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fishing season. Many family crosses about this time. Writing some poetical attempts. The wet corn harvest ever memorable.

1816.

Step-brother bed-ridden throughout, I mostly attending him. Unkindness in neighbours painful. Increasing pleasure in reading and poetry. A new school by a certain Edward Lewis, at Llangybi; my visit to see it with an old fellow-scholar under William Owen, viz. William Davies, Garddu Bach, subsequently W. R. Davies, Baptist minister, Dowlais; now dead.

1817.

From Fellowship to Vulgar Fractions by end of 1817. In May this year, removed to my birthplace and walks of my infancy. A regular workman now at home. Poetry assuming a decided form. My first consonantial song much admired by connoisseurs. Begin learning English; self taught; study hard on grammar; translate laboriously; read higher books. Attended school under Edward Davies, minister of the Independents at Capel Helig. He greatly patronised me, and we were extremely fond of each other. I worked Arithmetic from Fellowship to Multiplications of Decimals here up to latter end of 1817, and perhaps beginning of 1818. The rest I made self-taught. Brother carried on a bier to Cefn, in April or May this year.

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The revival at its height this year. memorable Carnarvon Association. Rev. John Elias's Zorobabel Sermon. Getting books from Wm. Robt. Hughes. October this year composed my "Cân y Greadigaeth" (Song of Creation), the first poetical piece I ventured to shew to people, except some few lines on the breaking up of the school at Llangybi, in the year 1815. Then I knew only rhyme; now I had pretty well mastered the cynghanedd gaeth (alliterative metre), as one Englyn appended to the above song testifies. My remaining work up to December this year was "Awdl i'r Gwynt" (Ode to the Wind); in Novem

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Mother died! Removed to Kybi Village, in May. Entered Tydweiliog School in June; about Pwllheli Association time returned home to keep school for a short time for brother, whose illness had returned malignantly; he recovered a little, I had some little more time at Tydweiliog. See Seren Gomer; visited John Thomas, Chwilog, spring of this year, and Robt. ap Gwilym Ddu. My Cywydd to the Plas Du stallion 5th June; "Myfyrdod ar oes Dyn" (Thoughts on human life), two englynion suggested by the death of mother. Cywydd "Yr Hen Wr" (The Old Man) this year. Cywydd "I ofyn bwyall" (To ask for an axe), November 23rd, and the English elegy for mother in April 29th.

1822.

Brother died; open school on my own account at Llangybi. Bought my brother's effects of uncle, who claimed all in respect of debt. Take Dysgedydd; visited Dewi Wyn, Wyn, on Easter Monday. April 23rd,— "Cywydd y Cenin" (Poem to leeks); marriage ode to Sion Cawrdaf, April 8th; also Friday, October 31st, was written "Myfyrdod ym mysg y Beddau" (Thoughts among the

Graves). I addressed the literary societies of Dolbenmaen and Llanystumdwy, meeting together at Criccieth, November 10th. Quit Society.

1823.

Removed lodgings to Cefn. July 10th, addressed Cymrodorion of Llangybi. April, to P. y Moel. June, to Liverpool, Manchester, and Stalybridge; back in July; try again for school, very poor result. Father off as journeyman, towards end of year returns in bad health; parish find him lodg, ings. Beginning Ode on "Dinistr Jerusalem" (Destruction of Jerusalem), or at least deciding on beginning. Ode to "Liberty," Ode to "Content," &c. August, Englynion "Ar ben Carn Bentyrch" (Seren and Dysgedydd); address to Welsh Society of Llanystumdwy, read it at a meeting there, where Morris Williams was a fellow-member, and made a speech October 6th. September 25th, composed Awdl "Gwerth Rhyddid" (Ode to Liberty). October 20th, addressed Welsh Literary Society of Dolgellau.

1824.

January 6th, met Gwilym Owen, and read

part of my Ode to him at Pentyrch. Sometime in spring or earlier removed lodgings to uncle Thomas'. Proceeding with my Ode "Dinistr Jerusalem." Father died! in May or June. In September gained the CHAIR PRIZE at the Powys Eisteddfod. Delivered £5 to Mr. Wm. Jones, Druggist, to be deposited in the Savings Bank at Pwllheli, September 20th.

1825.

Llanarmon. Lodging at Tynrhos for one March this year, went to keep school at quarter, then to John Williams, Llanarmon, in June. In May to Clynog with Robt. Griffith, Tynrhos, and William Jones, tailor. 24th February, applied for situation as attorney's clerk at Pwllheli, but did not succeed.

1826.

At Llanarmon; recollect nothing particular this year, except translating Dewi Wyn's "Elusengarwch" (Ode to Charity) to English, for J. Vaughan, Esq., at Dewi's earnest request, and to his extreme satisfaction as he expressed himself.

THE IMMOVEABLE COVENANT.

It is almost impossible to exaggerate the influence of the Hebrew idea of a covenant, the covenant of peace between God and man,-upon the history of the world. During the period of the Protestant Reformation it was transformed into many political theories, it found expression in many mighty movements. In Wales, it became the chief idea of the peasants during the second half of the eighteenth century. It raised them from abject superstition, from a state of cringing servility; it made them withstand their landowner and spiritual guide, once so loved and feared, for conscience' sake. It is a grand idea, desert-born, causing endless cycles of progress in human history,-absolutism, the rise of the spirit of freedom, rebellion, and absolutism again.

The following poem was composed by a Welsh labourer, Huw Derfel, while crossing the Berwyn from Llangynog to Llandderfel. The silence and the grandeur of those mountains, though so bleak and lonely,--can never, be forgotten by those who have made the long mountain journey in solitude. It was a scene well calculated to bring into the peasant bard's mind the favourite verse of his people,-" For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall my covenant of peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee."

The poem was translated by D. L. Pughe, a minister who died young. I have often heard it repeated from beginning to end by farm servants.

YE cloud piercing mountains so mighty,

Whose age is the age of the sky;

No cold blasts of winter affright ye,
Nor heats of the summer defy;
You've witnessed the world's generations
Succeeding like waves on the sea;

The deluge you saw, when doomed nations
In vain to your summits would flee.

You challenge the pyramids lasting
That rolling millenniums survive ;

Fierce whirlwinds, and thunderbolts blasting,
And oceans with tempests alive!

But lo! there's a day fast approaching
Which shall your foundations reveal,-
The powers of heaven will be shaking,
And earth like a drunkard shall reel!
Proud Aran, and Snowdon so towering,

Ye now will be skipping like lambs;
The Alps will, by force overpowering
Propelled, be disporting like rams!
The breath of Jehovah will hurl you-
Aloft in the air you shall leap:
Your crash, like his thunders who'll whirl you,
Shall blend with the roars of the deep.

All ties, and strongholds, with their powers,
Shall, waterlike, melting be found ;
Earth's palaces, temples, and towers,
Shall then be all dashed to the ground:

But were this great globe plunged for ever
In seas of oblivion, or prove
Untrue to its orbit, yet never,

My God, will thy covenant move!

The skies, as if kindling with ire and
Resentment, will pour on this ball
A deluge of sulphurous fire, and

Consume its doomed elements all!
But though heaven and earth will be passing
Away on time's Saturday eve;

The covenant-bonds, notwithstanding,
Are steadfast to all that believe.

I see-but no longer deriding

The sinner with gloom on his brow:
He cries to the mountains to hide him,
But nothing can shelter him now!
He raves-all but demons reject him!-
But not so the Christian so pure;
The covenant-arms will protect him,
In these he'll be ever secure !

Thus fixed, while his triumphs, unfolding,
Enrapture his bosom serene;

In sackcloth the heavens he's beholding,
And nature dissolving is seen;
He mounts to the summits of glory,

And joins with the harpers above,
Whose theme is sweet Calvary's story-
The issue of covenant love.

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THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING POPULATION OF WALES.

SINCE the results of the linguistic

census of 1891 were published, the question of the relation between the Welsh and English populations of Wales has occupied a prominent place in public attention. În view of the interest thus created, it may not be out of place to attempt some account, as far as this is possible within the narrow limits of a magazine article, of the origin and growth of the English-speaking population of Wales. In order to do so, it is necessary to go back to very ancient times. The first English-speaking districts in what is now called Wales must have been in Flint and Denbigh. Some early Saxon

settlements in this part of Wales, such as Prestatyn (= préosta tún, priests' town), Mostyn, and others of similar termination, have later on become thoroughly Cymricised; but there can be little doubt that in the portions of Flint and Denbigh east of Offa's Dyke, English has continued to be spoken since the time of the Anglian conquest. Both the place-names and the dialect of these districts seem to bear testimony to this fact; the latter is distinctly Mercian or Midland in character, and shows little trace of that Celtic influence which is noticeable in the westerly districts of Shropshire and in English Maelor. Later on, (probably

Graves). I addressed the literary societies of Dolbenmaen and Llanystumdwy, meeting together at Criccieth, November 10th. Quit Society.

1823.

Removed lodgings to Cefn. July 10th, addressed Cymrodorion of Llangybi. April, to P. y Moel. June, to Liverpool, Manchester, and Stalybridge; back in July; try again for school, very poor result. Father off as journeyman, towards end of year returns in bad health; parish find him lodgings. Beginning Ode on "Dinistr Jerusalem" (Destruction of Jerusalem), or at least deciding on beginning. Ode to "Liberty," Ode to "Content," &c. August, Englynion 'Ar ben Carn Bentyrch" (Seren and Dysgedydd); address to Welsh Society of Llanystumdwy, read it at a meeting there, where Morris Williams was a fellow-member, and made a speech October 6th. September 25th, composed Awdl "Gwerth Rhyddid" (Ode to Liberty). October 20th, addressed Welsh Literary Society of Dolgellau.

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part of my Ode to him at Pentyrch. Sometime in spring or earlier removed lodgings to uncle Thomas'. Proceeding with my Ode "Dinistr Jerusalem." Father died! in May or June. In September gained the CHAIR PRIZE at the Powys Eisteddfod. Delivered £5 to Mr. Wm. Jones, Druggist, to be deposited in the Savings Bank at Pwllheli, September 20th.

1825.

March this year, went to keep school at Llanarmon. Lodging at Tynrhos for one quarter, then to John Williams, Llanarmon, in June. In May to Clynog with Robt. Griffith, Tynrhos, and William Jones, tailor. 24th February, applied for situation as attorney's clerk at Pwllheli, but did not succeed.

1826.

At Llanarmon; recollect nothing particular this year, except translating Dewi Wyn's "Elusengarwch" (Ode to Charity) to English, for J. Vaughan, Esq., at Dewi's earnest request, and to his extreme satisJanuary 6th, met Gwilym Owen, and read faction as he expressed himself.

1824.

.

THE IMMOVEABLE COVENANT.

It is almost impossible to exaggerate the influence of the Hebrew idea of a covenant,-the covenant of peace between God and man,-upon the history of the world. During the period of the Protestant Reformation it was transformed into many political theories, it found expression in many mighty movements. In Wales, it became the chief idea of the peasants during the second half of the eighteenth century. It raised them from abject superstition, from a state of cringing servility; it made them withstand their landowner and spiritual guide, once so loved and feared, for conscience' sake. It is a grand idea, desert-born, causing endless cycles of progress in human history,-absolutism, the rise of the spirit of freedom, rebellion, and absolutism again.

The following poem was composed by a Welsh labourer, Huw Derfel, while crossing the Berwyn from Llangynog to Llandderfel. The silence and the grandeur of those mountains, though so bleak and lonely, can never, be forgotten by those who have made the long mountain journey in solitude. It was a scene well calculated to bring into the peasant bard's mind the favourite verse of his people,- For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall my covenant of peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee."

The poem was translated by D. L. Pughe, a minister who died young. I have often heard it repeated from beginning to end by farm servants.

YE cloud piercing mountains so mighty,

Whose age is the age of the sky;

No cold blasts of winter affright ye,
Nor heats of the summer defy;
You've witnessed the world's generations
Succeeding like waves on the sea;

The deluge you saw, when doomed nations
In vain to your summits would flee.

You challenge the pyramids lasting
That rolling millenniums survive ;
Fierce whirlwinds, and thunderbolts blasting,
And oceans with tempests alive!

But lo! there's a day fast approaching
Which shall your foundations reveal,-
The powers of heaven will be shaking,
And earth like a drunkard shall reel!
Proud Aran, and Snowdon so towering,

Ye now will be skipping like lambs;
The Alps will, by force overpowering
Propelled, be disporting like rams!
The breath of Jehovah will hurl you—
Aloft in the air you shall leap:

Your crash, like his thunders who'll whirl you,
Shall blend with the roars of the deep.

All ties, and strongholds, with their powers,
Shall, waterlike, melting be found;
Earth's palaces, temples, and towers,
Shall then be all dashed to the ground:
But were this great globe plunged for ever
In seas of oblivion, or prove
Untrue to its orbit, yet never,

My God, will thy covenant move!

The skies, as if kindling with ire and
Resentment, will pour on this ball
A deluge of sulphurous fire, and

Consume its doomed elements all!

But though heaven and earth will be passing
Away on time's Saturday eve;

The covenant-bonds, notwithstanding,
Are steadfast to all that believe.

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Methinks, after ages unnumbered

Have rolled in eternity's flight,

I see him, by myriads surrounded,
Enrobed in the garments of light;

And shouting o'er this world's cold ashes— "Thy covenant, my God, still remains : No tittle or jot away passes,

And thus it my glory sustains."

He asks, as around him he glances,
"Ye sovereigns and princes so gay,
Where are your engagements and pledges?
Where are they-where are they to-day?
Where are all the covenants sacred

That mortals with mortals e'er made ?" A silent voice whispers" Departed— 'Tis long since their records did fade!"

I hear him again, while he's winging
His flight through the realms of the sky,
Th' immoveable covenant singing

With voice so melodious and high
That all the bright mountains celestial
Are dancing, as thrilled with delight:
Too lofty for visions terrestrial-

He vanishes now from my sight.

Blest Saviour, my rock, and my refuge,
I fain to thy bosom would flee;
Of sorrows an infinite deluge

On Calv'ry thou barest for me:
Thou fountain of love everlasting-
High home of the purpose to save,
Myself on thy covenant casting,

I triumph o'er death and the grave.

SINCE

THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING POPULATION OF WALES.

INCE the results of the linguistic census of 1891 were published, the question of the relation between the Welsh and English populations of Wales has occupied a prominent place in public attention. In view of the interest thus created, it may not be out of place to attempt some account, as far as this is possible within the narrow limits of a magazine article, of the origin and growth of the English-speaking population of Wales. In order to do so, it is necessary to go back to very ancient times. The first English-speaking districts in what is now called Wales must have been in Flint and Denbigh. Some early Saxon

settlements in this part of Wales, such as Prestatyn (=préosta tún, priests' town), Mostyn, and others of similar termination, have later on become thoroughly Cymricised; but there can be little doubt that in the portions of Flint and Denbigh east of Offa's Dyke, English has continued to be spoken since the time of the Anglian conquest. Both the place-names and the dialect of these districts seem to bear testimony to this fact; the latter is distinctly Mercian or Midland in character, and shows little trace of that Celtic influence which is noticeable in the westerly districts of Shropshire and in English Maelor. Later on, (probably

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