The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria

DRINK ONLY E. P. JONES, SON & Co.'s Pure and Delicious TEAS 0 Best Value ever offered. E. P. JONES, SON & Co.'s COFFEES Are fresh roasted twice per week, and ground fresh for each order. E. P. JONES, SON & CO., Tea & Coffee Blenders, West End & Ceylon Stores, COLWYN BAY. LLANRWST, CONWAY, ABERGELE, and elsewhere. -= SALISBURY & PRITCHARD Monumental & General Masons. BUILDERS' MASONHY WORK. ^(iwn Slabs in all sizes—Prices on application. Headstones, Monuments, Tablets, FENDERS, &c., IK GEANITE, MARBLE, OK STONE. Designs and EsUmates on application. — Tombstones Refixecl & Cleaned. Letters Cut. • 975T" oe- Rd. GREEN-FolrLD ,).DColwyn Bay. Don't Spoil a Watch By placing it in unskilled hands. For REPAIRS leave it with OWEN WILLIAMS Practical Watchmaker, STATION ROAD, LLANRWST. 1 DYMA YW Y LLE I ADGYWEIRIO EICH WATCHES. 989 SYKES, CASH CHEMIST, ABERGELE ROAD, J COLWYN BAY. PKOPIIIETOJR OF dykes' Herbal Cough Mixture, i/= Sykes' Embrocation, i/- &c. &0 li ^rt-jri^l AUEHT FOR PHILLIP'S FAMOUS TEAS. 8 =- _n- THE COLWYN BAY & DISTRICT Advertisings Bill posting Co. LIMITED, ^VVa the largest number of Private Posting ationa in Colwyn Bay, Llandudno, Penmaeu- Wr> Conway, Junction, Penrhynside, Colwvn AWgele, °*'FICE' Powis House, Grove Park, COLWYN BAY. 871 T Ttk T JONES & SON, REGISTERED Plumbers, Decorators, WHOLESALE & RETAIL IRONMONGERS, Melbourne Works, Opposite Post Office, CONWAY. CYCLE DEPOT. Agents for Humbers, Swifts, &c., AND ALL THE LEADING MAKERS. 864 WILLIAM HUGHES, General & Shoeing Smith, PENYBRYN SMITHY, OLD COLWYN. fa^urer of all kinds of Gates and Railings. ALL KINLS OF WORK UNDBIRXAKKN. Estimates given. ders promptly and personally attended to. Smith's Work a Speciality.

j Memories of Past Days. Notes. OLD WELSH LIBRARIES. The Library of the late Robert Jones, of Rotherhithc, (Continued.) Goodrich (A. M.), Gwen, or the Cousins, j 2 vols 1855 Book of Common Prayer, in Welsh and English, Rhydychain, 1823 Llyfr Gweddi y Catholig, Lle'rpwll, 1837- Hall (Esgob J.), Myfyrdodau ar y Testa- ment Newydd, Aberystwyth (3) 1842 Owen (W.), Cambrian Biography, front. half calf a C) z Wynne (Sir J.), History of the Gwydr Family, 1770—-Letters from Snowdon, 1770, calf, with arms of Horace Walpole in gold on sides, in one vol. Drych Difiinyddiaeth 1748 Collection of Welsh Tours, views 1798 Welsh Legends, plates, calf 1S02 Baxter (R.), Gorphwysfa'r Saint, Amwyth- ig 179° Cradock (J.), Romantic Parts of K. Wales, map. 1777—Wyndhajn (II. P.). Tour 17,, through Monmouthshire and Wales, plate, in one vol. 1775 Tenby. Gwynne (Fanny P.), Tenby and Neighbourhood, map — Mason (R.), Tenby Guide, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Editions, map and plates, Tenby, v.y.— Tales and Traditions of Tenby, view, half calf, ib. r858-Boume (Mary Anne) Tenby and Neighbourhood,Carmarthen, 1S43—Norris (C.), Tenby, 2 editions, Tenby'(8) I. 1844-56 Hughes (J.), Diwygiad Protestanaidcl yn Germany, woodcuts, half calf n. d. (To be continued.)

Queries. DR. JOHNSON AT DENBIGH.—In an old guide book by Hicklin I see it mentioned that an inscribed stone in the front of a cottage near Denbigh denotes the place where Dr Johnson was wont to stop. I beg to ask whether this stone is still to be found, and if so will any reader give directions as to where it may be found ? PETRUS. OWAIN ALAW. — Though some of his compositions will last as long as Welsh music, it is strange how very little is known of the life of the above-named able Welsh musician. I have searched in vain for some particulars as to where he hailed from, and something of his life, but nowhere can I find any hint. Can any of your, readers give any particulars of his life ? Surely the memory of a musician who gave to musical Wales such excellent service ought to be perpetuated better than it is. Mus. BAC.

Replies. WM. SALISBURY'S TESTAMENT.—I read with considerable interest your able cor- respondent's remarks respecting the existing copies of Salesbury's Testament. It would be both interesting and valuable if the actual number could be accurately ascertained. The task, however, it is to feared, would be well-nigh impracticable, unless some bibliophile could undertake the search, and note not only the number, but also the condition of the copies that remain thinly scattered over the country. Evidently your kind correspondent has been somewhat misled in his computation, as there are certainly more than the four copies, which he notes, still existing. The Venerable Archdeacon of Montgomery, a well-known, author and archaeologist, writing to me in March, 1897, mentions two copies of the original (1567) edition as being in his possession- --one of them having formerly belonged to the Rev T. Price (CaruhitanaK'c), with several leaves missing. I happen to possess another copy in fair condition, with the text fairly complete, but the title page and introduc- tory matter missing, as also one leaf of the famous D. R. D. M.'s letter, "At y Cembru." Some time ago I had the great pleasure of collating one of the most complete copies of Salesbury's Testament that it has ever been my good fortune to know, and it is doubtful whether any copy in any private library is more complete in every particular. I am not at liberty to mention the library in which it is located. but I may be permitted to say that I made a careful collation of its several parts. I fear to trespass further on your valuable space, but should it be thought desirable it would give me pleasure to give your readers fuller details of what must be considered a remarkably complete copy of this famous Testament. PEFRO. Feb. 10, 1900. MYNYDDOG'S DEBUT.—I don't think it would be strictly correct to say that Mynyddog had his debut at Bettws-y-coed. although so far as the eisteddfod is con- cerned it may have been the first occasion on which he figured at an eisteddfod. He had previously become very popular, and his services much in demand for literary meetings or concerts in country districts. 1 in which he invariably ensured a crowded house by his ready wit and serio-comic er I songs. I remember first seeing him at an eisteddfod, on a considerable scale but not a national one, which was held at Bettws- y-coed about thirty years ago, it may have been in 1809. The late Mr Wynne Finch was presiding, and Tanymarian conducted. | In the course of the proceedings Mynyddog turned up, and some of the bards pushed j" him on to the platform. Tanymarian thought he ought to introduce him to the audience, and as lie brought him to the i front he held him by the shoulder, and in a somewhat pompous and patronising style cried out Dyma Mynyddog." With his ready resource, Mynyddog instantly tapped his finger on the other's shoulder, and with a twinkle in his eye, he ex- claimed Dyma Tanymarian." The audience at once saw the joke and roared with laughter, whilst Tanymarian for once looked rather uncomfortable. CYMRO COCII.

Correspondence. v [We do not necessarily identify ourselves with the opinions of our correspondents.]' Colwyn's Plea for Consideration Just and Reasonable. Sm,- Public memory is proverbially short, and many of the ratepayers in Colwyn Bay district are practically newcomers, so it may be beneficial to all, and interest- ing to those more directly concerned to spend a short while in going backwards" in our local history as a means of enabling us to take a proper step "forward" on safe and sound lines afterwards. Although looking at it from Old Colwyn, I will give way to no one in my earnest desire for the welfare of the whole of the district, and in all matters connected with it tending to benefit the place have always had my sympathy and support, and I appeal confidently to all who know me as to the truth of it. Well; let us start with the Urban Council meeting on January 16th, 1900, when a deputation from Old Colwyn presented a petition asking for a loan of £ 6,000 to extend the Promenade. After hearing various speakers, the chairman said Colwyn had had a fair share of the public money spent in the district." Practically a sixth of the public money spent in the district." Personally, he considered it unwise to spend a vast amount of money in that "direction" [kindly note, the vast amount" was £ 6,000], and sq„ on. Although I do not wish to put figures before you, it will look better on paper by way of illustration, and without for one moment either guaranteeing or putting any faith in them I will adopt them as given by the chairman, because he ought to know, and although I read in the press report of the meeting that even the clerk laughed, as well he might, I have a shrewd guess the laughter was a well-intended feint to cover retreat. PRO FORMA BALANCE SHEET. Cokey u- Bay Ward in account with Old Colwyn Ward. To the credit oj C(,hJ'1t Bay n'ard, as in the Chair- mans fig-lf.res:- Drainage £ 6300 Footpaths 1500 Sewers, roads, ifcc 2000 Proportion of Electric Light 600 Say ■ £ 1242° To the credit qf Old Cohvyn, and to tite debit of Cokttyu Bay IVard Saving Colwyn Bay from throwing money away onbnying the I Woods. £ 8000 See note (a) Annual charge of same 5CO Discovering causing the refunding of de- falcations by the Collector j 1000 See note (l>) Amount: of compensation for legal and other expenses, in order to compel the inspection of, books, s,urcharge of Colwyn Bay legal expenses in opposing a righteous and legal demand-insults, snubs, itc., ad lib.—very cheap at 1000 Say ..J6IO5OO (a)--On October 7th, 1892, a public meeting was held in the Public Hall to consider the advisability of purchasing the Pwllycrochan Woods for the free use of the town for ever. The chairman (Rev Venables Wil- liams) said the Estate Company would sell for £ 8,000 and the annual charge would be £44°' Later on Mr Nunn asked if it would be safe to put the annual charge at less than ;{.5oo? The Chairman answered, "No." —Mr Williams Rees moved an amendment after enquiring "What about the minerals," to which the chairman replied, "I wish you may get at them!" The amendment ran as follows "That this meeting considers any "further expenditure, such as the suggested "purchase of the Pwllycrochan woods, very "undesirable at the present moment, taking "into account existing liabilities, and trusts "that the Local Board will see its way to "postpone the matter, at least." Mr Napier seconded it, and there was only one rate- payer in the meeting that had the courage and common sense to vote for the amend- ment. And nearly all the leading men of Colwyn Bay were present. Carefully follow the sequel hereto. On December 13th, 1802, Alderman Thomas Parry referred to the woods as "recreation grounds," and the Old Colwyn people tried to get up a "bwgan," and further, "When Colwyn Bay "tried to get a little space for their beauti- "ful district, their friends at Old Colwyn "canvassed every house trying to upset "them." At the Local Board meeting January 10th, 1893, Alderman Parry pointed out "That the ,3 "directors had taken such a piece out of the "woods that he would strongly object to it. "He had only glanced very quickly through "the draft agreement, but it appeared to "him that even after they had paid the £ 8,000, the woods would be the property "of the Estate Company after all. For "instance, if they find gold, or copper, or "lead, they can go through and keep it, and "they can go through the woods and their "tenants and everyone, and they have a "right to make roads there. I would never "buy it under such conditions." The Chairman (Rev Venables Williams) said, "1 must say, after carefully reading them "over, that there are some most objection- "able portions," and a committee of five were appointed "to look into the matter, Messrs the Chairman, Parry, Walker, Porter, and J. Roberts. The Government inspector (Colonel Luard) was announced to hold the enquiry to sanction the loan to .purchase the woods on February 1st, 1893, when the Local Board could not, or would not, face the ordeal, and asked for a postponement. This was granted, "with much reluctance," by the Local Government Board, London, and he was never, I believe, invited down again. --Re accounts, etc.-T,ocal Board meeting January loth, 1893: — The Chairman (Rev Venables Williams) "We are in a very helpless state." Mr James Wood said, "As to what Mr "Bevan has said, the rates have never been "coming in so quickly as they are now. I "have learned more about the rates recently "than I have ever been able to do before." Alderman Thos. Parry would like to ask the clerk "What we collected last month?" The Clerk replied, £264. Mr Wood said ^364. Mr Bevan, £164- The Chairman (Sotto voce): "When doc- tors disagree," then read a statement shew- ing £ 289 12s 7d. At the Public Hall, May 19th, 1893, Mr Bevan, the chairman of the Finance Com- mittee, in referring to the deficiences of the late collector, is reported to have said, "IT "WAS DUE TO GENTLKMKN FROM OLD "COLWYN TIIAT) ANYTHING HAD BEEN "FOUND, BUT THERE WAS ABOUT Z700 OUT "OUT OF THE CURRENT RATE WITHOUT "COUNTING THE -ZIOO." This was a falsification in one sum. Mr John Roberts, at the same meeting, is reported to, have sa.id. "That {Something "like £580 had been placed to the credit of "the ratepayers, but they could not tell "what more was due; perhaps J)oo, as "ratepayers were still bringing in receipts." The exact amount, or whatever amount may have been ascertained or guessed at, will probably appear in the deficiency book, which I have seen once or twice in the Local Board offices.-but after a previous experience of mine in asking to see books, I have no desire to be subjected again to waste of time and money and insults and subterfuge. However, the amount, when I saw .the figures last, was a startingly large one. I have not the desire to trespass further on your space with explanatory note (c), but I hope you will find room for it in your next issue. I leave with confidence the foregoing to the careful thought of your wide circle of readers. W. F. WILLIAM REES.

The Protestant Army Challenged. SIR,—Granted it is divided granted it has its undersirable differences drifting from the God of Battles, who dwells only with men and assemblies "keeping the unity of the Spirit in the hand of peace." Granted that all this is true, has its divi- sions, has its differences, wrought more to offend a just God than the boast and bounce, cruelty and harshness of a mass of people gone mad with the transient glory of a mere arm of flesh for coupled with the insult thrown at the Dean of Durham, we have its sequel in a gathering calling itself a public meeting, branding the Dean of Winchester with being a traitor to his Queen and country, because he has courage enough—because he has Christian charity enough to recognise, to appreciate, what there is to recognise, what there is to appreciate, in a mistaken, misled foe fighting, perishing, against its own welfare of "peace, order, and free- dom," which might well commend itself to a Biblical Pres dent Kruger. A harsh meeting, lost in the chaos of darkness, branding with traitorship, a man of men, though dean of Winchester, that puts to practice the show and sham that characterises some, to ever pray (as he declares) in private as well as in public for the success of our Army, and that in harmony with Christian principles, that seemeth more likely to meet with the approval of the God of Battles than the boast and bounce referred to, of which I give a fitting specimen, though isolated and less conspicuous than many of its kind, which your readers can, no doubt, both testify and prove. But not the least instance of the kind is that experienced by the writer himself, and I would here observe that though I make use of the term, "A Biblical Presi- dent Kruger," I use it not to mock I say it not in a spirit of defiance, which terribly, unfortunately, befel the lot of a certain person, who, speaking of Kruger not so long ago, made use of the following words: —"That ill as he was, if he had hold of Kruger, he would make him that he couldn't read his 'Bible' any more." The lips that framed those words are now silent in the tomb, sealed by the cold hand of death itself and if God's Word is still of effect, if it still retains its truth and power, then, surely, does the danger exist for this boast and bounce, condemned by Scripture, to lead this nation to wrong and ruin, but let us sincerely hope that it will not, like the doubly unfortunate indi- vidual, become a lifeless corpse to mock its own boast and bounce by a bitter still- ness and helpless reality to mock its wrongly claimed right to avenge this and to avenge the other, when vengeance belongeth to the God of Battles Himself, to dispose of as He will, for is it not written, Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord I will repay." Though divided, though differing, let the outsiders do half the work; yes, one-fifth of the labour of the regrettable divided Protestant army, to keep danger and ruin from our shores, to protect those whom we love and respect from being robbed and pilfered of their freedom, and to have the Bible bequeathed to their care wrenched from their grasp and keeping, of which no notice whatever is taken. Let them, I say, do one-half yea, one-fifth of what others are doing, before they undertake to brand men who, at least, endeavour to be faitnful to a Creator, and hath no respect of persons with a guilt that will otherwise, most assuredly, recoil on their own heads when the day of reckoning comes to weigh in the balance of their indebt- ness" to an abused and scantily-respected religion. OUTLOOK.