The Cambrian

THE PRESENTATION TO MR. AND MRS. JOHN WHITE. THE ABOVE represents the handsome and chastely-de sIgned silver epergne and pearl and diamond pendant nllZZ*0fVntly pre^ted to Mr. John White. tht John Whitl tTK8, Ben Evans and Co- Lt<)- and Mrs- John hite, at the banquet given to them at the Koyal In August last a German Mtwn^dta^ a new planet, provisionally de8ignated DQ) which turns out to be closer to the earth than any other body m the solar system, with tv.« 4.- of,be moon. Whilst th. eas distance, from the earth is 238,COO miles, DQ's is 23,300,000; Venus's. in transit, is 24,500,000 and Mars', in perihelion, is 34,600,000. The magnitude of the new planet is infinitesmial, go that it cannot hope to play a great part in the system. Its diameter, according to a writer in he current number of Knowledge, is from 17 to 20 miles, and its mass only about one two-mil- lionth part of that of the moon. But the little object will be of greater use than its size would indicate. The warlike preparations in this country are Very easily explained. At the time of the new moon on the 14th the sign Virgo will ascend, and Mercury will be posited in the 4th division of the 1Ieavells between the ponderous planete, Saturn and Uranus, and in trine aspect to Mars. To one of the goodly fellowship these significa- tions denoted much activity in the diplomatic world, with danger of a rupture and warlike pre- parations." The veracious prophet predicts nothing more serious, so there is no need to be alarmed. Lord Cawdor has a biting sarcasm. When Mr. Spring was chairman of the Parks and Open Spaces Committee, it is said that he wrote to his lordship asking for a couple of swans for the local parks. It was just like Mr. Spring. Alder- man Tutton, however, do as not seem to relish the idea of a town of a hundred thcusard inhabi- tants begging cap-in-hand for a couple of swans. Was there ever such ingratHude? We can imagine Mr.Spring laboriously penning an epistle to the Earl of Cawdor, couched in the most affable terms, with references to the little babies and nurses and mothers that would have touched any ordinary nobleman's heart. But imagination foils us when we try to conceive the worthy man reading the .Earl's curt reply. According to Aldeiman Tutton, it luns like this Dear Sir.—Swans are difficulCto catch.—Yours, CAWDOR." We hope thH^iiflnot :t he -end of th swan-song, and we would suggest to Mr. Spring that he should ask his lordship's permission if) catch 0. few birds himse'f. After his ■ accessful wooing of the electors of Victoria Ward, he ought to be able to dttch anything belonging to the enatidae family of that particular order in natural history known as the Natatores. And we are convinced that the worthy man would not be above Hndertatking an ^spedition frawflht with possibilities of untold delight to the little ones. Meanwhile, Mr. Spring's motto should be (with apologies to Shakespeare) :— No mow that thane of Cawdor shall refuse Our bosom interest." The Sirdar experienced a second Omdurman when he alighted at the Victoria Station. Nothing can rival the besitiness of the British greeting. One description of the scene at the station rtates that those who could not get near enonffh to slap the Sirdar familiarly on the back, knocked him on the hat with their sticks o* poked him in the ribs with umbrellas! We ufe, indeed, a grateful nation. M'Kinley in these days is not an unknown name but a M'Kinley who is dark and Spanish- looking sounds highly suspicious. When you hear that some 1a. bright eyes, a pleaxJant voice, and «littfo over five feet of stature were all shipped tnder this name..s an ordinary sea- man from Ofcrdf^ to Portland and back, the movements of their owner beooroe as enigmatic as those of the Chevalier d'Eon. tfr. Ckirt Russell may he recommended to peruse the facts of an venture that—if we mistake not—he has already turned fcto fiction. For the OQuman turned out to be by no m.&ns ordinary .rter all. In a looper hip, this time on the way to the Canaries, the stout heart that beat beneath the seaman's jersey suddenly Ott." Tlj» mate was trampk»(? up and down the bridge, when he was tttartled by a pleasant voice from the wheel: I am a girl," it said Alice Amelia," it added. So the <M<<ep br'ght eyes were shipped ] back oarefully to London, and are now in the Scandinavian Sailors' Homt, apparently beooaae < they first beheld a cruel world in Chicago. And yet they say Romance is Dead 1 The Roman Roads of Britain is the title of an 1 instructive article by W. B. Paley in the Novem- 1 ber numtier of th* Nineteenth Century. We cull the following '•—" The West of England and Sonth Wales were held quite as cloarfy in the network cf roads as <hj other parts of the Province of Britain. The great weiDtern thorough- fare went on feem the junction with Witling- street at the Marble .rch through, probably, Brentford and Hounslow and over a long straight. course to Staines, where there was a bridge and a small town. Further on. crossing Bag-shot Heath, the road remains in a very perfect condition for sevteal milew under its modern name of the Nine Mile Ride. At about forty-five miles from London it reached the great city of Silchester (Calleva Atrrbatum), undoubtedly a pthce of particular celeblity and*, junction of many roads. Keeping on westwards the roads passed through Newbury, Hungerford, and Mailborough — to Bath—then as now a great resort of invalids and convalescents from all parts of the country. The completeness and entirety of the Roman baths of Aquae Sulis are tiuly remarkable and exhibit most fully the well-known taste of their builders for these luxurious appliances of civilisation. A little below Bristol, on the north shore of the Avon, was a passage across the estuary of the Severn into South Wales, while there was another a few miles further up. Two posts, about nine miles apart, defended these cross-pina places on the Welsh sides." They were held for centuries," continues Mr. Paley, "by the Second Legion, the 'Augustan,' and formed the chief military depot for South Wales and the whole of the West of England. Two roads led into Wales from these stations, which are now called Caerleon and Caerwent— corruptions of Isca-Calleva and Venta (Caer Vent) Silurum. One road proceeded along the coast, passing rear Llandaff and Bridgend, by Neath (Nidum) to Carmarthen, which was known as Maridunum. As became so advanced an out- post and one commanding the navigable estuary of the Towy, Maridunum was strongly walled and fortified. For more than forfv miles beyond MariduDum the Roman load extended till it terminated at or near St. David's (Menapia). It is called by Richard of Ciicenster, upon some un known authority, the via Julia. The other road into Wales led from Caerleon by Usk and Aber- gavenny to a point on the coast road from Carmarthen to Carnarvon, uear Tregaron in Cardiganshire. The headquarters of' the Second Legion were also connected with those of the Twentieth by a road running from Aber gavenny (Gobannium) by Leintwardine and Church-Stretton to Watling-street at Wroxeter, the great permanent camp below the Wrekin which was mentioned before."

"THE NEW MEPHISTO" AT THE URAND THEATRE. A dash of Marie Corelli's Sorrowful Satan" mixed with a faint echo from Gounoi's Faust and you have the Nzw Mephisto strutting about like a quick-chapg) artist, singing a couple of good songs and joining in dances, dazzling women with jewels and men with love-spells and doing many things necessary to make up a musical comedy with some novelty and go in it. A very appreciative audience listened to the New Mephisto at the Grand Theatre last Monday even- ing. The music is far from being original or striking, but there are several capital songs and duets in the piece and good staging and a good companyMover a multitude of sin—even the sin of pilfering a few incidents from Gounod's treat- ment of a great epic and confounding them with the melodramatic absurdities of Marie Corelli. If the New Mcphisto is meant as a skit or burlesque, •t is a failure, but as a musical comedy, and apart from all questions as to the merits or demerits of Mr Ernest Vousden's music, it has a good deal to command it to the popular taste. Mr. Charles Macdona, who takes the six-barrelled part of "Mr Mephistobels," &c., is a clever comedian and a good singer. Humour is also supplied in plenty by Mr. Rd. Saker as Lord Humming op Mr. J. G. Taylor, junr., as Major Bantum, and by Mr W. H. Kirby, who as Dick Pilgrim sings a very clever duet with Miss Emma Chambers as Becky Pilgrim." The senlimental motive in the piece is :supplied by Miss Nellie Hodson as "Dolly Pilgrim" and Mr. Cyril Harcourt as Captain Meredith "—a sort of Faust who cheated his satanic majesty. For much of the" go as well as for some novel duices, the Misses Birnes, Trounsell and Clinton, as the three goey widows are responsible.

SWANSEA THROUGH CAMBRIAN SPECTACLES. (BY HISTORICUS JUNIOR. [ARTICLE LXXIII.] ANCHOVIES IN SWANSEA BAY. It was as far back as the year 1838 that young Deffett Fiaucis came into prominence aa an artist. On April 4th there appeared in the Morning Herald the following announcement :— "Sketch of Her Majesty, by J. D. Francis (engraved by F. C. Lewis). This elegant sketch, which we should consider as the most faithful representation of her Majesty that we have seen, requires no eulogism. In every pr'nt-seller's window in the Metropolis it speaks its own merits and well-deserved popularity." The Cambrian made comment:—" We have much pleasure in copying the above testimony to the talent of our young townsman from the Morning Herald, and congratulate him on the progress he is making in his profession. It may not be generally known that Swansea at one time promised to become a great centre of the trade in anchovies. Mr. L. W. Dillwyn, the President of the Royal Institution—the Swansea Philosophical and Literary Institution, aa it was then aalled—made a memorandum in June, 1802, that the late Mr. Charles Collins showed him 61b. of anchovies which had been taken in Swansea. Bay, and Which he had purchased for a shilling. Mr. Dillwyn lJi)ver gave much attention to Ichthyology, and beyond considering the event of rare occurienee, made no further enquiry. Anchovies bad been taken on the coasts of Britiin, but they were so rare that to procure a British specimen neo^peifcted endless trouble. Mr. Dillwyn'e-cfttention was agnin <k«wn to the subject in the autumn of 1837, when ha timr a considerable number of the same little fish in the weir -t.t Onvicb, "nd so numerous Krero tfcj^ that if a net Vith proper meshes were tIDed, sboals could be 4p,ught in Swansea Bay during the summer months. They were the true ancho^i«s, too, exactly the «ame in flavour and e*ery other respect fts those of vhich 200 or 300 tonx were amxtially imported from the J £ editet#»nean, and on which an import duty of 2d. per lb. was pnid. Some fishermen went to the length if ^daring that not less than a ton Vere often left in the Smntfei. weirs by a einøle tide, though the$«irs were badly oaku-.t8d to hold them. Indeed, in the Eummor of 1837 they a druS in Swansea Sladlet IK; 2d. per lb.-the *t>ry turn tkat they paid as a duty on their importation from 1. horn' Whatnan opportunity for developing the Swansea fisheries. Perhaps Dome modern ichfcby- ollgist Will be able to inform us ta to the present position of the anchovy fisheries In 1838 the tSwansea Town Council trst con- templated the advisability of watering the sfatets on a propercsale. They had previously done so at 1&< £ 8 cspense and with little result. They Ocmld not euf* tfcte S^wnsea of tfigrir dust and filth, and the tradesman's goods "re com- pletely spoiled by the ubiquitous dust. It #ot into the eyes of the inhabitants, it came tiirough cracks tnd key-holes, it settled on every mortal or immortal belonging, and it %»as thrown in the eyes of the Town Council «ntil tney yere reminded that the {jr«t London plagjues fcnd the Stauaeea cholera scare were due to the Cibseace of fche Wateriti^-cart, amongst other sanitary oon- brfranoes. Then tk(ty opated imgoci&tions tyith the Swansea Wtter Company with a view to 3ont*icting for the proper watering of the streets. The 'Water Company met the town in a spirit of pfPftoeful concession." The fgayest event in Swansea in the year 1838 was the corotiation of the Queen, and the picture presented in every town and village in Wales on that eventful 28th of June can be well imagined— particularly with the aid of the quaint pictures of the Dutch Coronation of similar auspices and circumstances enly a "W wotttt ago. Except Edward VI., no monarch had ascended the British throne at so early an age, and the sex of the new monarch rendered her coronation an occasion for peculiar affection. The people of Swansea were early aroused by the bells pealing out from old St. Mary's, and as the day advanced people gathered in little knots under the elaborate decorations, all joining in the prayer Rule, Victoria, rule the free, Heaven defend and prosper thee;" and joining, ever and anon, in the National Anthem. It was a general holiday. Processions of Oddfellows and trade societies passed through the town. Sports were held on the Burrows in the afternoon, and in the evening the round of gaieties was closed with a dinner at the Assembly Rooms. Dr. Hewson's speech was a notable contribution to Coronation oratory. In addition to the ordinary impulses of duty." he said, "the sex of the monarch will infuse a chivalrous ardour into the loyalty of Britons and will animate them to strenuous exertion in whatever cause they may be called upon to act. Whenever or wherever England expects every man to do his duty,' the watch- word of resolution and the talisman of success will, in every British heart, be Victoria The manager of the theatre was enterprising, and commenced the performance each evening during the Coronation week with the procession of Her Gracious Majesty" on the occasion of her Coronation. While this gorgeous pageantry strutted around the stage, the National Anthem was sung and the interior of the theatre was illuminated with variegated lamps-a brilliant spectacle awakening the greatest enthusiasm. Amid the joy of the Coronation, there was at least one miserable individual who had sought in quiet, far-away Swansea, a refuge from a merci- le-s tormentor, all the more merciless, no doubt, because she was a woman with a conviction. This miserable being was the Vicar laC Wrexhill. He inserted the following advertisement in The Cambrian To the Ladies and Gentlemen of Swansea and its Vicinity .-Having come to reside at Swansea within the last two years, and fearing that in this retreat my character will not be free from the tortures of my persecutor, I beg most earnestly to request you not to read that most infamous work, written by that talented lady, Mrs. Trollope, about me, as it is nothing but a tissue of false suppositions, slanderous accusa- tions, and unwarrantable conclusions against my character. Moreover, as the work is kept at all the Swansea circulating libraries, I trust you will use your influence in obtaining its expulsion from their shelves.—I am, Ladies and Gentlemen, yours in the spirit, the VICAR OF WREXHILL. Lawcrow House, Swansea." Was not this rather a publisher's advertisement ? No doubt that book was very widely read in Swansea afterwards The collector cf tolls at Greenhill was a man of I sturdy independence. One night the Llanelly mail coach tumbled up full of passengers. It was brought to a full stop at the gate and the collec- tor demanded the toll. The Inspector of Mails, who happened to be travelling on the coach, claimed exemption. The collector would not listen to him. The coachman showed the bags o letters; but still the collector remained obdurate. Finally, the coachman paid the toll, and the coach passed through. Ia the morning the Inspector applied for a summons, but the collector was penitent. He had seen the error of his ways, and he apologised and returned the toll.

+n?aA Tw *,T are enter- tained that the fire by which Mrs. Tucker s house at Horton was destroyed was the work of incendiaries. The family, 'who have a house at Swansea, were staying at Swansea at the time. and they had no doubt that Rome evil disposed persons are responsIble for the fire. Indeed, the mtenor of the burnt house, which was valued with the furniture at £ 1,500, shows signs of wilful spoliation. ° CLARKE'S B 41 PILLS are warranted to cure, in either sex, all acquired or constitutional discharges from the Urinary Organs, Gravel, and Pains in the Back. Free from Mercury. Established upwards of 30 years. In Boxes, 4s. 6d. each, of all Chemists and Patent Medicine Vendors throughout the World' or sent for sixty stamps by the Makers, THE LINCOLN AND MlDLtHD COONXIKS Dave COXPAMX. Uncotm.

} [The writer reserves all rights.] GOWER ROADS, ETC. [By ALFRED C. JONAS, F.S.A. (SCOT.), ETC. PART VI. THE EARLY CHURCH. I should like to say just a word or two con- nected with this subject, to which the Rev. T. R. Lloyd called attention at the eisteddfod 21 years ago. I am not aware at the moment that the subject he touched upon has had any further light thrown on it, and so refer to the rev. gentleman's statement, that the Welsh people worshipped God under the name Jesu, before the advent of Christ, and that the druids of Britain worshipped God as Jesus, before Jesus came. We of course know that Joshua was called Jesus, and that Jesus, a son of Sirach, a native of Jerusalem, was author of Ecclesiasticus, 200 B.C. in fact, that the name was a common one, and that Jesus, a Jew, foretold the de- struction of Jerusalem, by Titus, four years before that event happened. (See Josephus, book V., cap., v. 3). It is somewhat curious that in connection with the late Mahdi, he looked forward, or pretended to do so, to the coming of Sayidna Isa (Jesus Christ). I turn now to more material matters. Has it been clearly settled where the castle, called Ghennok, was situated, and which is referred to in the chronicles of the mayors of London. It is mentioned as the castle in which the King, in 1257, put up. A foot-note makes Ghennok equal Glamorgan. I do not for a moment suppose that tc self belongs the idea, but so far -MB I fcrn crtragi of, the opinion which I now offer kxs not been expressed with regard to part of the difficulty found in tracing many place-names, "Vhich are nevertheless lnOTn or believed to hwte existed. Of coursfc, I have been in the main led to the conclusion by facts forced upon my notiee during the writing of these notes and the exa#nisdtion of old maps, parish tithe maps' etc., tTbere, on the fetter, every piece of ground is accurately marked and numbered. Comparing these with existing farms and lands, it is not remarkabkt that I Ttaw come to the conclusion the ♦bgorbing of fields and land! with cots or other .aildit9, adopted by proprietors years tjgo and atill practiced, in the tacking on of snvU holdidgp to neighbouring and larger farms, I and by the joining of two or more farms into one, is tho reaeon, in part, for the names of fields, lands, houses, -tnd even small estates being lost or not now fesceable. Returning, ( shortly, to Sieansea in the 14th century, I ven- ture &e opinion that it did not consist of more than about lr\H-o-doafcn named streets or thorougbftt^, and I estimate there wgre not more than 75 tenants occupying or renting land or h<iaees. Why, ft hundred years ago, if I am not mi.)en, its population was only itbout 0,000, so tlCt for the intejrwsning centuries no tvot pat&reato tea 1io «sid to have been made. We do linow that in 1755, there were only 9,644 hcwacs in the whole of the county. As an indax, possibly act a very safe one, to the busl. ness dose in Ds a shipping iport, etc., amoeg offieers of thj- oat-ports, its Collector ofc Customs (W. Sheqvn), for himself and clerk,, ed fcad* ofL702 and 24 other officers received Qbout X20. It is ,mewhat straaje {rmonft otbor trades which have disappeared from Siwifcea, we hear not a word about st^&w-hat making. About 200 years ag this TPG 4L weli-Itao w n busiuese there. Whether cr not Du.Atable led the Vay in this particular, or folk w€d Swaaaea, I am not able to say Vith resiocl. to Gower, which is more par. ticularly before us, 100 years ago, there n<^ in it -0ny accommodation for man or beas m tiE ebqoo of an ho< el. Ceitainly above Oyster- mouth, there was a lodging-house called Thistle Boon. When speaking of Gower roads, ia it a far cry from them to the Flemings, sheep, and thence to wool? Of course, with respect to the former, the. is small doubt but tnat the Gotwer people are of Flemish origin. This sub- ject tpas discussed by the Cambrian Archseo- logioal Society's meeting, held 37 years ago, while The Cambrian, in 1362, contained bcmhq very interesting correspondence on the matter, which vaas reprinted and exhaustively treated by the Rev. J. Davies, M.A., in his valuable West Gower," 1877. Regarding sheep, Welsh mutton has a reputation par excellence, an for its wool it has c certain celebrity. PrlOr to the 14th aentury, England and Wales fairly held the market for tbo exceeding fineness of their wool and in Edward's timo England and Wales ex- ported this product as far as Turkey, Persia, etc. Bruges, in the King's time, was the great mart for this wool, but the King, quaroolling with the Flemings, removed j the headquarters for wool to England, and for convenience sake, both for buyer and seller, he fixed certain places, as depots in England, that for Wales being Carmarthen. It was at this period that he induced numbers of Flemings to come to this country, who taught the people the making of cloth, &c. In these days of wonderfully and fearfully-made time-tables, it would be a work of superrogation to indicate the route by which to reach the stations nearest to Grower,of which we have been treating. For pedes- trians the rough sketch map will suffice. Assum- ing the explorer takes a ticket to Killay, per the London and North-Western Railway, on reaching which ard alighting, on his left be finds himself in an avenue of trees, through which he walkg leisurely, tor he has a rather long and steep hill to mount. On reaching the top, on the right is seen the hamlet of Dunvant, another station at which Gower can be immediately entered. J 1 the distance are the Brecon Hill5. Turning and facing th3 starting point, a magnificent view of Swansex Bay presents itself. Continuing our way, we pass several recently-built houses which, by the way, are being rapidly added to' The climate, scenery and convenience afforded by the Oemmon no doubt influence many to seek the more free and healthy country air, in preference to the rather stuffy, not tj say polluted, atmosphere of a crowded tc w a. Reach ing a saw mill, in a very few moments Fairwood" Common breaks on the view, with an expanse mcre than the eye can take in. Here mountain ponies, cattle and sheep are quietly grazing without let or hindrance, with miles on all sides to gambol and gallop. On arriving at the first fiug2r post we turn to the left, still having the Common on all sides, till the west end thereof is reached. Opposite a small cot, on the right, is a not much used road, which leads to Kittle Hill' Bishopston, Pennard Church, &c. It was in the latter's yard that Rowland Dawkin, afterwards referred to, was buried. On the right a. rather obscure road past the cot leads to the Farm of Court House, which occupies the site, at least of what is said to be the ancient Court-house' of Gower. Proceeding on the main road, we enter another avenue of trees, whose tops meeting foim almost an arch overhead. Emerging therefrom, we pass the pretty little lodge to Kilvrc ugh, md a short distance further Kilvrough itself. The mansion is some distance from the road, on the left, and occupies the site, I believe of the original building at least we are told that in 1305 William de Breos, with an armed force made his way into the house of William de Lang- ton, at Kilvrough, and tcok him prisoner to the Castle of Ostremuese. The present proprietor and occupier is Admiral Sir Algernon Lyons, son-in- law of the late Thomas Penrice, Esq., who could c claim descent from a very ancient family of the name belonging, centuries ago. to Worcestershire. The eldest branch of the family held Penrice Castle and estate. Genealogy is an interesting study, although somewhat dry," but it is amaz- ing how one becomes excited among the various turns and changes which the tracing of a family history leads to. The first of the Penrice family we know of was a Robert, whose son Robert was designated Lord oi Penrice, Oxwich and Port- eynon, The latter's son, who it is pretty clearly proved, lived in 1203, had a eon, Sir John, who married the heiress of William de Breos, or Brause, of Landymore, and from this stock descended Isabel, sister and only heir of John Penrice, who married Hugh Mansell. Thus the Penrice estates, &c., passed to the Mansells, and we have every reason to know that the last-named family came with, or were gifted members of, "Billy the Norman's" party. How the two families referred to were united to the Turber- villes, Cradocks, Pembroke, &c., is too genealogi- cal and unconnected with our subject to follow, It may be here noted that the statement made in Part IV. respecting the probable date at which Oystermouth Castle was occupied, seems to require amendment, as, from the last record above referred to, it would appear to have been in use at least 24 years earlier than that mentioned in my previous notes. Kilvrough was re-built in 1585, by Rowland Dawkin, who married a Bowen, of Ilston parish. Major-General Dawkin was connected with Swansea in its municipal and other ways. Leav- ing the mansion last named, on the grounds of which, adjoining the highway, not a few pheasants may be seen quietly feeding, heedless of foot or other passenger, seemingly and in reality used to the ways of man, our walk is down a slight declivity, shaded right and left with trees. Crawley Woods to the left, a dense mass of brushwood and trees on the right, till the hamlet of Parkmill is reached, where food and rest for man and beast can be had. There a little limpid stream runs through this peaceful place a pretty school-house, an old water wheel, and two or three houses, which are stamped with marks of some antiquity. At the foot of the rising ground, at the end of the village to the left, standing on the edge of a wild precipitous sand and stony hill, overlooking the valley beneath, are the ruins of Pennard Castle, which, at one time, no doubt, commanded the sea and creek loading to Gower. This stronghold has the appearance of having been built in tumultuous times. There is little about it which can be called a monument of architectural beauty, and little, rery little, have I been able to trace regarding its history. Pro- cetfding up the rising ground, on the left a ravine, the right rocky ground covered with trees and close thicket, reaching the most elevated spot, an expansive view is presented to the traveller for many miles rortd. Further on we pass, on the ?jght, a gatehouse and an entrance to Park-le- Breos, and then reach Penmaen Church. K':

"THE CIRCUS GIRL" NEXT WEEK, THE HOSPITAL NIGHT. Next week Mr. Frederic Edwardes' No. I Company from the Gaiety, London, will produce The Circus Girl." There will be over 40 artistes, including Uiss Ada Clare, Miss Florence Shoebeth, Mr. Kennedy Allan, Mr. Dalton Somers, &c. A rare operatic treat is in store for Swansea. people, aldwe have no doubt that the Grand Theatre will be crowded every night. THE MAYORESS AND THE HOSPITAL. We have received the following from the Mayoress DEAR SiB,-Sone months ago Mr. Mouillot kindly offered me to give a benefit at the Grand Theatre for the Swansea Hospital, and allowed me to fix the date. I have chosen next Monday, the 7th of November, when one of the celebrated companies of Mr. Morell and Mr. Mouillot will perform for the first time in Swar-wea the popular oomic opera 'The Circne Girl,' and one-half of the gross proceeds will be handed over to the Hospital. I expect a full and fashionable house, as many of the leading families hava already promised their support. I hope you will be able to attend, and that you will kindly use your influence with your friends to induce them to come also. The objeet is most deserving, and a pleasant and enjoyable evening is in 6tore for all who attend. The prices are the same as usual, and seats may be booked beforehand at Mr. Gwynne Brader's, Heathfield-street, or by Telephone No. 291.-Yours truly, ELEANOR AKRON THOMAS. West Cross, Nov. 2nd, 1898."

THE LATE MR. LL. COUCH. THE FUNERAL. The funeral of the late Mr. Llewelyn Couch, chief officer of the Atlantic Transport Liner "Mohegan," lost off the Cornish Coast a short time ago, took place at Danygraig Cemetery on Wednesday morning. Rain fell heavily, but the funeral was very largely attended. In the first carriage were the Rev. Thomas Morris, curate of St. Mary's Church, Swansea, and Mr. D. C. Jones, Castle-square, who had the funeral arrange- ments in hand. Then followed the glass hearse conveying the coffin, which was covered with flowers. The body was enclosed in a shell, and afterwards in lead, and the oak case with brass fittings bore the simple inscription on the breast- plate:- "LLEWELYN" COUCH, Born 27th November, 1867. "Died 14th October,1898." The beautifnl flowers which covered the coffin had been sent by the following :-Mrs. LI. Couch, widow, and Master Arthur Couch, son, (Upton Park. London), Dr. James Couch (Tne Grove, Swansea), Mr. and Mris J J Rogers (The Grove), Dr. and Mrs. J-KT" TT °Uc^ Mr- and Mrs. T. H. Couch, Mast jrs Harry and George Couch, Mr. and Mrs- B- McGuUock ^British North Borneo), ^s Hore (St Austell), Mrs. Sweet (mother-in-'a^' ?/?' yuor> Messrs. E F Alfred Austin and LWelyn Sweet, (brother-in- laws), 'Miss Elia Mr. and Mrs. F Bowles (Falmouth), staff of Messrs. Williams, Torrey and Feild (managers Atlantic Transport Company), ^r. and Mrs. Walter P. David, Mrs E. i « Protheroe, Dr. J f Jones (Llansamlet), Mr. and Mrs. S. J More-an (BlackpiH), Mr and Mrs. Frank Tayfor (St- Thomas) Captain and Mrs. Gates (Mackworth ^dlas> St. Thomas, Swansea), Mr. and Mrs McGee (Neville-road, London) Mr \?m Gee' (whose tribute to the memory 0f the deceased bore a card with the words "an old "u* fp "), Mr. and Mrs. Gammon, Mr. Rpp= (pilot) and Miss Susannah Mitchell (a faithful servant of the family for over 20 years). Most of the wreaths and crosses bore touching messages of svmp&thy with the sorro wing relatives, or brief and pathetic references to the memory of the young officer. Following the hearse were four mourning coaches containing in the first :-Dr. J. Kvnaston Couch and tie manager of the Swansea branch °f m k +u TransPort Line (Mr T. H- Couch) brothers, Mr. Phipps, Mumbles uncle, and Mr. E. J. E. Morris; in fhp second, Messrs. Ernest, Alfred, Austin and Warold Sweet' fo,u.r brothers-in-law of the deceased; in the /TVT aff of Messrs- \V?nfnms Torrey and Feild (Messrs. D. J. Rees, H CnndT E- A. Madge G. P. Evans and Capt. 1. in tbe fourth, representatives of the i/avies, th game firm of shipowners (Mr Tom JobM »»4 W.T„I„r), Mr. D. Ec-el, nilnf The funeral was of a semi-private nature W lnree number of carriages brought up the remainder of the procession. In these were many of thl late Mr. Couch s closest friends, and they included Capt* Watkms (late of Atlantic TranZ port Line), Capt. Davies, Capt. Geo. Symonds, Mr FddieGeen. Mr. Herman Dixon, Mr. George A/I> W- Meager. Mr. J. H. Grove, Mr F T? Mr Ivor Williams, Mr. E. M. Greo-orv MTW A »'• w- w»r» <*• Mr' F Holloway, Mr. Dan Phillips, Mr. Charles Hooper, Mr. T- and. others. The Rev T Morris officiated, and the graveside scene was "very impressive. Owing to indisposition Dr. Jamp<TCouch, deceased s aged father, was unable wreaths P^ced on the coffin were supplied by Messrs Parsons and Co., the well-known florists of Swansea and Bristol.

FAREWELL jv]EE"x.G1 AT MoEBIST01r< A meeting was held on Friday evening last at the Talbottodge-room. Momston, to bid farewell to Mr. Jatnes James, foreman at the Mannesmann Tube works, who is leaving for America. Mr. Georo-e Ro«'ei manager of the Upper Forest Works presided, being supported by Messrs, D. J. Clarke, Firgrove. David Rees, T. D. Jones, John Meredith, Enoch Thomas R. Buckland, W Harris 8 amu ^l^iarnsi G"- Edwards. J. A. Williams, and others.—The Chair- man in the course of some appropriate remarks assured Mr. Jaraes that he would carry with him to America THE BEST wishes of all in Morriston.— Messrs John Meredith, Enoch Thomas, F. G. LL- Thomas (chemist), D. J. Clarke, J. A. Williams, R. Buckland, Dd. Rees, Sam Williams, and T. D. Jones having spoken in a similar strain, Mr. James, suitably responded. Songs etc., were given by Messrs. Evan Evans, Ivor Evans, O^car Evans, W. G. Thomas, and Mr. Luther Euwards. Mr. T. D. Jones accom- panied and the meeting terminated with the singing ot Auld Lang Syne."

"ROUXD THE WORLD ON A BICYCLE." THE LECTURER, The lecture at the Albert Hall on Thursday, Nov. 10th. should not on any account be missed. We would, therefore, advise those who have not yet secured tickets to do so at once. Round the World on a Bicycle" is a lecture brimful of incident, interest, and instruction. The lecturer, Mr. J. Foster Fraser, is a delightful speaker, and he possesses the power to at once win and sustain the deep interest of his audience. He has travelled the wide world ever. His experiences in strange countries are as thrilling as they are numerous. We were much struck with an I article in the October number of the Pall Mall Magazine, I entitled" The Land of the Lord White Elephant," and written bv Mr. Fraser. It is a fascinating sketch, and full of humour. To see a dead donkey and to feed a white elephant with biscuits," says Mr. Fraser, is more than any tingle human being should expect. It is a landmark in my school days that I once saw a defunct ass. But white elephants in Burmah are much like snakes in Ireland-there are none. There have been, of course but the last animal inconsiderately died a few years ago, and left no successors." And then he proceeds to tell us, in the most charming manner possible, all about the lord white elephant. An intellectual treat is in store for those who attend the Albert Hall on Nov. 10th. The chair will be taken by Mr. Albert Mason. The lecture will be illustrated by limelight views from special photographs taken during a wonderful ride of 19,237 miles through seventeen countries and across three continents.

THE TRADE OF THE PORT AND DISTRICT. SPECIAL REPORT BY OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. SWANSEA, THURSDAY. The trade of the port, in spite of bad weather, has been active during the week. The exports are equal to those of the corresponding week of last year, whilst the imports e-ive an increase of 10,000 tons. Entries of tonnage in ballast 25,480 tons, as against 31,514 tons the previous week, and 25,873 tons the corresponding period of last year. The imports comprise nearly 3,000 tons of iron and steel from home ports, from France, pitwood and general cargo, Spain, copper matte, copper precipitate, and copper and iron pyrites, Hamburg, general, Antwerp, phosphate, Tunis zinc ore, Port Nolloth copper ore, and regulus, and New York general cargo. The coal shipments are above the average, and there has been a fair export of patent fuel. The principal clearances of coal were—France 22,741 tons, Italy 4,000 tons, Germany, 3,050 tons, Spain 1,879 tons, Holland, 2,200 tons, Tunis, 1.800 tons, Brazil, 968 tons, Gape of Good Hope, 2,500 tone, and United States (bunkers) 1,581 tons. Patent fuel, France, 3,523 tons, Spain, 900 tons, Italy, 300 tons, and AliIferia 1,700 tons. Imports 19,636 tons, and exports foreign 49,016 tons, compaNd with 9,243 tons, and 48,142 tons respectively last year. It has been a very dull week in the shipments of tinplate, but the Raoilia is now loading for Batoum. The Abertasle Tinplate Company, Ltd., has been registered with a capital of JE20,000, to carry on the business of steel, tin, terne, and black plate manufacturers, at the premi,es lately known as the Tirydale finplate Works, near Duffryn, Llandebie, Carmarthenshire. The clearances of tinplate and general goods include for France 200 tons. Italy 578 ten*, Holland 20 tons, Germany 400 tons, and New York 184 tons. IMPORTS—COASTWISE.—Pig-iron, 2,626 tons scrap iron, 233 tons blende ore, 360 tons lead ashes, 14 tons pitch, 307 tons gas coal, 460 tons building material, 60 tons grain, 918 tons hay, 170 tons flour, 150 tons sundries, 1,828 tons. IMPORTS—FOREIGN.—France, pitwood, 3,260 tons general, 144 tons. Huelva, copper matte, 283 tons precipitate 335 tons copper pyrites, 1,700 tons iron pyrites, 1,826 tons. Hamburg, general, 150 tons. Antwerp, phosphate, 240 tons. Tunis, zinc ore, 1,400 tons. Port Nolloth, copper ore, 2,100 tons regulue, 871 tons. New York, general, 201 tons. EXPORTS — FOREIGN.—Coal, 41,209 tons patent fuel, 6,423 tons and tinplates and general goods, 1,384 tons.

RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS.—Last week's traffic returns of the local railways show the following results :—Great Western Railway, an increase of £ 2,800 making an aggregate de- crease for 17 weeks of £ 145,020.—London and North-Western Railway, an increase of £287. aggregate increase for 17 weeks. £ 84,629—Taff Vale Railway, an increase of £ 652; aggregate decrease, 18 weeks, £ 105.692. Brecon & Merthyr Railway, a decrease of £ 159 aggregate decrease for 18 weeks,= £ 7,798.—Barry Railway, an increase of Cl,520 aggregate decrease 18 weeks. £46.113. NAYVY MISSION SOCIETY. —A magic lantern exhibition, entitled Greenland's Icy Mountains" was given in the Navvy Mission Hall. St Thomas on Tuesday. Mr. J. E. Ashmole very' succes- fully operated at the lantern, while Mr Turoin gave the reading with a most clear enunciation. The pictures were superb. The children present were thoroughly amused and delighted especially with part II.. which represented Punch and Judy and John Gilpin's ride to York. The attendance was very good, and the exhibition proved both pleasing and instructive. A vote of thanks to Mr. Ashmole and Mr. Turpin was proposed by Mr. Evans, seconded by Mr. Mills and was carried unanimously, and the meeting was closed by singing, Now the day is over."

SWANSEA'S ILLUSTRIOUS DEAD. THE MURAL TABLETS IN NEW ST. MARY'S. [Article 1r.J THE RECORDS OF THE CHANCEL. It is in the shapely chancel of new St. Mary's Church that we meet with the memorials of those who have occupied high places in the his- tory of the town and country. They hare at least a worthier home in this brightly-lit sanctuary—too brightly lit, perhaps. And they assist the delicate shafts of Purbeck marble, high up in the austere symmetry of the plain, light windows, to add warmth and something- though very little-of Gothic grandeur, to the essential coldness of Sir Arthur Blomfield'B design. On the north side of the chancel, which is raised three steps above the nave, and right at the rear of the Lady Rector's pew, are the mural tablets to the Morris family. One bears the simple inscription Saced to the memory of the Honourable Lucy Juliana Lady Morris, born XVII. May, 1790, died 13th November, 1881." Like some of the other monuments of the Morris family, it is surmounted by the crest-a lion rampant, with cross on left shoulder, encircled with a chain-and the motto: Scuto Fidei." The monument to the first baronet has the following inscription "Sacred to the memory of Sir John Morris, of Clasemont and Sketty Park, in the county of Glamorgan, Baronet. Born at Clasemont, 14th July, 1775, died at Southsea 24th February, 1855. Erected by his son Charles in affectionate remembrance of his father." Other tablets to members of the same family, situated over the Morris's vault, are inscribed with the names of "Henrietta Julia and Cecilia Lucy Elizabeth, the two eldest daughters of the late Sir John Morris, of bketty Park and Catherine A in, wife of Sir John Armine Morris, who died in 1890; also of Sir John Armine Morris, who died in 1893,"—the third baronet, who was sue- ceeded by the present Sir Robert Armine Morris. Amongst the Morris monuments has intruded one To the memory of William Baker, gentle- I man, founder and one of the proprietors of the Cambrian Pottery, Swansea." It is most fitting that the memory of one who founded a by-gone industry of such charm should be immortalised in the town he favoured with his genius. Wm Baker was no ordinary man, as the following lines on his tablet show :— A suavity of manners, an unassuming mind, a jUdie- ment meek,unprejudiced, tolerating,* gentle nature, and an unbounded philanthropy endear'd him to a large circle of all classes, and won him the best wishes of every sect. A warm friend to every useful and elegant art, and such an ingenious proficient in many, that "Nullum quod Tetigit non ornavit," applied to the versatile talents of the lamented Goldsmith, might well apply to him, Ob Junii 15, 1619, ietat 6This disinterested tribute to aeparted worth was placed here by a few friends who valued his life aud lamented his death. Higher up on the same wall of the chance are tablets to TVm. Osborn Smith, Lieut.-Col. 91st Canadian Rifles, C.M.G.; to William Sampson, the son of J. R. Da we--a promising young fellow, who died in 1859, at King's School, in his 18th year; to Lieut. James Thomas, R.N. and to Mary Ann, wife of Thomas Edward Thomas, of Glanmor." Alongside there is a tablet, which informs us: "Under this monument lies interr'd two of the best of brothers (viz.) Bussy Mansel, who served his country a lieutenant in the navy 20 years, and died 25th March. 1752, aged 44; also the body of John Mansel, apothecary and alderman of this town, died January 23rd, 1746, aged 74. Underneath also lies interr'd Dory Davies, their sister, and her daughter, Elizabeth, who married Elias Jenkins, of Newcastle, Glamorganshire'" Over the door that leads to the Lady Rector's lobby is a mural tablet, more modern than those which have yet been spoken of, but not less glorious in the legend it modestly relates. Under the family arms is the inscription:—"In memory of Jeffrey Llewelyn Morgan, Lieutenant, Royal Engineers, son of Col. Morgan, Royal Artillery, St. Helen's. He was wounded whilst leading the storming party at Magdala on the 13tb, and died on the 26th of April, 1868, aged 25, and is buried in the ancient Christian church of St. Gabriel, on the banks of the Tacassee, Abyssinia. Ubique quo fas et gloria decuut.' Lest the incident should be unknown to manv people, it is worth while recalling the act of heroism in which young Morgan, a brother of Col. Morgan, of Brynbriallu, met his death. It was in the famous expedition to Magdala. On the 13th of April, amidst heavy rains and thunder and IILhtuing-fit accompaniments to the battle, the British force came in sight of Magdala. The cliff rose ominous to the view, with its granite embrasures and natural basalt battlements that shot up towards the sky. Mr. H. M. Stanley, who accompanied the expedition as the special correspondent of the New York Herald, has described (" Coomassie and Magdala," London) how the storming was carried out with the Engineers, under Major Gordon Pritchard, leading the way as skirmishers. "Major Pritchard and Lieut. Morgan—the latter a most enthusiastic officer-ma.de a dash 1 for the barbacan to effect an entrance. They found the gate closed, and the inside of the square tower completely blocked up with stones to the depth of 10 feet, so that passage through was not readily available." It was in this assault that young Morgan received his wound. The story of his death, which occurred on the homeward march, when the battle was won and Magdala in flames, is thus told by Mr. Stanley :— At this place (the banks of the Takazze, where the army encamped on the 28th April) the British Army suffered a loss in the death of one of its most promising officers-Lieut. Morgan of the 10th Company of the Royal Engineers He was a young, able, courageous, and enercetic officer at all times, besides being a true Christian gentleman. He was buried on the banks of the Takazze river, under the shade f pleasant, umbrageous trees which surrounded the Church or St Gabriel. All lbe officer6 and civilians attached to the 1st Brigade followed the body to the grave, to pay the last sad re- spects to one who was entitled to the goodwill of all who knew him. The services read over him were very affecting, and those who stood by during the interment felt that indeed a bright soldier bad departed. Under the waviug trees his grave was made, which, in future years, when another generation shall have come and gone, will be an object of veneration for European travellers, as the resting-place of one of the famous Crusaders who marched to Magdala. The Commander-in-Chief issued an order com- mendatory of his high excellence, his unflagging zeal and energy, and expressive of ids regret at the less the British Army sustained in hie death. Lieut. Morgan was interred with all military honours." Across the other side of the Chancel is a tablet, ever two coats of arm?, guilded and coloured, which informs us that beneath here lyeth the body of the Rev. John Williams, Archdeacon of Cardigan, who departed this life the 4th day of March, 1701, in the 52nd year of his age." Per- haps the most conspicuous monument in the Chancel is that to the Rev. "William Hewson, D.D.. one time Vicar of Swansea. It is a richly- decorated Gothic recess, remindining one on a small scale, of some of the most beautiful of Continental cathedrals. It adjoins the new Bisbep's throne, which was presented to the Church by Dr. J. G. Hall, in memory of his brother, who was one of the churchwardens. On the same side of the Chancel is the tablet to the memory of Mary Grant, wife of John I Francis, descended from the Grants of Castle ) Grant. Irveme? = and also of John Francis, I placed ir. the Church '-v » ortay son, Lt.-Coi j Geo. L¡,Ü, L: !l\L¡'Ll:U itAii i:û.1.1cis memorial is aiioi^ci- older asso- ciaLiOiio. It is that iu ciij ludiuary of Eliza- beth, the heloved wife of tne itev. 1. K. M. Morrow, Reciur ot Shattesbury, Dorset, and daughter of Eaward David of Swansea. She died at Rheauva, Swansea, on Sunday evening, September 9th, 1877, aged 62 years. This tribute to the many virtues wnich adorned her character, is erected by him who survives to deplore the loss of a most loving and devout wife." The tablet recalls the long connection of the David family with Swansea. How long they have been identi- fied with the tewn is not very well known but since the year 1702 at least members of the family have been buried at St. Mary's church- yard. Our readers will probably have noticed that we recently announced the death of the Rev. Edward Maw David, M. A., who was the last surviving male representative of the family, and a nephew of the late Mr. David David, of Swan- sea. The family, however, is still represented by Mrs. T. W. James, who is a grand-niece of Mr. David David. When the Duke of Beaufort made his progres* through Wales, and visited St. Mary's Church, towards the end of the 17th century, his chronicler recorded the existence of an interesting tablet, which probably belonged to a member of the same family. The tablet, which we have been unable to find in the new church, was inscribed as follows:— Consecrated to the Pious Memory of HUPKU, DAVID, Etq. Deceased 10i UY., Annt) Dom. ilDCXXYI. Ætlit, sum LiXVli. Marvail not, reader, tliougij ttiou dost see TUIB sUrlue so much frequented be. Tile lieaque* of a Sayut neie 1) e, Wtio tpeut iiis ilaves iu Pietye: Tile Poor here come and laybe tlidr crye, To s^ek their tdmes Ceod with him die; Bis frie .ds, ids Country do lament Their ioss in him, aud nerc present Their tears, and ail good men beside Do weep to see how virtue died Tuen give me leave, though I oe but etoue, To bear a part In such a public nione. The quaint orthography will recall, without the date of the good man's death, the stirring times of the Cavaliers and the Roundheads and Puritans, and the chronicler of the Duke of Beaufort, travelling in the heydey of the Restoration, was careful to note, for report to his monarch, that the good deeds and the fair fame of those who stood on the side of the right divine," in the days when its authority was shattered, were duly remembered. And so the chronicler recorded one other monument which does not appear to have survived the old parish church. It bore all inscription in Latin and English, viz. M.S. GCLIBLMI THOMAS armigeri qui suhcerta spefoeliciter resargendi juxta requiescii sacris regum Carol patris et Alii etudiis bello plusquam civili semper adhseserat naction ecclesiie muuilicus iiterarum erat Mecaenas moi utu tuodo non deerat probitas Achates in amicitia pacificus paterfamilias nulii secundus Lasciva.' Denq; lingua elenclius acerrim duxerat uxorem Catherinam lldam filiam Arthur Mansel dt Britton Ferry nrmige qua pulchram et bonai iudolis suscitavit prolem. Oliiit III. dl-.J unii, An. Sal. MJXXIV., et aetat S. LTill. Catli. C.M.P. This noble man must have fallen a prey to the voracious law, in spite of his attachment to his king, for the English inscription reads :— GCLIELMUS THOMAS Armig hie situs est. Kind reader, uoderneatb doth lie Tile true pattern of courtesie A lover cf Kio,g, Church and Laws, Of a sound peace tL* proper caUSe; Tne scourg of Atheist and prophaue, Such drolling was to him a paine: A kind father unto his own, And ful as kind to those had nOlle; 8 turas of lawsuites his power layd, The coots and damages tie payd Favourer of arts, this wish'd the grim Devouring Death bad favour'd him, These two last memoria.ls seem to have eis- appeared from the array of tablets and brasses that fill the walls of the Church. Can any of our readers throw light upon them as well as upon the missing tablet of another worthy of the Stuart period, Wm. Herbert The last, which was placed in the Herbert Chapel, bore the following inscription :— Here lyeth tbe body of William Herbert, Esq., third Bonne to Matthew Herbert, Esq., who served as captain in the second expedition ag-ainst me Scots since was governor of Plymouth and coloueli of a Kegiment of Foot, who departed this life at We house ot his nephew, William Herbert, of this town, Ksq.. the XXX day of June, Anno Dom., lfabj. Dis al-e being L1X yeers. Young Lieutenant Morgan is not the only Crusader who is commemorated here. But different motives and methods, and vastly different times, separate him from his ancient companion in arms, Sir Hugh Johnys, whose memorial brass is now laid ia the fluor of the sanctuary, close to the altar. In the old church the tomb once occupied a place in the middle of the chancel; later on the brass top was removed and tied into the wall. Now the black-letter inscription can be read from the floor:—"Pray for the sowle of Sir HUGH IOHXYS, Knight, and dame Mawde his wife, which Sir Hugh was made Knight at the holy sepulcre of oure lord ihu crist in the city of Jeiusalem the xiiij day of August the yere of our lord gode MtCCCcXLJ. And the said Sir Hugh had co'tynuyed in the werris ther long tyme byfore by tie space of five yers' that is to sey Ageynst the Turkis and sarsyns in the p'tis of troy grecie and turky under John yt tyme Emprowrie of Constantynenople and after that was knight marchall of firance under John duke of Som'set by the space of ffyve yere. And in likewise aftyr that was knight marchall of Ingland under the good John duke of Norfoike which John gyave unto hym the manol of landymo' to hym and to his heyr' for ev'more uppon whose soullis ihu' have mercy." On the label issuing from the lady's mouth is the legend "Fiat mi'a tua d'ne super nos," and the corres- ponding label, which once issued from the mouth of Sir Hugn, is supposed to have borne toue' admodu speravim' in te." The design on the top represented the Resurrection. In j uxta-position to this memorial is the Gothic recess containing the recumbent effigy of a monk—the monastic habit still discernible but the features, the angels that once hovered round the pillow, and the boar that crouched at the feet-these are obliterated. Happily, the monument now rests tranquil, with no authentic history to tell, but still reverence-inspiring, out of the reach of the possibly desecrating hands of a future Lay Impropriator Low down, almost on the steps approaching the altar, is a modest little tablet:- Below wa= buried in 1622, JEXKIN FkaXklen" E- who gave in his iast will Op to >e use of" ve this towne for vver. Erected by \Vi:'ii.,r., tl Alderman, of Swanze.v, 1672. <*ones, Above it is a handsome mural tablet containing the following inscription surmounted by a coat of arms :— H.8.E. Sparge tu lachnmas Viator iaeminarum cum Elizabeth Matthews filia Hemk-i""MausTil de Castra Dlandewy armigeri Conjux amantissima. et ilat-er virtute et prole fcecunda Ecclasia- Alumna Qua; Singulis fugacis vita' seenis, lummo cum plausu evolutis Placlde obdormivit in Domino » i Id Junii annn ..Erac Christians MD CLXXVII. Aetatis suae xxxvii »in plura vin pro meiitis Epitaphium Abi quantocius pete ccclnui viator, Man Matthews A. M. hujus Te:npli nuper charissimae compari contra votuui superstes congemisceniibus omnibus bonis M.P. And overlooking all these stately monuccents iB Sassoferato's picture of the Madonna and Child, occupying the place of the reredos over an altar covered with a richly-wrought cloth. The painting is an exceptional one of Sassoferato's. It has that painter's wonderfully soft glow, the faces are a.s expressive and human as material pigments could fashion them. Sassoferato used to paint his children sleeping. But here the child is wide awake, and his eyes follow, and yet seem to look beyond, a dove that soars upwards. What symbolism is it that the child should hold in his hand a cord to which the soaring dove is tethered ? The Madonna looks pensively down upon her child—a group that forms a fitting reredos to Swansea's new Parish Church.

-the town good service. Mr. Spring fought Me. Rocke to make sure of his Aldermancy. We sought to point out to him the unfairness of the procedure. However, he has been hoist on his own petard. On Wednesday be was excluded from the list of Aldermen, for which he has only himself to blame. There is no doubt Councillor Braham Freedman contributed very largely to Mr. Spring's overwhelming victory. Mr. Freedman is a capable and useful member of the Corporation, and he is as popular with his colleagues as he is with the electors of the Victoria Ward. But for his sturdy opposition Mr. Rocke might have been re-elected. The town keenly regreta Mr. Rocke's defeat. Mr. Spring, in the course of a speech delivered from a window of the Centre Hotel, sincerely thanked those who had assisted him in the fight notably Mr. James Livingston, Mr. Freedman, Mr. Morgan Hopkin, Mr. Gustavus and Mr. Mill. It is not to the credit of the more intelligent and educated burgesses of the Victoria Ward that Mr. Rocke received so few votes. Had they shown half the spirit and energy of Mr. Spring's supporters, Mr. Rocke might have been successful—at any rate, he would have n»de a far more respectable show. However, the fault is not his. Little, if any, fault can be found with the selection of Aldermen made on Wednesday. The .honour has been conferred upon members who have done long and useful work in the Council Chamber. There will be vacancies in three wards as the result-St. Thomas, St. Helen's and -Alexandra. We hope an effort will be made to secure, as candidates, gentlemen of position and intelligenee, and who are imbued with the true civic spirit. Mr. Graham Vivian has lost his seat on the Gower Board of Guardians. At the meeting on Tuesday Mr. Harry Morris called the attention of his colleagues to the fact thafr Mr. Vivian had not attended a meeting for six months, and had thereby rendered himself ineligible. Mr. John Tucker (Horton) moved that Mr. Vivian's seat be declared vacant. Mr. Gordon seconded, and it was carried. We understand that Mr. Hughes- (Sketty Isha) has been asked to come forward for the vacant seat. Mr. Hughes ia a very capable business man, he has large interests in the district, and there is no doubt he would make a most desirable Guardian. The funeral of Mr. Llewelyn Couch, who died at his post when the ill-fated Mohegan struck on the Manacles, took place on Wednesday, amidst deep and sincere manifestations of regret. The young officer was as gallant as he was courteous. He was a favourite with everyone. His sense of duty was strong, but never stronger than when face to face with death. He died like a true hero, and his name is added to the long and honourable list of heroic British seamen. Dr. Couch, the bereaved father, who has done much to elevate the medical profession in this district, was too ill to attend the funeral on Wednesday. That he may speedily recover is the ardent wish of the whole of Swansea. A letter appeared in the Daily Post a few days ago suggesting that a memorial should be raised to the late Mr. Llewelyn Couch. We understand that Mr. Couch's schoolmates intend holding a meeting in the course of the next few days to discuss the matter. We think it may be taken for granted that a window will be placed in the Parish Church of St. Mary's in memory of the gallant young officer. For months past we have urged the Mumbles Council to take action in connection with the stoppage of a public right of way at Caswell. The path in question runs through a sweetly pretty valley-one of the most picturesque in Gower. Up to within a few years ago it had been used by the public from time immemorial. We felt it to be our duty not to allow the matter to rest. A principle was at stake. Its violation would be a serious matter for the ratepayers, and we are glad, therefore, that the Mumbles Council has at last been aroused to a sense of its duty. At Tuesday's meeting Mr. T. W. James, the clerk, presented a report on the question, in which he practically urges the Council to take prompt action to assert its right. We hope the Council will fall inliae with its Clerk. We believe that Mr. Beck possesses sufficient influence, if he cared to exercise it, to decide the policy of the Mumbles Council. On Tuesday he sought to get his colleagues to consent to a prep- aration of a map of the district, and he was supported by Mr. J. L. Rogers, Mr. Jarvis and Mr. Clifton Bennett. The majority voted against the proposal. We hope the division which took place on the question will prove the parting of the ways." The Council has too long pursued a policy of masterly inactivity, and we had begun to give up all hope of an improvement. We now know who are the progressives and the non- progressives. If Mr. Beck, Mr. Jarvis and Mr. Bennett will set themselves the task cf converting the non-progressives, or if the ratepayers will call the latter to account at the proper time, good .results will be achieved.