W. J. Rees, Cascob Rectory, Presteign, to Mr Taliesin Williams, Merthyr. He understands that the addressee is, like himself, busily engaged for the Welsh MSS Society. His own progress (with the Liber Landavensis) and his interest in the addressee's proceedings. As he wishes to collect all the information he can respecting the ancient copies of the Liber Landavensis, requesting the addressee to favour him with as many particulars as he can communicate relating to a note which the Rev. Mr Price of Crickhowel stated that the addressee mentioned finding among his late father's papers ( of his having seen the original Liber Landavensis at Llandaff, etc.). A query concerning the river Taratyr.
W. J. Rees, Cascob Rectory, Presteign, to Mr Taliesin Williams, Glebe Land, Merthyr. Acknowledging receipt of the addressee's communication and thanking him for the information it contained. Probably the addressee's father was deceived when he was informed that the MS of Liber Landavensis was taken by Bishop Watson to Calgarth Park. The addressee seems not to be aware that Mr Nichols' 'Antiquities of Llantwit Major' have been published - where. It seems that the river Taratyr is not known by that name at present. Is obliged to the addressee for communicating the particulars of the articles which he is preparing for the press - he does not see that the addressee has mentioned among them the Welsh Grammar of Edeyrn Davawd Aur. (?) The Liber Landavensis - his idea is that although upwards of 3/4 of it is printed, the work will not be completed by the time of Abergavenny Eisteddfod in October. The account the addressee gives of the dispersion of the Glamorgan Libraries is really melancholy. More about the article on 'The Antiquities of Llantwit Major'.
W. J. Rees, Cascob Rectory, Presteign, to Mr Taliesin Williams, Merthyr. Having been lately at Landovery it gave him pleasure to observe that the addressee's volume (for the Welsh MSS Society) is proceeding through the press. Encouraging him to proceed. He hopes the addressee has received the copy of the Liber Landavensis which the Committee of the Welsh MSS Society intended, by way of encouragement, to present him with. After the volume was printed he received from Landovery an old document which had been in the possession of the addressee's father (see previous letter). As he deemed it interesting he transcribed it, but from the haste he was obliged to make he is not quite certain that his transcript is correct, and accordingly he has (enclosed) sent him a copy with such a translation as he has given to it, which the addressee may keep. Requesting the addressee to inform him where, on comparing it with the original in his possession, he may find it inaccurate.
W. J. Rees, Cascob Rectory, Presteign, to Mr Taliesin Williams (Ab Iolo), Merthyr Tydfil. Herewith the addressee will receive the ancient MS which his nephew of Llandovery transmitted to him. He has been able to make the whole out except two or three words at the bottom of the page. Had he seen it sooner he would have referred to it in the Preface of the Liber, which is now printed off. He has copied the article.
The brilliant manner in which the Eisteddfod succeeded at Brecon. Mr Hughes of Brecon informs him that he has considerably enlarged his successful essay on the ancient and present state of the Welsh Language; this together with the Report of the Proceedings of the Eisteddfod and the Welsh Poems is stated to be in a forward state in the press. The delay with regard to the Cyfrinach.
His pleasure at hearing through his brother that the third sheet of the Cyfrinach was printed off, etc., and that the whole was expected to be in a forward state for publication about Christmas. He lost no time in communicating the above particulars to Mr Walter Davies. His letter to the addressee's son. A meeting to be held by the Gentry of Brecon on Dec. 5.
His pleasure at seeing the addressee at Brecon. The progress of the Cyfrinach. Mr Jenkins of Kerry complained some time ago that he had anxiously waited for a letter from the addressee's son. Mr Jenkins's annual meeting of bardic neighbours - the names of some of those present.
W. J. Rees to Mr Taliesin Williams, Merthyr. Was sorry to have to leave Merthyr so early in the morning without an opportunity of seeing the addressee before going off. He was glad to hear that the Cyfrinach, after so much delay, was in the way of being published . He concludes that the addressee has a list of the names of the subscribers and that he will interest himself to get copies transmitted to them and particularly to those who have paid part of their subscription money. He recollects hearing some time ago that there were complaints in North Wales. It gave him pleasure to hear that the addressee had examined his father's MSS and had arranged them into some order. There are various reasons for their being laid before the public as soon as convenient, but none more impressive than to vindicate his late father's literary character. Denbigh Eisteddfod commences on the 16th inst. - he intends to transmit an account of it to the Carmarthen Journal. An ancient inscription which attracted his attention when he was returning from Merthyr - it is noticed in the History of Brecknockshire.
An autograph fair copy, [1918], of the poem 'The Soul's Companions' by W. H. Davies. It was first published in the Nation, 20 April 1918, p. 64, and collected in William H. Davies, Forty New Poems (London, 1918), p. 33. The poem is written on '14, Great Russell Street, W.C.' notepaper. A pencil note 'Poetry for this week' (partially erased) indicates it was used as the printer’s copy.
An autograph fair copy, [1914], of the poem 'Sweet Night' by W. H. Davies. It was first published in W. H. Davies, The Bird of Paradise (London, 1914), p. 20. The manuscript contains a different reading of line 3, 'Take thou a lover’s grateful heart' rather than the published 'A lover gives his grateful heart', and two corrections in lines 9 and 10, conforming to the printed version. The poem is written on '29 Clarence Gardens, N.W.' notepaper with the address changed by Davies to '22, Priory Gardens, Highgate'.
Five letters, 1937-1939, four typescript (ff. 60-63) and one manuscript (f. 64), from the poet W. H. Davies, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, to his half-sister Alice, in Newport, Monmouthshire, concerning personal and family news.
A letter, 28 November 1909, from the poet W. H. Davies, The Weald, nr. Sevenoaks, to his literary agent [Charles Francis] Cazenove, concerning literary and publishing matters, including his forthcoming volume of poetry Farewell to Poesy (London, 1910).
Typescript letter, 26 March 1927, from W. H. Davies, Oxted, to [Aubrey] Herbert, [Oxford], apparently declining an invitation to speak at the Oxford Union.
An autograph fair copy, dated 14 August 1920, of the poem 'Lamorna Cove' by W. H. Davies, used as the printer's copy for the Nation. It was first published in the Nation, 21 August 1920, p. 642, and collected in W. H. Davies, The Hour of Magic (London, 1922), p. 12.
[W. E. Jones], 'Cawrdaf', Pontfaen, to Ab Iolo, Merthyr Tudful. He has glanced over the compositions he received from the addressee and will deal with them in details again. It will be impossible for him to come to Pontytypridd to meet the addressee until next Saturday as Y Gwron will not have been published before that. Shall they meet definitely at Pontytypridd then, or shall they put their heads together when they meet at Abergavenny? He was very sorry to hear of the addressee's illness.
[W. E. Jones], 'Cawrdaf', and [D. L. Jones], 'Clunadda', Caerfyrddin, to Mr D. Jones, Boot, Merthyr. Their adjudication of the compositions. 'Rhwydd hynt i Eisteddfod y Fottas.' An assurance to Taliesin of their warmest sympathy with him in his affliction.
