The Brecon County Times Neath Gazette and General Advertiser for the Counties of Brecon Carmarthen Radnor Monmouth Glamorgan Cardigan Montgomery Hereford

DEATHS. POWELL. At his residence, Lion-street, Brecon, August 7, Mr. John Powell, cabinet-maker, aged 54 years. PENOYRE.—At the Moor, Clifford, near Hay, Sept. 12, Mrs, Frances Brodbelt Stallard Penoyre, aged 80 years.

DARK SECRETS. THE proceedings of the election commissions now sitting are calculated to deal a stab at one of the tenderest places in John Bull's sensitive organisation. No one who has a knowledge of right and wrong can avoid perceiving that a very serious taint of immorality affects a class of the community whom we have hitherto fondly imagined to be the safest repositories of public virtue. Diatribes against the luxury, profligacy, or ambition of the rich on the one hand, or against the servility and levity of the poor on the other, have derived their point over and over again from a well-drawn contrast with the honest, independent, thriving, middle-class citizen, incorruptible and single-minded, in whose hands lies the representation of the boroughs of Great Britain, from the huge metropolitan or manufacturing constituency, down to the tiny contributory of some Welsh group of tods; and repeatedly we have been assured that, in proportion as this class held the predominance in a constituency, to the exclu- sion of freemen and potwallopers below them, or of the aristocracy and their dependants above, have purity and intelligence prevailed in the election of Parliamentary representatives. The curtain is now drawn up which hid from us the inner machinery of this well-regulated portion of the body politic, and we start in horror from the picture presented alike by East Anglian or West British boroughs, by thriving mercantile and manufacturing communities, by places where the higher culture of the metropolis should exercise a civilising influence, and by those whose remoteness from the centre of Mam- mon worship would seem to promise Arcadian simplicity. The four boroughs now under in- quisition represent with some accuracy the varied social phases of English towns, and there is one peculiarity common to each-the sublime indif- ference, nay the gleeful alacrity with which corruptor and corrupted enter the lists of igno- miny, and hasten to confess-their shame. Those who entertain maxims of the easiest morality in electioneering matters, those who deal in the most abstruse paradox to show that the money system is but the clumsiest and therefore most innocent way of debauching the public conscience, must have had their flimsy theories rudely shaken as they read the evidence which disclosed with unembarrassed brow" venality beyond exapaple in the history of the vilest governments in the most degraded ages of the world and this, which we might have left to the sarcastic comments of philosophic journals, or to the guilty recriminations of the organs of political parties, is supplemented by the crowning atro- city-a crime which our regard for the interests of religion and morality compels us to notice, repulsive though the subject may be-of a pro- fession of religion, openly made and gratuitously introduced in the very midst of this abominable saturnalia of Mammon. At Yarmouth not only does a luminary of Dissent (whose name for the Established Church is "big Bess ") join in the counsels of wholesale dealers in votes, but one of his friends accom- panies a blustering avowal of his opinion of the harmlessness of selling his vote with so blas- phemous a protestation of his Christian fervour, that the ears. of a hardened canvasser tingled with amazed disgust. At Totnps more than one Reverend appears to have had his price; and at Lancaster an active agent in the iniqui- tous work was a member of the Society of Friends. What a God-send all this to the reck- less libertine, whose version of the Publican's prayer in the parable is very like thanking God that he is not even as that Pharisee; and who rejoices at any proof of hypocrisy or back- sliding in professors of religion, as if it gave him licence to defy decency in his own way. The moral mischief to this class is almost as great as to the other numerous, creditable body, who, without any strong opinions of their own, are cheerfully ready to follow the customs of those whom they conceive to be entitled to their respect. A needy or greedy man of average intellect will very soon find an excuse for doing what such a powerful speaker, such a strict, serious man, as the Rev. Mr. A. or Alderman B. sees no harm in. Why should his conscience be nicer than that of such excellent professors of religion? And so the canker grows deeper and tepreads wider, and the lax maxims of election time are eked out and furbished up for use on more everyday occasions, till the moral wreck is complete, and the old profanity of calling the shopboy to prayers when he has done sanding the sugar, accurately guages the principle and sums up the practice of a creature who, but for the possession of an ar- ticle of immoral marketable value, might have never succumbed to temptation, but still, though a humble non-elector, been able to describe himself as An honest man, the noblest work of God." While we await those legislative measures which doubtless will be introduced in the hope of checking this enormous evil, we would this week call the attention of the religious public to the prevalence of so shameful a scandal in their midst. Their share in the matter is by no means a light one first, because, we have seen, their hands are not altogether clean, and then, because, unless a change can be brought about in public opinion, so as to make bribery in fact, as it is in theory, disgraceful, mere statutable repression can be of little service, but will either be alto- gether inoperative, or at best produce a greater refinement of hypocrisy, the inclination to evil being simply checked in its open development. We do not believe this is a question of sect or party, the advocates of Church and State being much upon a par with those of religious liberty in their adoption of the Jesuit maxim the end justifies the means." In fact, at elections, as at every game or trial of skill and strength, the fervid temper of the Briton abhors defeat, and he is hurried into prac- tices (as we know men are on the turf and in the ring) of which, in calmer moments, he would be ashamed. Thence the temptation to sell what ought to be regarded as a conscientious trust. But were these temptations a thousand fold greater than they are, the man who aspires to a nobler aDd higher standard than that of worldly success should be able to overcome them. It he prefer the more gainful path of aiming at securing the best of both worlds, it is the duty of those who guard public virtue to call him by his true name.

THE NEW LORD LIEUTENANT. As will be seen by our local intelligence, Lord Tredegar has been appointed Lord Lieutenant for this county, the office having become vacant by the sudden demise of the late Marquis Camden. We have abundant reason to congra- tulate the county upon this appointment, for the direct effect of it will be to ally his Lordship more closely to the county. He has no incon- siderable interest in it, and independently of this fact he has other substantial and good claims for the office. We allude to his private and personal character, and, though in no spirit of fulsome laudation, we will give some evidence of his goodness. There is an old adage, admit- ting, however, as it does, of more than one meaning, which says that "charity begins at home." It would seem, from our own know- ledge, that Lord Tredegar has not only a most charitable heart, but that he is fully alive to the maxim quoted, for his generosity is nowhere so well known as in the neighbourhood of his own home, at Bassaleg, near Newport. Bassaleg is a somewhat large village, but there is not a poor man or woman in it who has not experienced his Lordship's philanthropy and beneficence. During inclement weather, the indigent have always recourse to his Lordship's soup kitchen, and we have seen numbers wending their way to it in one day. Upon one occasion we over- heard a friend say to another, There is no place in England where the poor are so well cared for as at Bassaleg," and we can well en- dorse the expression. It occurs to us that his Lordship has inherited some of those noble qualities of that ancestor of his who was known by the name of Ifor Hael," (liberal, open- handed), and we may well be pleased with the fact that an appoinment has been conferred upon his Lordship which will tend to increase his in- terest in this county,—to bind him, as it were, by another- link, to the welfare of its people. As another indication of the way in which the grain of his Lordship's heart runs, we may cite the fact that, at the recent rent-audit in this town, he, through his deservedly-esteemed and able agent, Mr. David Thomas, expressed his willingness to sanction any delay in the payment of his rents, by reason of the cattle plague having interfered with the general course of agricultural enterprise. How often have we heard fiery partisans speak of the Conservatives as selfish," and it was only the other day that the DAILY TELEGRAPH, in one of its vituperative moods, stated that the only difference between the Conservative and the Liberal was that the creed of the former was that of a selfish kind, while that of the latter was of the unselfish character. But is his Lordship even an outline of this Radical paper's picture? The calm answer must be in the negative while the statement of the DAILY TELEGRAPH in its general acceptance applies only in a few instances. Reverting to agricultural matters, we may say that we know his Lordship takes great interest in this stem of enterprise. Last year he acted as President of the Royal Agricultural Society, and his local efforts to stay the cattle disorder and to relieve those who have suffered by it, have been of the most praiseworthy, useful, and acceptable cha- racter. A short time ago, he officiated as chair- man, at several meetings, at Newport, which had for their object the formation of a society to relieve stock-owners of any loss sustained by the death of their cattle from the epidemic, which is now happily on the decrease. While more recently he has put his hand into his pocket to relieve to an appreciable extent those whose cattle had suffered irom the contagion. Another proof of the interest he has in agriculture will be found in the fact of his attendance yesterday at the infant Agricultural Association at Defynock, and were it necessary to quote other instances to show his attachment to agriculture it would only be too easy to do so. His eldest son, the Hon. Major Morgan, our gallant and popular county member, seems to have no perceptible inkling in this direction, but by his marked affable nature he has found a foremost place in the well-wishes of all who know him. And, with a consciousness of the existence of this fact, we cannot forbear repeating the humorously-con- veyed rebuke of Mr. Hugh Powell Price at the late general election,—a rebuke which was ex- pressed "in somewhat similar terms to these,— that it was to be regretted that the Major, with his popular qualities, bestowed upon his constituents only periodical glimpses. This is only too true, and we may hope that the gallant Major will come round to the belief that it is as well to u show up upon other occa- sions than those when electioneering movements alone seem to suggest the expediency of a visit. If a little more" Englishism" was infused into Ireland more contentment wou!d reign there, and we will leave the Major to draw his own inference from this. Absence may in some cases make the heart grow fonder, but in this instance the exception to this rule will be every- where acknowledged. Admitting, however, that the gallant Major is quite unable to visit his constituents only upon" peculiar" occasions, he may sustain, and extend that good-will which on all sides is manifested for him by exerting himself to procure the occupancy by soldiers of our long-deserted barracks. If he were successful in this direction, he would immediately evoke the gratitude of the town. We remember that upon the last occasion when he adverted to this sub- ject, he did so in answer to a public association of his name with the question-at, we believe, a sheriff's ordinary at the Castle Hotel. Colonel Watkins, who, by the way, will long be remembered with feelings of respect by his admirers, was then alive, and Major Morgan then excused himself from any interference in the question by reason of his not possessing the ear of the Government." He is in a different position now, and cannot plead that statement as an excuse. The question is one of great importance to the trade of Brecon, and we do hope that the Major, supported by the efforts of his father, now Lord Lieutenant, will have an eye to it, with a view to the bringing cf such desirable tenants to the buildings we refer to- buildings which, by the way, seem to be the only ones in the town not adequately filled.

BBECON AND MERTHYB RAILWAY.—68 miles open. Traffic for week ending September 2, 1866:- Passengers, parcel?, &c £,537 10 9 Goods and. live stock £ 938 11 10 To tal E1476 2 7 221 14s. 2d. per mile per week. Corresponding week last year, 64 miles opea Passengers, parcels, &c. £ 157 14 1 Goods aud live stock £ 804 15 7 Total £ 1262 9 8 919 14s. 6d. per mile per week. Increase L213 12 11 A ggregate from 1st of July, 1-00 RIA78 18 10 Ditto ditto 1805 £ 10909 17 8 Increase £ 1778 1 2

A GRAND GALA DAY AT BRECON. On Thursday last, a grand fete,, inaugurated under the auspices of the Brecon Literary Institute and Reading Room, was celebr t. d wi h 'mmense eclat and success, the pretty spot selected as the scene of the varied amusements offered being contiguous to the picturesque pool known as Newton Pool, near Brecu The programme of amusements was a very compre- hensive one, but in consequence of the event coming off so close upon the hour of publication we are com- pelled, in order to make room for the more interesting proceedings which followed the dinner, to wiihhold a detailed account of the sports, &c., which were, how- ever, we may state, of the character usual on such occasions, but on a more extensive scale than usual, and with some few novelties added. They comprised a regatta, hurdle and other races, the climbing of greasy poles, the letting-off of fireworks and balloons, and other items, which in the stereotype phraseology of the auction announcement are "too numerous to mention." The weather was fide, and the gathering of people was immense, between one and two thousand having been alone, conveyed from Neath and other, stations on the Neath and Brecon Railway, the opening of which formed one of the chief features of the day's proceedings, and to celebrate which event a large party dined together in a large marquee erected on the fes!ive scene. Major Francis, of Swansea, with his Artillery Corps, was present and upon the first train from Neath arriving in the town, two 18- pounders belonging to that force gave a roaring salute, which must have been heard at a great distance. The dinner to which we allude was well served up by Mr. Hughes, of the Sun, aud Mr. George Overton presided, supported on his riuht and left by Lord Tredegar and Lord Churchill, the Hon. Major Morgan, M.P., Major Francis, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Dickson, Mrs. Dickson, Mr. Banks, &c., the whole company present numbering about 200. After the repast, The Chairman gave "the Queen," and the toast was honoured by a salute from the 18-pounders. The Chairman, again rising, gave the Army, Navy, Militia, and Volunteers," observing that the army and n;¡vy required no eulogy, for they had made a i-ame for themselves all over the world they had carried the flag of England triumphantly in ev-ry clime. He would not call upon any otie to return thanks fur the army and the navy, but, with regard to the militia, he would say that they were of good service, while they had a strong force in their volun- teers. (Hear, bear ) The volunteers w- re a national force-not only prepared to meet an enemy, but were prepared to meet. their fellows at convivial meetings at home. (Applause.) On the present occasion they were deeply indebted to the volunteers, for his friend, Major Francis, had that day brought up a fine 9, t of men from Swansea to celebrate the meeting. (Hear' hear.) They had also to thank Captain Evans, of the Neath Volunteers, who had brought his band to assist upon the occasion they had also to thank Captain Penry Lloyd, for he bad brought his corps and band to assist in the gathering. (Applause.) To these gentlemen he begged to call their attention, and he would couple with the toast the names of Major Grand Francis, Captain Evans, and Captain Ptnry Lloyd. (Cheers.) Major Francis, in reply, said that the toast just given from the chair, and which had been so cordially received, threw considerable difficulty upon his houl- ders. Those forces, the army and the navy, had, as the Chairman had said, left a name in every clime in the world; and whoever was called upon to speak on their behalf, must find a difficulty in the way of extolling their military merits (Hear, hear.) They bad assembled that day to honourtbe occasion of the opening of the iron road to Glamorganshire, and the men of that county could not omit to take advantage of it; they felt it their duty to con e to Brecon, to ay nothing of the pleasure afforded by the visit. In the mi-idle-ages the men of Brecon came to Glamorgan- shire, first to steal the cattle, and se ondly to steal the ladies. (Laughter.) The Glamorganshire p-o,.Ie would now be enabled to turn the tables upon the Breconians. He hoped at all even's that he had brought a lot of fine fellows from Glamorganshire to carry off the fair girls of Brecon. (Renewed laughier.) The object of his bringing the guns there that day was not by way of display, but it had been done to cele- brate the opening of the line. He was a double volunteer, and if they would permit him he would say that that was the fourth time of his coming to Brecon. He had three times walked from Swansea to B,-ee, n, in order to farther a railway scheme for binding the two towns together by railway communication, but he was before his time. And had it not been for the energy, courage, a' d perseverance of his friend, Mr. Dickson,and the admirable Board of Directors,Brecon- shire and Glamorganshire would not so soon have been coupled together in the way it had now been. The link was an important one. aud, however beautiful the giils of Brecon might be, he might say that if those of that county came to Glamorgan- shire they would theie find girls as beautiful. However, the inter communication would prove beneficial, and he hoped the day was not far distant when Mr. Dixon and his coadjutors would receive compensation for the great efforts they bad made in the promotion of the line. (Cheers.) Captain Evans also replied to the toast, and in doing so observed that he believed the volunteers had been the means of sustaining the peace of Great Britain. If, however, their shores should be invaded, he held they would be ready to defend their country wi'h the greatest possible courage and manliness. After ex- pressing the pleasure he felt at being present at that gathering, the speaker described the d fficulty that existed a few years ago to appt each Brecon, and th.n passed on to compliment Mr. Dickson upon his nnwearied efforts in connection with the Neath and Brecon Rail- way, concluding by observing that he thought that the line would ultimately become one of the most valuable in the United Kingdom. (Applause). The Chairman said the next toast was one which they would receive with a great deal of pleasure, it being the health of the hon. member, Major Morgan. (Applause.) He was a man who had distinguished himself, not only in that-county, but in her Majesty's service;—his name was connected with one of the most gallant, charges on record, th it of Balaklava. (Cheers.) However, whatever position he was in he would do his duty, and they might depend upon it that he would stick to his colors, whether fur weal or for woe.—(Mr. John Lloyd: Very good col.;rs).-Well, they would always find him at his post, and although he might not possibly be amongst the first flight of tne oratorical members of the House of Commons they would always find he was safe at the fi,iish,-tbey would always find his name in the division list, which was a most important place. He would liow give the Major's very good health. (Cheers).-A Voice: One for the Liberals." (Laughter). The Hon. Major Morgan, M.P., in responding, said he begged to return his best thanks for the very flattering way they had received the toast just pro- posed, while be was gratified at the kind way in which Mr. Overton had introduced it, because he knew he held different political opinions to him. He therefore received the to,ast as a greater compliment than if it had been rendered under ordinary circumstances; but he felt that Mr. Overton, like hmself, thought that when there was an honest convic ion there was no necessity for enemies. (Applause.) On this occasion he had already observed that there was no little im- patience to get at the amusements of the day,—and very rational, too. However, they had met there tba,. day to do honor to those gentlemen who bad intro- duced the railway into that county, and he would not detain them by many words. Most of those present knew that he belonged to that parry which was at present in power (hear, hear); and they well knew the old adage, that "possession is nine points of the law." And he hoped they would be able to keep it. (Applause and laughtlr.) He had the good fortune to belong that partv-(cheers and reneWI d laughter)-— who, however, had, during the last few months been pretty roundly abused. [A Voice (which was quenched by hisses): Serve them right"]. Well, he felt assured that the country would give the Government a fair trial—"to give the devil his due" (Laughter.) He would not say one word more upon politics;-be felt he had trespassed too far already. There was a long list of fireworks to come off that evening and when be looked upon his left, he felt that he might let them off too soon. (Laughter.) They had all met to do honor to the Railway Company, and one of the proudest rememberances of his career, at present, was that he had assisted the early introduction of railways into that county. He was one of the Directors and Chairman of the Hereford and Brecon when it first had its origin, and that had now become a very good thing for tbe shareholders. He would trespass no further upon their patience, because there were many gentle- men present who would speak to them on the sutject of the Neath and Brecon line, which bad been opened that day. He would, then, detain them no longer than to repeat his thanks to them for the compli- mentary manner in which his health had been proposed and received. (Applause). The Chairman then gave the healths of the Mayors of Swansea. and Brecon, both of whom ha was happy to say, were present. (Cheers ) Mr. Strick (Mayor of Swansea), in acknowledging the toast, said that, there was no town in the Princi- pality which hailed with more sincerity the opening.oi the Neath and Brecon RaIway than Swansea, which was a very large seaport, and which looked to Brecon and the other towns in the immediate neighbourhood to bring it its vast coal and mineral treasures. They were indebted io Mr. D cksun for the line, and he might say th<t he had, in common with others who had com. from Swansea, exp rienced great pleasure in being present at that meeting, and his hearty wish was that the line should meet with the utmost possible success. (Applause.) Mr. Prothero (Mayor of Brecon), in answering the toast, observed that that day was a great one to those in the county of Brecon, it having witnessed, as it had done, after a cap in-hand business, the completion of the railway connection between Swansea and Brecon. In association with that scheme the name 01 Mr. Dickson would never be forgotten, and he trusted that there would be a good traffic upon the line by means of exchanges of white-faced Hereford cattle with the "black diamonds" of Wales. However, when the Swansea people came to Brecon they would be entertaii-ed with plenty to eat and drink and he would conclude by expressing a hope that they would soon come amongst them again. (Applause.) The Chairman said he would now ask the company to fill a bumper, because the toast h; was then going to give them was, he might say, the toast of the evening. They had met to celebrate one of the most important railway connections for Brecon ever opened; it was to celebrate the Neath and Brecon Railway. It -as some years a o that the effort was commenced to form a communication between the important mineral districts of Glamorganshire and the agricultural dis- tricts of Brecon, hire-disti icts separated but by a few miles, geographically. There was, however, a barri r between them of high mountains. which it had been feared would prove almo-t insurmountable; but thanks to the Directors of the Neath and Brecon, and another gentleman with whom tbey were connected, and of whom he should have something to say by and by, they had at last succeeded in bringing vhem together. And now he hoped they would be effectually wedded to- gether, and that the railway would be not only the means of promoting the mutual prosperity and the material benefit of the two towns, but also, as their worthy Mayor had just hinted, the means of promoting hospitality and mutual good-will between them. He could enlarge on the subject, but he would not detain them. Let him, then, briefly give <' Success to the Neath and Brecon Railway," coupling with the toast the names of the Directors, including that of Mr. Banks. (Applau e.) Mr. Banks, in responding to the toast, said it was with feelings of no ordinary pride that he rose upon that occasion. He was proud to have been permi ted in his generation to be of some slight use, and he trusted of benefiX to the town of Brecon. (Hear, hear.) He had been connected, he was proud to say, with the Neath and Brecon Railway since its first start, but that was not the only occasion upon which he had en- deavoured to get a railway from that district here. They bad had the greatest possible d fficulty to con- tend with in obtaining the line which had been so suc- cessfully opened thit dav,-diiffculties which bad appeared to the directors on more than one occasion to be perfectly insurmountable. And what was more. they would have been greater, during the crisis which had ju.t elapsed in the money market, had it not been for The eneigy, pers,veraT,ce, and courage, with which the works had been carried on by their spirited con- tractor, Mr. Dickson. (Applause.) He said their individual energies would have been as nothing if it had not been for Mr. Dickson. A,, h- had said, they had had the greatest difficulties to contend with, and he was proud to say that they had survived them, and had accomplished the line which had been so success- fully opened that day. (Applause ) He would not detain them with an account, of what the railway was expected to do, because it must be apparent to them all. It was known to form the link of communication between the most important ports of South Wales and the (;rea Northern and Midland districts. He would not dilate upon that, because he would occupy more of their time than he was q,.j¡e sure they wou d wish him to do; and he would only say, on behalf of himself and his brother directors, who had so ablv assis ed him as chairman, that they were thankful to the com- pany for the kind manner in which success to the NVaih and Brecon Railway had been drunk. (Ap- plause.) The Chairman said that bis friend, Mr. Banks, bad done him one unfcmdness, because he had taken the ground fr om under his legs. The toast of ihe evening would have been the health of h's fru-nd, Mr. Dickson, but he fell to attempt to add anything after the ex- pressive language of the very eloquent speech of his friend, Mr. Banks, would be superfluous. There was one thing which Mr. Banks had, old them, and be could himself say no more—that Mr. Dickson had been the means of bringing the line into the town which would connect the neighbourhood of Swansea. Wh.n he first beard of the little Dulas branch, clirn in stealthily up the mountains, he little thought it would be extended in the way it bad been—to form a grand line of communication between Neath and Brecon; and not only so, but, as he iaw in prospect, to form a communication not only to Gloucester but to Liver. pool and some of the important manufacturing districts in the midland counties. It was an important l'ne, calculated to benefit the whole country, anll, as they bad heard by the testimony of Mr. Banks-aud no one could tell them ni-or-, ably and truthfully—t> ey were indebted for it to his friend, Mr. Dickson. He wou'd ask them, then, to drink that gentleman's health, and, pledging it freely and generously, give him nine times nino. (Long continued cheering, intermixed with salutes from the guns.) Mr. Dickson in answering the con pliment, thanked the company for the kind way th-y had received his health given by the Chairman. He would tell them candidly that they had put him in a wrong position at the present time, for he would rather be at works than words. (Hear, hear, and laugh'er.) All he could say was that the little Dal-As Valley Branch started stealthily, and if it had not they would not have seeii the line between Swansea, Neath, and Brecon that day. They had commenced nowhere and ended nowhere, but they got their Act, and the following year bad extended it to Neath, and the other to Brecon. But how it had been carried out, if he were put that question, he could not tell them. It had been a daily and nightly task and pleasure to perform; and he was proud to be able to add that diy to the attrac- tion or the fete by its means (hear, hear); but he must say that it had been with no intention of making that occasion the formal opening of the Neath and Brecon,—his object in carrying passengers was merely to add an additional interest to the fete, which was to become an annual affair. He had expected to have had the Government Inspector over the line be- fore then, but the weather had been against the pro- gress of the work-, and be had been unable to complete them so far for the purpose. However, the line had that day carried a few of the inhabitants of Glamorgan- shire into the county town of Brecon, and although the Usk river bridge had had its last rivet driven in only on Monday, they had successfully carried over the bank" that day upwards of a thousand people. (Applause.) Wil h rpgara to the line, he did not think he would be required to say anything about it, because it would prove itself to be the m<iin trunk and higf- way, and, as their worthy secretary had chosen as their motto-" The highway by the direct way." Their secretary had selected that motto; and that be believed was the motto which had been put upon their seals, together with the arms of Neath and Brecon. (Applause ) However, the line had been opened that day, and he needed not to request them to use it, because he knew they would use it whether they willed it or not. (Hear, bear, and laughter.) The Company would carry them from Swansea to any point out of Hereford, and give them time to do their business in Brecon, and meet any other companies' trains, and they could go on with them if they chose. (Hear, hear.) An hour would be given at all events, if not more and they would give those who travelled by the trains from Brecon to Swansea an hour in the latter place, in order that they might do their bu iness there. He needed not to say anything about the merits of the line, as there was no doubt but that in assort time they would see trains parsing through Brecon, by night and by day, carrying the black diamonds of Glamorganshire into the midland counties for malting and other pur- poses, and to Birkenhead for export and for steam purposes. And in return (and Major Francis bad omitted to mention it) they would carry back their black cattle in exchange for their black diamonds. (Cheers.) Mr. B"nks had so entered into other matters that he would now merely return his sincere thanks for his cordial reception. (Applause.) Lord Tredegar then gave the health of Mr. Overton, who had so ably presided over that meeting. The Chairman sui!ably acknowledged the compli- men,, and in doing so observed that the opening of the Neath and Brecon was one among many illustrations of the progress which was going on-a progress which it would be found difficult to stop. (Applause and laughter.) The Chairman then thanked the Brecon and Merthyr and the Mid-Wales Railways for the facilities they had offered for celebrating the event which hadbrou^ht them together that day, and con- cluded by giving the health of Mr. Savin, a gentleman to wbojnthat county was materially indebted. (Hear, hear.) Dr. James Williams: He has done more for Wales than any other man living. (Hear, hear.) The company then dispersed.

THE NEATH EISTEDDFOD. On Tuesday morning "Eisteddfod FawryCymry" was opened at Neath, with all the mystic ceremonies peculiar to ,h. Gorsedd, and in the miost of chilling showers of rain. The Aberaman Brass Band preceded the proces sion, which consisted of about seventy or eighty per-( sons, about twenty-five of wh- m wt re more or less connected with the family or establishment of Llonover. After the ceremonia.1 at the Gorsedd the procession returned to the building devoted to the festival— a wooden structure, erected by the same builders who built the Swansea Eisteddfod pavilion, and capable of holding about eight thousand persons. At no time during the proceedings of the morning did the audience exceed more than two or three hundred. Among those on the patform were the Revds. D. Charles, Abercarne; Dr. Emlyn Jones (loan Emlyn), Merthyr; R. Parry (Gwalchmai), Llan- dudno; E. S ephen, Tanymarian 0 Wynne Jones, (Glasynys), Gelligaer; Messrs. R J. P> yse (Gweirydd np Rhys), Bangor; D. W. Jones (Dafydd Moryanwg), Merthyr; T. G. Jones (Tavalaw), Aberdare; W. Wil- liams (Gwilm Gwpnt), Brynmawr; T. Davies (Eos Rhondda), Hirwaun; and W. Griffiths (Ivander) Dy flryn Tawe. The structure is well made, excellently arranged, and the balconies are adorned with small banners and Welsh mottoes, The green-dragon flag floated de- fianlly on the roof, and the Welsb feeling of nationality was carried out to its utmost extent. The promoters of this Eisteddfod are the "Adutlamites" of the National Council, who are disstttisfied with the mivture of the English with the Welsh at the previous Eisteddfods, and they therefore determined t«v hold an Eisteddfod that should be exclusively Welsh One of the bards (Glasynys), carried out the p-in- ciple so far as to decline to interpret the Welsh ad- dresses to the representatives of the English press. The curt answer of this gentleman was that the Eisteddfod was exclusively Welsh. It is this exclusive spirit that has marked, at the commencement, this Eisteddfod with failure. There were no English f-m,lies present, and the civic authorities of Neath declined to give it the sanction of their presence. The Eisteddfod was opened by a triumphant solo, and after the pla)ing upon the fearp of the March of the "Men of Glamorgan," the actual proceedings of the Eisteddfod commenced. The following address in Welsh, and of which this is a free tiansiation, was presented to the Rev. Dr. Price, Aberditre Rev. Sir,—We, the undersigned, in the name and on behalf of the above Council of this Eisteddfod declare that we feel happy and grati- fied in the face of the fact that a gentleman of your office and dignity should take the Presidential chair on this day. You are regarded at all times as one of the most dignifipd men that ever sprung from our race or nation. Y u are one ready to tiacrifice time, money, und feeling, on the altar of virtue and goodness. We know that you are. ntirely devoted to everythiwj: Welsh, and we look upon yau as one of the most valu- able leaders in your country, as one of the chief defen- ders of our nation, as one of the warmest admirers of our language. The words Cymru and 'Cymraeg' have been planted so deeply in your heart, that it is im- possible for the influence of time and circumstances ever to erase them. Your offic al con laeci ions with the variou.- benefit societies compels you. to pay frequent visits to, and to associate very largely with, the English people, still we know that you have never been guilty of be- tray ing your dignity by endeavouring to impress on the mind of the stranger that you are not a Welshman, which r, fleets the greater houor upon your name and character. We also rejoice in the fact ot the great success that attends your efforts in the variou benefit societies, I'v^rito Societies, and Oddf. How s' Societies, that have gaiued a strong and unqestioniug influence since you have acted on their behalf. We kno w that the working classes are much indebted to you tor you services in this direction While philanthropy lasts on earth yaur name will be lasting and eternal. Li <ewise thegood that > ouhavedone in connection with the addreisswill tiot beforgott en, as one thet has been th, editor of several newspapers and periodicals, and also several useful and comprehensive bcoks i hat have flonl great service to the literature of Wah s, and the morality and rf-ligion of your country. Likewise we beg to congratulate yon on the numerous expression.- of fe- ling and respect that you have- received from time to time from your countrymen and other nations. The great testimonials, magnificent addresses, and iiignified titles, speak loudly these words of your worthiness and merit. Frequent appeals from voters of your native town to represent them in the Parlia- mellt of Great Britain proves at once 'hat your abilities and talents are apprecia'ed. Before we conclude this address we desire to wi-.h you long life to serve your nation, and many years of life to do good to I hI" inhabitants of the lmo of the mountains, but chiefly we wish you great success as a minister of the Gospel, and that your efforts may be crowned by a place in Hea ven.—Yours, with the purest, respect, T.J. JOIII s (Ira- valaw), chaii-mad; T. Hopkins (Et yr Glan Llyfnwy), local seci etary: T. Morgan (Llyfnwy), general secre- tary Pendill Charles, treasurer." Dr. Price, in the course of a very eloquent address, stated that Eisteddfodau were for the children of Wales, and that when they were exclusively confined to them Eisteddfodau would suit the Welsh nation generally. It was the only way in which the Welsh nation could be prevented from being absorbed by the English, and lose their distinctive nationality. The managers of the present Eisteddfod at Neatti 'hd laboured bard to endeavour to secure its success, and they deserved to be encouraged by the sons of Wales, including the leading inhabitants of the Principality. He would suggest certain new features for introduc- tion in future Eisteddfod^u. The Sunday school chil- dren of Walrs ought to De the competitors in their choral compPtition, and under the direction of the best men of North and South Wales. A volume ought also to be published at the close of every Eisteddfod, giving all the compositions sent in for competition. Dr. Price concluded his address by a few words of congratulation. The following prizes were awarded:— Verses on the bravery of those who discovered Patagonia. The prize of Y,3 was awarded to Mr. Walter Goslett-nom de plume I- Columbus,"—of Groswen. Dat-anu "I Y Tren," priz- two guineas, was taken by the only competitor, the Ystradgunlais choir. Essay on the Climate of Wale* prize Y.5 5. (three competitors), was won by Mr. David Lloyd,New Trede- gar, Blackwood, Monmouth. Prize of X12 for the best singin of an anthem b.v a choir from one congregation, "O Lord preserve us," from an oratorio of Stephens'; There- were five com- petitors: Sardis Chape!, Ystradgunlais; Cwm^ledd Chape), Ysfi,admuniats; 'Cy(ion Chapel, Aberdare; Ebenezer Chapel, L ansanulet; Suinmerfield Cbapel, Neath. The singing of these choirs was very superior, and the prize was won by the Aberdare choir. The harp prize was won by Mr. Frost, of Merihvr. The prize was presented by Aptommas, who presented Mr, Frost with a copy of his works, and io doing so said that Mr. Frost w ould soon become the best harpist in Wales. Aptommas spok" in Welsh, but said that he was very unaccustomed to speak the language. Beirniadaerh y Penillion er cyfansoddi Demawd, Gwobr, uu Gini. Two stanzas suitable for a duett. One uuinea. This was won by Ceiriog, llaiJidJoes, (the Burns of Wales.) Cystadleuaeth ar y Deuawd. "0, mor, anawdded yw" Gwobr un Gini. Only one choir competed. Beirniadaeth, ar, yDdesgrif-Gau (tenor) yn nghyda ehwmpeiniant i'r Perdoneg. 23 prize was given to Gwilyin Gwent, Brynmawr. I his, with a short speech from the President, brought the morning's proceedings to a close about three o'clock. A concert was given in the evenin g.

"THE TIMES" ON THE NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD. "In the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty- six, the sun approaching the au umnal equinox at the hour of noon on the fourth day of September, after due proclamation, this Gorsedd is opened in Chester, with invitation to all who may assemble here, where no weapon is unsheathed against them, and judgment will be pronounced upon all works of genius submitted for adjudication, in the face of the sun-the eye of light." Tnis extraordinary announcement for 'he year 1866 was proclaimed at Chester, 011 the Rhooilee, by a personage styled lalbaiarn," at a monument "supposed to be of great antiquity, con- sisting of twelve stoues in a circle, wit'h a large one in the middle for an al, ay,; 'atid after this solemnity the "National Eisteddfod" of Waies was declared open. A procession was then foi medto a pavi ion on the racecourse, gaily decorated with shields inscribed with the devices and names of oid Welsh tribes. On the outside, over the entrance, floatpd the Red Dragon of Wales upon a green field, and a Welsh inscription signified that "the Dragon leads the way." Here at noon Sir Watkin Williams Wynn assumed the leek and presided over a series of exercitatinns in Welsh music, or rather, we should say, in Welsh playing and singing. "Idris Fychan," known iu English as John Jones, obtained a priz of 95 for an essay upon Pen- nillion singing. A young lady wns rewarded with £ 50 for singing Liwyn Onn" in a very promising style, and another not quite so proficient received two guineas from a patroness living at Llanfairyughornwy. t hen followed playing on the Welsh harp, Pennilhou singing, aud addresses, which, strange to say, were in E! glish as well as Welsh. "Talhaiarn," it seeuis, spoke in English. It strikes us as rather a- pity that a civilised language should have been allowed to mar the complete Cambrianism of the proceedings, and we m "1 are afraid it must be considered an evidence that even at the Eisteddfod it is not every one who comorehends Welsh. There were other intrusions, however even more anachiorous. There was a "Social Science Section," and Mr. John Thomas read a paper on the teaching of geology. But these, Talh,iiarn informs us, are concessions to the spirit of the age, and the general character of ihe meeting was comprehensively symbolised by the fl ig at the entrance of the pavilion. The Red Dragon led the way; and the twelve stones -ith a large one in the centre, Sir'Watkin Williams Wynn adorned with the leek, Pen llion singing, the twanging of Welsh harps, and unintelligible songs and add, esses, delivered by persons with utipronou*nceab!e names, formed the characteristic attractions of this mllern resuscitation of the old Eisteddfodau. This is an age of Exhibitions, and so far as it affords any pleasure to Welshmen to make this exhibition of themselves and their antiquated customs we have nothing to say against it. If it gives a number of p ople any satisfaction to pay a visit to a dozen stones in order to be informed by I Talhaiarn that a Gorsedd is opened in which no weapons will be unsheathed, to e-niemplate a Red Dragon on a green field, to wear the leek, and to listen to barbaric mu-ic, it may seem unreasonable to grudge them the satisfaction. It is an amusement which we tail to appreciate, but if it were ool v an amusement, like dancing Highland reels, we should certainly have nothing to say about it. But this National Eisteddfod assumes to be s(-me-h n,, more than an amusement, and professes to have a de- finite object. Accorning to Mr. Matthew Arnold, a letter from whom, read at the meeting, appeared in our columns on Thursday, it is supposed to help to preserve and honour the Welsh language and litera- ture," and it is even encouraged by this gentleman to undertake a still more magnificent task. The Welsh, he informs us, in their culture, their morals, and their in. telligence, possesses the same superiority over their conquerors, the English, as the Greeks in former times over the Romans, and he exhorts "the descendants of I aliesin and Ossian to repeat the famous feat of the Greeks," and to "conquer their conquerors." We are to be invaded by the Welsh language and litera- ture, by Welsh harps and birds, and Mr. Arnold even recommends a deputation from the Eisteddfod to the University of Oxtord. to urge the importance of estab- lishing a chair of Celtic, with the view of imbuing our "vulgar," eoarse," and "unintelligent" youth with Welsh taste, morals, and intelligence. Now, we are quite willing to believe that th s effusion from the Professor of Poetry at Oxford may have bt-en too absurd even for the bards and other enthusiasts who assembled under the banner of thi Red Dragon, and indeed "Talhaiarn" condescended to disclaim any sinister designs upon England. Nev. rtheleas, to put it in the mildest form, these Eis eddfods are intended to preserve not only the memory of tild Welsh customs, but the Welsh language and Welsh literature. They are intended to assist, and they do assist, in inducing I he Welsh people to cherish their ancient tongue, and to believe that it will still be understood and 'honored in this country. Now, from this point of view we must protest against such proceedings as one of the most mischie- vous and se fish pieces of sentimentalism which could possibly be perpetrated. The Welsh language is the curse of Wales. Its prevalence and the ignorance of English have excluded, and even now exclude, the Welsh people from the civilisation, the improvement, and the material prosperity of their English neigh- hours. It is, perhaps, little known to what an extent th's unknown ,tongue still keeps its bold upon the Welsh population There are villages iu Wales where there are not more than two or three persons, inclu lino- the parson, who habitually speak English. The Government have done all they can by providing that English shall be taugi t in the sch ol<, but as it is not «poken in the cottages it. is soou lorgntten. The result nas been that the Welsh have remtitted in Wales, unable r., mix with their English fellow-subjects, shut out f, om all literature except what ts translated into their own language, and incapable (If progress. A Welsh boy or girl cannot se. k employment in Chester or Gloucester because they are ignorant of the language which would be spoken around them. It is a more mischievous con- sequ nee that the practices and customs which would greatly shock Mr. Matthew Arnold's refined notions of delicai y and spirituality have been perpetuated among-the people. Tbe gentry, moreover, must neces- sarily speak English; and the use of a different lan- guage among the peasantry creates a most injurious iivision between classes. The poor are wholly sepa- rated from the rich; they have their own thoughts, heir own objects, and can pursue them in the very hearing of their superiors Their antiquated and semi- barbarous language, in short, shroud* them in darkness. It both prevents them from finding their o -n wav into the world. and excludes the lij,t of day from them- selves. And all this cruel incapacity and social dis- organisation most needs be fostered and encouraged for the gratification of a mere antiquarian conceit, arid is actually made a subject of gra!ulati»n by sentimen- talists who talic nonsense about the children of raliesin and Ossian," and whose dainty taste requires som"thing more flimsy than the strong sense and sturdy morality of their fdlow-Englishmen. It ought to be obvious even to thesp sentimentalists that this persistent prevalence of the Weish lan4uage is one of the greatest misfortunes of their countrymen. Mr. Matthew Arnold himself, who appears more Welsh than the Welsh, professes a desire "to avoid the danger of giving off nee to practical men by retarding the spread of the English lauguage in the Principality." But he believes that "to preserve and honor the Welshlangnage and literature is quite compatible with not thwarting for a single hour the introduction, so undeniably useful, of a knowledge of English through- out all classes in Wiles." We must be permitted to say plainly that this is arrant nonsense. It will be observed that even in this concession to practical mea." Mr. Arnold takes care to reserve the very point we are protesting against. He would" preserve the W. Ish language as the first thing, but would have a knowledge of English" introduced. Can he pos- sibly suppose that the peasantry of a whole district wiil continue thus to speak their native language among themselves, and yit retain and cultivate the knowledge of another and an alien language for practical purposes ? One language is quite suffi- cient for the mass, and the common people of Wales wiil either speak Welsh or English. If measures are taken to" preserve Welsh, the knowledge of English will decay; and such, we believe, has already been the t ffect of these Welsh demonstrations. The native language was giving way, but has since taken another false start, and the people, therefore, have be''n so far thrown bacl in their civilisation. If Wales and the Welsh are ever thoroughly to share in the material prosperity, and, in spite of Mr. Arnold, we will add tho culture and the morality, of England, they must forget their isolated language, and learn to speak English, and nothing else. As for Welsh literature, it may be left to antiquaries and historians, and to critics who have nothing more solid to occupy them. The literature is curious, no doubt, and interesting in its way, but it is rather too absurd to send us to Ossian. and Taliesin for mental culture. All that is valuable in the language belongs to the past; aad the Wt-bh literature of the present day is about as original and valuable as Latin verses of a public school. For all practical purposes Welsh is a dead language. If these Eisteddfodau were mere shows and amusements, they would be deserving of no attention whatever, but if they cannot be held without assisting to perpetuate the mischievous delusions we have denounced the sooner they come to an end the better. They are simply a foolish interference witn the natural progress of civili-ation and prosperity. If the Red Dragon wants to become a useful animal, he must change his motto and cease I- to lead the way

BRECON POLICE INTELLIGENCE. COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS, SATURDAY, before Jonir LLOYD, JAMES WILLIAMS, and LEWIS HUGHES, Esquires. ASSAULT. -Aizd,-ew Powell v. John Jones, Culhowey. --CD,tlplctiuant deposed: I am a laborer, and on the 28th of August last, between seven and eight o'clock, I was going to chapel; defendant was coming behind me; he called out, sayiog he wanted to speak to me; 0 when he appreached he asked me if I wanted to fight, struck me, and kicked me under the knee. Williani Price deposed: I saw defendant going towards the complainant, to whom he said "are you fight- able; complainant said he wanted nothing but q met, and defen,lant then struck him in the face and kicked him. Defendant was fined 20s., including costs. NUISANCE,-Howell Davies was summoned at the instance of Mr. Thomas Davies, road surveyor, f¡)r allowing a nuisance to exist upon his premises at p.o- kdly" Thomas Davies deposed: I am Sanitary ln" gpector for the district of Penkelly, and have served a notice on the defendant to remove a nuisance there thjt was ou the 12th of June; a closet is the subject of the liuisance, and it can be seen from the road; the tilth runs through the wall, aud a tank is required10 receive it. The Bench made an order upon the defen" dant to abate the nuisance in a week. CHARGES OF TRESPASS.—DAMKGE TO PltOPEBTY. Jo/in Williams, William Price, and John Price, charged with cominitting a trespass, thereby <lanja°!^10 the property of the Neath and Brecon Railway. case against John Williams and William p,ice,"Igs dismissed, and that of John Price was proceeded Mary Ann Moses deposed: I remember the of August; on that day, about half-past seveI\J^ijani eveuing, I was near the Trallong Bridge;. yY Price, John Price, and John Williams were witfl