The Welshman

M. Louis Lacaze, a well-known amateur collector of paintings, just deceased, has left his gallery of pictures to the Louvre, on condition that they shall be placed in a separate room, which shall bear his name. It is stated that the Conference appointed to meet this month at the Hague on the subject of assimilating the sugar duties of England, France, Belgium, and Holland, has ended ineffectually in consequence of the withdrawal of the French Government through en- grossing domestic affairs.

COUNTRY COURTSHIPS.—A NEW NOVEL BY MISS BEALE OF LLANDILO.* This is altogether a Welsh novel. It is as thoroughly Welsh as Old Mortality," or the more intensely national of Sir Walter Scott's novels are Scotch. The towns, the villages, the country, with few exceptions, are Welsh. The heroine and nearly all the subordinate characters are AVelsh. The hard, morose puritanism, which brings about the perplexities unravelled in the story, is purely Welsh. We scarcely know which to admire most, the courage of Miss Beale, in making her novel so exclusively Welsh, or the skill with which she has accomplished the task. It required a good deal of courage, because very many English novel readers have learnt to despise the Welsh as a barbarous and uncultured people, without any feature of interest. They have been so long misrepresented and carica- tured, that none were more surprised than the Welsh themselves, when Punch last week stood forth as their champion, shouting Stand up, brave Taffy, for thy right, And never be put down. If half Victoria's subjects Were half as good as thou Victoria's subjects would kick up Uncommon little row. And Punch, Incarnate Justice, Intends henceforth to lick All who shall scorn or sneer at you, You Jolly little Brick. But all-powerful as Punch is he cannot do for Wales what Miss Beale, with rare accomplishments, has done in this novel. She knows the country well, and her descriptions of its scenery, its institutions, its people are severely truthful but, at the same time, so skilfully done, and with so much warmth and character as to captivate every person who cares to read one of the best and ablest novels of the season. Margaret Vaughan, or Mara, is the daughter of a stern, unbending, bigotted dissenter, who kept those about him very much in awe of himself and his piety. Mara was a lovely girl with a complexion like a pink and white camellia-hair smooth, glassy and black as water in the moonlight, and eyes so large and sparkling, that it almost dazzled you to look into them. Her expression varied every moment. Now grave, now gay, now sad, now sarcastic. Nobody could describe her face. As she moved about that dark cottage, tossing the baby in a sort of wild delight, you would have thought her a school girl, mad with animal spirits but if you had looked under the long lashes of her wonderful eyes, you would have seen two large tears, like pearls of dew on lily bells." From childhood she was attached to Gerwyn Herbert, a handsome, good- natured, rollicking sailor, who Mr Vaughan thought did not deserve the love of his daughter, and he set his face against it, refusing his consent to their marriage. This preyed on Mara's health, and she went from home for change of air, her father hoping she would soon forget her lover. Gerwyn, too, chafing under the harsh refusal, accepted a berth on board a ship, which was wrecked on the coast of Africa. In the course of some months afterwards, a baby was found in a ditch not far from Mr Vaughan's house. No one could discover the heartless mother, and the child was sent to the Workhouse. Just at this time the Union schoolmistress retired, and to the surprise of every- body, Mara applied for the appointment. She gave herself up to the duties with a cheerfulness and self- denial never before witnessed in the mistress of a Workhouse school. But the foundling, and two companions, engrossed the greater share of her affectionate concern. She watched over the boy with apparent maternal care and anxiety. He Was a strange child, with a marvellous passion for music. Mara's father was desirous that she should marry Edwin Morris, his adopted son and a distinguished Methodist preacher. But she would not listen to the young man's proposals, coldly repulsing him whenever he approached her. She would be true to Gerwyn, and suffer all things for him even to death. Her life in the Workhouse with the paupers for many long years is told with touching pathos and a nice discrimination of character. When the boy grew up and was apprenticed to her father as a farm-servant, Mara left the Workhouse, continuing the boy's ministering angel. In watching the sheep he carried with him either his violin, concertina, or flute, which he played with wonderful skill. At the Eisteddfod he won prizes, and attracted so much notice that it was agreed to send him for educa- tion in music to London. But when the proposal was communicated to Mr Vaughan, he refused to entertain it, and was so wroth that he at once pro hibited the boy using the instruments again. We have already mentioned that he had, in the Work- house, two companions who shared with him Mara's fondness. One of these was a sharp, clever boy-Gipsy George—who had gone to the iron works, resolving to push his way in the world. He had returned to the Eisteddfod, and pressed the foundling to escape from the farm, promising to procure for him a musical education. And now, when Mr Vaughan had taken away his in- struments, he made up his mind to go, and suddenly disappeared. Mara became frantic, and in her mental agony confessed that she was the mother of the child, and the wife of Gerwyn. The shock was too much for Mr Vaughan. The strong man was stricken as a rock by a thunderbolt. He seemed suddenly turned to stone. A long illness followed-body and mind were pros- trate." The disgrace could not be borne. Mara went in search of her poor boy and no part of this touching story is more pathetic than her dreary wanderings in Glamorganshire and in the crowded streets of London, and her return home, weary and distracted, every effort having failed to discover him. One evening in Jnne, a tall, travel-worn woman, with a large veil closely drawn over her face, alighted from the coach at the Glyn Arms. No one recognized the once beautiful Margaret Vaughan, but she it was. She hurried out of the town, and took the road to the Little Mountain, that road which she had taken when she laid her infant in Shanno's path. Then it was autumn, now it is summer; then she was wandering on the hill, watching the fate of her child now she is hastening, forlorn and childless, up the same hill to the cottage whither that infant was taken. Poor Mara! she has paid bitterly for her folly. She has drunk to the dregs the aloes of her deception. How changed she is How pale, thin, and haggard She has sold everything except the worn clothes she has on, and is weary and penniless. She has not found her child, and is uncertain what to do and whither to go. As she advances up the lonely hill, she slackens her pace, and throws up her veil. She glances from side to side with a smile on her worn lips. She is glad to see the hedge-rows again. She stops to look at a grand foxglove, with its hundred purple bells, that towers amid a garden of ferns. She is about to gather it, she starts back, muttering. Poor lfower Let it live out its little life. A few years ago, I held up my head as proudly as the foxglove, now any one may pluck a blossom from my stalk. Ah! what a bower of wild roses wreaths long enough for a briilal arch. Gerwyn used to say we would have an arch all roses! How very sweet they are How could my darling leave these beauties for the darkness and dreariness of the mines? I must gather you, dear bud, f- r you are like him and you, bright rose, for you are what I was! Flower and bud, mother and child to- gether once more and you, wandering honeysuckle, for you are like Gerwyn. Sweet, wild, and thornless, for he never willingly planted a thorn. Gerwyn, Mara, and Ivor! You shall live and die together on my poor breast." There was something very soft and touching in Mara's voice, as she murmured these disjointed sentences and still more touching was the expression, half wild, half wearied, of her large dark eyes. If her mind had not given way, it was sadly shaken, and would require gentle treatment to keep it in its seat. She walked slowly, pausing now and again, and talk- ing to herself. "How brautiful it is Summer on the mountains! sunset on the foxgloves, moss, rock- work, all turned to gold." She paused, scenting the air, as if attracted by a per- fume. It was a bed of wild thyme. She stooped over

COUNTRY COURTSHIPS. A NOVEL. By Anne Beale, ;,U_tor (if No,tiinR Venture, Nothing Have," Gladys, the Ueapfr." Simplicity and Fascination," &o. In three volumes. — J.<>t:ilon Richard Hentley, New Burlongtooo street.

WATER FOR ABERYSTWITH. STORMY PROCEEDINGS. On Tuesday night, a meeting was held in the Town Hall, Aberystwith, called by the Mayor in consequence of a requisition, signed by a large number of ratepayers together with some members of the Town Commis- sioners. The requisition stated that great dissatisfac- tion was felt with the Domen scheme of supplying the town with water, inasmuch as it was so expensive that it would saddle the town with an additional burden of taxation which it was unable to bear. It stated, more- over, that a better supply could be obtained elsewhere, at one-tenth part of the expenses, and less probability of failure. There was a large attendance, and a great deal of feeling was excited. Mr Hackney, the ringleader of the opposition, and who spoke first against the Domen scheme, said this was not the first time he had had to stand up in defence of economy, and the suppression of extravagant schemes. He begged of them to listen to the various speakers who would address them for they must keep their eyes and ears wide open if they would successfully defend their purses (cheers). Mr Julian proposed That this meeting of ratepayers having taken into its consideration the report issued by the water committee, appointed by a meeting of the Town Commissioners, on Tuesday, the 14th day of Sep- tember, to supply this town with pure and wholesale water from a place called the Domen, does hereby express its decided opinion that it disagrees with the last report, believing, first that such water would be un- fit for use, second, that the scheme i@ too expensive, and third that the town, in its present financial condition, will be unable to bear the amount of taxation conse- quent upon the carrying out of such a scheme" (ap- plause). The Domen was a catchment scheme. A reservoir would have to be made, at a place between Rhosgoch and Warecwm; and large enough to contain from four to six month's supply. A stream would run through the reservoir, but it was so small that the water would be for the most part stagnant. The water at the sides would be pool water." Water from such a place affected even fish, and was far dif- ferent from the fresh, clear, rnnning water which the town ought to have. Again, in a dry season, the water was very scarce and altogether insufficient to supply the town. The water would be rendered impure by the action of the air; but they took a better stand than that. That day four or five of the gentlemen who were opposed to the scheme had been over the ground. The Domen" proper was a place where two streams met. Well, they determined to go and search for the sources of these two streams, and see what they could find on the way. They did so. (Mr Julian here pro- duced a black board, on which the Domen and the sources of the streams were traced.) He begged them to take notice of what he was about to tell them, and not be led astray by the eloquence of the other side. He then showed that at a certain point, the left hand stream had a tributary, which made in all three streams. However, they followed the right hand stream up, and on it, close to the water, mostly situated on steep in- clines, were four or five farms and all the drainage of the farm yards and houses, everything, went into the stream which supplied the Domen. The bed at the source of this stream was turf, which was well known by medical authorities to contain matter highly deli- terious to human health. If anyone doubted his word, he produced a piece of tog peat to convince them. (The piece of peat was exhibited.) This was the dirtiest pool which ever human eyes looked upon (laughter), and a flock of ducks and geese were on it making up their toilet for the day (much laughter). Then, on the other stream, the first thing they saw was a large gutter leading from a farmyard into the stream. (Mr Julian here produced a bottle of the water taken from the stream just below where the gutter joined it; the water was of a dark sherry colour, and a roar of laughter greeted its appearance.) In another place, the washings of the pig-styes fell into the stream. Altogether, there were about thirteen farms on the stream, and the whole of their drainage fell into the river. Owing to the conformation of the land, and the situation of the houses, the drainage could not be diverted. The people along the stream would not use the water themselves they knew better. They had sunk wells for their domestic water supply. Now, all this beastly stuff which they had seen entering the stream would go down into the reservoir at the Domen, and they would have to drink it (loud laughter). The question that arose in his mind was whether their friends had really seen all this, and then how they had the conscience to come there and propose that stream as a water supply to the town (cheers). The streams were, in his opinion, filthy dirty things (cheers), and if they would quietly accept water of that kind they were very different to what he was (applause). The fact was, those who recommended this water supply had not been over all the ground, they had only been as far as Domen itself, where the streams met. lie had been over all the streams, and if his mends of the opposition could contradict him in his state- ments let them do so (cheers). If what ho had said and what he had shown them was not enough to satisfy any reasonable being that that water was not fit for human drink, all he could say was that they would never be satisfied by anything (loud applause). The people who lived on the streams would not drink the water for nothing, and why should they be compelled to carry such stuff all the way to Aberystwyth, and drink it, and pay for drinking it?,(applause). It would cost £ 12,000 to complete the scheme (cries of "no"). That money and ten per cent. interest would have to come out of their pockets. That water rate would be paid by many poor people; by many a poor widow who could not efford to educate her child (cheers), and who would have to take two meals instead of three (cheers). The rich would not feel it. Their tables would be well stocked in either case, but he had been a rate collector himself, and he knew that many who paid taxes ought to be receiving taxes instead (cheers). He asked them to look this matter carefully and boldly in the face, and reject it, and another scheme would be proposed by which a plentiful supply of water could be had by next summer at a cheap rate (loud cheering). Mr. Edward Ellis, regretted to oppose his friends, but erring friends must be shown into the right path. He then went over the same ground as that traversed by Mr. Julian, and said that the pigstye and the stable on the farm of Gellyddarog actually hung over the river, which received all the drainage of those places (loud cries of "Ach" and laughter). In another place the stream ran through the farm yard in order to turn the wheel; it carried off from the yard all the rubbish and stuff in its way (laughter). The river ran at the very doors of the people, and they emptied all their slops and refuse into it. Would they not think anybody mad who knew all this, and yet offered them the water to drink ? (cheers). Anybody who drank the water would be void of all taste (roars of laughter), for if-he had any taste at all he could not posssibly drink it (cheers). On one part of the stream there were sixteen cottages, each having a pigstye &c., &c.; every one of them drained into the Domen stream. At Darrenfach farm they saw a thick black stream running from the yard into the river. Then in another place, they were going to wash lead ore, and that would run into the stream. It would cost X 12,000 to bring the river here; and if- it were brought here and put to run down the slopes of Pen- ddinas, there would be some splendid crops of grass there next spring (laughter). Mr. Ellis then quoted from a newspapers report of a meeting of the Commissioners which stated that the Domen water was of unquestion- able quality. He supposed that when Mr Duncan, the engineer, visited the spot, it was in the summer when all the cows were out at grass and all the pigs away from home (laughter); even supposing the water was of unquestionable quality in the summer when the animals were from home, they must remember that they would have to drink it not in the summer only, but all the year round (cheers ) The same newspaper report which he had quoted, put the estimated cost of the scheme at £ 12,000 although that sum had just been denied. There was close to the town a large supply of water, which had sufficed for their wants during the last five years, and had they a proper pumping appar- atus, they could get double or treble the quantity (loud cheering.) When they had good water close to the town why should they go six miles off, to the Domen, and bring the filthy stuff from there ? Why, the country people who saw them examine the stream that day were laughing at them, and one old woman, who learned the purport of their errand, actually followed, and made game of them (much laughter.) Mr Humphriss argued that the water was foul and insufficient in quantity. On one occasion, in the summer, it was found to be too little to supply a 3-inch pipe how then could they expect to fill a 6-inch pipe which was what they would require. It would be useless, absurd, and ridiculous to spend, X12,000 on a scheme which he believed to be as rotten as the Domen itself (great cheering and laughter.) He advocated pumping a water supply from Llanbadarn flats. Mr J. G. Williams late agent at Gogerddan, argued that there was not a sufficient supply of water to be had at the Domen. There were said to be 1000 or 1500 acres of catchment; but from the tithe book, he found there were only about 800 acres of water shed. Was that enough to supply a town of 10,000 inhabitants. The Domen reservoir was to contain 50 million gallons of water; but there was only one acre and three quarters of land available and what embankment could be formed there to hold that load of water? If the late Mr Duncan had been in the room that night, to hear the truth as it came from Mr Julian and Mr Ellis, he would have been ashamed, as an engineer, to sign a report in favour of the scheme (cheers). But Mr Duncan had been decieved. The day on which Mr Duncan visited the district was a foggy, murky, wet day. He (Mr Williams) was there, and really the fog was so thick, that they could scarcely see 200 yards before them. In- stead of being taken up the stream where he could see the farms and the cottages draining into it, Mr Duncan as engineer, was taken up the road, and there through the mist, he shown the water shed (laughter). He defied the best engineer in the world to form a correct estimate of a water shed by looking at it through a fog. But Mr Duncan was in a mist, and the whole scheme was in a mist. Had Mr Duncan been at the Domen, on the day when he was taken up to see the other foolish scheme of bringing the water from Plynlimmon, he would have seen the truth and have condemned it at once. The speaker then complained, amidst loud cries of "shame," that he had not been given a hearing at the commissioner's meeting, when called upon by the Mayor, to speak while another gentleman was allowed to speak without being called upon at all. He begged the meeting to condemn the scheme. Dr. Williams said that he was once in favour of the Domen scheme, but on examination he found that he had been deceived as to the acreage, and as to the fact of there being mines in the neighbourhood. There were only about 720 acres available. He went by the ordnance map. He believed that those who supported the scheme did not deceive the town wilfully, but that they had been deceived. They had no letters from the landowners giving permission to lay pipes through the land on the other hand they were told that the land- owners were very much opposed to the scheme. To oompel these gentlemen to give powers to go through their land would be a very expensive process. More- over, a shaft had been sunk in Mr James's property, and an engine was to be put up. This would reduce the 720 acres of land to less than 500 acres. He should oppose the scheme most strenuously. They ought not to go to a mining district for a water supply. Mr Pell, speaking in favour of the Domen scheme, said he had no doubt that what had been said by the gentlemen on the other side was sufficient to satisfy them that they were perfectly right but he could not admit that they had said anything at all detremental to the plan (laughter.) The question was, could they get water at a reasonable expense, and could they get it from the Domen-because the Domen and Llanbadarn Flats were the only two places which would give an adequate supply. The Commissioners, after two years' consideration, had decided for the Domen but they were not united, for those Commissioners who supported the scheme at one meeting opposed it at the next. Either those gentlemen were very reckless in giving their support to any measure whatever, or they were very regardless of the interests of the town. True, X12,000 was Mr Duncan's original estimate for the Domen scheme, but the Commissioners believed no such sum was necessary, and he was convinced that the whole cost, including Act of Parliament, compensation, making reservoir, and bringing the water to the town would not be anything like X6,000 (laughter ) The charges made against the committee were unjust and untruthful. They were a disinterested body the great bnrden of taxation fell upon them. They had not arrived at a hurried conclusion they had considered it for above two years they had taken the advice of one of the ablest hydraulic engineers in the kingdom,—a man who would not have recommended it unless he approved of it. He (Mr Pell) regretted to hear the remarks of Mr Williams, which were ungenerous and untruthful. (Mr Williams: "In what rospect" ?) He was prepared to prove all he said. To bring specimens of the water, and of the turf, as had been done that night, was a "iosi unheard mode or arguing. it was the truth but not the whole truth. Farmers were very unwise to allow their liquid manure to run away as Mr Julian had described (cheers) but if the town got an Act of Parliament they would compel those farmers to protect the water, and to keep their refuse at home or to drain into another place not into the river certainly (cheer ■). It was said that the water was scarce yet Mr Ellis. one of their own men, said there was water enough to turn half-a dozen mills. Then, the water had been analysed by Professor Wilfred, of Liverpool, who approved of it, as water of unquestionable quality and purity, and the analysis was to be seen by any- body. They must reconcile that analysis with Mr Julian's statements. Either those statements were truthful or they were not so. The opponents of the scheme agreed unanimously in its favour, provided the objections raised against it were found to be baseless. Water must be had from somewhere, and that without delay; there was no option. They could bring water from the Domen for £ 6000, while if bought from the Llanbadarn Flatsy it could not be done for less than Mr Duncan's estimate, £ 14,000 (loud hissing and uproar. The Mayor succeeded, after some little time, in getting Mr Pell a hearing). The debt with which the town had been saddled would be repaid not at 10 per cent., as Mr Julian said, but at 11 or 2 per cent. at the most that to extend over a period of fifty years. The water works must be of a substantial character, for the Local Government Board in London would never sanction works of a flimsy character on which people were to be taxed fifty years hence. Unless they did what was right, and speedily too, the London Board would send down a man to do it for them, and he would not care whether he loaded the ratepayers with debt or not. All matters connected with the waterschemeshad been trans- acted at special meetings, which necessitated a notice of meeting to prevent collusion of any kind and it was a great reflection upon members that they should first of all approve of the scheme and then stay away from meetings of the Board, and at the eleventh hour when nothing further could be done bcfo, e another year, get up and oppose the scheme altogether. He had done his best to get an economical scheme and had proposed one which, at a cost of £ 2C00, would have sufficed for ten, or fifteen, or twenty years,—that was to construct a reservoir above the present one—but the Board would not hear of it. It was unfair to state, as tho requisition did, that water could be got at one-tenth of the expense of the Domen schemo that could not be done. The Board would never think of carrying out the water scheme without the approval of the rate- payers (cheers). Those who favoured the Domen scheme deserved the support of the ratepayers. Their previous conduct ought to be taken into consideration. He moved that the committee appointed to report on the Domen scheme deserved the confidence of the meet- ing. They had the interest of the town at heart, and would not spend a sixpence to the detriment of the town. They would, as they had, do their utmost to re- duce the expenses of the town, and if the meeting per- severed in its opposition to the Domen scheme he had no doubt they would live to regret it In reply to Mr Williams, as to the word untruthful" applied to him. Mr Pell said that Mr Duncan was not mislead as to the acreage. He took an ordnance map, which contained the conformation of the ground, laid the plan upon the ordnance map, sketched out the quantity of land before he ever went to Domen; and the view which he had when he went to Domen confirmed him as to 1,700 acres of land being there He (Mr. Pell) had not measured the land, but he would say that that complaint of the want of land came with very bad grace from one who had recom- mended a scheme at Nanteos, where there was much less land. He regretted that in the heat of the moment the words he had used should have fallen from his lips (hear, hear) but he must repeat that Mr. William's statement was most unfair, and calculated to mislead, if not wholly untruthful and it was certainly calculated to prejudice the memory of a very able man,who was now dead. The Local Government Board in London required a covered reservoir that could not be built at Llanbadarn Flats for less than X3,000 or £ 4,000. At the Domen it could be done for less. On the Flats, X8,000 would be required for machinery and X300 a-year for attend- ance, &c., which represented X6,000, and that added to £ 8,000 made a total of Y,14,000, the cost of the Llan- badarn Flats scheme. Mr Thomas Jones seconded Mr Pell. Mr Ellis said that the farmers could not divert.their drainage. Water could not be made to run up-hill, even by Act of Parliament (laughter). The farmers had had the privilege of draining into the brook since Adam was a boy (much laughter). Mr. Pell said that many of the farmers had other farms below them. Mr Ellis said that many of them had not. Mr Pell said that if the drainage were diverted to some land which he saw there it would effect a great improvement. Mr Ellis to Mr Pell-Have you visited Gelly. Mr Pell—I have answered all your questions. Mr Ellis said that if Mr Pell had not visited Gelly how could he speak as to the place. And as Mr Pell had reduced Mr. Duncan's estimate for the Domen scheme of X 12,000 to P,6,000 why could he not reduce Mr Duncan's estimate for the Llanbadarn Flats scheme ? (tremendous cheering). Then they would get water from Llan- badarn Flats for £7,000 (laughter). Mr Pell said he could not reduce the Llanbadarn scheme estimate, because the engine, pump, and appar- atus must be of a certain standard, and he was told they would not bear reduction. The Domen scheme was originally a much more expensive one than now but he could prove that it could, by alteration being made, be carried out for X6,000 (an attempt at applause suc- ceeded by a storm of hisses). Mr Attwood now came to the front and attempted to speak, but was greeted with prolonged hissing. The Mayor asked if they were afraid to hear Mr. Attwood's arguments (laughter). If they were not quiet Mr Attwood -would keep them in the hall all night but what he would have a hearing. Mr Attwood then argued on the great superiority of a gravitation over a pumping scheme, not being affected by drought, or accidents by the breaking of machinery. Mr Jones, one of the committee, was opposed to the Domen scheme till he went up and saw the place, when he became convinced it was the best (cheers and hisses, which continued for a long time, and on Mr Attwood attempting to speak, on several occasions, the hissing, intermingled with bowls and imitations of a dog's bark, were renewed) The committee bad been up many times examining the Domen, and had arrived at their conclusions after long and careful considera- tion but these two men, Mr Julian, and Mr Ellis, went up, straight from their counters (laughter,) and after a few hours' inspection condemned the whole scheme (applause, succeeded by a tremendous storm of hisses, howls, cries of "Ach," and general uproar. After many attempts to resume his speech which the audience resolutely howled down, Mr Attwood retired, thanking the meeting for the great attention with which they had listened to him.) The Mayor said that Mr Attwood's comparison between the committee and the two other gentlemen was rather provoking but Mr Attwood was so accus- tomed to praise one side and blacken the other that they must forgive him (laughter.) Mr Green said Mr Pell's estimate of £ 6,000 for machinery for Llanbadarn Flats was from hearsay in fact, Mr Pell was an amateur. Now, with 33 years' experience in such things, and having made an engine himself he said such an estimate was absurd. He assured them that an engine of ten horse power would pump daily enough water for 10,000 people, 100 yards high. Mr Taylor, junior, believed there was plenty of water at the Domen. Although he was not as old as Mr Green, and had not made an engine, he had seen as many as Mr Green had, and he did not believe in Mr Green's estimate for the Llanbadarn Flats scheme. Mr Ellis and Mr Julian had been up the streams on a rainy day, when all this nasty stuff was being washed out of the yards like fun (laughter.) That that was going on all the year round was absurd. Besides, if it were, what harm would it do ? (laughter.) But it could be made to run in a channel of its own, and so be utilised on the fields. That would only cost a few shillings. As to purity, there was an analysis of water taken from the site of the reservoir, and not from the farm yards, which was absurd. It was such very close quarters. At Warwick, they took the sewage over a few fields, and tanks, and it came out quite clear, and fit to drink (laughter.) A little stuff out of a farm yard was nothing very violent there was no poison in it. If they did not, within the next fortnight, adopt some scheme which would satisfy Mr Taylor in London, -a namesake of his, but not a relation, although a very clever fellow—(laughter), a government man would come down and do the work without consulting them. Mr Edwards suggested that the present reservoir should be enlarged, and expense saved. Mr Pell said he had tried to do so, but nineteen out of twenty-three Commissioners opposed it. He still approved of it. He asked the Clerk to the Commis- sioners to read a letter which had been received from Mr Taylor, in London. The Clerk, said the letter would show that a crisis was come, and begged the meeting to adopt some scheme very soon. He did not know who the letter was addressed to (cries of Oh" and laughter.) He asked the chairman to read it. The Chairman said that Mr Szlumper had, by cor- respondence, induced Mr Taylor to abandon a costly and unnecessary scheme for draining into the sea and during the correspondence he told Mr Taylor that' pro- bably the Domen scheme would be knocked on the head. The Mayor hear read Mr Taylor's reply, which stated that there was a legal obligation on every Local Board to supply proper water in adequate supply that Aberystwith Local Board had not done so and that if complaints were made to the Secretary of State he would consider the Local Board in default, and compel them to execute the necessary works. He added that the Secretary of State had larger compulsory powers than he had a short time ago. The amendment in favour of the Domen scheme was then put to the meeting1, when only a few erentlemen on the platform voted for it not a hand was raised in the body of the hall. The result was received with loud and derisive laughter, and the original motion was carried with a tremendous round of cheering. The Mayor said that as they had said where they would not have water from, they must now say where they would have it from. He called for a new scheme. Mr Green rejoiced that the meeting had not been frightened, by Mr Taylor's letter, into adopting the Domen scheme. As Mr Taylor had been led to aban- don one wild scheme, that of draining into the sea, probably he could be persuaded to abandon another equally wild scheme—the Domen water scheme (laugh- ter and cheers). He moved That after the most careful and impartial investigation into the several schemes proposed for bringing a plentiful supply of pure water into the town, it is our unanimous and decided opinion that the best, cheapest, and most feasible scheme is that of the Llanbadarn Flats." He said that the Llanbadarn scheme could be carried out for £ 2,000, instead of £ 14,000. The Commissioners went, first of all, to Strata Florida; thence they started off to Plynlimmon then they came a little nearer home and he indulged in the hope that ere long they would induce them to come nearer home still (laughter). Mr Pell had stated £ 5,000 as the cost of an engine and boiler but he told them that they could get one to suit their purpose for years for X500 (cheers and laughter). He produced the estimate, which came from a respectable Leeds firm, and was dated March 1869. It was a ten-horse power; engine, £ 288, and boiler X150. The prospectus stated that some of these engines did work up to six times their nominal power. The firm would give a guarantee. But the town did not want a 60-horse power engine. Their own little 4.horse engine had given them a capital supply for 20 years and a 10-horse power would suit them ad- mirably. A good substantial engine house he put at X200 a mile of 8-inch iron pipe, including laying, £ 900 a pool (if necessary) 1200, without an arch. But they did not want a pool; for if they sunk into the flats he felt certain they would be deluged with water. He had his figures to prove that £ 2,000 could do the work, and when the work could be done for X2,000, so as to suit the town, and £14,°.°0 was proposed to be spent, he thought it was high time to look into matters a little more closely (cheers). The engine would burn 2 jibs, or 2Jlbs. 'of coal per hour, costing about £ 75 a-year. Mr Benjamin Hughes seconded the motion, stating that there was plenty of land to make a reservoir. 0 The Mayor said if no one intended to propose an amendment, the three remaining speakers who were put down to speak in favour of the Llanbadarn Flats need not trouble the meeting, as it was then half-past ten. The Mayor understood from the gentlemen around him that no amendment would be proposed, and proceeded to put the motion to the meeting, but, Mr Pell, amidst great uproar, protested against the words careful and impartial investigation," and also the words unanimous and decided opinion of the meeting." The investigation had not been careful or impartial, nor was the meeting unaninmous or very decided (cheers). The resolution was then altered several times, and ultimately, passed. A resolution was also passed requesting the Commis- sioners to take into their earnest consideration the adop- tion of the Llanbadarn Flats scheme. A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceed- ings.

it, examining the delicate flowers, and touching gently the pensile harebell that grew in its midst. "That is Nanno! sweet Nanno! Ah, here is the pink heather! Gerwyn! Oerwyn! you used to call me your mountain heather. Oh! I have loved you—if you are near me, you know it. You know that I laid our child down here, from love to you, and now he, too, is gone. But this pure air gives me hope and faith. He will come back again-you will come back. God is good, and I am humbler and more patient than I was; He has brought me low, and knows that I repent of all my sins. I will kneel down here, just where I laid my baby, and tell Him so again." Poor Mara knelt down by the roadside, near the spot where she had placed Ivor years before. She clasped her hands, and craved forgiveness. Then she asked that her husband and child might be restored to her. Very simple were her words—very childlike her manner. Sorrow had bowed the proud spirit, and the unbending mind was broken. Then followed a serious illness, and an apathy so engrossing, that nothing would rouse her until some tidings of her husband were brought. We ought not to reveal any more of a story singularly pathetic and enthralling. There are other fine characters besides Mara Mariana, less demonstrative than her sister, but with a depth and steadfastness of affection which even Mara's great love for Gerwyn does not sur- pass. When she discovered his passion for Mara, she succeeded in concealing her own feelings, to all appearance thinking more of others than of herself. The rejection of Edwin by Mara played upon his mind and eventually led him to offer himself to the missionary cause. He spent several years in America, and then returned to Wales, and finding Mara still at the Workhouse school, he renewed his suit, but to no purpose. He allowed himself to be carried away by feelings which he could -not analyse, but which seemed to urge him to make amends for his past worldly-mindedness by pressing religion on everyone he met. He accused himself for having loved Mara too well, and for lavishing on the creature what was due to the Creator. And as if to cure his love, and to banish from his mind those words of hers, he rushed madly from place to place, preaching, teaching, and exhorting continually. He forgot himself and everybody else in the feverish enthusiasm of the moment, and humbled to the dust in his own penitence for fancied guilt, he sought to bring others to repentance." We cannot follow him in his interview with Mr Glyn, his preaching in the ancestral hall and in the Workhouse. All of it is full of interest, keeping up the reader's attention strained and excited to a high degree. A revival followed, and says Miss Beale :— Much has been said in the religious world upon the subject of "Revivals." Some think that a great light is suddenly kindled, which, like fire set to the grasses of the prairies, spreads rapidly, causes a general conflagra- tion, and then goes out, leaving only exhaustion behind. Others believe that the flame is lighted by supernatural fire from heaven, that it increases steadily, and is kept alive on the altars of the hearts it reaches. Much is said on the one side of excitement, mistaken zeal, and fanaticism—on the other of torpor, carelessness, and irreligion. But whatever rouses the soul from lethargy to ardour, and startles the unthinking to thought, must be good. The preaching of Edwin Morris began what is called "a Revival." The flame did not die out, but spread rapidly amongst the excitable and religious inhabitants of his native mountains, who were iouscd, as by a Whitfield, to prayer and praise. Edwin was carried away by the excitement he had raised. At the request of his brethren he went from place to place, from south to north, to preaeh to the thousands who flocked to hear him. 111 and exhausted as he was, he struggled on. He forgot himself, his friends, even his love, in the great work he believed himself called upon to do. Churchmen and Dissenters alike came to hear, and were equally impressed with the zeal of a man who was evidently spending his last ener- gies in sowing the seed of life. From town to town, from village to village, be passed, leaving that seed be- hind him which, it was said afterwards, took root and brought forth abundantly. But when the spring-tide was over, and summer dawned on the mountains, he returned to Tyrmynydd, dangerously ill. It was said that he returned to die. All who saw him envied his state of mind, and Mr Vaughan welcomed him as a martyr to his faith; but to Mariana, his condition was a great grief. She saw in his wasted form, hollow and eager eyes, and excited manner, the consequences of a severe mental struggle. She knew what his soul had passed through, but could not tell if he had conquered. The patient and reserved woman suffered as keenly as he did, and would have sacrificed her own peace to have ministered to his. But she did not know that he had so far mastered his passion for Mara, as to make it subservient to his will. That he had subdued his love into a keen and anxious pity, that worked on his mind in a new form, and haunted him with a horrible dread. Even this, how- ever, had given way to his zeal in the work he had been engaged in, and he returned to Mariana prostrate in mind and body, more from spiritual enthusiasm than from human frailr v. Rut she had enough to do to think of his bodily wants, and she found unspeakable happi- ness in ministering to them. Her thoughts were of him, morning, noon, and night, and she sometimes re- proached herself for thinking more of the creature than of the Creator. To bring him hourly, the jellies and soups needful to keep up his strength-to gather the earliest flowers for his table—to furnish him with such books and papers as she could procure-to read to him when he could not read himself—to sing the hymns they had learnt together—to keep from him the zealous but injudicious friends and disciples who came to see one so celebrated as preacher and saint—to soothe undue excitement by gentle speech-to help him to that peace which he had preached but failed to find-and finally to pray for him as the devout Christian alone can pray- these were Mariana's exercises for many months. And they were tho happiest months of her life, although chequered by the agony of suspense. We could dwell with pleasure on the Herberts, who are sketched with a master hand, on Gipsy George and Ivor who take a prominent place in the story, but we can only find room for the briefest possible reference to Mr Glyn, who lived a secluded life, brooding over the frailties of a wife who had dishonoured him and the death of all his children. Angharad Herbert, a charming little coquet, is bent on restoring him to society, and making his life cheerful and happy. At first she makes a very slight impression; and one is amused with the schemes planned to entrap him. How surprised he is to find himself involved in the little frivolities and gaities of country life, and still more at the tender feeling stealthily creeping into his heart for Angharad, who uever ceased quzzing and tormenting him. Mara, I am so tired said Angharad as she sat down by Mara's side. Now don't scold. I am only hunting down Mr Glyn. I saw him at a distance, and I think he is coming this way. I offended him griev- ously yesterday, and I want to make friends. He came to see Llewellen, and I chanced to be in the room alone. He could not have escaped me if he would indeed, he doesn't run away as he used, but is more like his old self. Still I cannot help teazing him, though I could bite my tongue through every time I do it." You should not care so much for the effect of your words, if you must and will say them," said Mara. I don't exactly care, but latterly he has looked vexed, and I don't really want to annoy him, only to draw him out of his moping life." Is that all, Angharad ?" All Isn't that enough ? You don't suppose I want to-to-" Here Angharad coloured and got confused. You have not told me how you offended him," said Mara. "He said he was going to take Gipsy George from tho Workhouse. and put him under his man, Jolly who servo him for butler, and footman, and alt, and is the most odious wretch you ever saw in your life. Oh Mr Glyn!' said I, your antiquated Jolly,' how the man ever got such a name, I can't think. He will finish what the Union so kindly began.' What do you mean ?' asked be, actually looking me in the face, and he has such lovely eyes." Never mind his eyes, Harrie. What did you say ? Tell mo about poor George. Why I said. Mr Roderick has tried hard to spoil the best temper in the world, and Jolly would try harder.' Are my servants then so odious to you V he asked. I Oh I answered, I never saw such cross, moth-eaten, old scarecrows. The housekeeper must have come out of the ark, and as to Jolly,' I saw he was growing very red, when I spoke that sacred name, I am sure he was dug up under a lemon tree, and imbibed, not only the acid but the colour. Pray, don't put that bright, clever George with those old horrors. That was about what I said." "Then you were very ill-mannered to Mr Glyn, and very unjust to George, who could not go to a better place. What did Mr Glyn say ?" He bowed very gravely, said he was sorry that his establishment pleased me so little, grew red, looked at me, not angrily, as I deserved, but sadly, and walked away." "And you, Angharad?" "I have been penitent ever since, and I have made mamma as cross as two sticks, by rushing in and out of the house, in the hope of seeing the stupid man, and begging his pardon for abusing his mummies. Now I am come here to waylay him on his return home, for he always crosses this beach." "Harrie, you are a dreadful flirt. It was only yester- day I heard you were engaged to young Jenkinson, of Maesgwyn, and he would be a capital match for you. Now—" "Now I am going to beg pardon of an old friend, who used to be like a father to me." "Don't bring that farce of a father on the stage again. You are trying to fascinate Mr. Glyn, and en- couraging other lovers at the same time." I hope you are not jealous, Miss Mara. I am afraid all my fascinations fail with such a cobweb of a man, and that is just why I delight in him. As to young Jenkinson, don't name at the same time and place as Mr. Glyn. His one idea is, that he is an only son, and has a thousand a year, together with apple-blossom cheeks and-" The volatile artful coquet at last conquered, and became Mrs Glyn. We have purposely abstained from referring to the Workhouse System, the Camp Meeting, the National Eisteddfod, which are all exquisitely described by Miss Beale. Take for example the following passage It was a wild and picturesque scene. Open-air preaching is generally attractive to the multitude, and it is especially so to an excitable people, whose greatest holiday pleasure is psalm-singing and sermon-hearing. As the dense crowd pressed round the platform on which the preacher stood, groans, Amens, interjections, and words of affirmation were heard on all sides, but above every other sound rose the deep voices of the ministers, who preached and prayed by turns, for periods of an hour or more. No language seems better suited for field-eloquence than the Welsh, and no people are gifted with greater power of pouring forth continued and sus- tained oratory. One after another the preachers preached, and the listeners listened, from ten in the morning till sunset and the poetic eloquence and musical cadences of many of them were as remarkable as was their power of language and lungs. Edwin Morris was one of these. Young as he was he promised to be a popular favourite. The guttural tones of the Welsh language became, as he modulated them, a sort of rhythmical music, ascending and descending, like the gamut. All eyes were fixed upon him, all hearts opened to him-even Mara was spell-bound, for in the prayer that preceded the sermon, he pointed to the long line of sea before him, and prayed for those tossing on its pathless waters. The hymn, which followed, was from the words Thy footsteps are on the great deep." It was given out, verse by verse, by the preacher, and all that vast multi- tude united to praise the Lord, whose ways are described by the Psalmist, as "in the sea." Nothing grander could be heard on earth than the volume of united praise that ascended, like incense, heavenward, and the last notes were echoed by the hills as if they loved to pro- long the solemn strain. After the hymn there was a brief silence-then a little murmur of talk, and then the sermon, which lasted an hour and a half. Mr Vaughan listened with critical attention, and Edwin felt that his eyes were upon him. But he soon forgot the attention of an individual in the approbation of the multitude. Indeed he soon forgot even this in his subject and his longing to reach the hearts as well as ears of his hearers. When his discourse came to an end, he received the congratulations of his brother-ministers, who criticised his sermon much as connoisseurs in music or art would discuss a song or a picture. Not so his general hearers. They spoke of him as of one holier than themselves, be- cause he had language at command the more illiterate portion of them-the sailors especially-were much excited by what he said, and declared that they could listen to him all day. We could quote any number of passages in no respect inferior to those we have given. But we are loth to take away from the pleasure of reading this very clever and powerfully written novel.