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T WRITTEN AT " THE OLD MILL,"…
T WRITTEN AT THE OLD MILL," ST. ATHAN, GLAMORGANSHIRE, How calm, how peaceful is this cottage home! So grateful to a weary stricken heart Sick of the. world's mad tumult, and the smart Of its unkindness. Here its dash and foam No longer dins me. Not the gilded dome— The regal palace, rich with sculptur'd art And costly gear, could such sweet rest impart As this thatch'd roof, o'er which the breezes roam Untainted with the world's polluting breath; But pure as Ileav'n, and on their pinions free, They bring with them o'er meadow, brake, and heath, The strange, deep murm'rings of the distant sea; The voice of many waters borne afar, Breathing their vespers to the evening star! SewpQrt, February 5, 1849. J. R. THOMAS.
STANZAS TO MARY ON HER BIRTHDAY.
STANZAS TO MARY ON HER BIRTHDAY. (ORIGINAL.) ANOTHER YEAR'S GOMK on wings Of silk it fled away: Thus year after year brings The period of decay: Time never stays; rich pearls nor gold, Enticeth not his sight; — He comes,—but ere you can behold His form, he takes a flight. Where now the hours, when in youth We rov'd in meadows gay ? Ah memory tells the tale of truth, They have long past away!" No more in peace shall we among The shades alcov'd remain, The birds have eeas'd their warbling wng,- Our joy by care is slain. Oft did we list to Teivy's streams, Whilst playing on its edge; And from the sun's luminous beams We'd seek the shady hedge; There would we sit in joy, beneath • The scented hawthorn's shade, To cull the flowers for the wreath, Ah, hours! why did you fade ? r' But, dear Mary, though for aye, The sun of youth has set, May your comforts ne'er decay, And happy he you yet; ,'j- In joy long years may you hail— w f May peace be your end; These* wishes, which are free from guile, Are wishes of Cardiff. A FRIEND.
# [ratlings.
# [ratlings. INFIDELITY is the beginning of sin, folly the foundation of infidelity, and the seal of both.-BISHOP HORNE. THE perfection of female character is a combination of pri- vate and public virtue—of domestic charity, and zeal for the temporal and eternal happiness of the whole human race.— ELLIS. THERE is scarcely any object in art or nature, calculated to excite our admiration, which may not, from being ill-placed, excite our ridicule or disgust.-ELLIS. A MAX hath riches:—whence come they, and whither go they? for this is the way to form a judgment of the esteem which they and their possessor deserve. If they have been ac- quired by fraud and violence, if they make him proud and vain, if they minister to luxury and intemperance, if they are avariciously hoarded up, and applied to no proper use, the pos- sessor becomes odious and contemptible.J ORTIN. WHO that hath ever been, Could bear to be no more ? Yet who would tread again the scene, ?. He trod througb life before. On with intense desire, Man's spirit will move on.; J It seems to die, yet, like Heaven's fire, It is not quench'd, but gone. MONTGOMERY. CONSCIENCE is that mentor within which raises its voice in the breast of every man, a witness for his Creator. He who resigns himself to its guidance, and he who rejects its warning are both compelled to acknowledge its power and, whether the good man rejoices in the prospect of immortality, or the victim of remorse wither beneath an influence unseen by human eye, and shrinks from the anticipation of a reckoning to come, each has forced upon him a conviction such as argument never gave, thiit the being which is essentially himself is distinct; from any function of the body, and will survive in undiminished vigour when the body shall have fallen into decay.—ABER- GEOIIBIE.
----fiusÎnr Cljnt, ..
fiusÎnr Cljnt, A MUSICIAN near Eccles, one George Sharp,, had his name painted on his door thus—" G. Sharp." A wag of a painter who knew something of music, early one morning made the following undeniable addition—"Is A Flat." 0 A MOTHER admonishing her son (a lad about seven years of age), told him he should never defer till to-morrow what he could do to-day. The little urchin replied, Then, mother, let's eat the remainder of tlie plum-pudding to-night." You are from the country, are you not, sir ?" said a dandy young bookseller to a homely-dressed Quaker who had given: him some trouble. "Yes." 11 Well, here's an Essay on tlte Rearing of Calves." That," said Aminidab, as he turned to leave the shop, thee had better present to thy mother." THE GOLDEN Ass.-The American papers, which are richer than ever since the discovery of California, gave an account of a donkey escaping laden with gold. This donkey, it would seem, is not the only one by thousands who has gone quite wild, and allowed himself to be carried away in this new pur- suit. We wonder how many donkeys are at present running after the first one ? If he gets safe out of it with all the gold on his back he is decidedly the cleverest donkey there is in California. ALL FLESH is G-RA.SS." -Bishop Hughes, in a sermon to his parishioners, repeated the quotation that all flesh is grass." The season was Lent, and a few days afterwards lie encountered Terence O'Collins, who appeared to have something on his mind. The top of the mornin' to your riverence," said Terence, did I fairly understand your riverence to say, all flesh is grass,' hst Sunday ? To be sure you did," replied the bishop, "and you're a heretic if you doubt it," "Oh! divil the bit do I doubt anything your riverence says," said the wily Terence; "but if your riverence plazes, I wish to know whether in this Lent time I could not be afthcr haying a small piece of brtfe by way of salad t ö WIDDEUS.— A young Tipperary widow, Nelly McPhee, I think he. called her, was, courted, and actually had an. offer from Tooley O'Shane, on the way to her husband's funeral. "She accepted, of course," said Grossman. "No she didn't," said Smith. "Tooley dear," said she, "y're too late; foor waaks ago it was, I shook hands wi' Patty Sweeney upon it, that I would have him in a dacent time arter poor McPhee went an underboord." "Well," said Grossman, "widows of all nations are much alike. There was a Dutch woman, whose husband, Diedrick Van Pronk, died and left her inconsolable. He was buried on Copp's hill. Folks said grief would kill that widow. She had a figure of "vyjod carved, that looked very like her late husband, and placed it in her bed, and constantly kept it there for several months. In about half a year, she became interested in a young shoemaker, who took the length of her foot, and finally married 11' r. He had visited the widow not more than a fortnight when the servants told her they were out of kindling stuff, and asked what should be done. Z, After a pause the widow replied, in a very quiet way Maype It ish veil enough now, to sphlit up old Van Pronk vat ish up shtair." A REMARKABLE INSCRIPTION- UPON A MONUMENT IN lIons- LEYDOWN CHURCH, NORTHUMBERLAND.—Here lie the bodies of THOMAS BOND, Esq., and MARY, his wife. She was temperate, chaste, and charitable, but she was proud, passionate, and peevish. She was an affectionate wife and. tender mother but her husband and child, whom she loved, seldom saw her coun- tenance except with a disgusting frown. Whilst she received visitors whom she despised with an endearing smile, her beha- viour was discreet towards strangers, but imprudent in her family. Abroad her conduct was influenced by good breeding, but at home by ill temper. She was a professed enemy to flat- tery, and was seldom known to praise or commend; but the talents in which she principally excelled were, difference of opinion and discovering of flaws and imperfections. She was an admirable economist, and without prodigality dispensed plenty to every person in her family, but would sacrifice their eyes to a farthing candle. She sometimes made her husband happy with her good qualities, but much more often miserable with her many failings, inasmuch that in thirty years' cohabi- tation he often lamented that, maugre all her virtues, he had not in the whole enjoyed two years of matrimonial comfort. At length, finding she had lost the affections of her husband, as well as the regards of her neighbours, (family disputes having been. divulged by servants,) she died of vexation, July 20, 182(5, in the 48th year of her age. Her worn-out husband sur- vived four months and two days, aged 54. CHEATING THE DIVAL.—A shopkeeper sellin things on a Sun- day, an not tackin t'brass till Munday. Tellin lies e trade, an belieyin its not a sin ta do so,—-Pog- more Olmenac,
llnririirs..• .
llnririirs.. THE true Church of England at this moment lies in the edi- tors of the newspapers.- Ylio?)zas Carlylc. THE Duke of Buccleuch is now granting sites for Free Churches, and recovering his lost popularity. JENNY LIND is going to be married to a Mr. Harris, the son of a London banker. This information may be fully relied tipoii.-Leecis Mercury. ESTIMATE OF ST. PAUL.—The London Times, in an article on begging, calls St. Paul" an inspired apostle, and withal, a very sensible man." THE QUEEN was pleased, on the 31 st ultimo, to confer the honour of knighthood upon Elkanah Armitage, Esq., late mayor of Manchester. ECCLESIASTICAL DIGNITARIES.—In the House of Lords there is now a Very Reverend Earl, and a Prelate who also sits as a temporal peer while we have a Prince Bishop of Manchester. VOLUNTARY DEFEAT OF LORD STANLEY.—It is understood, that two Protectionist peers fled from the division on the Ad- dress, at the instance of Lord Stanley, lest he should be em- barrassed by victory. REPRESENTATION OF READING.—It has been currently re- ported during the week, that Mr. Sergeant Talfourd, M.P., is likely to be promoted to a seat on the judicial bench before many weeks elapse, one of the learned judges being on the point of retiring. This would of course create a vacancy in the representation of Reading.—Reading Mercury. LIVERPOOL M.P.s.—Liverpool has the honour of having ten of her sons, either by birth or by adoption, in the present Par- liament, and all of them men of liberal views and of great talent for business. Their names are, William Brown, W. E. Glad- stone, T. Thornely, William Ewart, William Jackson, Sir J. Walmsley, Edward Cardwell, Sir T. B. Birch, Lawrence Iley- worth, and Joseph Sanders, jun.-Liverpool Albion. BOLTON ELECTION.—RETURN OF Sllt J. WAL-IISIry.-On Thursday, the election commenced with great spirit, and Mr. Bridson's friends were very sanguine of success but the first return of the poll published showed that Sir Joshua Walmsley had the start. At four o'clock the return was :—Walmsley (Liberal), 623; Bridson (Tory), 567; majority for Sir Joshua Walmsley, 56. The borough was in a state of great excite- ment and though the liberal candidate abstained from feeing publicans to keep open house, and even carried the purity principle so far as not even to have a band of music, and to wish his friends not to exhibit colours or favours, there was no lack of drunkenness in the streets. The inference is plain. MR. BICKERSTETH ON EDUCATION.—As for the Rev. Mr. Bickersteth, he now denounces the Government measure; yet but a few weeks he published a letter, the object of which was to promote. the return of Mr. Denison, a supporter of that measure, and the defeat of Sir Culling Eardley, its consistent opponent! If men will act in such direct and known opposi- tion to their own principles, they must take the consequences.— Leeds Mercury. ANIMATE AND INANIMATE CHURCH BmCKS." -Our Torquay correspondent says The New Church, it is thought, will be opened in about a month, but as Bishop Philpotts refuses to consecrate it until every debt is paid off, and as there is not yet a sufficient amount subscribed to finish it, the probability is that it will not be open so soon. [If no young fellow were ever consecrated till his debts were paid, there would be fewer holy ministers than there are. Why does the old gentleman make one rule for bricks" and another for bricks and mortar ?] Western Times. AMERICAN NAMES.—There are in the United States, amongst the Post-office towns-12 Albanys, 12 Bostons, 13 Bristols, 8 Brightons, 16 Cambridges, 24 Chesters, 20 Camdens, 14 Ca- naans, 22 Dovers, 6 Dublins, 8 Durhams, 9 Exeters, 18 Fair- fields, 12 Goshena, 7 Leeds, 8 Liucolns, 9 Newports, 23 Leba- nons, 11 Lancasters, 20 Manchesters, 12 Londons (but not quite so large), 16 Rochesters, 19 Oxfords, 15 Plymouths, 26 Richmonds, 40 Salems, 17 Windsors, and 16 Yorks. PRINTING 140 PAPERS IN ONE MINUTE.—The Times, in a long leading article, gives a description of a new printing ma- chine, which has been for the past two months in use in that office, whereby the extraordinary number of 140 copies can be thrown off in a minute. It is a machine having eight cylin- ders. Hitherto, the rate at which it has been worked is about 1,000 revolutions per hour, or 8,000 impressions but it is pro- bable that it will be ultimately worked to 12,000 copies an hour. The name of the gentleman who constructed this won- derful piece of mechanism, is Mr. Augustus Applegarth, of Dartford. PHONETICISM.—From a very able article in the Phonetic News, under the head of "How very odd it looks!" we quote the followingWhen a man first ventured to walk through Fleet-street with an umbrella he was hooted and laughed at: It looked so very odd; The man who should persist in walk- ing out during pouring rain without an umbrella would be the odd appearance at the present day. Any change looks odd. Let a lady with petticoats reaching to her ancles, and hat with a brim seven feet in circumference, walk down Regent-street, and every eye would be turned on her in astonishment. Not twenty years ago this was an elegant costume. The Greek dresses of the revolutionary period, the hoops and high heels of the regency, the long wigs of the cavaliers, were all inexpres- I? z!1 sibly beautiful, loves of things,' while they lasted they would be hideous monstrosities in the present day. How would it be relished if we were to print as Chaucer wrote or Caxton printed ? How would the black letter be liked on our pages, or the unusual characters of a still older period ? Would they not be as hideous frights' as a lady's last year's dress?" THE STRENGTH OF THE ARMY.—According to the last offi- cial returns, the army is composed of 7,993 regimental officers on full pay, namely, 66 colonels, 266 lieutenant-colonels, 260 majors, 1,827 captains, 2,553 lieutenants, 1,227 second lieu- tenants, ensigns, and cornets, 490 regimental staff officers, 185 surgeons, 249 assistant-surgeons, and 30 veterinary surgeons and 162,148 non-commissioned officers and rank and file. This number includes 12,553 cavalry, 5,042 guards, 19,867 artillery, and sappers and miners, 10.5,033 infantry of the line, 11,621 royal marines and marine artillery; and 8,582 to be the strength of the colonial regiments, with the exception of the Cape Mounted Rifles, which is included in the cavalry return. BISHOPS' PALACES,—-The Ecclesiastical Commission has authorised the expenditure, on episcopal residences, of the fol- lowing sums :-Palace at Ripon, L i 3,689 purchase of land and house for the Bishop of Gloucester, £ ll,0u0 alteration of a house for him, £ 11,897 purchase of estate and house for the Bishop of Lincoln, £ 39,406; alteration of a house for him, £ 13,302 purchase of estate and house for the Bishop of Rochester, E-25,557 alteration of residence for the Bishop of Worcester, f 7,000; alteration of residence of the Bishop of Oxford, £6,4G9.-)Iorning Post. THE WHIPPERS-IN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON DUTY.-It is a rule of the House that when certain things are agreed to, a report is presented on some subsequent evening intimating that such was the fact. This is what is called bringing up the report," and the question of receiving or rather of agreeing to tne report—that is to say, confirming what was previously done—may give rise to a discussion. Well, the report on the address was brought up on Monday week, and the Marquis of Granby and other Protectionists took an oppor- tunity of "Rghting their battles o'er again, Mr. Hume availed Iz, 9 himself of the privilege of speech too, and intimated his inten- tion of proposing some additions to certain of the paragraphs of a Radical tendency. The House was thin at the time, but as many appeared to be on the one side of the House as on the other. From the shout with which the amendment was hailed by the Protectionists it was at once apparent that, if Mr. Hume chose to go to a division, Ministers would be flatly beaten. It was an anxious moment. I looked for Mr. Tufnell, and anon he appeared from some part of the Ministerial bench, and took his seat IJ. the corner invariably occupied by Sir R. Inglis, and within a foot or two of Mr. Hume's seat. Lord Marcus Hill slid down in the corner immediately in front of I Mr. Hume's position. Suppose a triangle, whose longest side does not exceed three feet; let Mr. Hume stand at one point, let Mr. Tufnell sit at another, and Lord Marcus Hill at the third, and a good idea will be formed of the relative position of the ministerial whippers-in and the apprehended enemy. Mr. Hume, however, relieved all anxiety he would not go to a division, as he had not given notice of his intention to propose the amendments —and so the address was finally agreed to. — "ARGUS," in JerrokVs Weakly News. THE WORTH OF WHIGGERY.-—Whiggery is, in fact, only small change for loryism-two sixpences, or three groats, for a shilling. You can get but four and twenty brass farthings out of one or the other. Then why be plagued with continual parliamentary haggling about these representatives of equal value to the people ? IN the formation of a single locomotive steam engine there are not less than 5,416 pieces to p.e put together, and these require to be as accurately adjusted as the works of a watch. SUDDEN DEATH OF THE COUNTESS OF BRIDGEWATER.—The venerable Countess of Bridgewater expired suddenly on Sun- day afternoon, at Ashridge, near Berkhampstead, Herts. The Countess had complained of slight indisposition- some days since, but no serious coi-isequeiiees were apprehended, and while conversing with her female companions expired in her chair at six o'clock in the afternoon, without a sigh or convul- sion. The deceased countess had attained the advanced age of eighty-six years.
—— JOHN PENRI.
—— JOHN PENRI. TO THE EDITOIL OF THE PHINCIPALITY. SIR,—A s the above person is considered renowned in con- nexion wi h Nonconformity, especially in the Principality, and as the history of his ministerial career is involved in mystery, a few words tending to throw light on this subject may not be uninteresting to the Nonconformists of the present day. It is asserted by* several historians that he was a very emi- nent preacher in his day, and that he laboured as such with great success, especially in the Principality. But nothing is said by any as to the where and when he preach ed in Wales no church is to be found, neither has any remnant of a church been pointed out, where John Penri laboured in the dissemi- nation of the light of the gospel according to his Puritanical views, from Cardiff to Holyhead, with the exception of the mention that is made of him by the Hev. Joshua Thomas, the historian of the Baptists, as being the minister at Olchon, which undoubtedly is incorrect. His religious sentiments are equally unknown, inasmuch as that some of the Baptists and Indepen- dents have laid claims to him respectively, as being one of their founders. Neal, Peters, &c., put him down as one of the Brownists Thomas, Richards, &c., consider him as one of the Baptists. Brooks, although he publishes more of his history, trial, &c., than any other, seems to be undecided whether he was a Baptist or a Brownist. I happened lately to meet with a very rare pamphlet written by John Penrif himself, published in the year 1590. There is no printer's name attached to it; perhaps the following will account for that :— The Queen's officers made strict search for the private presses at which these satires were printed, but as they were moved from one town and country to another, they were not easily discovered. The most iniquitous laws were enacted against the liberty of the press; and though the rights of Englishmen were invaded by servile Parliaments, frightened by the imperious threats of a womanj, yet the severities of the bishop against the puritans out- raged all law and equity." § The above pamphlet is of the old small 4to. size, and con- tains 72 pages. Its title page is as follows :— "A TREATISE, WHEREIN IS MANIFESTLIE PROVED THAT REFORMATION, AND THOSE THAT SIXCERELY FAUOR THE SAME, ARE VNJUSTLY CHARGED TO BE ENEMIES VNTO IIIE, MAIESTIE AND THE STATE." Having carefully read it two or three times over, I shall briefly state the conclusions I have come to respecting its au- thor, with extracts from the work itself. 1. That he was not a Baptist or a Brownist, as stated by the fore-mentioned authors, but a thorough Churchman, wanting to reform the Church, and not to establish another distinct cause. It may be alleged that he might have had an opportu- nity after he wrote this to exert himself as the leader of the Puritanical Nonconformists of his day in Wales. But he says:- Within these fewe moneths, a warrant under six counsellors' hands hath beene giuen out from their Honors, and sent by public messengers vnto al such places of the land as ther was any lykeli- hood of mine abode." Therefore he must have been hid in Wales from 1590 to 1592, when we find him in Scotland; or (what is more likely) he must have been in Scotland from the time he wrote this pam- phlet until the time he went to London in 1593 (the year wherein he was executed). Consequent!y, as there is abun- dance of proofs in this pamphlet that he was a puritan Church- man in 1590, and as the warrant (a compendium of ^hich is in the pamphlet) was out then, it was impossible for aim to have preached in Wales as a Dissenter from the Establishment. In corroboration of my statement that he was connected with the Church in 1590, I might quote several extracts; but the fol- lowing will suffice As a foundation of the whole treatize following I lay downe this ground, viz.:— That the reformation whiche at this daye wee endevour to bringe into our Churclie, is moste unjustly and wrongfully ac- counted an enemie vnto our state, if it can bee prooved to be a matter approoued off, and maintayned by the worde and gospcll of JESVS CHRISTE." 2. That his sentiments were what we would call very high Calvinism." Iohiill Cant (as he writeth himself), whome both in respecte of his antichristian prelacye ouer Gods Church, and for the notable hatred which he hath euer bewrayed towardes the Lord and his truth, I tliinke one of the dishonorable creatures "nùer heaven, and accordingly doe account of him desiring the Lord, if it be his wil, to coutiert both him and al other the detected enemies of Sion, that their soules may be saucd or if he hath appointed them to damna- tion, and meancth not otherwise to be glorified by them, speedclye to disburden the earthe of suche reprobate castawayes." By the above we see that he believed in eternal decree of damnation. 3. That he was like most enthusiasts, exceedingly warm and zealous about things trivial and unimportant in themselves. It might have bene something tollerable in times past for a sincere professor to have an ignorant, an vntaughte, and an vnre- formed fctmily; but in this cleare light, and in a profession of so great sincerity, to coutinew in these sinncs, is altogether vnbe- seamin"- the gospell of Christ. Long haire, great ruffes,II laying out of wemcus haire, and strange attyre, is a participating with the ynfruiftul works of darknesse, and a token that the gospel hath not beene faithfully leccaued and therefore let it be no longer tolerated among the reformed professours of England." The above, and other portions which might be quoted frerm the pamphlet, would go far to prove that had John Penri been invested with the authority of John Cant," he would have been one of the hottest bigots, if not a persecutor himself. 4. That his opinion on the reception of the gospel and Church membership was similar to that. of the Baptists. By aedificatiou I meane whatsoever coacerneth our furthering in the worke of our saiuation, begun in vs through faith by the worde preached." 0 Also As they cannot possibly acdify any aright, saue onely these who have learned tho right vse of them by the preaching of the word, or "( and in whose hearts faith, which is the ground-worke wherevpon the whole building of Gods scruice must ue planted, hath bin be- gotten by the same word ordinarily. And these holy ordinances of God—to wit, prayers, rcceiuing of the sacramcnts; are so farre from aedifying these people, who hane not been instructed in the rlght use of them by the worde preached, that unto such they are nothing els but a scaled b;>oke, and proceeding from such they are nothing els but pollution in the Lordes sight; for no scruice can be acceptable unto God but that which proceedeth from fayth." 5. That his rashness and indiscretion in attacking his oppo- nents was almost unparalleled. We can also trace the same hastiness and vehemence of passion bordering upon absurdity and foolishness in his self-defence. I had read "The history of modern enthusiasm from the reformation to the present times," published by Theophilua Evans* *of Brecon, about 1750, where Penri and his coadjutors, Throgmorton, Udal, and Fen- ner, are set forth as being foremost in the rank of enthusiasts. But the bitterness and enthusiasm ofT. Evans himself, induced me to take his work as the effusion of the prejudice of a bigot. But when I perused Penri's pamphlet I found that even Theo- philus Evans with all his fierceness had given but a faint picture of the rashness of Penri. It is a wonder that any man, espe- cially of his education, although young (being only 31 years of age at this time), and knowing his own position, should make use of the following terms. Describing the clergy, bishops, and archbishops of the day, he says :— Wil you then come vnto them, and see what they are ? Alas, you caa beholde heero no other sight but a multitude of desperate and forlornc atheists, that have put the euil day far from them, and endcuou-red to perswade their owne hartes that Gods holy mi- nistery. and the sailing health of men's soules, are matters not to be regarded. Youshal finc among this crue, nothing els but a troup of bloody soule murtherers, sacrilegious church robbers, and sucho as have made' themselves fatte with the bloude of men's soules, and the utter ruiue of the church. The whole endeuour of which curse! generation, ever since the beginning of hir Maiesties raigno, hath tended no other way than to make a sure hand to keepe tho Church in bondage, that, bemg bound in their handes, it shoulde not dare, for feare of being murthered, to seeke for liberty, Of these men, contained within the nomber of proud and ambitious prelates, our lord archbishops, and bishops, godlesse and murther- ing and ignorant idole shepheards, or dumbe loggs, I wiIJ say no more In this place but this. How long, Lord, just true, doest thou suffer thine inheritance to bee polluted and layd waste by this vncircumeised generation ? 0 thou that hearest the prayer, let the sup plications which thy children have made before thee day and night (for the removing of this planus) he at length efibctuall in thine eares, and with, speed thrust these caterpillars, as one man, out of our Church, and let the memory of See the works of Xeal, Bogue and Bennett, Brooks. &o. &e. t Neal and others write his name Penry, or, ap Konrybut th above seems to be his Own way of writing it." + Elizabeth. 9 Warner, vol. ii. p. 442 also, Bogus aud Bennett, vol. i. p. 64. II Whitgift, Archbishop of Canterbury If Perhaps some one well versed in the fashions of the time may esPlain the above term. The above probably was the anthor of "Drych y esoedd." them be forgotten in Israel for ever. So be it, Lord, for thy sonne Christ's sake." In his defence as a loyal subject of Queene Elizabeth," he says:— "Wearereadyeto stande in the defence of hir Royal person and right, to the losse not onely of our goods and blood, but even of our lyves, and that against men and angels, even al creatures without exception." I hope that the above will satisfy my brother the Rev. T. Lewis, Llanddewi, and my esteemed friend and brother D. S. Lewis, Esq., so that they will abandon their claims to him as a Baptist or a Brownist, or even as one of the Cambrian Noncon- formists. It is not likely that he ever preached a sermon in Wales excepting in connexion with the Church. He had spent his lifetime in pursuing his studies, had. had the best-ad- vantages at Cambridge, and afterwards at Oxford and after all to evince such childishness and rashness, is, to say the least (after making all allowances), a sign of extraordinary deficiency in a young man 31 years of age of his attainments. Should my respected friend and brother the Rev. Evan Jones, late of Tredegar, feel inclined to invoke the spirits of Puritans and Nonconformists in his figurative appeals to his beloved countrymen, it is to be hoped that he will find a sufficient number before the reformation such as Wickliffe, Tyndal, Cobham, Brute, John of Kent, and the Lollards in general, many of them being Welsh, or after the reformation,* T. Llewelyn of Regoes, Wroth, Erbury, Cradock, Powell, Llwyd, &c. &c., without mentioning the name of Penri. It is to be regretted notwithstanding that he suffered death for conscience sake, however indiscreet he might have been. But such was the fate of hundreds of Brownists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Catholics, Episcopalians, and all sects in their turns experienced harsh and ignominious treatment. I have taken as an amusement, in order to divest myself of a mere serious train of thoughts, to search into the history of my country and its religion since the reformation, and have ventured to send you the above for insertion if it meets your approbation. Should any one be able to throw more light on the subject I would gladly and thankfully enjoy it. Blaenau Gwent. ROBERTS. See Malkin's South Wales. The information was furnished to Malkin by the eminent IOLO MORGANWG.
THE BRECON MEETING AND GOVERNMENT…
THE BRECON MEETING AND GOVERNMENT EDUCATION. TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRINCIPALITY. SIR,—I profess my great surprise at the conduct of Mr. Henry Griffiths and other gentlemen at Brecon, in identifying themselves with a movement for secular education. 1 cannot see either the consistency or honour of the course they have taken. Mr. H. Griffiths and other gentlemen who appeared at the recent meeting, had taken an active part in the manage- ment of the society formed at Llandovery more than three years ago, on the principle of a union of the four leading denominations in Wales for a combined religious and secular education. Had the real views and feelings of those gentlemen been known at first, I cannot bring myself to believe that the infant institution would ever have been committed to their care, or established in their town. That it should not have prospered in such hands is not to be wondered at. If indeed it had succeeded well, it is now quite evident it would have been in spite of the secret views and neutralising spirit of the lead- ing men viz., the treasurer, the secretary, and several other members of the agency committee, who are now open and avowed State-educationists, zealously engaged in an agitation. hostile and injurious to the infant cause of which, unhappilv, they have been the unloving nursing fathers. Now in tracing the history of the Welsh Educational move- ment from the Llandovery Conference to the present time, it is obvious that its promoters in general have had no intention whatever either to connect it with Government, or to establish it on a merely secular basis. From the beginning, it has assumed an essentially religious character and if the parties who undertook the management of it at Brecon entertained different views from those which the Society's Reports, Addresses, and Resolutions indicate, they must have acted a very disingenuous part, which cannot be too severely con- demned. The first conference at Llandovery was not composed of the friends of a purely secular education; but of Christian ministers and others of the four leading denominations to the number of one hundred and seventeen. It was attended also by deputations from the Wesleyan and Congregational Boards of Education, who appeared as representatives of the religious bodies to which they belonged. The Addresses, Reports, and other documents issued by the society demonstrate the reli- gious character of the object and agency of the movement. Let your readers examine those documents, and judge whether the language adopted is at all compatible with the idea of a purely secular education. Mr. Henry Griffith's address at the Llandovery conference made a great impression, and was pub- lished at the unanimous request of the meeting, and with an earnest recommendation to the public from the officers of the new society. Unlike the rev. geutleman's last production which advocates no great principles, euunciates no clear opinions, proposes no intelligible object, his "Address" contains some just views and generous sentiments, and seeks to achieve a noble object. In that Address Mr. G. attributes to the religious teaching of Christian ministers, and Sabbath- school teachers, a high state of morality among the Welsh people. Strange it is, he remarks, p. 5., that our prisons are so comparatively empty. This we ascribe entirely to the pre- valence of religion. Nothing else can govern the mass, (query, not sec ular education supported by a paternal Government!) for nothing else do they understand. In fact Christian minis- ters are our only authoritative bench. Sunday-school teachers are our only effective police. Nobly have they done their work, &c." Mr. G.'s subsequent acquaintance with the commission- ers seems to have effected a great change in his views of the state of religion and morals among his countrymen, and of the comparative efficacy of evangelical teaching and secular know- ledge. The state of religion among us," he says, p. 13, is such as to open a thousand facilities which none but ourselves can appreciate. The fields are ripe for the sickle. Pray ye therefore that the Lord would send forth labourers into his harvest." I presume the learned president did not mean to say that the state of religion affords any peculiar facilities for secular education and Government patronage not that it was the duty of the conference to pray that the Marquis of Lans- downe, Lord" John Russell, and Mr. Kay Shuttleworth, would send forth labourers into the harvest! In the name of the conference Mr. G. demanded high quali- fications in the teachers who were to be educated at the Normrd College. They were required to be men of Christian character, knowledge, and experience, possessing a spotless reputation, with a rare combination of gifts and attainments." At p. 11 he observes, The child, we all know, is father of the man and the child is always to a great extent what the teacher makes him. Here, therefore, an infirmity of temper is scarcely less fatal than infirmity of intellect. An ungovernable tongue may do more mischief in an hour than it can repair in a twelve- month. Fearful indeed is the responsibility of a parent when making choice of a school. Little as it may be thought of by many, it is one of the most solemn events in the whole history of his family; perhaps the turning point for him and eternity." These remarks are just and impressive when considered in relation to the training of man as a religious and responsible being, but are utterly inappropriate, and absurd, if applied to secular education. Further, the writer pleading for a Welsh College, from the want of adaptation in the Borough Road Institution to the peculiar case of Welsh pupils, says p. lo, Instead of being a hero, fresh with love of God and country, and resolutely, but humbly, because devoutly bent upon victory, he creeps into the field as a half souled thing, &c. Without a joyous and impulsive faith, nothing can avail u. Only the high in hope are fit for this The three cardinal graces —love, faith, and hope—would hardly have been so warmly insisted on if the learned writer had contemplated nothing higher or more spiritual than reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, and Euclid's Elements Again, Mr. G. wus alarmed at the thought of the moral risks and temptations of a young Welshman on his first visit to London, to pursue his studies at the Borough-road, Even the services of the Sab- bath, he tells us, will lose half their power, for how shall he sing the Lord's song in a strange land. And what could com- pensate for the loss of spiritual health?" What have the "Lord's song" and spiritual health" to do with a secular school or college, any more than with a carpenter's shop or a cotton manufactory? A good knowledge of English and of arithmetic will, as regards the objects of such institution, more than "compensate" for both. According to the Address," however, the new college must 1 e thoroughly religious and Christian. Care must be taken (p. 18) to make it a thoroughly good school. That is, let us have a first-rate master, cost what he may, &c. It should also be thoroughly EVANGELICAL, but decidedly and radically oathn- Pet-it-h for ever all approach to sectarianism The rire- sident grows warm in contemplating this beautiful union of evangelism and catholicity, but will not be satisfied, without adding nationality. Besides, the itinerating habits of our ministers," by which they become thoroughly acquainted with tne country, pre-eminently qualify them, he thinks, to iudoe of the character of the applicants, and this knowledge is too valuable to be lost." One grand benefit he- anticipated from the establishment of a normal school in the Principality, was collective self-government," and a union of different denomi-