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Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales Davies, Walter, 1761-1849 Poetics. English
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Barddoniaeth, etc.,

A note-book (pp. 1-80) and miscellaneous papers (pp. 81-268) containing notes, lists, extracts, transcripts, etc., in the hand of Edward Williams ('Iolo Morganwg') bound together in one volume. Page 1 is inscribed 'Cynnulliadau Tuag att Hanes Eisteddfodau Caerfyrddin, Caerwys, ag eraill Casgledig (gan mwyaf) yng Ngwynedd gan Iolo Morganwg', and this first section contains: a version of the 'statute' of Gruffudd ap Cynan as allegedly confirmed at an 'eisteddfod' held at Caerwys, co. Flint, in 1523, with a list of the names of the bards and musicians licensed at the said 'eisteddfod', transcribed 'O Lyfr Ygrif (sic) P. Panton, Yswain, o'r Plas Gwynn ym Môn' or, as stated elsewhere, 'Ex No. 65, Plas Gwynn, Môn' [i.e. Panton MS 65, now NLW MS 2031, of which see pp. 200-12] (see also NLW MS 13096B above) (pp. 17-27); a list of the twenty-four Welsh strict poetic metres with illustrative examples [?transcribed from the aforementioned Panton MS 65, pp. 186-93] (see also NLW MS 13096B) (pp. 27-35); notes relating to, and lists of, Welsh musical measures [?transcribed from Panton MS 65, pp. 194-200] (see also NLW MS 13096B) (pp. 36-39); an incomplete transcript [?from Panton MS 65, pp. 182-4] of notes relating to the twenty-four traditional Welsh accomplishments (p. 40); anecdotes relating to the poet Dafydd ap Edmunt and the 'eisteddfod' held at Carmarthen [c. 1450] under the patronage of Gruffudd ap Nicolas, transcribed 'Ex Vol. 17, P.P.' [i.e. Panton MS 17, now NLW MS 1986A, of which manuscript see ff. 111-17] (see also NLW MS 13096B) (pp. 41-47); further miscellaneous extracts from Panton MS 17 including an anecdote relating to the poet Huw Arwystli, notes relating to the 'cantrefi' of Glamorgan, etc. (pp. 47-49); transcripts of 'englynion' by, or attributed to, D[afydd] ab Gwilym, John Mowddwy, ?Thos. Lln., and Siôn Tudur (pp. 49-50); transcripts of twenty-three 'englynion' commemorating the year of accession of every English monarch, 1066-1558, attributed to Berud ap yr Ynad Coch, Bleddyn Ddu, Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr, Lln. Fardd, Dafydd y Coet, Harri Haram Param, Cyssymdaith Llevot Wynt epolawl, Mabwaith Hengrys o Iâl, Llywelyn ap Ho wrneth, Gwilym Ddu o Arfon, Dafydd Bach ap Madoc Gwladaidd, Llygad Gwr, Daniel Llosgwrn Marw (sic), Dafydd Eppynt, Ieuan Brydydd Hir, Bleuddyn ap Ieuan Hen, Hywel Ystorun, Ierwerth Fynglwyd, Rhys Nanmor, Hywel ab Bleuddyn Mathew, Owain y Bardd 'o Wynedd', and Huw Arwystli (pp. 51-56); a list of the commissioners in whose presence the 'eisteddfod' was held at Caerwys in 1567, and of the poets and musicians who were granted licences at the said 'eisteddfod' (pp. 56-59); a list of bards present at, and notes relating to, an 'eisteddfod' held at Bala [co. Merioneth] in 1740 (p. 60); an extract relating to the code of rules for Welsh bards and musicians allegedly compiled in the time of Gruffudd ap Cynan (p. 61); and transcripts of two sequences of 'englynion' (six and five respectively) allegedly written by Siôn Prichard Prys at an 'eisteddfod' held at Bala in 1680 with the object of enlisting the aid of the bishop of Bangor and Sir Roger Mostyn in an attempt to obtain a [royal] patent for holding an 'eisteddfod' (pp. 62-64). The greater part of the contents of the remainder of the volume consists of transcripts of Welsh poems in strict and free metres, including poems by, or attributed to, [Edward Williams] 'Iolo Morganwg' himself, Ieuan Tir Iarll 'sef John Bradford o'r Bettws ym Morganwg', Daf. Nicolas, William Hopkin, Daf. o'r Nant, Llywelyn ab Ifan, Siôn Hywel, Thomas Evan, 'Telynor o'r Drenewydd Nottais ym Morganwg', Morgan Pywel, Gwilym Tew (or Owain ap Rhydderch, or Ieuan ab Rhydderch), Twm ab Ifan ab Rhys, Gronwy William, Hywel Llwyd 'o Lancarfan', Wil. Tabwr, Dafydd Nicolas 'o Aberpergwm', Lewys William 'o Ferthyr Tydfyl', Thomas Williams, William Llywelyn, and Wm. Sanders 'o Landocheu'. The free-metre verse includes the words of songs written to specified airs. Other items in the volume include observations ?by Edward Williams after reading certain criticisms of John Hughes: An Essay on the Ancient and Present State of the Welsh Language [London, 1823] (pp. 113-114); notes on Welsh bardism (pp. 161-165); notes headed 'Etymologies that point out the origin and progress of civilization' (p. 167); extracts from Hugh Thomas: An Introduction to the British History [?London, ?1730] (pp. 169-171); a few Welsh triads and proverbs (pp. 227-228); a list of Welsh proverbs heard in Glamorganshire by [Edward Williams] 'Iolo Morganwg' arranged in alphabetical order according to the initial letter (incomplete, A-G only) (pp. 231-240); advisory or proverbial sayings attributed to Taliesin, Cattwn ddoeth, and Meugant (pp. 243-2444); a list of the ten commandments of St. Paul described as '. . . dengair deddf Pawl Sant y rhai a gafas efe o ben Iesu Grist . . .' (see John Williams: Barddas . . ., Vol. I, pp. 288-9) (p. 247); a list of Latin words commencing with the letter v with English meanings and Welsh ?derivatives (pp. 253-254); and (interspersed amongst other items), miscellaneous Welsh proverbs (pp. 241-end). In three instances the blank verso and margins of copies of a printed handbill (English) containing proposals, 1793, for publishing The Celtic Remains (vol. I by Lewis Morris, vol. II by Walter Davies) and of a printed handbill (Welsh) announcing an 'eisteddfod' to be held at Caerwys in 1798 under the patronage of the Gwyneddigion Society have been used for writing notes. A few loose leaves (pp. 261-268) have been placed in an archival envelope.

Scrapbook of D. Silvan Evans

A massive though ill-arranged scrap-book compiled by D. Silvan Evans containing holograph letters, addressed, except where otherwise stated, to D. Silvan Evans, from D[avid] Nutt, London, 1879 (the text of Presbyter Johannes), S. Prideaux Tregelles, Plymouth, 1860 (the importance of publishing old Welsh prose texts, the writer's views on the essentials of a Welsh dictionary), P[ierre] F[ran?] Merlet, [London] 1853 (advice on French grammars), W[illia]m Smith, [London] 1846 (the proposed publication of a dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology), Reverend T[homas] Briscoe, Holyhead, 1861 (thanks for a copy of the recipient's Llythyraeth yr Iaith Gymraeg), W. W. E. Wynne [of Peniarth] from London [1862] (an invitation to Peniarth to meet Mr Skene), W. Williams ('Caledfryn'), Groes Wen, Pont y Pridd, 1868 (compositor's errors in an article by the recipient), [William] Sotheby to [Thomas Burgess] bishop of Salisbury, 1831 (presenting a copy of the writer's version of the Iliad), C[onnop Thirlwall] bishop of St Davids, Abergwili, [18]43 (accepting the dedication of the recipient's volume of poems), T. Price ('Carnhuanawc'), Cwmdu, 1842-8 (2) (subscribing to a copy of the recipient's Blodau Ieuainc, the derivation of the English 'bother'), W. Owen Pughe, Egryn to 'Unben Gee', 1831 (declining an invitation to Rhyl), I[sidore] Brasseur, King's Coll[ege], Lond[on], 1853 (advice on French grammars and 'the genius of the French Language'), A. Tallenyn, London, 1853 (advice on Italian grammars), C[harles] Meyer, Windsor Castle, [18]47 (subscribing to the recipient's new English and Welsh Dictionary), John M. Traherne, Coedriglan, 1844 (Cardiff eisteddfod), Ernst Sattler, Coburg, 1869 (enclosing a list of Welsh books in the writer's possession), John Thomas ('Ieuan Morganwg'), Newcastle [upon] Tyne, undated (covering poetry by the writer), H. Gaidoz, London, 1869 (an article on Skene's Four Ancient Books of Wales, the recipient's Dictionary and Llyfryddiaeth y Cymry) (French), Le Chevalier de Chatelain, London 1864 (2) (the writer's French translation of the Canterbury Tales, etc.), [John Jones] 'Tegid', Nevern, 1845 (enclosing poems for competition, Aneurin Owen's translation of the Gododdin), James Tully, R[oman] C[atholic] College, Maynooth, 1868 (English-Irish dictionaries), Thomas Powell, Llanwrtyd [aft. Prof. Thomas Powel, University College, Cardiff] to [J. H. Silvan] Evans, undated (criticism of Jeremiah's paper on 'The Milky Way' in relation to the recipient's father's letter), Cha[rle]s B[rodrick] Scott, Freshwater Gate, Isle of Wight, 1862 (admission to [Westminster School]), W[illiam] Spurrell, Carmarthen, 1889 (requesting printer's copy), J. Ceiriog Hughes, Caersws, 1872 (Welsh dialect words), Ev[an] Evans, Dinas Mowddwy, 1868 (a meeting of the Commissioners of Land and Assessed Taxes for the division of Mowddwy), John Davies, Walsoken Rectory, near Wisbeach, 1868 (subscribing to the recipient's proposed Welsh dictionary), [Edward James Herbert, 3rd earl of] Powis, Powis Castle, [18]68 (the authorship of the 'Epigram Ap-pollo'), [Joseph Hughes] 'Carn Ingli', Meltham Parsonage, 1853 (information from Lady Hall about the election to a post), [John Williams] 'Ab Ithel', Middleton, Manchester, 1856 (an invitation to the recipient to act as local secretary to the Cambrian Institute), Ellis Owen, Cefnymeusydd, 1855 (the writer's correspondence with Mr Madocks's daughter, Mrs [Eliza Anne] Roche, the importance of publishing the works of 'I[euan] B[rydydd] Hir', surviving manuscripts of Welsh poetry at Plas Hen [Pwllheli] and Glasfryn [Chwilog], unfavourable observations on the antiquarian interests of Owen Williams of Waunfawr, the success of the [Eifionydd Literary] Society), C. Mahony, Queen's College, Galway [1852] (advice on Irish grammars and dictionaries), V. Pistrucci, King's College, London, 1853 (advice on Italian grammars), Th[omas] De Vere Coneys, Ballinasloe, Galway, 1847 (advice on Irish grammars), A. Heimaan, London, 1849 (advice on German grammars), [Ebenezer Thomas] 'E[ben] Vardd', Clynnog, 1861 (thanks for a gift of the recipient's Llythyraeth yr Iaith Gymraeg, with the writer's observations on the subject), Adolphus Bernays, Harrow Road, [18]53 (advice on [German] grammars), John Jenkins ('Ifor Ceri'), Kerry to Walter Davies ('Gwallter Mechain'), Manafon, 1826 (the Ossian controversy, personal), Henry T[homas] Edwards, [vicar of] Carnarvon, 1870 (thanks for a letter), R[owland] Williams, Meifod, undated (enclosing poetry for publication in Y Gwyliedydd), R. Richards, Penrhoslligwy, Amlwch, 1877 (parentage and pedigree of the Morris brothers of Anglesey), Evan Evans ('Ieuan Glan Geirionydd'), Parsonage, Ince, 1843 (subscribing to the recipient's 'intended work' [Blodau Ieuainc]), Morris Davies, Upper Bangor, 1869 (the writer's article on Edmund Prys, enclosing dictionary words and additions to Llyfryddiaeth [y Cymry], Tho[ma]s Edwards ('Caervallwch'), London, 1843-6 (2) (the recipient's Blodau Ieuainc), William Rees, Llandovery, 1842 (Lady Charlotte Guest's reply to the recipient's objection about the English translation of 'dyniewid', a request for the return of the 'Notes' for the publication of Part V), R. G. Latham, New Malden, Kingston-on-Thames, [18]64 (accepting the accuracy of the recipient's remark), Rowland Williams, Salisbury, [18]64 (a subscription to the recipient's school), John O'Donovan, Dublin, 1852 (advice on Irish grammars), Tho[mas] Holland, Sheffield, 1863 (the legend of S[t] Collen), O[wen] Connellan [of Cork], from Dublin, 1852 (advice on Irish grammars and dictionaries), and [Thomas James ('Llallawg'),] Netherthong, ?1875 (dictionary words) (incomplete); a few miscellaneous manuscript items, among them being 'Cynwysiad Gramadeg y Dr Gruffydd Roberts' in the hand of John Jones ('Tegid'), 1848, a holograph 'hir a thoddaid' to Walter Davies ('Gwallter Mechain') by Dr Carl Meyer, verses entitled 'Castell Conwy' by Edward Evan Jones ('Glasvryn'), a list of 'Geiriau Taleithiol' in the hand of Benjamin Williams ('Gwynionydd'), a fragment on Welsh metrics in the hand of Edward Williams ('Iolo Morganwg'), 'Englynion i Clebryn' by Robert Parry ('Robyn Ddu Eryri'), verses entitled 'The Bard's Return' ('Translated by Lady Charlotte Guest'), etc.; printed matter, including an appeal for subscriptions towards the repair of Llanymawddwy Church, c. 1862, University College of Wales (Aberystwyth) examination questions in Welsh, 1875 and undated, a broadside and leaflet appealing for subscriptions towards the defence of [Joshua] Evans, vicar of Llanover, 1875, and numerous prospectuses of printed publications, e.g. D. Silvan Evans, A Dictionary of the Welsh Language, D. Silvan Evans (ed.), Casgliad o Hymnau at wasanaeth yr Eglwys, D. Silvan Evans (ed.), The Works of the Rev. Walter Davies ... (Gwallter Mechain), Morris Williams ['Nicander'], Hermes Cambrenses: or an Etymological Welsh-English Dictionary, Ysten Sioned (1882), D. Silvan Evans, Telynegion, Rhys Jones, Gorchestion Beirdd Cymru (1773), D. Silvan Evans, Blodau Ieuainc (Early Blossoms), Y Brython (Tremadog), etc.; copious press cuttings, including articles and reviews by, and reviews of works by, D. Silvan Evans, letters published by D. Silvan Evans in Yr Arweinydd and Y Gwron in 1858 concerning his controversy with Thomas Gee over the publication of his Welsh-English Dictionary, an air and verses entitled 'Marwolaeth fy mrawd' by Daniel Thomas Williams ('Tydfylyn'), 'The Sagranus Stone, St Dogmaels' by Robert Williams, Rhydycroesau, and poetry by John Jones ('Tegid'), D. Silvan Evans, Edward Roberts ('Iorwerth Glan Aled'), Edward [Evan] Jones ('Glasfryn'), Llanfair Caereinion, Evan Jones ('Gwyneddon'), Walter Davies ('Gwallter Mechain'), Daniel Evans ('Daniel Ddu o Geredigion'), Robert Harries Jones ('Quellyn'), Thomas Lloyd Jones ('Gwenffrwd') Henry George Thomas, London, John B. Pedler, Liverpool, John Emlyn Jones ('Ioan Emlyn'), John Williams ('Ab Ithel'), Ellis Owen, Cefnymeusydd and many others; and a few engraved portraits and prints, including Morgan Evans, vicar of Llangynllo, Radnorshire, Thomas Charles, Bala, Christmas Evans, and a view of Denbigh, 1847. At the end of the volume there is one loose folio (numbered pp. 203-4) in an eighteenth century hand containing verses (beginning wanting) to 'y twcca' ('nis Gwn'i pwy ai ganodd ond Hugh Hughes ai scrifennodd 1760') and 'englynion' (some attributed to 'E. Rob' and R. Jones).

Evans, D. Silvan (Daniel Silvan), 1818-1903