledge of the Welsh people of America, though not extensive, has given me the utmost faith in their sturdy adherence to principle, their high regard for law and order, their just appreciation of the duty of reasonable benevolence, and their cheerful practice of frugality and industry; and these things constitute good citizenship.

Mayor Hewitt, regretting his inability to go out yet, said :It is not generally known that to Wales we owe one of the leading branches of our productive industries, that of the manufacture of anthracite iron, now amounting to over thirty million dollars per annum and supporting a population of over one hundred and fifty thousand people. David Thomas came to this country expressly to introduce the invention made by Mr. Crane and himself, and living to a great old age, as all good Welshmen try to do, he saw the business grow to an annual product of two million tons and thriving cities grow up under his eyes. If, therefore, you will permit me to offer a sentiment, I suggest that it be in honour of " David Thomas, late of Catasanqua, the father of the American Anthracite Iron Business."

This is the "Eminent Welshman " of whom the National Magazine not very long since gave a biography and portrait. Other letters were read from Postmaster-General Vilas, Wayne Mac Veagh, Chauncey M. Depew, Judge Daniels, of Buffalo ; President Welch, of the St. David's Society of Philadelphia, and the presidents of the St. Andrew's and St. Nicholas societies. After this the chairman delivered a well-timed speech. The toast "Wales-Our Mother Land --The Cradle of Fancy and of Faith," brought Ellis H. Roberts to his feet amid great applause. Mr. Roberts is a tall, well-built man, with white beard and hair. He spoke feelingly, bringing down the house with his eloquent praises of the mother country and his ready quotations of Welsh verse. His speech in part was as follows:

Let no one think that in coming to you this evening I have chosen for my model Dick Shon Dafydd ; for you know, tradition portrays him :

Gwerthu y fuwch a lladd y llo,

A myn'di Lundain i roi tro.

And yet it is narrated that he lost his own language without learning a new one. He must be my exemplar in one respect for like those of the green Welshman my two negatives have come to mean an affirmative. I have two grounds for hope in rising before you; first, in the lavishness of your hospitality, which has been noted since the Dutch first set foot upon Manhattan. The first colony was of Walloons, and the town became early polyglot beyond its neighbours, as it has continued to be. And here I find my second point of confidence. The Welsh gained their foothold promptly, and early took their share in leadership. So generously were they recognised that of the four signers of the Declaration of Independence for this State, three had Welsh blood in their veins. [Applause.] They honoured the Welsh names of William Floyd, Francis Lewis, and Lewis Morris, and Francis Lewis was a native of Llandaff, in Glamorgan, South Wales.

One of the earliest migrations from the birthplace of humanity found its home on the island where it created the name of Briton and still retains its abode. Among the Indo-European languages linguists find few older than that in which Taliesin sang and Howell Dda framed his statutes. We may learn the character of that people by memorials such as are rare in the history of the race. Literature has one treasury richer than all others in legends combining the purest of knighthood with the most delicate charms of womanhood, courage with self-sacrifice, imagination with manly deeds, and all with religious devotion. The Court of King Arthur, the chivalry of the Round Table and the quest for the Sangreal are the gifts of Wales to mankind. [Applause.] Sir Walter Scott taught English scholars to trace the source of these creations to the little Principality. The claim has been assailed by certain French authors, but modern criticism maintains it. Tennyson recognises the Welsh origin of the Arthur legends that furnished him and other students the ore that poetry and art delight to work in. A French connoisseur was compelled to pronounce that Arthur and his court are Welsh. Launcelot and Guinevere are Welsh, Merlin and Yvain, Tristan and Enid, Perceval and the knights of the Sangreal are Welsh in their creation and conception; and Caerleon and Camelot upon Usk are as indubitably Welsh as Snowdon and the vale of Clwyd. When Europe was wholly pagan the Druids testified to the religious sentiment and pure morals of Wales. In all the centuries since they as a people have been most devoted to the Protestant creed. Wales hangs on the margin of the British Isles, like a robin's nest, still musical, still the cradle of faith. Its population is only equal to that of the city of New York; for its sons have been in all ages adventurous and migratory. To this republic, and especially to this commonwealth, they have brought the sturdy qualities of the home land. You who are here testify to your love of its vales and its mountains, for the home of father and mother, hen wlad ein tadau. At the same time here is our home, and if we love the old home with the love due a mother, our affection goes out to this new, blessed land, the birthplace of so many of us, as to our chosen sweetheart. The best gift those of Welsh birth or Welsh blood can bestow on this grand republic, is the benediction of the faith, illumined by the imagination personified by the earnest quest for the Sangreal. [Applause.]

Ex-Judge Davis, who responded to the toast, "The United States-the Land of Industry, Progress, and Universal Education," declared that although he had not spoken Welsh since he was weaned, he could still admire anyone who was proud of his country, however much he had gained by leaving it. Stewart L. Woodford then spoke for "The Guests," and other toasts being "The City of New York," ex-Mayor Grace; "Our Sister Societies," ex-Judge Russell; "The Press," John R. Van Wormer; "Our Merchant Marine of the Future," Captain C. C. Coburn; "The Ladies," the Rev. D. Parker Morgan.

In its account of some recent harp recitals the Manchester Guardian of February 21st may be found saying of a distinguished Welsh musician :-"We noticed a peculiarity in Mr. Aptommas's mode of handling the harp. He rests it upon his left shoulder, playing the treble with his left hand and the bass with his right. This is so contrary to ordinary practice that we were induced to ask Mr. Aptommas the reason, thinking that perhaps he might be a left-handed man. He informed us, however, that the instrument is invariably held in this fashion by Welsh harpers, though he is the only performer on the pedal harp who adheres to the practice of his boyhood. Mr. Aptommas is of opinion that this method has some advantages over that generally adopted outside of Wales."