The Western Mail

LT,1N1>AKK ".T!H;))I(AI. HKUVICKS. Otiaviti and b) mil. hy the Holiday Choir throughout the week, ERNEST 8KUIMSHIKB. Snccentor,

TH\i WEATUKIL The wenther yesterday was fine "lid bright. Tiie 10110,,1,,<: is the for.cast, for to-day (Fildav)t— Southerly winds, strong, squally; showery. Appended Is chart of the traroiuetrical reaoin^s for Lb. 48 hours nded 'lbund'y midnight, as mgiorered at tb ;V,st," '11""i Odlø. Ca"H!t. Tn. instrument II 13ft. above sea level.

YESTERDAY'S RAINFALL. The rainfall, A, egi.tered at Tredeleroh, Unmp".y. Mil, near ?r?iff/ f., t)L 12 h.juM'' ?.°t?< !?.? ?.?. lut night, ,.d for -b 12 bouu of ho past week, was ulollo". :— 9 p.m. 9 a.m. Total. 9 p.m, 9 a,ID. Total. Tbunda, 10 '0) '50 Friday U -CO -CO -00  "Ja.t; U: :g Momlay 14'01) 00 '00 1'u"ùay 15 *00 CO '00 Wednesday ?6 '00 .0 'W br:"Y: 17 I: Total I., the weoll. -50 Inasmuch II Id of the 24 b(;Ur-.lîiëf.e;¡:: 9.0 -a-u.: ..Ob morning belong I the p,?ll?.. d?y, Lh. rainfall ro.o= 'I'dtI..r:?Ud. 0 the rainfall

Hiaa WATER THIS DAY. Mor Em Mor. fun. Mor. Xvu Swansea U8 7.l6!CftMIff 7.58 t.lS IKewpoit 7.52 e.9

Royal HOTEL, C,RmFF,-L'UN- JH< OHK"t hi GhAND COFFE!H<OOM DAILT, JOINT. CHLBSK, and BAIAD. 114, EUNK8T BUUKBAUOI. Manager. Estimates for Fubllo IM'toeri, BhII Suppera, fto.

Parliament will aisemble for bnaineaa on I the 21st of February. Newt from Zanzibar states that a German' rauaion station, where slaves were being riifogpd, ha. b'lJ attacked by the Arabs. Eight cot of the nine miiwionaries. mok and female, were killed, and all the slaves and serrauta carried away. A lettei received by a Paris pper atatee that Tippoo") ib reftued to join Mr. Stanley. Renewal of night attacks by the ananty at Soakin 11 reported. Couuty (Jounoil eleotlona took plaoe yester- day for Qlamorsanshire and MonmonthaWre. The results that wwe made known hat night will be found in another oolnmn. The Special Parnell Commission resumed yesterday, when Patriok Delanay, tha Invin- oibla, was re-called and orosa-auminad by Jho. Reid. Ha was certain that Boytan gave 1 Brady, who wai executed. an oraer in the summer of 1832, Boytoa pointing Mr. Burke ont to Brady, saying, That is the man." lir, Davitt nut queationpd witness as to his (Mr. Davitt't) own movementa. Witneassaid soon after Mr. Davitt's release, in 1880 he attended a secret meeting of Inviucibles. Witness never kept dates, and added, I never thought of being in the position I am now." On Mr. Davitt's arrest he was sure he saw a re- volver in his hand. He never knew Mr. Davitt being attacked for leaving the Fenian organisation. Mr. Davitt, with some warmth, laid, You are speaking of matters which, if ou are believed, may compromise me before this court." Witness farther stated that he had Been Mr. Davitt with Dan Cnrley in I Dublin in 1831. Witness recognised the photograph of the man called No. 1, put in by the Attorney-General. The president ordered wi'ness to be detained in London. Other evidence was taken, and the court again adjourned. Polling takes place to-day to fiil the vacancy in the Parliamentary representation of the bovatt Division of Lanarkshire, created by the death of Sir \V. Pearoe (C.). A man, respectably dressed, entered the Lydbrock Post-office on Wednesday evening, and, presenting a revolver at the post-mistress, Mrs. Crisp, obtained possession of the oflice till, which contained about L27. With this he made off, and has not been traced. Mrs. Crisp was alone, her husband having gone to the railway station with mail bags. A remarkable case of somnambulism is reported from Llantwit Major, where a young woman whilst i:i a Bleep walked over the el; ffs, and sustained severe injury, one of her thighs bei-ig broken in three plaues. Mr. W. H. Meredytb delivered an address to the members of the Cantou Ward Conser- vative Association last evetiing. At Swan,ea last night Dr. Parry was pub- licly presented with a purse containing a handsome sum of money on his leaving that town lor Cardiff to take up his appointment as professor of musio at the Univereity College. The University Boat Race has been fixed to take place on March SO. 'I he steamer Romulus, of Sunderland, was unk of? the South Foreland yesterday morn- ing aft?r coWsiùn with the French turner B!bra!1o. '1 h? crew, with the exception of one, were saved. The directors of the South Wales Union Uank (Limited) will recommend at the rest meeting of shaiehoHers a divirbnd for the past half-year at the rat., of 8 per cent, per annum. A n interim dividend of ti pvr cent. was l'airl in July last.

GLAD3TONIAN AMENITIES. I We reFc rred a few days ago at some- ien»th to a twofold act of folly on the part of the Cardiff Corporation. The members of the council who formed the majority of the meet- ing are pronounced (.iladstonians, who naturally acquiesce in and praotice the habits of their leaders. We have it on the highest authority that "evil communications corrupt good ma^i tiers," anil experience has taught us that the maxim is true. Habitual intercourse with low characters wears off the amenities of decent life,aiid brings about an unconscious change in the demeanour of the individual. Mr. Parxkll, being the aotualleader of the ti iudstonians, impresses every member of the party, to a greater or lesser degree, with his own personality, lie tells the American Irish, who find him the money for his crusade, that nothing will satisfy him but the seve- ranee of the last link which binds Ireland and England together, lie giveB his Knglish followers another version of his purpose, it is ti ue, but he has never withdrawn the state- ment which he made at Chicago. Mr. Glad- stone's Home Utile measure gave Ireland a j Parliament in Dublin, and dispensed with the presence of Irishmen at Westminster. This pro- poal so shockd some of is followers that he trimmed, after the fashion of his chief, and gave certain vague and shadowy explanations, which nobody can understand. I'.verything now centres round the hackneyed term, Home !'ule," which suits the tender canscíences of certain Engli8Q (j lads tomans and the bigotry of the most rabid Irish Separatist. No two followers of Mr. Ui.astonk, when questioned separately, will give the same version of what his party I!lean uy" llome Hule:' This kind of proceeding demoralises the character, and thos'. who pursue it gradually lose the sense of justice, and arrive at the Miserable condition which enables them to "believe a lie." The speeches of the Gladstonians with regard to Home Rule illustrate the mental characteristics of those who are eub- joot to the delusion. Statements .are made and reiterated after repeated proofs of their falsity. Certain statesmen are abused and misrepresented, and the simple dupes of uneducated Radicals believe every word they are told. There are thousands of Welshmen at this momo.it who believe that Mr. lULFoua h an incarnate fiend and Lord SalIsbuhv a brutal tyrant. They are taught-and they have proved themselves apt scholars- that a "Tory" cannot posaibly be a good man or onb capable of doing a just action. They are assured, on the other hand, that Ilr. Gladstone is immaculate and cannot err, and the simpletons swallow the delusion. When such morality as this is taught by men of "tanr; ng and religious profession, the rauk aud file cannot help becoming deteriorated. This state of things is a sad commentary upon modern civilisation. The lack of obser- vance of high principle and the sanctity of truth leads to rudeness and vulgarity, and to the abandonment of the courtesies whioh obtain among "gentle- men." Count Herbert liisiiAngi: is an illustration of thia mental and moral condi- tion, otherwise he would not insult the honourable English gentleman who is our Ambassador at Bt. Petersburg. The same disease showed itself during the debate at the Cardiff (Jounoil meeting on Monday, when one member deliberately accused another member of dishonourable conduct, and said, after flaunting it about the chamber for some time, that he only made the charge in ordoi, to withdraw it I The promoters of the address to Mr. Gladstone did or could not see the absurdity of getting the Cor- poration of Cardiff to prop up a tailing and discredited cauie. Neither would they give their opponents the credit of honourable motives in voting against it. It has come to this pass, amongst the followers of Mr. GLADSTONE, that they believe they alone are right, and that everybody else must bo wrong. If you attempt to argue with them, they will insult you, an/1 indulge in wordy declamation without sense or reason. This state of things is new in the history of poli- tics, and is due to the departure from honesty and truthfulness in the matter of floiuo Rule. In the olden titnes-iii the days of the Whigs and Tories there was a codo oi honour that was rigorously observed, but which is ostentatiously disregarded by the Gladstonians and Parnellites of the present day. It was only a few days ago that a pro- fesnod minister of the Gospol advised his hearers to promise their votes to their land- lords or employers and record them the other way at the polling booths. Directly English- men cease to be men of honour and integrity the greatness and influence of the Empire will docline. The word of an Englishman has hitherto been respeoted all the world over. Hhonldtbis noble characteristic of the raoe degenerate and should the sentiment of honour become of no okmontit, out preatige will die, our supremacy will disappear, and we shall become the prey of every unolean bird.

The Welsh County Counoil elections are going along very healthily. Onr Radical frieuds may beat their fists and tear their hair, they may talk big and swear loudly that they are going to sweep the board, and so forth, but the actual fact* of the case are all against them. The very instinct of the nation, as we have over ahd over again said, is opposed to violent innovation and change. It is becoming more and more apparent that Wales is not so uneouallv divided in politics and religion as our friends the enemy try to make out. We have boen repeatedly told-tho, late Dr. HXEs, of Swansea, was a firm believer in the fact "-that Wales con- tained eleven Nonconformists to every one adherent of the Church. Our Nonconformist brethren have strenuously resisted the proposal to take an official cmeM—for good reasons obviontty—but the ratnrns of the goner;i Parliamentary e)eotiou, "biob wwto the next hed thing to that, proved beyond all oavil that the friend* of the Ohmwh formed at least two?ftho of the e!eetoT?. A* far as the present Coanty Counoil etectieM are oonoerned, we lee so reason at all to be daapondent. Pembrokeshire hu returned a very fair proportion indeed of Conservative*, One is struck on reading tba lilt by the large number of farmers who figure ou the opposite aide. Thmemandono, ow their boaioMa. They oannot Ml their friend* from their anemia*, and should take to some other occupation forthwith. For a fanner to be a Radioal in polltiol is as inoongruous aafor a Tory to be a follower of Mr. Pabmhll. Themoet Hti'ifejrjr Connerrati »•« *■«>•» .^nt aeonred in Aberdare, where all three ward* have been carried by our side. This in a diii.; triot supposed to be a hotbed of Radicalism it; exoellent work. Better men than Sir Willi Aii Tnox?a LRWlund the Messrs. JAMM Lswia i and RKBB HopuN HHY9 could not be found. They will be a credit to the Council. DowixM Ia. done well by returning Meura, Mabtin I and JBNxiNs; so as Penarth by returning) the MeMrt. COUgrZ and i' MHBB, and Ll; dtS by the retarn of Mr. FoBnMT. Merthyr | land Newport have (imply disgraced them- selves.

Information of the scheme for connecting the Bristol and English Channalsbas at last reached the Timet, Thursday's issue of the "Thunderer" contained an intimation that the projeot will be brought prominently before the public in the course of a few months. That comprehensive word publio does not, we take it, cover the people of the West of England, since they have already been for many months past in possession of full in- formation respeoting the scheme. The latter has in its bearing upon local commerce been actively canvassed during the summer. Our London contemporary, however, while point- ing out that the greatest benefit would aoorue to Welsh trade by effect being given to the idea, duly emphasise* the national aspect of the question. From a national point of view," it observes," this new canal will be of immense importance, as our iron clads would be able to steam aoross from Channel to Channel in a couple of hours, instead of having, as at present, to go round the Land's End." The promoters have been fortunate in securing recognition for their sch-ino in the Timet, by enlisting sympathy and support in influential London circles, they will be less likely to suffer disappointment when the period arrives for floating the com- pany and calling in the necessary capital.

rIhe faot thnt the Hadical organ haa con- sidered it needful to do a xpecial bit of trumpet-blowing for the politioal County Council candidates in the Pembrey Diviaion of Carmarthenshire tells its own tale to those possessing a knowledge of the circumstances. In that division Mr. W. Howkll, ex-presi- dent of thu l.lanolly Junior Radical Associa- tion and a Nonconformist minister, the Hev, U. Evans, are opposing Mr. W. J. Bucklhy, J.P., l'enyfai, and Mr. THos. WILLIAUS, Of the Moat t arm. Mr. Buckley—who, by the way, is the youngest brother of Lady Mouoan", of Cardiff-is exceedingly popular with all classes. Master of the Penllergare Hounds and part proprietor of the gigantio brewery establishment identi- fied with the well known name of Bu' KLiJY, he is a favourite with the far- mers. His father, the late Mr. Jamks UrcKLKV, was one of the pillars of the Radi- cal cause in tbe Carmarthen Boroughs. We believe it IM his grandfather, on the maternal side, who entertained the great John Wkslky when ho visited Llaneliy on his evangelising mission in Wales. As in many other divi- sions, the Hadical candidate's iiole hope of sac- cess lies in tho possibility of the electors being led astray by tho political cries vehemently raised during the contest. The election at LIanelly has opened in a pecu- liarly discomforting fashion for the party politicians. The only ward without a con- test is No. 3 or J'ock Ward. In this instance Mr. J. S, Tkegoxixq, a very capable and experienced magistrate of Con- servative opinions, and Mr. JoiinBoubnr, a vice-pressdentof the Liberal Association, who spurned nomination as a politician by the party leaders, hare peacefully,walked over the course. In each of the urban and rural ward* the "caucus candidates aro opposed by good men, and a stiff tight is likely along the whole line.

The scheme for providing the Bristol Cbannel with the much-needed harbour of refuge continues to bang fire. Mr. J. H. Wilson, in his report to the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, held out no hope that the Swansea dissentients to the Lunóy site had become in the slightest degree reconciled to the idea which meets favour in all the other porta of the Channel. This dead-lock is very unfortunate. Without passing a judgment favourable or adverse to the attitude taken up by Swansea, it is pAr- missible to express regret that the western port blocks the way to the realisation of that concord essential to a successful application to the Government. Cannot something be done in the way of arbitration to induos the interested parties to combine ? Divided, they will get a harbour of refuge nowhere in the Channel. United, there is every reason for believing that their representation* to the Government would eventually secure Im- perial aid in the construction of the harbour, wherever located.

Radical domination in Wales has produced a Parliamentary party of which not even the most rabid Radicals can affect to be proud. Internecine differences enfeeble an organisa- tion which under the most advantageous circumstances could not be very strong. The "moderates" are openly in revolt agai.ist the extreme left wing who accept the guidance of Mr. T. E. ETLIS. Our London correspon- dent, whose information is invariably trust- worthy, declares that the existing split is likely to lie widened dnring the forthcoming session. Meanwhile, the National movement, which at its happiest moment derived what- ever semblance of importanoe it enjoyed from artificial illfbtion, is perceptibly languishing. If the present rate of retrogression he main- tained much longer, the flag will be sadly folded up and put away for a season.

A School Board election contest is practi-1 oally certain at Newport. The sectarian party may safely assume that there will be a fight, and, consequently, it behoves them to prepare for asserting their strength as effectively as possible. The municipal elections were con- tested by the Unionists with the Irish votes in the rival camp. Now, with identical reli- gious interests, the Church and the Roman i atholic votms will be united, and thus the Unionist party will be reinforced by the Irish vote, and their opponents, who would banish religious teaching from day schools, will bo proportionately weakened. These School Board elections serve one useful purpose. They come as reminders to the I.tdicals that th" Irish are natural allies of the Conservatives, and that sooner or later, therefore, the former will swing back to the old lines.

The Brothers E. and F. J. Beavan, whom we have always admired for their honesty and outspokenness, deeply though we have dif- fered from them on very many publio ques- tions, have been badly used by the contribu- tors to an evening and a morning sheet pub-I lished at Cardiff. Withoiit concerning our- selves more than we can help with the way in which the Messrs. Beavajj have been attacked previously, we really think that the manner, in which their indiguant letters of remonstrance were treated in yesterday even- ing's issue of our contemporary is di-serving of some notice. Not only are the letters of these gotitlemen-dasbed off, probably, in the heat of the moment, and without time for revision-printed with all their syntactical imperfections on their heads, but the editor indulgea in what be doubtless think* to be the cruellest fun at their shortcomings. Now, the Messrs. Bkavan may not be perfeot masters of Engliih style-how few of us are I-but it is certainly a little bit too impudent for a man to set up al their oritio who blunders a* eirrejtiouslv as this editor does. Inlii* mlnmn critique our soribe has such fearfully and wonderfully made menteiiou as the fol- lowing: The editor entirely approved of the obser- vations of hill Man about Town," dold who h". only io correct that vivacious gentlum&n'* writing to the extent of explaining, &e., &r. Take this ono, again, whioh i* tbe next aen- tence but one to the foregoing:— Here followit a transcript of lite test of the com- ment ot 11 Tlie Milo about Town," when the editor lias the best reason for believing was pres-nt In the counoil chamber at the time of the particular ifaict of which Mr. F. J. Bsavan WoII made the tiaro or the victim. "Christian prenom" may bejvery good Latin, but we woold only aooept it as suoh from the bauds of somebody infinitely better acquainted with the langoage than this writer can be. Passing over one or two other things, we come aarom "a longer length of yeari than either of the Brothers Bbavan oan count." For onr- sclves.we bad alwayo thought that a "length," whether longer or shorter, was. only to be measured. In the very next sentences we are informed, with a profundity of wisdom and humour far above (or below) the depth* of human comprehension, that :— Thh b tM MJd dl. It la Mid mor* piston ?t *wS.S &Gdnam a *lm- Tbe editor, we take it, h tIae" wile 'lftaa,' th* other party tho simpleton, only what a wey of showing Ohara wisdom aDd of not 1P8akt0, disprogftlyl With rnpsot to Mr. FtAWtt Biayah, the editor Mrioadr warns him tbat- All thettttttjph of HenmlM would be mM to • 7 liw**Uclearly for publication, 'i such a farrago of rubbish utheretter whloh a allowed to appear below, becsuse it works the un- fairness, and tho spleen, and also the insccuracy of Iohe individual who demands ona's help on ID1 occasion of a political struggle. This is a modest reminder to Mr. Fbank Beavan that the editor posseste* all the :trength of Hbbcolbs, only why,abould the editor tell us that that strength mub the unfairnou and the i spleen, and also the in- aoouraoy of the individual," &o., &o. He did not mean it, we are sure, but, then, why sbould be have said eo P This day week that "worrying little creature,"aa the editor him- self deaoribes hi." MaD about Town," wrote of certain Cardiff institutions in the elegant manner following The County and the Glamorgan Club, 88 anyone of the members of either will admit, are in a sadly embirrasMd condition, according to the balance- sheats from alther estaDlishment, save and except the Lilertl CM, where the members are required to get IIPOII Ifilt. to look at the statement of accoulit.1, which it not freely offered to I Ami. fered to them. The relevancy of the italicised portion to the other will be at once apparent. The shrewd introspectiveness, the knowledge of men and things, the Solomon-like wisdom, the lucidity, and the masterly handling of sen- tences displayed in the following extract from the lame authority will be at once apparent:— I am perfectly prepared to meet the remon- strance of one or tho other of iiiv teetotal friends They will say it me, He ought not to take alcohol at all." I make no reply myself, but by proxy I am permitted to say, that while my best wishes follow the benelkunt exponents of witat one may cA'1 the "ntw law," thfre is not sufficient allowance made for the men who will have a glass of whisky as a nightcap, and who cannot sleep without the gentle and subtle narcotic, A nd these are the Messrs. Beavan's critics I We bad thought of devoting a word to this writer's confrere, 11 Cosinoii," also complained of by the Brothers BRA. V AN, but after the flay- I ing *m'e that gentleman got from our cor?e-? spondent "OhMx" on Tuesday last we in Ipity refrain.

I VISIT TO THE GOLDFIELD AT DOLAUCOTHI, LLANDILO. To say that Carmarthenshire will sooner or later vie with any of the other Welsh countk-a, or even Australia, in its wealth of golden treasures, would not probably be indulging in a false or too sanguine hope. Several reports have been current as to the character of the quartz and the results of the operations at Polaucollii, and so conflicting were the statements that our correjpondent at Ll.inJilo was induce i fo p'y a visit to the spot. Tlio Ogofau Gold Mine," as It is now n lmed. is on the Dolaucothi Estate, which is situited nearly equi-distant between Llandovery and Lmpter and about fifteen miles from Llatidilo, the p-istil town. The nearest points the railway approaches it are those towns, hence the place is very inacces- sible to visitors, who, as a consequence, are, up to the prejent time, few and f.tr between. ArrivinAt the mine, our correspondent sought the permission of the gociial overseer of the woiks (Capt. Edwards) to inspect the operations,and this gentleman, with characteristic courtesy, showed him over the place. The enmpnny who have leased the laad from Sir James Hills-Johnes, K.C.B., V.C., of Dolaucothi, Myle themselves the South Wales Gold Mining Compiiny, and have tlicir London office at 4, Tokenhouse-rard. Operations commenced more than three months ago, and the nuniber of work- men now employed at the quarries is about a dozen. Closely inapecting the numerous veins of quirtz, even the uninitiated could not help seeing that they abounded in some prec;ous metil. The rcefn glittered in the sun, and altogether it was a "golden" fpectacle. Socae 303 tons of quartz have already been cut and stacked, awaiting the arriv.il of the crushing and pinning, or washing, machinery. The lesu that hive already been made show most encour.iging results, some of the qu-ir,z iiivin-, yielded no less than 6oz. to the too. Additional workmen are to he engaged and cottages fot1 thuui er. cted on the field where the machinery is to be located.

I GOLD MINING IN WAf.ES. The Welih correspondent of the Liverpool Mercury aays :—Uoea thu gold industry of the Principality maintain its position, or hus it already begun to d\Yitldi8 It is said that moro than a dozen com- panies havebeeu formed, and that several hundreds of men ave now engaged in the digging of gold. Theowuerscf tlie in ;noj are now quieting down, and the references to the NnJional Deut aro lets frequent. Mr. Pritcliard Morgan liimnelf seems to liavo retired from the public gaze after his election to rariituaent, and it Wlluld be well if he could spare a moment or two to re-assure those who have an interest in Welsh golù mine., If the present shoot continue In the Morgan gold mine it is estimated ttiatgnft?r deducting 20s. per ton for expenses,there wili bea neiprotitoi' £ 47,000 per annum, if ihe accu- rac y of this estimate is equal to its simplicity tbera ouatit to be a great future for %V?ies.

REMOVAL OF DR. TAlUtY TO CARDIFF. FAREWELL MEETING AND PRESEN-1 TATION AT SWANSEA.  A lugely attended meoiing wMhp!dntEbenM''r Chapel, 8wanst&, 00 Thursday evening W¡'D Dr. l'arry, who has recently gone to reside at Cardiff, was bidden farewell and presented witit a testi- monial. Previous to the meeting a tea was held in ilie schoolroom, which was nicely ueccuted. Alderman Jam-* Jene. (mayor) presided at the IIIet!tin: and was supported on the platform by the Kuvn. F. Samuel, R. Thorns, and W. James, Major Jones, United Stales Consul, Cardiff; Mr. I Evans, Melbourne; Messrs. W, Spine, W. F. Hulley, and other local residents. Afier an organ solo by Mr. Haydn Parry -and a piece by the choir, The Mayor of Swansea said he W.8 both plaased and sorry to preside at that meeting. He was always sorry to bid farewell to mcli men as Dr. Parry, whose pluce it wig difficult to lilt. Dr. Parry had done a ureat deal to improve chorul singing In Swall- sea and in thit chapel in particular, and Swansea would undoubtedly sudor a great loss by hi. removal. But Ih.y ought not to iegret his r,'mnval if he 1.?d improved his po.uion by pro- ceeding to the neulibouiiitg i own. ano they I.o"d i that if he did not come back altogether, he wou'd, ut any rate, often visit them. Attera song by Miss Robinson, Mis. Evans was call-d upon to make the presentation, which consisted of a purso containing a liandjome sum of money. Dr. Parry, in reply, remarked that he should always regard Swansea as his home, and he had left a good deal of his spirit there amuogst his old friends. Uu c uld not but view iliat meeting with mizett feelings, and his emotion would h-ivo entirely prevented a set speech, lIut, one element of that meeting greatly pleused him. It was that it was the outcome of the Chinch of w Ocii he wai a member. Thev found by l?ist.r, that thelUainprinlC of progress in everyeouni r;, liad been tho sanctuary, and they hid to look to the Church f(?r ihe future of music in Wa'e«. Much ha4 been done by Iho Ro?n Ct'thoHc< and the Church of England in Wales to improve •acred music, and he looked to the Noncon- formist*. who waie not wanting fn talent, to follow up the good work. His opinion always w?BttMtU)eMnc'M(ny!!houidzet'hebf8tot everythtng—thebe? otedura'iontn'hepu?itont th* b. 01 musicians at their organs mi l in their onoira. Inattention to this had greatly checked the progress of music in Wakt.  Ho iiiiut te-I them tliut his prospects at; Cardiff appeared ulready to be moro than satisfactory. The number of stuietit. .tio?ding his co I<i?o c)«tM< wa. already over 60. nnd h;. private work waa encouraging. He Imped to do in Cardiff far more good ihiti tie had b,-en ablo to do in Swansea. He should always unite in the great object of promoting the interest of i Welch music, and his ambition wait to sen a num- ber of hit mimical countrymen bind (tiem,eiv,s together for this purpose, At present their promi- sing musiciins were lent lo Lond m, whom they became loss VVel ihy every day, and It would be a good day for WKk". when a suggestion made by: Mr. Alfred Tnoums, M.P., at the <pca!?)-*< )Mt lec- lure WM carried out by tha eall\bltlhwent 01 a musical conservatoire for Wales. Mr. Haydn Party theu ably rendered a piano- forte solo by Chopin. Major Josms, U.S. Consul, pointed out that Dr Parry's dcputuie should not be regarded as a loss or a Illn 10 eithr town, any more I?an the ei t a ti- tithment of the college at Cardiff ohouid be M regarded. It %as ibe University ot W?ies, and he wislied lie could pre-* the truth home that night. No Welsh university, however, would be perfect unless it had a medical college and a musical con- tervatoir*. If the latter were established tlrara was no man Its Wales and few men In these Inland* were more competent to talll chiirg* of it than Dr. Parry. Major Jones then proose(ied tn dilate on the Importance of preserving the Welsh language and briefly reviewed Dr. Parry's career, showing how he In ?t? youth crowed th* Atlantic and *M)t from AMrift W,?lh eiateddfodln compottHoM, ?hich :III!te:bd r:g::=š all COInpetitO?L H. M m<?nttia«t hh early pro:n?« and now stood pre-eminent « t Wclsn musician. The meeting was afterwards addresstd by the Hm. W. James, K. Samusl, B. Thoma4 and Rees Jons*, Messrs. W. & Battles, J. 8. Squirt, W. F. Hulley, D. S. Eyen., and others. The prOOlldillp were very enthusiastic and the doctor and bit family received an ovation.

W. X. Doom's Rnvo cures Rheumatism of  !??SS?RESS?SS?S??3 ?mttwb Womb RaltU:L'kw" as P"o '??* OeHss? tot?w ? <SS!!t rtrMm&<t »SSSBS?5Jf!n?   

I METROPOLITAN NOTES. I Ton Health or raa PalKa Mikisteb. Our London correspondent is glad to be able to report that the Prime Minister has oompletely recovered from the physical depression which attaoked him towards the oloso of 1887 and clong to him through a great part of last year. "Friende who were present by invitation at the reoent parties at Hatfield House tell me, he writes, that they have never known Lord Salisbury to be in better spirits, or to enter with more evident zest iuto the pleasures and duties of entertaining. Under these oircnmstances it is not surprising to learn that his lordship has, for the present at any rate, abandoned the idsa of transferring the foreign Secretaryship to Lord Dufferin, who accordingly will remain in Rome until Whitsuntide. '1:48 new* is also good with regard to the health of Mr. W. if. Smith, who has derived immense benefit from his stay at Monte Carlo." THE County Council*. If the county electors of London follow the examples of their fellows in the provinces, the Metropolitan County Council will certainly be composed of the beat men who have offered themselves, and will ahow a large prepon- derance on the side of influence, experience, and intelligence, as against bigotry, faddism, and 814M cub>ttûm (write* our iondon corre- spondent.) It i* safe to prediot that this result will be aecored, tt..gh we *h*U not know for a certainty until to-morrow how the fortunes of to-day'* local battle have gone. As has already been stated in this column, the new council will comprise 118 members elected by popular suffrage. In addition to these, the council itself has to elect nineteen aldermen, so that the total membership will be 137. The first meeting of the new governing body will be held very shortly, and on this occasion the aldermen will be chosen, Sbould they be selected from the already eleoted mtmlwrr, new elections will have to be held for the purpose of filling op the vacanoiet, but it ia more than probable that many of the London aldermen will be chosen from amongst dis- tinguished outsiders. At a second meeting, to be held later, the council will proceed with the election of a chairman bhd deputy-chair- man. All this time, however, the council will be only enjoying a provisional existence, since it does not beizin actual work until April .1, when the Metropolitan Board of Works expires. THE" Manchester Examineu" I The representatives of the Manchester Examiner in London deny most positively the statement that that journal has been pur- chased on behalf of the Liberal Unionist party. Nevertheless, I am disposed to believe that there is something in the story, and one can easily imagine that the pre- sent proprietors might be willing to realise." It is not yet too late to infuse greater enter- prise into its management and to convert it into a Unionist organ. At the time when Mr. Gladstone threw nimself into the arms of Mr. Parnell, Mr. Dnnckley, the managing editor, was strongly disposed to remain true to the Union, but he was over-ruled by his co-proprietors, amongst irboin is Mr. Jacob Bright, M.P. Thus a good opportunity was lost, for the Manchester Guardian, the only other Liberal morning paper in the city, bad already thrown in its !ot with the Separatists. isuch being the case, it is amusing to find it asserted in Separatist quarters that Mr. Dunckicy is leaving the J-'xaminer because bA cannot support Lord Ilartington and Lord Salisbury. Mr. Dunckley is leaving, but solely on the ground of failing health. He has worked like a horse for over thirty years, during which period his lines have not been cast in the pleasantest of places. The National Skating Association. I The frost has not yet returned, but the National Skating Association are (according to our London correspondent) 10 confidently expecting its early re-appearance that they have arranged to hold an international skating contest during next week. Thursday's weather report. seem to justify them. 'J he contest will take place, of course, on one of the many fine sheets of water in the eastern fen country. Amongst those who will take part in it are our own coutitrymen-the famous "Fish" Smart and W. Loveday; Joseph Donoghue, the American, who won the two mile race at Amsterdam last week in 6mins. 24seca., and the swift Dutchmen, J. Jurgena and K. Pander. There was some hope at one time that the Russian skater, Von Pansohin, who defeated Donoghue in the mile race at Amsterdam (2mins. 63 3-Csecs.) would be able to compete also, but he has respectfully declined. It may be interesting to add that Donoghue in 1887 skated one mile straight- v on the Hudson River in 2mins. 1^ 3-5secs., having a wind at his back. "Fish" Smart skated the same distance eight years ago without a wind, but with a flying start, in exactly three minutes. THR Irish in America. Contemporary America (Bays Max O'R(ill in the Pall Mall Gazette) seems to me to be ( l ie Cv?rrians, the governed by the Irish. The Germans, the Scandinavians, all these crowds of foreigners that, year by year, flock to the New World to find a livelihood, and which America gradually assimilates, go West to fell forests and reclaim the land. But the Irish pitch their tenta for the most (part in the large cities, where they oongregate together and take up politics. The city of New York, which has been successively in the power of I the Dutch, the Knglish, and the Yankees, is to-day the real capital of Ireland. The English are always wondering why Americans are all in favour of Home Rule for Ireland, and ready to back up the cause with their dollars. Why, I will tell you. The good Americans hope that when Ireland is restored to the Irish all the Irish will go home. Colonel North's Gift TO thb Conservativks. Truth is responsible for the assertion that Colonel North bas announced his intention of presenting £ '20,000 to the lory election fund as a practical manifestation of gratitude for his election to the Carlton. Colonel North will be put up in about three weeks. I Venos Visible. Venus is now visible to tbe naked eye in Pari. (SlY. the St. James's Gazette). In Lon- don that goddess has never ceased being | visible to the naked eye. Some people think the weddings column is sufficient proof of that but there are unpleasant persons who say that column is presided over by a god and not by a goddess, and that his name is Mammon. But that is obviously a flout and I a gibe. No man would darn to hold forth in that strain in a drawing-roein at live o'clock. Narrow Escapb OF Napoleon's Heart. Jonathan Alexander, the old Waterloo pensioner, who died in Edinburgh a week or two ago, wa* one of the guards of the fallen | Kmperor in St. Helena, and used (says the Pall Mall ?<t??<) to t"n a curious story of Napoleon', heart having been n''&r)yMrried off by a rat after the pmt-mortftn examina- tion. The surgeon who conducted the inves- tigation, after placing the heart in an open alas@ veMe!, happened to fall "loop. ))urmg the snooze the choice morsel was lighted upon by a rat, which was in the act of carrying it lolf, when the doctor fortunatoly awoke and recovered the stolen treasure. Ha Won TUII Hrt. Here is one of the latest stnries of the great Von Biilow. He waa walking one day in Berlin (says the Pall Mall Gazette) when he met a man. with whom be had formerly been on somewbtt intimate term*, but whose acquaintance he was desirous of dropping. The quondam friend at onoe accosted him. How do you do, Von Biilow P Delighted to see you t Now, PH bet that you don't remem- ber my namo I" 11 Yoteve won that bet," re- plied on Biilow, and, turning on his heel, be walked off in the opposite direction. Wamtsd Anithbr 0' ran Sain." I A Highland drover who attended Hadding- ton market IOme twelve month* ago paid a return viiit the other day. Hit business being finished, he proceeded to a refreshment bar where he had been entertained on hi* first visit ("ya the Pall Mall Gaze Its). "Oh, my I" exclaimed the landlady, what a load ye've lifted off my nUnd I D'ye ken, I never expected to tee you in the life again I The latt time you were here, instead of giving you a glass oat d the whisky bottle, I gave you by mistake a glat* of aquafortis." W., weel, responded the drover," aqu forty or aqu fifty, I dhulaoare a snuff whioh. Bnt, od woman, it was grand, and it keepit my belly warm three hale days; and fm jist oome bade for anither tf the aatne."

Thousands ofpeople have tdW the effect of

We mnwt poMMt any letter union (be writer @ends bi an" XAMS -a Avvuw. not necMMtftf I- pubU-11 oa tion, but m a guano tea of good faith. co-A. The Bditer cannot con. munwiam under &of offeunnttnon. %# AH eotTttpcndtutt muH wriK on oM oWn of the P*P«r onJy, or their l,tt.. will b. ft J"W. AWidsnM a- :c.u hit.

C-jH^ CUU. (O.rdUf).ptembtr 14, I=, w" a Frid. b. BJFFORCJMB" or nc WXWN Bcttc?T CLo8ur. Atl Over"b«rd«'Mid lktep?yer 0«r» diff) oile attention to tha fact that tbv C'?'ftfOof- poration (• • pending hundreds of pound0~Ukir*iiy, «o he oonUn ia—In def)? tha work of th* Intend fi..venuo tuthefiUM. The money would be moM proettb? thinks. In paring and liht Inl the stmto of the town than 10 promoting a. An w g, h 1. gu,,4.y d-.k- an<] other evils. Th. rt4,p?y 6ti.. would do wall t. lak. up the matI.r,lo hUopinion. 0, 0." (P.'n!vprtdd).-Tt)< p?p?'ttton of Cardiff at Ibe prmentt me U estimated to beat?u, 126.000. JoenpHPto??x (Lanpmhlll, iiw Use" X"u .ould probAbly !!e a eo?y of the .11i at tlie P.L.t.-C u rt.,?a Dot there, rou .hould Y,oii would Prubs t Lr f,,?! n f ,(,t there. I- hld write to &um.rset 1I"u"" London, furnishing name and d&1. of d.t 01 testator. "N'S?'E?Sf?"?"'?'' to the 8"'rttMy National El. ilddfd "RATt?Tt?* (Utn<nnteH. -lnadmI6'¡bl, bw4u" written on both ol'l" h. paper. DlFiL'LTlxe Aoctioiiur,—Xlmotby" (Carmarthen} oUlht I<> ad vi. he eneutrlx to place this matter lu tbe hands of a sharp solicitor. She will have to prove the Will fur the purpose ot the proceedings. Claim to Votb.—"A Candidate" <T»I»arn> Is advised that no person can vote unless his nalue Is upon the ngister. The person In qu?tir)u must elaltu at the pr.)W time, so as to bue a right W vote next year if t".r. should be th, A* ArncTio*ATE Kbotmr.-There <t no Wty In which Belim (Aber) ?.?ld d?p.-i?. hi. i.t.? f the b.r. f reiil eitate ^Iren to her by tha will. Why do" b. wish tobs.oci?l? It. Is too bid. B.ILW.Y COMPANY. Th.nki?" (Swen?) ought to have had th. goods i.-ikeu a. par-els or as a parot l. at the ease might be. in that case the company would have been rt-spoiisible I but thev only undertake to carry pc..onal JOKa". free ,ith the pssseocers to ,??y p, L in ? 'y belongs. j .r" (11,R, ) 1. d. Heir ??D Nx.? or Km M.jor" (U'Re:) Is M. vised that, II lUcre are no other relativa than the SrsnUson and the nephew of t.he intt.tt<tt<t.he fjrm?r ..entitled t? the r?l estate as heir-at'ltw (I h. p, op,rty beinXt?hold),an,i t? the leatehi.ld and other i«r- suual estate as sole nut-of-kln 001101.1 nUtivcs never take by descent until the direct lawiul issue becoineecxtinct. Liquidation. sancho Paiiz»" (Noth) ou?ht to write tl. "l m the $Q"I- rrh» .viii. ee"f,r{ft J'f;¡;rci. "'b' d; Such ..ttr, are geliemily very "iol. ]UJiI1TT.CJL-" 1*011.1 Order" (Miltc<r.1) ought to en- dm oui to trace the order through the Post-office, In order to ascertain what has been wrong with it, as upon tnls his responsibility will depend. He way wlit. us again If necessary. Charge Y"' Hired ART?LItS.-It the artiol? In question were sent off to Kosint>t"(Dowlais) within a reasonable time after his lctier was delivered, he inustiay I h amount of hire agreed upon. It was hit own fault that the order was sent to late as to allow 110 tlmu for aUT ulJavotdftbJe delav. FjttuinLr Socirrr.—•• Kepi une" ) informed tlui the t'XpeuSt) of registering th'- society under the Friendly oceties Acts wouid W a mere Hift., a..d the advantages to be d?,h,?d from reglsrration would be many and ,.Iu.bl.. The pri"(!i I.A xp. would be the printing ot the rules, which would have to be in lIo'J<II;¡1anee with the Acts iu question.

THE WELSH « PYLGAUf." r TO THE IWITOk OF THE WKSTKHS MAIL." I 81&1 lear your ccr'tip in.lentg will end the Py'yain c ntr versj very much tile soqp aa liny cotnmrucud it. They ferm m >re disposed to slash at one another tuan to airive at a fairly ¡ i$3?ttrJ:D''iaÎ\l1tle; tha word, it is immaterial with ma whether we accept Pul, blunt lAt? rullut (.õj,), dusky, grey-arid Caill, Lat. Candco, to be of briilunt whi enes«. Hence, dull liplit, or the 'J'ull.ru11I Cm.*us of 1\Jr, pjul¡im"r. Is Vte custom lo be traced to a Hritish or a Unman origin ? If to the loriner, it seems to me that its etymology fhr.ulJ be giusht from Celtic ro.)tp. but if it is a Komish cutt ni it should be sought from Latin roois. I believe "Morien" to be wrong when lie says that /'n/tiain la the form used in tlie Wel«li Cimmiu Pr.iyer DMk. I have referred to m >re than a down copies, some of which w, re publiflird aliout 60 years Mg", and '• riygain is the form I find ill all of them, and if the Welsh Cmnmcyi Prajer JJ wit is of any sub- &ta.tia111"Tlice in tracing this word to Its primary sigoificstion, the form ueed therein does not favour tile PaUOriJill Can.'itf tlieory. The form ued by Rohert. in his "Cambrian Popular Antiquities" is Pl.!lai", and he al6o '.Y. Ihat it is of British origin, and describes it 8S a service held in the ,?hureli about ,hree (/c4>ck in tha morning on Chii.tma« Day. The form adopted by Mr. Pennant in his" Tours in W.des (edited by Piofessor Rhys, (he world-famed Celtic scholar) is Plygan and lie refeis to it a8 follows:—" L'pon Christina* Day, about three o'clock in the monline, most ef the nari-hionets assembled in church, and. after p ra, e i a and a sennnn,continue j there tinging psalms and hymns with gnat d votion, end it thiough go or infirmity I hef were disabled from attending. tl;cy never failed having "fere at homo and carols nn our ?Lviotl"s N?'t i.ilyl. In Barddas we find tbe lurm, Pylgiint and Plyyaiiit, and both w,?rjs ue rendtrei in E,?g- lill" by the word diwn" by the translalor, the ilev. Air. WiliUms. In tl,o Rev. T. KichardsV (of Coychurcii) Welsh-English dictionary te iornis Plj/yai* and l'ylflai,. are us-d, though 1, 11 was ablo to find the Utter only, but Hiehuds rei>doi*s the former ?,y morning or da%n!l The Hev. SIlVC wlaalus gives tue fiur forms, viz., Plygain, llyl- gain, Plyyaiht, and PylgciM. I uiuy add that the lollowing euiineut Welsh scliolars (Pio- femor Rhy.pupll, must not take offence) farour lhe Ccltic derivation :-Dr. W, O. 1';1&h", Rev, W. Jones, Bridgend, Glamorganshire; "Maihetes, R". D. I in 'f?, B.I.. Tredegar, and a few others of lap& renowned crudi?i,,n. s4ying nothiDlo( the Welsh-Latin and La. in-We so dictionary compiled by the abla antiquary, Tl.omaa Williams, M.D., w ho died in 1620, and which woik was prioitd after his death by Dr. John Davies, the ornaun ui of his country and of the BI;6 in .vliicii lie lived, &, you see, Mr. K .11 0r, there had flourished a f,w emi. nent Welsh philologists brfore the dawn of thccal. brated Oxoni n protessor and bis VOllthlul pupild. The Rev. T. Price (" Cornhuan?kwe?'). in Hanes y Cymru," p"g" 219, eye that th* 11 Illyg6,t y gwasauaeiU bortuol cyntaf"—tha ti,.t moiniug service (Catholic matin" ) —was held in tljj fvurth centurv. In Williams's Kccledatticul Antiquities oftheCymry" we find that the canonical HOUI #, were (1) midnight, (2) niiititio, and (3) ve-pers (Anuo.ic Uosper); In Hjwel Dda's time theie w. re only two, viz, morning and evening aervices, denominated mass' and 't'ever. Can our Chri.t. 111M have any relenm'e to the (ormc" J' The Church of lbme ma ie four nocturnal Vigils (1) Conticiniuni, (2) Uallicmiuiu (not Pullmum Canitul, (3) Intempestuiii, (4) Anteluciuuin (not ■Pre-luoinuin from Nuiitytlo;—ciJe Durand s •' De Xoiturnis" snd H and's 1'opul.ir Antiquities." Ihe ancient lIl¡rew-llIr intrepid ancestors— divided the night into three welches: (1) the beginning of lne wittchrs, L'm, ii, 19; (2) tiie mi idle watch, Juogea vii., 19; (3) Ul8 morning watch, Exodus xiv., 24 (1 iJe Ucm iiiuo'S Hebrew Lexicon and Hughes's biblical Diciionary) and not IlItll /on/- watches as asserted by" Moueu." Tne division of tin night into four watches is of lloinan or. £ :n. Moiicn s i y s that tlie custom of placia?" :o/ church tIio8:,0. stcrsdnessof this bird to the Dawn. I believe it nruss from quite a ditlercnt conception, viz., vane, on the tops of strcples weie inad" 111 the form of a cick (11 '.icy called wajtl er cocks), and put up in r.1 times t) remind 11'9 clergy oi WI\1c!t(uiu-ss, bo!CM\lS0 wakefulness was a special characteristic ot tl. is feathered tentmtl of the night. In suuimitate crucis, quae compauaro vulgo imponitui Uulli gnl.iiiacei cflugi solot fi^unt, quie tCcdesi- arum Ket'tnres vioiant w 1111",on, al" (fide Du Cange's Glossatiuui, kc., mid llruui'a "Popular Antiijuitiis"). Chiistm is and the Epiphany (Dies Epiphauie or B;d æ F.tulh-"i.le Uu a'ige's (iloesuriuiu uuder "lStI!U, an.! Prul-stor Bhys'g Lectures on Celtic Philology," pa^e 78,1 were iu one secti' n of the a-ciet t.:hurh ceiebiated together, and it is quile possible that th« i(triiier h.d its origin in the ltomsn Saturnalia (tide Dr. Wan. Smith's "GuIce and Roman Ant qui'.ies"); bill in the primitive Church Chr'.s inag Day was observed All the S.bbitn Day, and pieceded by IIn ew or vigil. Hn our Chriaimns lite, on which candles of uncommon t izlJ, called Chiiatmas cindlcs, were lit and a kg of wood, called the Yule Clot;, was laid upon the lire to illuminate the house, and for tins reason Christ- was was called tha "lil 01 Light" in the Wes- tern Latin (;11111.:11, because th y uced many caudles at lhs foasl, or, rather, b'l .ufe Christ, tho Ltght of all llgliis—tbo true Lijjht of men I- then cime into the world, and it "y be thai the Yule block was intended to typity tiiis j), for. cRodle4 weic in general me, In imitation of this ancient co-torn, the >Velsh used cand.es nnd torciics io reicbrating ilieir ytaily national "Pylgra," when ill some palish churches oil denominations c irdia'ly joined "ar yr wl," "IJeb nebyntynu'n groes," and 110 stcliriati auimosiiy prevailed. With regard to St. Dubriclus (Sant Dyfiiy), 1 believe tliat that eminent and learned Welsh ecclesiastic wis consecrated to the Sw of Llandaff not befoio 446, hut proliaoly tills was «ntf»-<tnt' d. and the yrar 60& may be nearer the ooirect dI, I and If yuut i.'orrcspondent, Mr. Pliillimarc, will r,1., to H" HvM of thf C?otbru-Brioah &it?." h. will And that St. Dyfrlg vitileil Cierdigan^hira in tlltHally part of thesixili centui y (not tlie early pail eftke Ihiri, as niainta.ued by Mr. M. J. Jones) to attend the Llanddewi-hrevi Synod, where St. David, a pupil of Dylri; greatly diatkiguisiz himself. Thanking you, Mr. Editor, tor giauiing us tpacs in your valusbie paper to discuss this I.estiDS and Mut-Btitttrg old custooi^-l am 4tc. IL 0. UVt, Cardiff, Jan. 12. PA-1 shsll be much obliged to Mr. Phillimoie for sending me a copy of tlie passage from ths llook of huabon," which he has kiudiy proinised to do on returning to Montgomeryshire.—K. (J, 1. TO TH* JtDITOD OF THE WESTSBM MAIL." 51a,. ,.1 must ask you to allow 1n8 to answer Lewis Kvana," Geltigaer, at once, for be icipiies what be cannot prove, via. tliat X and ouaera hardly ever read "he Book of Common rnn?r. Ho GuDoL prove thlih and no was is I"Udoj In lnalau&Uog w?M?t km mn,,ot prove by aviden ee. 06 hfCM tttM I bower read the f?tr bo4. bwaun I .pe!1 "MjM?" in ,bat way hMte? <? II PJftala It Of' It." AH I me ar I* tbM I' U tj?t PiB»aU ? my MML of the PttyMT? Mr. Lewie lm», 6= dowe WM Us DruIda I t UM be ? #Afttk the IibMimIS Um TV IUB biwaff. mmtTXTTS AMUW vabq- 04 ?<MMWM: <&M,« ow .11181" mr baesas. aad "I^wU" ofllows 1—"Myeoa.lasinuats**Um« dIM DIIIWba Ie a.s, !8r <M,h?t?ot)ttM'?? ?)Mwt?h??jS, Mt the <Mti?dt< ttt ? oa. RE .1HftM wesehip « aa aad le ehwtved ? ? abtbm a? MttMyt 01"" MK'th?d MMteM.?W?Bt?t? Oa«f»m £ ??<vM<tMt.<?<?<SS*Sw?' MM Md smug* drys t??tM <S3S M 1 I of Divine wortliip among tli* father* and tnodMI of maukind ? D-wt not tto, know that thl WIIIIt rohu of the dl-ry were boriowed from i he t)rd% and tb-t Riauv of the accessory rites of tfcl Churches of Englaod and Rome originated the sonsot Odin (Gwyddou)? No? Weil, veal on1 IIew work, entitled 'The Tabernacle tI D ivid' (Pabell Dovydd), which is about to itlB from the prets." Mr. Lewis Ev.ns's theoiy th., PlygtiM is m* poundt-d of Plu (featliers) and Cob (song) ll, II will pardon malor saying so. by do means but rid culous enougli. Du I.s JerfM ttt wro? "A Tali of a Feather, but I v"Omb he'ieve that no Welsh bard c ver*p"ke of Ili* "I" of the Feather* I English bards might refer k "the fsatliered songsieit of the grove," "tM feathered tritie," bntuever, lfesl oertal^fc "fo%tilere-i a ng." Tit" termination "Oafs* (radical, Cain) too a distinct WelFb 0'1118, III me,tes, white, filr, bea.utifuL Cam II asotka W.bh name fot whiUe. In South Wa. C. is the g< neial name f<sr wlwatco flour owing tola whiteueast and in Welsh p eiry wa find III wor,ip. y Ueuad gam taidi (The wMte monl. disunguisli the CAll vsonu) from Coo). « sprli the iatier with two n's. and also places circumflex over tVie a in (In. I iiave AI) dlJUbltI Pulgain was ori.<ginally spelt PuU-eant, and tk4 in course of tj, IIf the refining the ghai of Pull ia rvt and I'mi. cmvert<d 0lIl. into Cci" (g ■».•). Why, to this day lk| popular W,L6i& .ame for Chrisimas—nandt — ia df rived from the I Xatalitia (a birth-da^ ? feast), which b an-" I denre in support of m v contention that It was originally comti, nicatedir Britons by the mediûl. of ¡ The Cymric Briions had Si. -r for the cia)" when the e^ 7 southern d-clloation, a day!, day; and also for December New Year's Day. It sppears to me tl.at lstuyi not a corruption of the 1-atiu n Apart from the etyinoiopicul sr. j tion, the fact tliat Ystwpu ia Ct. Epiphany, a Greek compound (upon ) and vhaino (I bring to light Lalin hybrid like Ar«io'ig, indicates thai Christian Church in Mules made no I substitute a Latin name lor Uta ol 1 Drui<* reierrin^ to th. darkest cw ,"octat da,; *° CIá. therefore, J?tM?M *me left uxtcudted. t'?*e? ■' j down to A.D. 613. t)? CbHM-h bm rd C)fr"<"Mt | .:pf,:ti:ttgf,¡rtJr4 aoT,= 1 Wel1!' \116 £.t am, .ng t he prlaniti\'eWI"" But t?tq/M would refer In We Drai0ie nllflou ob?etvaace) to Ihe Jut day of U)e old ywr—m other words, to We old Mln (S"tum); D(I -N84. t,) the youn sun (Hu GAdarn-Ap c?l. tbearx day of Uie New Year (December 22;. No scholar doubts that tiie old festivals of tlie Pagan religions were adopted wholesale by the early Chrtstieai, aDd made to signify smthlng in the history of ClnÍlliBoitv, inøteIW of. as hitherto, referring to eeasona and various physical conditions of th* earth or Dame Matter, Our Christina* is an in- stance of this.—1 aln, kr, MORIEN. s

THE WELSH CHURCH DIARY. to mil: Borroa or tbe "enesrcaM sutL." Sir,—This is the tirst opportunity I have had to notice "he letter of a Working Man 18 last week's fTutern Mail. Kindly allow me to aav la reply that the weather table inserted in the alary is based on the no in's changes, from the rule 1814 down by JBr. Herschel. as well ae from Watt tmdttion. Ganald Jnerl gwyned dy "wi Wvd ariun 0 fycJ eur-llw. Llusern mot v nue hen wjrt. Newldlol loer wen VDWYL Tl ."0 rli?lf v Hiswr Y mor hell vmr iliawg • A r hai. (yu y. rhanu O'r u-ybrtni/d4 dyvn/dd d. Yrod ar I-, adtg. Ac A, dy- n- d?,#. If this can be relied upon, the weathsr Use thi next seven days will be unfavourable.—4 ana, fcs- Vaynor. 3. E. JESKIN8.

DATE OF THE ASSEMBLING OF PARLIAMENT. The Press Association is authorised to atate that rarliament will meat (11f the despatch ef business on Thursday, ths 21st of February.

NEWPORT SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION. Ttmrsday waa the lost day for withdrawiag nominations for the echo 1 boird election at Newpoit, which takes place on January M, Ori){U)tJty th<M wcM 22 genttemon plaoed ia nomination, of whom eevt-n have -,iti.dr.??. vk. the IVv. J. T. Wien oi d, the Kev. Paiber Knigbt, the Rev. David Edwards, and bicar-. W. C. Phill-pe, J. w. Prior, James Davis,and T. Mshoney. The cnnJiJa'c who now stand are as tollow :— Church of Enghnd (recognised), Uewrs. John 11 vitelline, R. T. Martin, and W. B. Birnett; Chureb (unrecognised), Mr. P. J. Heybyrne Roma* Cm hollo, Ihe 'Uev. Father Bailey and *Mt-. A.A. Williams; Indeixuiient, Mr. John Willistam; OlIo senters, Ih- Bar. H. Ahrah im, the Rev. D. IL Williams, Dr. A. G. Titoma4 and Mears. IlL Wheeler, *1. Llewelyn, *L. B. Moore, 'W, IL Brown, and Henry MuUock. There are ilesea seats to be filled. Those marked with an astacUt ate member* of the expiring board.

THE AFFAIRS OF MR. R. E. PAYNTER, LATE OF NEWPORT. At the London Barkrupicy Court oa Tbnraday a meeting was h id (before Mr.Registrar Hatlitt) for the put-iie examination of tllll txtnWiLpt, wbo taro nietle curried on a allip npairlnr end general engineering business at Nr. wimri. Moo. H* aow applied to pot., up"o RDLOUQIB Simowilig grow liabiiiues of il,448 lb,, lld., of which £ 46818a lid. is unsecured, and assets £4117.. Is appeal* SW Ihe bankrupt, who cariied on the abip repairiag bUliueII 10 ..wport in p.rtnen0iip with ft Summers 1. 1833, "id it to a limited cempa?y la ?tO'MO. rec?iv'.? for hi. ha'f ah .iw £ SA00 infullf paid-up shares, and C2,500 in cash, and that fata P'Utnerl.ad the stme term, as himself. O. tG quently became manager of the COlI" pany at a aalary of £500 a Yom which position he loat in 168S. -ad as the m—It of an action which was afterward* brought by do company for tu;sreprootntwrl& which evias well coiiiproinise I in 1887. to 1885 he bed a mr- plus of £ 5,000 At the first meeting It we* re*olv*i to lu. the ca-w tn the hinds of Ui* official receiver to be wound up.—In reply to the oBolsl solicitor, the bankrupt said lie was 80 angiow4 now out of tiu^ine-s. Ho iMd carried naaeMp repairing and building busineas nt Newport, Xoa* mouihshire, in partnership with a Mr. Summer*, la 1831 it was sold to) a company for £1- ezisli ani shaies, and up 10 1685 be was manager and director at a salary of .£.00. There was a difference of opinio* be* tween himself and the company, and an actioa fer misi opr. srntai ion wpA brought by tli* company, which was eventUHllr compromised, he agreeing to reiurri certiin shares—115 shares. Thst was about the be.inning of last year, la February last he transferred 65 shares to his wife. lie bad used < her money prior to t liat -in fact, he anwowed hit LBSO. lie could not say what tlie con-ldermioo for the transfciiw is, "II the company heldjlbe transfer. It Will money tliat lie haJ borrowed which VU coming to lua wifo und-r tlie will of her father. He beiieved that tlie amount &IV as@ entitled to wa. about £ 2.000. The fint advance was In 1878. The transfer wa* not eaad* in contemplation of bankruptcy—th.t was a cir- cumstance over which The had no nouttol. Of the total amount of Lilam tr"I1" 25 of tiMSS %ere su ?J( -et to a oAll of =.I. 25 of tion were subject to a call of COO: th. aladsr wen fully paid up. At the time of the t.. rtli* actioa for misrepresentition had bee 1. as bad p.ij ?'Is C,,Mp,ar J= J12 CA$?. &ad gave ttMtfnr CM <"r (he ba l .n, -adc: di honouied.—Tnepublice*aioiu»u ,,a.ocdend to be concluded.

SOUTH WALES ART SOCIETY AND SKETCHING CLUB. On 'Qiursday evening a lecture, under the Ga. I)i"j, the &,uth W.la Art @t'I("it\J CtfteM« Club, W"s Et't" 't lb. Que?n xtMf Hall by Mr. C Han nay Watts. P."Jjv ot OardiS, oa India. Buiinali, and Pe>sia." la the eourne of a am Inteneting lecture Mr. Waits tireortbed M* experience* on his recent Journay ttwovgb that ountiies, aud by moan* of a Urge ooaaksr ot dioratnic views liellluatntted many uf thaliirdilant* and am. f i h. m iifemtscen-ry lie met with -m h? MCM'? «. Kot a few of 'b< pkiwo ttK'mwWft were works of art, ?nd *mceooaoft "pp)<uJe I by (he 6rgo au limm that. At intertaU leisciion* of tt'Mruuxa'tt mtftc "ttW performed bv several mem ben of the a VW. Pianofoi te and violin tnuaic wen reedared by M;, and jdiss Fisher.

ILLAXELLY BUAIID OF OUMWtAY- The usual mpeungwhdd 44 Thur-dsv at the anion woikliouse, Mr. B. HeviU presiding. A circular was read frota Uw L"d O^veraaaeot Board on tA* cia" to btelsrtsd bf ttte Loeal Government Act. It w**ie«olvad thai ae *s*inag of the highway board bo held oa Ttiarsday isW fe consequenc* of the eeuuty oouneU *l*atlwt>

A SllIl'WUECKKI) CREW LANDED. The orew of Ut* tteamer Malin% << subm BMbout. ?,to on T'w.<t*ytM)&< at <M<H< ? %I. s- ewer D?t,. 'i-h-'?ZI&tiW. isd at ?hW6 *.A b. = by cillision wltti soother Ltrutoog of gandet ImA

I THE uNiVEiisrrv: BOAT aØI. The boM bttw?n Q?fefd OmAMM I OetTenMtt b fixed to Uka plae* ce ?<MtW II bed t.o tab pIMI .='I

Baa adkuhaPatt!   CA" I! &64.1" "I J l