When their bright star of fortune wax'd pale and grew fickle, (Can a rivulet stand 'gainst a torrent's dread might?) III. Aber-Edw, curst spot! that thro' each passing season O'er thy glories of yore there's a fiend hath been ploughing, Castle, rampart, and tower, to ward the strong foe; To the stranger thou'rt pointed, thy story discovering,"There stood Aber-Edw, that sold it's true sovereign, "Where nestles the adder, where rank nettles grow." JEFFREY LLEWELYN. WHAT IS AWEN* ? What is AWEN!-'tis a flame, Born and nurtured there on high: Cymru, thou hast caught the fire; Ever be it purely thine, Ever may thy sons aspire By its deathless light to shine. * The Welsh name of Hereford, and signifies "The Old Road."-J. LL. This is the theme proposed for the prize Englyn at the approaching Eisteddfod, or Congress of Bards, at Wrexham; and, no doubt, the mountain genius of Cymru will do ample justice to the subject. Awen, the English reader should be informed, means, properly and emphatically, poetical genius, a quality, which the Welsh language alone expresses by a single word. WALES. METROPOLITAN CAMBRIAN INSTITUTION.-The notice, that has already been taken in the CAMBRO-BRITON, of the establishment of this society, may have been deemed sufficient to explain its objects and point out its merit. But it has obviously not been enough to attract to it that general patronage, which is indispensible to the full and satisfactory accomplishment of its design. Many individuals of distinction have, indeed, come forward with a laudable alacrity, on this occasion, to vindicate that national zeal, which, it may be hoped, will never be extinct in the breasts of the Cymry. Yet much remains to be done, before the edifice can be completed, of which the foundation stone has now been laid. Much of patriotism, much of zeal, much of cordial union is still wanted to bring to perfection the great work commenced under auspices so favourable. And shall the country of Taliesin, of Hywel, and of Llywelyn no longer glow with the kindling spirit, by which it was wont to be animated? Shall it implore in vain for champions, to assert its undoubted claim to that renown, which was purchased of yore by the songs of her bards, and by the deeds of her heroes? It is impossible it cannot be, that Wales should, in this instance, form a contrast to all other countries, which, however they may have neglected living genius, have never failed to celebrate its posthumous fame. The hope may yet be indulged, then, that those individuals, to whom the ancient renown of the Principality is a matter of interest, and to whom her early literature ought to be a subject of pride, will yet lend their aid to this national cause, and thus render the name of Cymru as much an object of respect abroad, as it is of veneration at home. A general and zealous co-operation in the views of the METROPOLITAN INSTITUTION cannot fail to ensure this desirable end; and, as it is not improbable that many may, hitherto, have omitted to unite in the patriotic design, from an ignorance of the modes, by which their intentions were to be signified, it may not be improper to intimate, that an advertisement on the wrapper of this number contains full particulars on this point. JESUS COLLEGE ASSOCIATION.-The anniversary of this society, which has been already twice noticed in the CAMBRO VOL. II. G BRITON, was holden at Aberystwith, on the first of last month, when the productions, to which the prizes had been adjudged, were read by the Rev. Daniel Evans, Fellow of Jesus College. The premium of £20 for the best Welsh Essay on the words of Taliesin, Eu hiaith a gadwant, and that of £2 for the best six Englynion on the subject, Llwydiant i Goleg yr Iesu, were awarded to the Rev. John Jones, B. A. of the same college. Mr. Thomas Davies, also of Jesus College, was declared to be entitled to the prize of £10, for the best translation of an English sermon into the Welsh language. It is but common justice to this infant society, to remark, that the members evince a very patriotic feeling in the cause, in which they have embarked. May it be as lasting as it is patriotic! DIOCESE OF ST. DAVID'S.-The truly pious and estimable Head of this See held his general Visitation for the Archdeaconry of Brecon, at St. Mary's, in that town, on Wednesday, the 9th of last month, which was attended by a numerous body of clergy. The Rev. John Jenkins, vicar of Kerry, preached a remarkably appropriate sermon on the occasion, from Matthew 5, v. 14. "Ye are the light of the world; a city, that is set on a hill, can"not be hid." After divine service the bishop delivered an excellent charge, in which he drew a comparison between the churches of Rome and England, tending to prove, that the latter was not only the most pure in its doctrine, but the most apostolical in its institution. He likewise pressed on the clergy the importance of an undeviating attention to their sacred duties, and concluded with a patriotic and animated address in favour of Welsh literature, exciting his auditors to the cultivation of it, as well on account of its intrinsic beauties, as of its inseperable connection with their clerical functions, as being the only channel, in many instances, whereby the clergy can impart instruction to their parishioners. His lordship also took an opportunity, in the course of the afternoon, of advocating, most humanely and forcibly, the interesting cause of the destitute orphans of the late Rev. Eliezer Williams, of Lampeter, and which had the immediate effect of augmenting the subscription previously raised for this benevolent purpose. It is impossible not to admire the exemplary conduct of the bishop of St. David's on this occasion, in its happy combination of the various and important offices of religion, patriotism, and Christian charity.-On the following day his See Vol. i, pp. 36, and 276. lordship held a Confirmation at Brecon.-His lordship has been pleased to collate the Rev. Thomas Stonehewer Bright, M. A. to the prebend of Mathrey, in the cathedral church of St. David's, vacant by the death of the Rev. T. Philips; and also the Rev. Thomas Hancock, M. A. to the prebend of Caerfachel in the same cathedral, vacant by the resignation of the said Rev. Thomas Stonehewer Bright. LATE REV. PETER ROBERTS.-At a meeting of the "Oswestry Society for bettering the Condition of the Poor," held on Thursday the 13th of last July, it was unanimously resolved, that a Portrait of the late Rev. Peter Roberts be engraved by some eminent artist, from an original miniature painting in the possession of T. N. Parker, Esq. of Sweeney. Subscribers of £1. 1s. each are to be entitled to five copies of the engraved portrait, and those of ten shillings to two each. The names of about twenty subscribers already appear in the list. The Society is entitled to much credit for this tribute of respect to the memory of an individual, who, both in his private and literary character, was eminently deserving of it, and who ought ever to live in the grateful recollection of the Principality. LATE REV. ELIEZER WILLIAMS.—In the Memoir of this lamented individual, inserted in the former volume, (p. 452) allusion was made to the very distressed condition, in which his children had been left by his decease. Upon that melancholy event the strongest and most benevolent feeling of compassion was evinced by several individuals of the first respectability, in the vicinity of Lampeter, and has since been more actively displayed in the establishment of a subscription for the meritorious and charitable purpose of rescuing these destitute children from the misery incident to their sad fate. The sums, already subscribed, although highly creditable to the individuals concerned, appear to be far from adequate to the full extent of the charitable design. It is, therefore, hoped, that the warm and disinterested appeals, which have been made, on this occasion, to the feelings of the public, and especially that of the Bishop of St. David's, alluded to in a preceding page, will still have their proper influence, in directing the benevolence of the affluent to the wants of the orphan. MISCELLANEOUS LOCAL INTELLIGENGE. The disinterested and meritorious exertions of the Bath Harmonie Society in their charitable excursion through the diocese of St. David's were partially noticed in the last Number. The following report has since been made of the receipts at the several places, as well from the sermons as from the concerts. Brecon, 581. 6s. 4d.— Carmarthen, 791. 19s. 74d.-Aberystwith, 95. 2s. 10d.-Cardigan, 197. 13s. 74d.-Bishop and Canons of St. David's, 221. 3s. -Haverfordwest, 661. 15s. 64d.-Tenby, 617. 15s.-Swansea, 71. 158. altogether exceeding £500, the balance of which, after deducting the expenses, will be appropriated, as before mentioned, to the fund for the relief of superannuated curates and the widows and orphans of poor clergymen within the diocese of St. David's.-Meetings of Agricultural Societies have recently taken place in the undermentioned counties,-in Radnorshire on the 26th July,-in Monmouthshire, on the 31st, and in Glamorganshire on the 2nd ult. Although nothing particularly worthy of remark appears to have transpired at these meetings, it is highly gratifying to observe the laudable spirit, that is now abroad in the Principality on a point so essential to its welfare as the encouragement and protection of its agricultural interests. The Monmouthshire meeting was the first General Anniversary, and seems to have been numerously and respectably attended.-An accident of a most calamitous and afflicting nature occurred on the 5th of last month in the Menai. A ferry boat, crossing from Llanidan in Anglesea to the opposite coast within about a mile of Carnarvon, and having on board twenty-three passengers, was suddenly upset, when of the whole number of individuals just mentioned, it is most lamentable to relate, one only was rescued from a billowy grave. This heart-rending catastrophe is ascribed to the following cause. When the boat was about half way across, the boatman, having occasion to climb up the small mast to disentangle a rope, attached to the sail, was unfortunately precipitated into the water, A sudden effort was naturally made to save him, and the rush, occasioned by this impulse of humanity, proved more than the slender bark could sustain. quence, it became instantly immersed in the waves, and occasioned the distressing calamity above mentioned. The individuals, that perished, were chiefly women and children, there not being more, it appears, than six or seven men. They were crossing for the purpose of attending the Carnarvon market. It must be quite unnecessary to offer any comment on an event so melancholy, so In conse |