North Wales Gazette

TQ the Editor of theivoi-th, lYales Gazette. SIR, It, n %,e to ret (irti in y sincere (hanks to your correspondent Gwalchmai, for Ibe sea- aonnhiecheckhehasKivpntothepresumption of some enthusiastic men, in their endeavours lf> supersede the exee'lent version of the Psalms, by the justly celebrated Archdeacon Price. The Archdeacon lived and wrote at a time, when deep and extensive learning was necessary to give a man the title of a scholar, and when indeed no one ventured to come before the public as an author or translator, iiitlloot a thorough comprehension of his subject. It was the age of Morgan,of Parry snd of Davies, men no less distinguished for 1111 accurate kiio wledge>oftheir own language, than for a critical acquaintance with those which we usually call learned. As Hebrew scholars they certainly need not fear a com- parison with any of their country men in suc- ceeding times, and they have merited the eternal gratitude of every true horn Briton, bv their elegant and laborious translation of the Holy Scriptures, as well as by their exertions in fixing and improving the Cambrian tongue. And among these, Archdeacon Price held and deserved a very eminent place. Hewas"*aria eruditione conspicuus multisq nom nibus pin- rimum venerandus," as Dr. John Davies ad dresses him in his prefatory epistle to his learned grammar. With respect to the version of the Psalms in paiticular, none, I believe, of the persons who have offered their new translations to the public, have presumed to charge i! with being unfaithful to the original: "indeed it is not -probable, that they were m any degree qualified to compare the one with the other. But the faults charged upon this, uncienl and venerable version aie, either that ii <9 not accommodated to a sufficient variety of firms, or that the sense is not evangelical enough. As to the first, not being skilled in the mysteries of music, I call not pretend to say much; but I should conceive. that it would be as becoming to make the tunes accjnimo. d si.- themselves to the words, as lo distort the latter bv an endeavour to force them into the required harmony especially when we con- sider the danger of sacrificing the sense to the sound, into which this operation might betray us. 'i'lie Archdeacon himself says, he had cnosen the particular measure which he has for iis si mplicily, that a II OJ i g h t join in singing these divine songs. Bnt the great I it seciiis, is, that the old version is f)Oi silPI)osv. to the splendid light of gospel truth, whic'; I has burst upon this Wonderful age. I presume to think however, that the old Archdeacon understood the gospel, and bel.eved its pro. raises and maintained its doctrines, and elucid- ated lis precepts by a correspondent life, as veil. as fully, and as acceptably as any of our modern rvangelizers. But the real question is misunderstood or misrepresented by these gentlemen. It is not, whether Archdeacon Price's translation is sufficiently evangelical, bill whether it is sincerely faithful. (f II he faithful, the want of evatigelieisui must be charged not upmi him, but upon the Psalms th emselves, and ullmalely, proh nefas infan dim I upon the author. And here lies the jet of the whole matter- In a vaiuconceit of their Own abilities, these versitit-rq tfiitik iliey can give us better gospel hymns than th Psalms I of David and when they talk of a new tran- if'oll, tilt,y stiell a convey what they understand by gospel truth. "What is this li,it a daring and presumptuous of (,d'S attempt to correct the compositions of God's j Holy Spirit ? And it is no less ignorant than presumptuous, f here are but very few of the psalms, properly understood, which do no! bear, either III direct terms or by typical images, a reference to'some part of our He rleemer's life and history. They were sung in the Jewisii church as prophetic anticipa- tions of the Messiah's kingdom and fhev are J siiiij^ia the christian as triumphant at test a I lions to our most holy ati(I is a firm assurance of the final completion ofall its glorious promises, by setting before us the accurate accomplishment of those, which have been already fulfilled. These divine hvmns are indeed neither Calvini-slic. nor Lutheran, nor Zuinglian, nor Armiman, but they are a part of God's revealed word, the infallible (liciales of unerring truth, the heavenly effu- sions of that Divine Spirit, who alone search e!li out the secret Ihiugsof God, and declare' unto man whatever It is necessary he should k""w. And better, far better would it be- come those, who really wish to promote the practice of true piety, lo unfold the full meaning of these sacred songs, that our con- jolt) in tileiii Willi I comprehension of what they contain, than endeavour to infuse into the minds of illiterate and unsteady fIIen the worse than unfounded c)pinioti, that the pure word of God needs to be corrected by the feeble efforts of human genius. 1 am, Sir, Your obedient servant. June 14, 1813- CLERICUS.

To the Editor ,)f the North (Vales Gazelle, j Cafo says, Maxima debetur pueris reverential The greatest regard is to be had to chiisiren." This regard, I conceive Sir, should be shi- dioosW exercised upon their infant minds, to keep Uiem in proper adion; it should be urged, and exemplified in an unwearied atten- tion to Ihe encouragement of henevulence and beneficence, and a marked disapprobation of ■idleness, nride, luxury, and revenge; passions to winch children are very often inclined, and indulge themselves in, if nor properly check- ed. When they are advanced to morc mature years, particularly it they have a prospect of inheriting an ample fortune, they give a greater loose to these, baleful propensities,and in many instances they have obtained such an ascendancy, as to become unbounded. When the good Humphrey D'.ke of Gloucester,went lvv til Qtieeii Eitzillielit (o visit ttie Colle""es at C inbridge. she pointed out to him the iiurac. r us Schools in that University, and asked him, did not he greatly admire them!" — Yea, Marry," replied the good Duke, "but 1 fi d one School wanting in our Universities, aiid I liat is, the School of DiscretionIn an absence of nearly half a century from my Jl ma Mater, 1 have not yet heel informed «if such a School being established, or even couiuieuced. i euleitaia sanguine hopes, from I Mie unprecedented attention that is, in these our days, paid to the education of the lower ranks in society, in the distribution of the gospels, that no inconsiderable increase of religions knowledge and discretion will attach to the students in ihe present age f include all those who may not be designed for the church, as well as some who are. The Uni- versities are the Seminaries, from whence we may expect to iswe, ahle and honest States- men and Senators pious and learned Prelates and Ministers, Mill opuleot citizens. But idle- ness, Sir, isthebane ofall proficiency in learn- ing, religious knowledge, trade, or arts Dr. Hammond says, be always furnished with something to do. No hllrdn IS so heavy, or temptation more dangerous than to have lime hanging on one's hand the idle man being not only the devil's shop, but his kingdom too h model of, and an appendage unto hell, a place given up to torment and miscl ief." You will, perhaps, smile now, as well as your readers, and say, that I am making a strange digression from my subject, when, I adduce to their notice, a notion that. I)rev iiis arrongsf the natives in the that man is entitled to a tail, and would be horn with one. if the father of the bridegroom did not perform the ceremony of chopping sticks ai the son's marriage, in order thereby to cut off I the. appendage from his flJIlIre generation of children." But, Sir, this furnishes me with a metaphor to shew, that parents, tutors, and I g ardialls, should take especial care to chop off all those exuberances inherent in (heyouth- ful mind, as unseemly excrescences which may- be noticed in their children and grand child- ren and this would certainly be more effec- tual, than the ideal notion that the Brazilians entertain they obtain by their simple cusi'uii. A man who is not possessed with the generous virtues, with a benevolent heart, and an ac tive mind, reqmres no* the visible appendage of a tail to distinguish him from the brute creation, his actions, and his minor worth in in Hie scale of beings and in society, pro nounce him, a B-ute. Mod Fdma, IS13. AP R IC E. -4"

To the Editor of the Wales Gazette. IV u M B ER VIT. Having hriefly noticed some of the princi- pal events, and the general tenor of the works allnhuted to Glldas, and shown that there is riot the least tendency, either directly or indi rectly, to favour the pretensions of the See <»f Rome, it will be no difficult matter to refute the arguments that have been advanced to prove that they were written by some adherent to the Church of Home, and substituted for the real works of GiIdas The improbability of such a Theory is not the most objectionable part of it for upon enquiry it will he found to be established upon no other foundation than vague conjecture.' H is, however, posi- tively is a intended to set aside the authority ofthe British Clitireli, and give importance to the Church of Rome. and that there is every reason to believe that Aldhelm, Bishop of Shirburne was the author of it, who flourished about, the latter end of the seventh Century. The rea sons given are, a similarity of style, and tl;e circumstance of his having written a Book to correcllhe Brilous." The fallacy of tins n'asoning will, I am pretty confident, he clearly made out. With regard to style, it may he observed in general, that the writings ot all ancient Historians of this country-, are strongly marked hy in.couth and idiomatic expressions, and inelegance in the construe i (ion of sentences: but even in this respect there is not the most distant appearance of all identity of style between the writings ot Gildas, and ihe fragments of those of Aldhelm, wh-rh are to be found in William. of Mulmsbnry The style of Gildas, as 1 hereafter prove, is strongly tinctured with phrases and quota tious from the best classical writers, and though it appears that Altlhelm was a Poet of SOlrJe celebrity in his time, and has written of "4 xv () 1, composition, slill what remain ot his works have none of those peculiarities to recommend them which dsiinguish the style of Gildas The language of Aidhelm is extremely barba rons, obscure, and inelegant, and The only- proof produced in favour of this supposed identlly, IS the occurrence of two singular words, and Sabulo which ts used by each of them. but which no one, I presume, can consider as amounting lo a demonsfra lion of the truth of the author's asser- tion. The word dabulo is also used by Men- nius in an extract, to which 1 shall have oc •casion to recur again in the very same sense in which it is listd by Gildas whereas Aid helm applies it very differently. As a further his conjecture that Aldhelm was the author of tnese works, he has produced (he testimony of William of Malmsbury, in which, however, he lias, I wilt not say intentionally, but through inattention, given a most false construction fo a very simple passage, and I such as is wholly unwarranted by the con- text. He contends.that Aldheitn wrote a book to correct the Britons, which agam he sup- poses to h the Epistle aUribuîcJ to Gíldas. iiere IS, a most, improbable supposition pre- ceded by a proposition totally destitute of foundation, fi is stated upon (he authority of the following words of William of Malms burv. Debent vsaue hodie Britannicorrec- it. slia?71 The plain sense ot which is, that the Britons in his time were indebted for their correction to AUlhelm tioi that he wrote a book to correct them. Had the author >ead the preceding or the follow iii,, litiei, fi-oiji whence the extract is he never could have given so absurd an inter pretation. Aldhelm wrote a Book, not under a fictitious name, but publicly, and in obedi cnce 10 the cneral wishes of his cofempora- ries, (tie avowed object of which was to per- suade the British Clergy to conform with the ordinances of the Church of Rome, and more particularly with respect to the observance of Easier, utcording to the last Correction (If the Calendar. The object of Ihe Book is thus stated. "Ut l'cclum cal/em ccclesiasti carnm observalionum ingredientur." The greatest blame attached to tiie Britons is tin:! they did not observe the Paschal feast oil the pro per day." „Y"e pane-hale sacrum legitimo die celebrat-enl, His Book, it appears, hud the desired effect, and many of the Britons adopted this, correctio pi achat is rationis for he is said to have done it with a very masterly hand. t! Sic falsum Pascha covfutavit, sic re rum edocuit," and moreover, he is said k j have introduced into his work many quota tionsfrom Scripture. Rvangeliis leslimoniis, et rationis inviclce fulmen, imbey- tisset-liotiul.12 pa tern arum insequebatur." There cannot, therefore, he a doubt but that the correction alluded to was a Chronological one, and not a moral one, and affected only a rejection of their peculiar custom in the celebration of Easter. This is the only construction which the context can possibly justify us in making. The word, debet, moreover, implies an obli- gation which is inconsistent with the construc- tion given in the Collectanea (ambrica, and particularly if the Epistle of Gildas was tin- one alluded lo. 1 n this instance, then, which is not the most objectionable part of (his the ory, the author has completely bewildered himself in forming conjectures but lest a doubt should remain that the explanation f have given, is not thoroughly correct, I shall produce I he testimony of Bede as decisive upon ibis subject, and fully corroborating what I have salll According to Bede's history, 5, 18, the Book alluded to was written by Aldhelm, ui compliance with the decree of a genera! ,')"()d, Adverstis erroreit) Britoiiiii)i, (,,tio vel Pascha uou stio tempore celebrant." The effect which this publication had he thus des cribes. ♦* Muitosque eorum, qui occidenta- libus Saxonihus subditi eranl, Britones, ad catholicam Domimcse Pascha; celebrationem htijus Sectione perduxitThe title of this Book, as we are informed by Leland, was De erroribus Britannorum, sive De drculo Paschali. It was addressed to Geruntius, King of Corn- -,Itld is st'll extant. wall, and is still extant. Bangor.. J. J.

To the Editor of ihe North iVales Gazette. SIR, In some of my former communications, I reconi- mended to iv.i v CamHrian friends the cultivation of the Plane free, bo'hfor its beautiful foilacre find extensive impenetrable shade for cattle, if you witi insert the following- you will much mudloblige, 31071!1, 1813. A DRUli). NEAR Cat';ea, in Crete, Savary describes a vast forest of Plane trees, few of which are less than seventy feet high. Every free has vines planted round it* whose shoots foni I inches in diameter, rise like the ropes which -j secure the masts of a ship. JII this rich :1(1(1 productive soii, they shoot with all asiou.gh- j ing vigour, and growing to the height of the Planes bv which they are supported, crown them with their fruil. Each tree thus deco- j rated, forms an haihoor impenetrable io the j rays of Hie sun. healed under this mauificen! j canopy, (he traveller sees dusters of grapes pendant over his head, many of which are kv") f'Ct,i two feel in length. They are of various spe I cies and by ihe side'of a yellow cluster, we frequently admire the purple, the violet, the rose, and Ihe muscadine, of a deeper or iighier hue. Close to the edge of this wood, flows the river of Piaiina. The foliage of the Plane j trees, and (he clusters with which !hev are hung round, are reflected in this mirror. | iS lit St to,ile SIT!) pIe descriptioll. Au island Ues near ihis spot, and opposite to I his island, Die i'iatimi talis inio the sea, it is so called from Hie great number of Plane trees which grow about il they are very high and make a m.is! beautiful grove; vines are planled a! (he bottom o! ihem, which twine ahouMhe trees, and are to raost JIll. Twmzs POEMS.

ON NM O \K. Ye eherish'd ()a»s for ages mav vour shade Teaeli each succeeding race (if haply mine, Or if a race unknown protect your reign) The lessons of content ve oft shall see, The flecticg generations, like your (eaves, Decay and vanish at the touch of time I Shew them how vain the transitory hours, That. s!¡!al our lives with downy pace away Ati leave its notion^ we can call our own, (Slit one poorshiotid, and one pacific grave. Teach ihem to look to that celestial fount, Whence sprang the living soni, and ilJ his work, Revere the fostering Lord of nature, Mho In love created all the !\arl11onic Glitze I Of worlds, reflection of the Eternal miad. Ye Britis/i swains, let not the jac.ron faff II Unnoticed, nor to chance, mar ,¡¡g-1I1( birds, Ilore provident than tiiee, transfer the care Of ftitur.e forests and successive Sleets. Save from the wandering swine, or nimble jjrasp Of squirrel, or wood pig¡>()1j'5'¡:;lancirq' eye, Some precious seeds hiqh o'er (heir winter be ). liaise the trenched, earth,which from the prowl. ing mouse Shall hide till Spring the sylvan treasury. Or, if the stein indigenous and root, Entire shall please thee more, within the clean And mouldering furrow cast ihy country's hope (jut ne'er abandon, tilt the hardy stem, Braves the concurrent weeds, and nibbling hare. Soon the superfluous growth shall overpay Thy pious care the root, the watt let! pen, Protect the shepherd, and preserve the flock While cheerful faggots h'.aze; whose summer vest Astringent shall contract the supple hide— Lonj; ciaj The rcmn{ltI!, Itrita¡n, of: hy forest scenes Inspire the meditating Baid, or till The painter's eye with natures bold design. Note.—" There are many instances, in warm countries, where streams have failed, and di- Irjershave bcen rendered barren, by the destruc- tion of woods, which, when they crowned the lulls, contr.biiied to collect the moisture and protect the springs." ■ ■ -sagSgetwfe-qa——

AGRICULTURE. The air is generally moist, and (lie weather rainy. The southerly and westerly winds which are the most frequent, are almost con- stantly attended with rain It IS remarked hy the inhabitants that (he seasons are still he- coming tnore and more rainy. For a few years past, even the winters have been attend- ed with rain instead ot the usual snow and frost. The lagt summer and harvest were much more rainy than any remembered.— These rains make Ihe grain crops precarious, and of little value, though (hey have for some tillie a Agricultural improvement is backward in the extreme. The larnis are almost clltireiv under a constant snccession of corn crops, barlev and oats al- lernateJy. loa person unacquainted with the circu ostances of the country, thisstale- tnetit appear unaccountable lit- vvill look uU the illilabitaLiLi; as labouring under ubsti. nate PTéjodire9, or stupidly in capable of learn. ilg the beneficial system of others; but to neither of these causes is it to beattril)titcd I. The proprietors do not appear to have looked on the introduction of (he modern sys- iem of farming as an object adequate to (what they conceived) the unpleasant necessity of g-ranling- long leases, to the tax on Iheir pro perties of an increased melioration as well as t he inducement which tl'ey would probably require to hold out tu improving lellanls in a diminsiiion of the rent. No man of Ihis de- scription can commence his operations on a proper srale wilhout a capital equal to at leas! five years rent. for reasons obvious to every person in any measure acquainted with husbandry; and no man, who is in possession of capital (o this extent, will be induced to take a farm, unless he can have the prospect of a comfortable maintenance,and full meliora tion for his expenditure in buikhng and illl provements,aud these circumstances have con- tributed to that backwardness in agricultural improvements, too evident in this the neighbouring parishes. Before any persons can he induced to deviate from essabi siied practice, they must have access (o observe Ihe superior advantage of a new systeii) they must have the prospect of reaping the fruits of that system by long leases, and aiso a suf ficient stock to enable (hem to persevere un til their farws are brought to proper h,-art.- The farmers of this parish have never had the advantage of the first of these. It is If lie Ihe proprietors have occasionally introduced the improvements of modern husbandry, but from the efloris of proprietors as examples. lile peasanlr) never will act These generally improve more for pleasure than profit. If fond of a country life, their expenditure in hedging, inclosing-, trenching', with a thousand et cwteras, is endless. The first crop, of lit- tle more Ihall half an act. has been known to cost the improving proprietor above twen- ty pounds. How can a poor knant imitate tins? lie will laugh at what he considers I he enthusiasm that le;7ds to it, and if will rivet his prejudices against improvement. Au intelligent actual farmer, whose bread depends upon his industry, and who is lillle i removed from their own sphere in life, is ihe | man who will most essentially conlribule to [ introduce an alteration of system and a spirit of improvement into any district. His neigh- bours will ohsene, and are, iii very few III- stances, so blind to their interest, as if able, not lo imdate bis exertions. How can thai man embark in any plan for ameliorating his farm, who kuowsthat he only hangs out a bait tor ihe grasp of avarice, and Ihal ingenuity and industry tend only So ruin ¡dill? it may be said wilh justice (hat the farmers in tiie Principality are in general, very pour so much so, that although leases should he granted, it would take some considerable lime hetore they could possibly adopt an im- proved system of husbandry. What will a tlieot-isi iii system of husbandry as easily followed as another ? !)• es not tiie modern sy stem require fewer servants and less seed; and does >t not yield more luxuriant crops? Let not the g-e- nerous heart load the tenants wilh invective;, or Ireat them wllh severity, for thinking once and again oefore they enter oil measures w hich however, sensible they lIIayac of their good elT. cfs, when persevered in, may eventually ;/r,>ve iheir rum. To ihe benevolent mind, the contrary, it will afford pleasure gradu ally to lay open to Iheir view, what mat be most conducive Ie their benefit, to stimulate their exertions by suitable encouragement, and to see them contented and happy in the possession of those comforts which are suited to ttieir sphere in life. To this mode of con duct, it is t<» he hoped, that the farmers in ihis parish, may have the comfort of looking for- LAandegiarit CIILIIICUS.

=====:=.=: BANGOR: Printed and Published by J. Broster. Orders, for this paper, are received in London, b* Tayler and Newton, Warwiek-sauare-antl I J. Wlute, 33, Fleet-street.