Original file of poems of William Downing Evans ('Leon', 1811-1897), including acrostics, hymns, songs ('The Tories defeat. Tune, Crawshay Bailey's engine'), eisteddfod entries ('A song in honor of George Crofts Williams Esq'r of Glanrhymney Hall' by 'Lucas' for the St Mellons Eisteddfod, 1877; 'The death of Saul (a poem)' by 'Cwynwr'). Most are drafts, but include some fair copies. Many of the poems are on Christian themes. Most of the poems are in English, but a few, including 'Aderyn Mai' and at least three englynion, are in Welsh, including one composed entirely of vowels. Also at least one translation, 'God, in death sufficient'. Many of the poems re-use the backs of envelopes and other papers, including printed letters from W. Downing Evans as [secretary?] of the committee to promote a national testimonial to Rev. William Roberts ('Nevydd') (1866), and clerk of the Newport Union (1879). Also printed copies of poems, 1843-1892, many inscribed W.D.E. or Leon, on printed cards, 'In memoriam' cards, pamphlets, single sheets and newspaper cuttings, including 'Patriotism, an ode', medal poem at the Llandudno Eisteddfod, 1864; topical verses including 'Hymns for the anniversary of the Newport Sunday school union, 1843', 'Cutting the sod; for the formation of the Alexandra Docks, Newport', 1868; 'Epithalamium on the marriage of the Duke of Edinburgh with the Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna', 1874; 'In the pit (An impromptu memorial of Tynewydd)', 1877; 'A hymn of praise written for the jubilee of the English Baptist Church, Commercial Street, Newport', 1879; 'An anthem for the Queen's jubilee', 1887; and elegies, including on Prince Albert, 1861, Rev. David Dudley Evans, 1873, Crawshay Bailey, esq., 1874, Lord Tredegar, [1875], S. K., 1877, Catharine Mabli Evans (his daughter), 1880, William Evans JP, 1880, Sir Hugh Owen, 1881, James Salter, 1880, John Andrew Williams, 1881, Caradawc y Venni, 1882, Samuel Homfray, esq., 1882, Henry Collier, 1883, Minna Jones of the Mumbles, Swansea, 1883, Edmund B. Edwards, esq., 1884, Ceiriog, [1887], R. F. Woollett, 1887, the emperor of Germany, [1888], James and Mary Baker of Peterstone, co. Mon., 1891, Rev. Jeremiah Davies, 1891, Rev. J. W. Lance, 1892, Rev. John Jones, Congregational minister of Caerleon, [n.d.], Matthew Jones, jun., of Swansea, [n.d.], T. F. Mullock, [n.d.], Brinley Richards, [n.d.], and Edward Thomas, [n.d.]. Also includes a copy (front and back covers and fly-leaf loose) of a printed book 'Catharine Mabli Evans. Born 5th January 1858. Died 6th November 1880. Memorial chords, by her father, W. Downing Evans, (Leon.)' ([s.l.] : printed for private circulation only, c.1880), containing twenty-five poems, dated 6-30 Nov. 1880. Also a typescript transcript of 'Some poems by Leon (mainly 1880's)'. Also 'Cywydd marwnad yr urddasol bendefig Robert Davies, o Lannerch, yswain, yn sir Flint' by Evan Evans (pp. 23-24), and 'Awdl foliant Risiart ap Sion' by Sion Tudur, 1580 (pp. 23-26), both extracted from [18 cent.?] volumes; and a pamphlet of the 'Speech of Mr. Sheriff Lawrence, M.P., at the state banquet in the town Hall, Manchester' during the state visit of the lord mayor and sheriffs of London to Manchester, 2-10 Aug. 1901.
