The Principality

OUR readers would have observed in our impression of last week a letter from the Editor to Sir George Grey with respect to the sentence passed upon Martin, who was convicted at our last assizes of murder. In a second edition we were able to publish the subjoined letter from the Home Secretary Whitehall, July 27, 1848. Io. SiR,—With "reference to your communication respecting the case of .Thomas Martin, who was convicted at the late Gla- morganshire Assizes of murder, and sentenced to death,—I am directed by Secretary Sir George Grey to acquaint you that a Respite will be forwarded by this night's post to Cardiff, for staying the execution of the prisoner until further signification: at her Majesty's pleasure. H I am, Sir, H Your obedient Servant, "H. WADDINGTON. E, van Jones, Esq., PILINCIPALITY Office, Cardiff."

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION will commence its sittings at Swansea on Wednesday next. We intended devoting an article to the subject, but are sorry to have been unable to do so owing to a press of matter. We must say, however, we feel deeply in- terested in the objects of the association, and have no doubt Swansea. will prove that even in Wales science has her votaries.

WE are glad to perceive, by an advertisement in another eolumn, that the subscriptions to the normal college for Wales are coming in so nobly. We hope our country men will not rest until they have built and established a coilege worthy of them- selves and their country. A meeting of the general committee will be held at Swansea on Wednesday next to consider matters (tf great importance. We trust it will be well-attended.

THE REV. W. WILLIAMS, (CALEDFRYN). The removal of this eminent Welsh scholar from the land of his birth to the metropolis, has awoke in his admirers a sense of the gratitude which they owe him. A subscription has been opened to present him with a substantial testimo- nial in consideration of his valuable services in the promotion of Welsh literature. We trust that the offering will be creditable alike to the bard and to the consistency of those who profess so much admiration of his genius. Caledfryn as a poet attracted attention in early life. The first cluster of grapes* promised that the vine would be a fruitful one. In the effusions of the youth we discover originality of style, and independence of judgment, which few, we believe, will deny to be characteristic of the man. He made his first appearance on the stage at a period when Dewi Wynn had thrown a charm around the Cynganedd of Welsh poetry, and was the idol of countless pigmy imitators, who would have spurned the thoughts of an Archangel unless they were couched in the stiff jargon of opposite gutturals. There was another more ancient school of bards whose favourite haunts were the well-furnished rectory, the .servants' hall of some lord of the soil, and the poets' corner in some tavern of bardic fame. Yet there were among the poets of that day a sprinkling of talented and respectable men of the clergy and laity, but their works prove to our sorrow that they were spell-bound by the mesurau caethion, and were ready to sacrifice some fine thoughts at the shrine of Cynganedd. Thus the genius of the rising generation was misdirected; the native awen was buried under a heap of meaningless words; and our national poetry, like a Chinese foot, was beautified to deformity. At this period the criticisms of the Rev. Walter Davies, who like Dr. John- son is less as a poet than as a judge of poetry, attracted the attention of a few young men, and gave them an impulse in the right direction. Ieuan Glan Geirionydd, Cawrdaf, and more particularly Caledfryn, broke the spell; they left the trodden paths of the fathers, who aimed at being the stand- ards of Welsh poetry, and proved in their own compositions that the inspiration of true poetry could njake even the alliteration of the mesurm caethion subservient to itself. Caledfryn as a poet excels in the happy combination of simplicity and grandeur. In reading the poetry of some of our famed bards we are under the impression that every line must have cost the author immense labour; but we would suppose that Caledfryn's poetry could be composed at the rateoftwenty lines per minute. Let any one try the ex- periment and he will find how much easier it is to imitate stiff art than simple nature. Caledfryn's poetry flows like a deep, pellucid river; language and rhythm fall in as con- tributary streams, while the reader is borne along on its smooth surface through scenes of enchantment ever new. Those who remain unreconciled to the mesurau caethion after reading his poetical works, will ever remain so. Christmas Evans once said," Ilawyr, 'sana £'n leieo'r mesurau caethion yma, ond mi fedraf fwynhau gwaith Caledfryn, UHtith does gantho fe ddin} 0 r and p'ond a'r ffladr." Another characteristic of Caledfryn's poetry is the entire absence of supplementary words toiill up the mechanism of his lines. The Rev. Walter Davies said of him, His prosody is correct and smooth, and yet so connected as the best written prose without the interpolation of unnecessary words." Every word seems to be tlte. word and the only appropriate one to express the poet's idea. We 111a take for illustration a specimen or two. The Encjlynion i'r mettydd' comm* cube with the following:— Awenydd a adwaenir—wrth ei gwedd, A gwerth y gwaith wnelir Ni(i yw pob peth a blethir O'r un waed a'r awen wir." This is anything but poetry," exclaims the devotep of Cynganedd. And we can easily picture before our mind's eye one of the Beirdd icrth fi-ainta defoid Beirdd ynys Prydain," taking up this stanza to criticise, with ail the austerity of a monk, and the consequence of a parish psalm linger, Peth fel yna yn Farddoniaeth Dim Cynghanedd t1# buasaifel hyn buasai yn debyg i rywbeth Gwaed awenydd chweg adwaenir—wrth waith Ei nerth eithaf wnflir « Btfnd gwan pob nod a genir, Oiid teyrn waed, ter awen wir." tna beth fydda i yn alio yn ganu." Djgon givir J "We e another specimen from ta ode composed on the occa- sion of Queen Victoria's, visit to our shores, last summer. 1fscribDS the welcome with which she was greeted thus- Holl naturiaeth ein cestyll a'n tyrau, Yr haul a'L wyneb heb utirhyw lenau, Y gwyrddion'tT'rlthoedd*-gerddi citi ffrwytbau,- Y maesydû Hawnion, g\Vynion, ugciniau 9,' agenawg g Arfon greigiawg/agenawg glqgwynau, Y rhyw adeinia'Wg, y mqr a'i donau, Y moelydd a'r cymylau—amneidiant,— Ami hwy wellant-einparch rown llinau." Coedwigoedd. Now, we ask, is there a simple monosyllable in the quotations which we have made that could be dispensed with even in Qbai' prose ? Yet all chimes delightfully iq the ear, while the Jwet's ideas stand in all their intrinsic beauty before the ttiind. There can be no better criterion of the presence of Unnecessary words, than a literal translation into another language. Caledfryn's poetry would pass through this ^ydeal in triumph. v Caledfryn's mlise is at home alike in every department •f poetry, but excels in the descriptive in Ieuan dlan (.mrionydd's opinion. We niay perhaps find hi superior in Jynes. In the production of gems the venerable bard of lietws ft* allowed the pre-eminence. The spirits of Cawidat, leuan &lan Geirionydd, and Eben Fardd, occasionally but st forth like -Hashes of lightning from a cloutl, while every feeling of our Mature stands in awe before them. But we verily believe that in the universality of his talents Caledfryn liyes with- out a rival among our 'Welsh bards, He is quite himself in 0 the extended Awdl and the detached Englyn. The Cywydd, the! Byddest, and the Jitnyn, bear alike the traces of the lutlfiter hand. Caledfryn has probably done greater service to Welsh fwtry'as a critic than even as an author. His work calledi "%ych Barlrdonol" (the Poetical Mirror) has been well Grawn Awen (The Grapes of Song), a volume of pootrjr pub by CalecUryn, when a youth. received, and has been the means of correcting the taste of I our young bards. He has been called to adjudicate on the merits of competing poets on several important occasions. A judge cannot escape being personal in his remarks; the consequence invariably is that he makes himself enemies; all the candidates intend bearing off the prize, therefore all but one must suffer disappointment. Indeed all have been condemned by Caledfryn ere this, for he never awards the prize to the best except that best be worthy. Some have accused him of unnecessary severity on these occasions, but all who know Caledfryn's singleness of purpose, and indomi- table desire to discharge honestly the duties of so important a trust, believe that he aims at something nobler than to torture the feelings of sensitive aspirants for poetic honours. The question has been raised, whether a judge in such cases is authorised to criticise and condemn a number of candi- dates in the public press P His province, say some, is to pro- nounce his decision, awarding the prize to one or more without dissecting the rejected ones. But our opinion is quite the reverse. The office of adjudicator is a public trust, and he should publish why and wherefore he arrives at certain conclu- sions, and let the public have the means to examine and revise such decisions. It is worthy of notice that as far as we can remem- ber at the present moment, no competitor, to whom Caledfryn has refused the palm, has ever dared to publish his work. Why not do this? If the adjudication is unfair an indignant public will soon reverse the judgment as in the case of Dewi Wynn. The snarls of harmless puppies cannot terrify a man of Caledfryn's nerve. We have met with compositions to which were appended Barnwycl tcchod yn fuddugol am V" hon y derbyniodd yr aiodur ariandlws ac 20E o wobr." We tasked our patience to get through page one, and then involantarily exclaimed, "0 that Caledfryn had been the judge The reader that can devour a dozen pages of some of our Awdlau Buddugol must have the vo- racity of a cormorant for everything in the shape of poetry. Caledfryn as an orator deserves particular notice. Nature has favoured him with a countenance which bespeaks the inward man. His voice is clear and nervous. His articulation beauti- fully distinct. His language simple yet chaste, correct yet in- telligible; his self-possession never forsakes him. He ascends not to the bombastic. Who ever heard of Caledfryn tiring ob- solete polysyllables like blank cartridges over the heads of his au- dience ? Yet he never clothes his thoughts in the rags and tatters of vulgar and common-place language. The question how an idea shall be expressed never entered his thoughts, for the whole range of the Welsh language is at his command. He is most happy in his illustrations. We have heard it affirmed by persons of more extensive observation than ourselves that they have never heard his equal in hajar^ illustrations: and to crown all his per- fections as a speaker tinm: is an air of honesty thrown over what- ever he says. In hea Irinv, him we have never lost the impression that dissemblance and gusle are not among the elements of his soul. On this point we may safely say, let his enemies be judges. On the platform he seldom appears to advantage on every-day questions, for he makes no preparation. But when any new question of the times calls him forth, then, when our hackney platform speakers are mûte, we would travel far to hear Mr. Williams. The claims of Tahiti; the condition of the Jews the question of peace or war; oppression and usury in every form, draw out the powers of his eloquence and we verily believe that some of his speeches on these and kindred questions have been delivered with overwhelming power worthy of Henry Brougham in his best days. As a pulpit orator Mr. Williams is probably as well known as any minister in Wales, having visited most parts of the prin- cipality, and on every occasion he has drawn immense crowds after him. Yet, we know of no one of whom it would be more difficult to form a correct estimate from an occasional discourse. But, wherever and under whatever circumstances he is heard, his consecrated eloquence is evident. He commences his discourses in an easy conversational style, which by some is considered to be too offhand for the pulpit, and more becoming the fireside this is a matter to be decided by individual tastes we are rather inclined to admire the familiarity with which he addresses an audience in some instances we have heard him addressing very ignorant co 11- gregations in a manner that would have been thought too quaint by more refined audiences. He is not the only master in Israel whom we could convict of this. Some of our readers may have heard with pleasure our first-rate London and Manchester pastors addressing a motley crowd on a Sunday afternoon in the open air, when they adopt a familiar and homely address without the coarseness of an uncalled and unseat itinerant. When; Caledfryn has gone through the introductory part of his sermon he seems to catch the inspiration of his subject, and the first transition of his voice is very effective. When he raises to de- clamation, in our opinion he loses the attention which he once gained. He wants no such auxiliary, his elocution is keen as a razor, and needs not the bodily exercise of a woodman with a blunt axe. He is always heard with delight and we hope with profit, for he is always understood. He is not great on ac- count of the unfathomable depth of his sermons, The most refined hearer can enjoy his ministry, while he preaches within the comprehension of the meanest. His removal is a public loss to North Wales; we sympathise with the Carnarvonshire churches, and more particularly with the church at Carnarvon over which he so long and so usefully presided, But as Paul was a Hebrew from the Hebrews, so Caledfryn is a Welshman from the Welsh, and goes forth with a firm purpose of collecting together the scattered children of his brethren and kinsmen after the flesh," to the fold of the great shepherd. May his life be long and useful.

SWANSEA, TAKE CARE OF Tllp, OMNIBUS DRIVERS FROM SWANSEA TO N-Sucli is the competition between the omnibus drivers on this line, that almost every possible Scheme is adopted to secure passengers. On luesday morning last, an old hand on the road put himself up to a new dodge but SyitH no success. A respectable female from N—— preferring to return by P——'a coach refused the old gent's convey- ance, Some time before starting, she desired hey son, who was remaining behind at school, to change half-a-crown, that she might purchase same trifle then at hand. By accident the lad went up to the old coachman and asked him to change the half-crown. 11 Here my lad," says' old coaehy," is one shilling and sixpence; tell your mother that for the other shilling she may ride in my bus," The boy expostu- lated, the old man threatened, The lad cried, when the old man, finding himself struck the lad across the shoulders with his whip and drove off. This, we understand, will give rise to some little Jaw proceedings. Js it not a new dodge ?—Correspondent,

IMPORTANT MEETING, RI,OATJSU HARBOUR, An influential meeting of gentlemen interested in the Dock Company, members of the Harbour Trust, and others con- nected with the trade of the pari was held in the Town-hall on Friday last. The purposes GtlÎJ\g will be best seen by a perusal of the proceedings. The Mayer took the chair, and, in opening the business, st tted that he was of opinion, that floating accommodation in the port hadbecöme a necessity. He had summoned the meeting with the view of reconciling conflicting opinions, in order to secure thia object. They certainly ought to provide a float to meet the requirements of the several railways now in course of formation. The South Wales tiilway was now ill. n very forward state, and he had been informed that extra exer- tioiis were about being made for completing the line from New port to Swansea. One of the directors was present, and could give the meeting more information. Mr. Vivian, M.P., begged to state as one of the directors of the South Wales railway, that he believed the company would- forward the line to Swansea with all possible dispatch. The Mayor proceeded to remark that this determination of the Directors of the South Wales railway made it still more imperative on the people of Swansea to provide floating ac- commodation for vessels of large bunhen frequenting the port. Provided Swansea had a float he thought the port would stand a better chance. After some further conversation Mr. C. R. Jones proposect., and Mr. Wm. Stroud seconded the follo wing resolution, Thai, it is desirable to obtain floating accommodation at Swansea at. the earliest possible period." The resolution was carried unanimously. Mr. C. James proposed, and Mr. D. Francis seconded "That as difficulties have hitherto presented themselves to all plans suggested for floating accommodation, it is highly neces- sary to ascertain what scheme presents the fewest ciiiiiculties and the greatest advantages, at the least expenditure of capi- tal, and consequent taxation." Some further conversation then took place, in which Mr. Benson, the Mayor, and Mr. Eaton took part, as to the point -whether it was competent in the meeting to discuss the merits of the various schemes for providing floating accommo- z, dation, or that the matter should be referred to a committee. Capt. E. Morgan, Mr. Benson, Mr. C. James, and Mr. Vivian took part in the discussion, and were followed by Mr. J. P. Budd, who considered that there were too many conflict- ing interests for an undertaking like the one proposed to suc- ceed; and suggested that they might perhaps make the Cor- poration property available by way of security for money bor- rowed for the improvement of the port. Mr. W. Stroud -(Glamorgan Bank) recommended that a sum should be borrowed to pay off the present 5 per cent, bond holders, which he had no doubt they could do by offering landed security in addition to that of the harbour. Mr. Aubrey inquired what were the present intentions of the Dock company ? Capt. Morgan said that if the town or corporation aided th'3 company with money they would go on at once, otherwise the project must be delayed for a time. The Rev. Calvert R. Jones urged the necessity for floating accommodation, and said that the ruinous effects of delay had already appeared. Mr. Benson then moved a resolution, of which the following is a copy, as carried by the meeting That as floating the old river or town reach is the plan which on some accounts seems likely to be executed most speedily, and at the smallest cost, comprehending the advantages of a railway and a canal communication with the embracement of the facilities to the shipping trade already existing on both sides of the river Tawe; that a committee be appointed to ascertain if the town reach can be floated under the sanction of the Admiralty, and at what cost, such committee to consist of the following gen- tlemen ;—Messrs. Vivian, C. James, S. "Henson, Budd, Bath, E, Morgan, L. L. Dillwyn, H. K. Eaton, P. S. L. Orenfell, W. Stroud, and W. Walters and that the committee be re- quested to call together this meeting as soon as they are in a position to make any communications." After some further remarks a vote o: thanks was passed u the Mayor, and the meeting separated.

NEATII. At Neath fair, he'd on Monday last, the show of horses was an average one; of cattle there was a good supply, and brisk sale at moderate prices. In store cattle the supply was good but few purchasers. Cows with calves at their sides, of which there was a limited number, sold well. There was a large supply of lambs, small mountain lambs sold well, from 6s. to 7s. each-while those of a larger kind realised from 9s. to I I s. each. Of pigs there was a large show, and a great number changed hands at fair prices. Wool, of which there was a large stock, sold from Sd. to Is. per lb.

NEWPORT. POLICE COURT, Juiy 31.-(Before the mayor, T. W. Lle- welyn, Esq., and T. Hughes, Esq.) — Thomas Watkins and Steven Watkins, were charged with assaulting Superintendent English, and police constables Long and Watkins. while in the execution of their duties. Fined—Steven Watkins, 40s. each for the two first offences Thomas Watkins, 10s. for the other. Both paid.—— Ann Williams and Sarah Wood, charged with being drunk and disorderly. One month's imprisonment at Usk. Thomas Da- vies and-Michael Cody, charged with obstructing the carriage way, by leaving their carts remain on the street for a considerable time. Fined—Thomas Davies, 8s., andfioats; Michael Cody, 5s. (id., and costs. SourH WALES RAILWAY BRIDGE ACITOES THE USK.—The bridge is in rapid course of re-erection, with improvements in the trusses there were in the first jjonstrijtctiou six to each arch, there will now be but five, which are being placed so as to make the bridge both lighter and stronger. The danger of the bridge being agam set on fire is entirely i'ernoyed. ;lnir. Brunei visited New- port on Saturday, and inspected the works. The centre arch will be of iron-lighter and more graceful than wood, and will also conduce to the safety of the whole structure. The whole work will now occupy no more than about six months to fiaich. The great tunnel, at the back of Newport, is completed throughout, with the exception of the masonry at the entrances.

HA VERFORDWEST. THE PEMBROKESHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY held its annual meeting on Thursday, the 27th ult. The number of cattle and other stock entered for competition, according to the Herald, was equal to that of pievious years but the exhibition itself, in a nu- merical point of view, was very far below the average of previous gatherings ip respect of quality, however, the display was good, There was an excellent array of agricultural implements exhibited by Mr. Marychurch and Mr. Rhys Jones, of Haverfordwest, which seemed to share much attention. The dinner came off at the Mariner's Hotel, when nearly 100 members and friends partook of it. John Henry Phillipi, Esq., WiUiamstyn, presided. The usual loyal and other toasts were given, and duly responded to. On the health of the i-dember for the town being given, and which we are giad to find was received with applause, Mr. Evans, M.P., then rose and was received with loud cheers. He said he felt heartily grateful for the honour done him, but that gratitude was greatly enhanced by the kind manner in which his name had been received. He wai then for the first time among them, and had but lately joined the society. From his avocations he was not likely to be a very efficient member. He had little to say on the peculiar subject which occupied their attention on that occasion, but he could not sit down without expressing the delight he felt at what he had seeo in Wales since he left London. What he had seen made him grateful that he was a Welshman, and a native of Pembrokeshire. In Carmarthenshire be found people of all classes uniting with all their energies in the establishment of an infirmary; and on that occasion the excellent prelate, whose health they had all had so much pleasure in drinking, delivered one of the most able discourses it had ever been his pleasure to listen to. He then came to this town, and found thein engaged in efforts for the improvement of agriculture, and the increase of the necessa- ce ries of life. What a contrast was thai to what was taking jdace in other parts of the kingdom! Heretbe objects o £ all,were philanthropic and peacefulin some other places the aim was to create anarchy and confusion. Was he hot justified then in say- ing that he was proud of being a Welshman, and a native of Pem- brokeshire (cheers)."? He trusted that thaf$«ciety would meet with increased prosperity, and prove beneficial to the county at large (cheers).The president in proposing *? Prosperity to the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society," said, he believed that there were considerable marks of improvement Jin the agriculture of the county by the operations of this so »nd was conduced that meetings like the present were calculated fo eflect a1 Vast amount of benefit. The collision of so many minds as were pie- aent on that occasion would have that effect. He thought that tbt first question that deserved consideration in this epunty and tlie adjoining one of Carmarthen was that of He was aware there were great difficultie,- in the way of carrying that out to its full extent, but the Only possible mode of pjopeetHng, where there was a want of capital On the part of the proprietor,. Was to take advantage of the means offered by the legislature for the purpose. Tnere was another consideration, namely, that the grejtfer the ex- tent of draining operations, the cheaper it would beepine. When a number of persons combined to effect their objects in that particu- lar, they could obtain the means and the materials at a much cheaper rate (II. ul cheers).

9FRTIT THE REV. THOMAS AuBREY, the celebrated Wesleyan minis- ter, delivered hii lecture on the binding of Satan" to a Largo and respectable audience, at the Welsh Wesleyan chapel, 011 d ay e v t. n'ng. The .d nission was by tickets Qt la., and we believe 6 I. e tch, and the proceed were handed over to ue the debt of the ch ipel. We need hardly aay that the ^e-,uu was T-ry well re.eived by the audience.

w of truth and the might of opinion, and thou shalt win and con- Que*, not merely Ireland for the Irish,but the hearts of all lovers ef their race, who will work with, and for thee, and strive to render Ireland as happy as she is beautiful, and as blessed as ever bard pictured her in his bright imaginings.