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Forty-one holograph and autograph letters, copies of letters, and telegrams, exchanged between the brothers Abram [sic], David, and Evan Howell, including letters from A[bram] Howell to David Howell, 1885 (5) (financial matters involving the writer, the recipient, and their brother Evan) (carbon copies), and Evan Howell, St. Paul's Church Yard, London, 1888 (5) (financial matters) (carbon copies); from D[avid] Howell, Aberdovey and Llandrindod, to Abram Howell, 1885-1888 (7) (financial matters, their brother Evan's business affairs, mention of colliery shares and of Barry docks), and Evan Howell, 1885 (2) (recipient's business affairs) (carbon copies); and from Evan Howell, London, to Abram Howell, 1885-1888 and undated (20 + 2 telegrams) (financial matters in connection with the writer's silk manufacturing business in St. Paul's Church Yard, London, comments on the state of the trade, mention of the 'good trade dying out by mere freak of fashion', and of 'the Spitalfields weavers 30,000 of them dying out or gone to the work-house').

Fifty-four holograph and ?autograph letters, 1836-1897 and undated, to or from members of the Howell family including: (a) Forty holograph letters to Abraham Howell, Welshpool, from Jane Bebb, W[elsh] Pool, 1836 (personal) (endorsed with comments by recipient), Henry T[obit] Evans (of Neuadd - Llanarth, Aberayron, co. Cardigan), London, 1887 (reminding recipient that they had met at S[amuel] R[oberts]'s funeral and discussed the possibility of obtaining a 'government annuity for Miss Roberts' [?Margaret Roberts, niece of Samuel Roberts], and suggesting that a memorial be sent to the authorities in connection therewith), David Howell [recipient's brother], Machynlleth, Aberdovey, and Wolverhampton, [?1839]-1885 and undated (21) (personal and family matters including the illness of [their brother] Samuel, legal matters, financial affairs especially in connection with [their brother] Evan, colliery shares, Llanfair Railway (1876), the Barry Dock and Railway Co[mpany] (1885), the death of Sir Watkin [Williams Wynn, 6th bart. of Wynnstay] in 1885), Edw[ar]d Howell, recipient's brother, Chertsey, 1852 (plans for building cottages, and financial arrangements in connection therewith), Evan Howell [recipient's brother], St. Paul's Church Yard, London, 1874-1883 (9) (the writer's activities as a manufacturer of silk and satin in London, financial matters in connection with the business, complaints about the 'dying away of the silk trade' and the ruin of 'all Silk Manufacturers in Spitalfields', a biographical note on [?the writer's deceased brother] William extracted from 'a little book called Dryorfa [sic] for June 1828', mention of the Welsh school [in London]), [Mary Howell], recipient's wife, undated (2) (personal and family matters), Mary [Jones, later Howell, recipient's wife], undated (3) (personal), R. Owen, Gelly, [18]39 (business matters), and Samuel Roberts ['S.R.'], Llanbrynmair, 1838 (a request to recipient to send on [copies of] the Patriot to the writer and his brother John). (b) Seven holograph and autograph letters (1 draft + 6 carbon copies) from Abraham Howell from Welchpool, to Mr. Benbow, Aberhavesp, Newtown, 1848 (financial matters), Henry T[obit] Evans, J.P., Neuadd-Llanarth, Aberayron, 1887 (the writer's political opinions, conjectures as to the opinions of S[amuel] R[oberts] and J[ohn] R[oberts] had they been alive, Cardiganshire's rejection of Mr. [David] Davies [of Llandinam] [at the parliamentary election for the county seat in 1886] because he would not follow Gladstone 'however often his views changed', the writer's response to the recipient's previous letter concerning a memorial [see section (a) above]), Edward Howell [the writer's brother], officer of excise, Chertsey, Surrey, 1852 (advice in respect of investing in house property), [Elinor and William Howell], the writer's parents [Llanbryn-mair], 1836 (financial matters) (one sheet barely legible), Lewis Jones, the writer's uncle, Castle Forgate, Salop, 1836 (the acceptance by Messrs. Griffithes and Jones [solicitors of Welshpool] of the writer as an articled clerk, his need of £130 to meet the expenses in connection therewith, the writer's financial account with recipient, and a request for a loan), Tho[ma]s Penson, 1837 (acknowledging the news of the appointment of the writer's brother [Edward Howell] to a post in the Oswestry excise district, thanking the recipient for the part he had played in securing the said appointment, and requesting him to convey the writer's thanks to Sir John Conroy for his help), and Sam[ue]l Roberts ['S.R.'], 1847 (financial and legal). (c) Seven miscellaneous holograph letters: David Howell, Llanbrynmair, to Mr. [ ] Howell [?son of Abraham Howell], 1897 (an ?imagined insult to recipient's father and uncle, David Howell, in a paper read at Machynlleth on the history of the Sunday school there, a proposal to publish in book form the story of the Sunday schools in the Llanbrynmair and Glan Dyfi districts, a paper prepared by the writer on the Sunday school at Bont [dolgadfan], the absence of religious bigotry at Llanbrynmair, mention of a picture of 'old Bont Chapel' [Bethel C.M. Chapel, Bontdolgadfan], and of 'a brief outline of the history of the cause here since 1739' by the writer in the Goleuad [9 December 1896], the writer's hopes that recipient would succeed in getting 'the University [of Wales] offices located at W[elsh] pool') (enclosed with the letter is a transcript of three eight-line stanzas from an elegy to William Howell of Bont[dolgadfan], [?recipient's uncle] by his cousin Richard Williams); David Howell, Machynlleth, to [his sister-in-law] Mrs. [Abraham] Howell, Welshpool, 1844-1845 (2) (personal and family news); Edward Howell, Lawley Bank [near Wellington, co. Salop], to his father Will[ia]m Powell, Bont Dolgadfan, Llanbrynmair. To the care of [his brother] David Howell, Machynlleth, 1838 (personal and family news, the writer's movements as an officer in the excise, comments on his various lodgings, etc.) (two letters, one to the writer's parents, the other to his brother, on one sheet; this was then forwarded by the recipient, David Powell, to [his brother] Abraham Howell at W[elsh] Pool, with added comments on personal, family, and business matters); E[van] Howell [London], to [his brother] Edw[ar]d Howell, Shrewsbury, 1838 (personal); John Howell, Portsmouth [America], to his brother Abraham Howell, Welch pool, 1840 (the writer's activities in America, details of the economic possibilities of a wool and cloth factory, the possibility of borrowing money from recipient, the death of an uncle Edw[ar]d Bebb, news of [their brother] Lewis, comments on the economic situation and on prices and wages, the presidential election to be held in November, some of the differences between the political parties, the economic policy of the party in power, the opposition party's success in state elections, and the possibility of a change of administration) (the letter, though directed to the writer's brother Abraham Howell, was written to his parents [William and Elinor Howell of Llanbrynmair]; a postscript intended for Abraham Howell states that the writer's original intention was to write two separate letters); and W[illia]m Loudan, London, to David Howells, Machynelleth [sic], 1839 (legal documents) (endorsed with a copy of recipient's reply).

Holograph letters addressed to Abraham Howell at Welshpool and very occasionally elsewhere, by his brother David Howell mainly from Machynlleth. 12558D. Seventy-seven letters, 1833-1837 (financial and legal matters [relating to the professional activities of the two brothers in the solicitors' offices in which they were working in Welshpool and Machynlleth respectively], personal and family affairs including the writer's efforts to improve his education, his inclination to seek a post in Manchester so that he could study at the Mechanics' Institution, his prospects in his law career at Machynlleth, his attempts to become an articled clerk, the problem of deciding upon a career for [their brother] George, the sending of [their sister] Elinor to school at Minsterley [co. Salop], and the health of their brother Edward, the possibility of a new bank being opened at Machynlleth, the certificates of registration of a chapel at Mallwyd and of Hebron chapel at Aberangell (1836), mention of Llanbrynmair and Diosg schools, the presenting of the rules of the Darowen Friendly Society to the [Quarter] Sessions (1836), a fire at [Machynlleth] (1836), mention of the Mer[ioneth] election (1836), a public dinner and ? firework display to be organised [at Machynlleth] to celebrate the coming of age of Princess Victoria) (one of the letters contains an abstract of the contents of a letter sent by another brother, Lewis Howell, from Lake Providence, Louiziana, to his father and mother, January 1837, in which he comments on wages, land transactions, cotton growing, etc., in that state). 12559D. Seventy-two letters, 1838-1840 (the financial and legal activities of the two brothers, personal and family news, the writer's career prospects in the solicitor's office in which he was employed at Machynlleth, [their sister] Ellen's schooling at Minsterley, the writer's impressions of James Rees Jones ['Kilsby'] the prospective minister of Capel y Graig [Independent Church at Machynlleth], the members who had separated from Capel y Graig, trouble concerning possession of the said chapel and the advisability of having it registered, a plan to invest in property in London (the letter referring to this topic is accompanied by a copy of a letter from David Howell to his brother Evan in London giving more details of the plan), the tenancy of a factory [? at Llanbryn- mair] (the letter referring to this point is on the dorse of a lengthy letter to Abraham Howell from [Elinor Howell] his mother, from Llanbrynmair, 27 November 1838, containing local news including details of a fatal shooting accident near Diosk [farm, Llanbryn-mair], news of [the recipient's brother] Lewis in America, moral exhortations to the recipient and his brothers and sisters in the form of verse, and a long poem advocating the cause of temperance), an attack by Hugh Thomas, clerk to the Board of Guardians [of the Machynlleth Union], on Captain Thruston [? chairman of the board] at [his home in] Talgarth, the election of the writer as clerk to the aforementioned Board of Guardians as successor to Thomas (some of the letters dealing with this election are dated January 1838, but this is a mistake for 1839 as the election was held in January of that year), a query with regard to the registration of a Calvinistic Methodist chapel at Aberangell in 1836, a subscription by the writer towards six copies of the Rev[eren]David W[illiam] Williams ['Caledfryn']: Drych Barddonol [neu Draethawd ar Farddoniaeth . . ., Caernarfon, 1839], a meeting to discuss enclosing 'the Park and other Commons', possible proposals for enclosures in the manor of Cyfeiliog) the letters contain occasional references to Samuel Roberts and John Roberts, the writer's cousins). 12560D. Eighty letters, 1841-1845 (personal and family news, legal and financial transactions by the writer and recipient, the commutation of Machynlleth tithes, a query concerning the legal venue for the parliamentary election for the county of Montgomery (1841), doubts as to 'whether the Conservative voters at Newtown will be allowed by the mob to vote' [? in the election for the borough seat], a post for [their brother] George in Liverpool, the moving of the Dovey bridge toll gate and the building of a road by Sir John Edwards, owner of Ffrydd, in order to evade paying toll at the new gate, the birth of recipient's son, mention of the certificate of registration of Capel y Graig [Independent Chapel at Machynlleth], [their sister] Hannah's schooling, the mental illness of [ their brother] Samuel, a request for advice in connection with the commutation of Darowen tithes).

Sixty-six holograph and autograph letters addressed to Abraham Howell at Welshpool, in London (2) and in Salop (1), 1836-1846 and undated. The writers include Sam[ue]l Bakewell, Oulton near Stone [Staffordshire], 1845 (5) (the mental and physical condition of recipient's brother [Samuel] who had been placed in the writer's care) (attached to one of the letters is a copy of the reply sent by Abraham Howell), Charles Benbow [? Newtown], [18]46 (2) (financial matters), Geo[rge] Broughall, Oswestry, 1841 (the making of Pont Llanerchymris, Llanfechan bridge and New Bridge over the Verniew [co. Montgomery] into county bridges), [ ] Clarke [London], 1841 (2) ( business matters), J. Foulkes, Milford near Newtown, 1841 (the birth of recipient's son, financial and property matters), J. Griffiths [London], 1838 (personal, law books), John Hamer, Werglodd y Maip, 1837 (uncertainty as to whether Union Chapel [in the parish of Kerry, co. Montgomery] had been licensed, some details concerning the chapel), Ed[ward] Hughes, Llanbrynmair, 1836 (personal, a request for money for the writer's mother, a temperance meeting at the 'Old Chapel'), Edward Hughes, Cambridge, 1838- 1841 (4) (the writer's journey from Pool to Cambridge and his activities at Cambridge in preparation for entering [Queen's College] (1838), applications for money, the writer's degree prospects, news that 'the Cantabs have beaten the Oxonians in a rowing contention on the Thames' (1839), the presence of a small number of 'Oxford-tract-men' at Cambridge and sermons by Professor [James] Scholefield against their views), Charles Jones, Manchester, 1841 (a) (personal, payment for a horse), David Jones, Park Llwydiarth, 1840 (? an answer to applications by recipient for a lease of farms in the Llanbrynmair area), J. Jones, Montgomery, 1836 (enclosing a letter from Messrs. Edye and Jefferson, Montgomery, to A[ braham] Howells, 1836, concerning personal matters), J. Jones, Henllan, 1851 (matters relating to y Ty Mawr farm), John Jones, Bank, Machynlleth, 1839 (a request for copying work from recipient's office), Lewis Jones, Shrewsbury [recipient's uncle], 1836-1841 (3) (personal, financial matters) (enclosing a letter from Hugh Davies, Machynlleth, to the writer, 1839, re financial matters), Morris Cha[rle]s Jones, Welshpool, Liverpool, etc., 1839-1841 and undated (16) (personal, legal and business matters, the tithe commutation agreement for the parish of Hirnant [co. Denbigh], attendance at a ball at Bruce Castle where Rowland Hill 'the immortal penny postage man' was present, the birth of the recipient's first child), Henry Kitson, Shrewsbury, 1840 (the premium on an [insurance] policy), D. Macrorie, Liverpool, 1841 (medical advice for Mrs. H[owell, recipient's wife]), Messrs. Milno, Parry, Milno, and Morris, Temple [London], 1841 (3) ( recipient's application for admission [as an attorney], the regulations relating to the admission [of articled clerks as attorneys]) (enclosed are a circular dated 1836 relating to the said regulations, with a copy of a questionnaire to be completed by the clerk seeking admission and by the attorney under whom he had served his articles, and a copy (printed) of the said questionnaire with the answers supplied (pencilled in) in the case of Abraham Howell), [the Reverend] Thomas Morgan, Tipton [ Staffordshire, previously Independent minister at Welshpool, circa 1832-1837], 1840 (personal, ? the possibility of [the Reverend Cyrus] Hudson becoming [Independent] minister [at Welshpool], comments on Hudson, a meeting at Stafford of the association of the ministers in Staffordshire, the writer's unhappy memories of his ministry at Welshpool with unfavourable comments on the inhabitants) (added as a postscript is a letter from Jane Ann Morgan [wife of the Reverend Thomas Morgan], with personal greetings, remarks on ? the manse, and news of a Baptist missionary meeting at Dudley attended by twelve ministers from London, Birmingham, and America, and a slave), J. R. Ogle, Harlescott and Gungrog, [1839]-1841 (6) (transactions relating to a mare), A[nne] W[arburton] Owen, G[lan] S[evern], 1845 and undated (3) (the possible sale by the proprietors of the [Montgomery] Canal of the 'Feeder from the Rhiew', the powers the said proprietors claimed under the 'General Sale Act', a debt due from Mr. [John] Burke [genealogist] whose Peerage had been advertised, the wish of all the proprietors of the [Montgomery] Canal, with the exception of the writer, to sell the canal, mention of the turnpike road at Brithdir, a request to recipient to write to London concerning Berriew tithe commutation book, the rents for property [in Liverpool]), Rich[ar]d Griffithes Parry, 1841 (personal, business affairs), John Phillips, Newtown, 1846 (a request for aid for the writer's brother Evan to go to America), [the Reverend] Henry Rees [Methodist minister], Shrewsbury, [18]36 (a request for information concerning any small farms in the Carno-Llanbrynmair district, and more especially concerning Bryn Cae Miler farm near Machynlleth, which were for sale as part of the Esgir Evan estate, information the writer had received about a farm near Whitechurch 'Ond nid oes yno un Seiat, Cyfarfod Misol na ddaith Sabboth yn agos'), Mary Ryder [1840] (a request to recipient to hand a note to Mrs. Jones concerning her son's illness), James Smith, Chester, 1839 (a request, on behalf of the writer's friend, Mrs. Collins of Little Sutton near Chester, for information concerning the settlement of the affairs of her uncle, Mr. Clarke, deceased, of Welshpool), W[illia]m Ward, 1841 (a request for an increase in his salary as a clerk in Mr. Jones's office, from twenty-one to twenty-five shillings a week), C. Wilding, [18]40 (a promise to consider an application by a friend of the recipient in respect of Gesseldu farm), and J. Yearsley, Welchpool, undated (the writer's return from Brighton, congratulations on the birth of recipient's son).

Holograph letters addressed to Abraham Howell at Welshpool and very occasionally elsewhere, by his brother David Howell mainly from Machynlleth. 12558D. Seventy-seven letters, 1833-1837 (financial and legal matters [relating to the professional activities of the two brothers in the solicitors' offices in which they were working in Welshpool and Machynlleth respectively], personal and family affairs including the writer's efforts to improve his education, his inclination to seek a post in Manchester so that he could study at the Mechanics' Institution, his prospects in his law career at Machynlleth, his attempts to become an articled clerk, the problem of deciding upon a career for [their brother] George, the sending of [their sister] Elinor to school at Minsterley [co. Salop], and the health of their brother Edward, the possibility of a new bank being opened at Machynlleth, the certificates of registration of a chapel at Mallwyd and of Hebron chapel at Aberangell (1836), mention of Llanbrynmair and Diosg schools, the presenting of the rules of the Darowen Friendly Society to the [Quarter] Sessions (1836), a fire at [Machynlleth] (1836), mention of the Mer[ioneth] election (1836), a public dinner and ? firework display to be organised [at Machynlleth] to celebrate the coming of age of Princess Victoria) (one of the letters contains an abstract of the contents of a letter sent by another brother, Lewis Howell, from Lake Providence, Louiziana, to his father and mother, January 1837, in which he comments on wages, land transactions, cotton growing, etc., in that state). 12559D. Seventy-two letters, 1838-1840 (the financial and legal activities of the two brothers, personal and family news, the writer's career prospects in the solicitor's office in which he was employed at Machynlleth, [their sister] Ellen's schooling at Minsterley, the writer's impressions of James Rees Jones ['Kilsby'] the prospective minister of Capel y Graig [Independent Church at Machynlleth], the members who had separated from Capel y Graig, trouble concerning possession of the said chapel and the advisability of having it registered, a plan to invest in property in London (the letter referring to this topic is accompanied by a copy of a letter from David Howell to his brother Evan in London giving more details of the plan), the tenancy of a factory [? at Llanbryn- mair] (the letter referring to this point is on the dorse of a lengthy letter to Abraham Howell from [Elinor Howell] his mother, from Llanbrynmair, 27 November 1838, containing local news including details of a fatal shooting accident near Diosk [farm, Llanbryn-mair], news of [the recipient's brother] Lewis in America, moral exhortations to the recipient and his brothers and sisters in the form of verse, and a long poem advocating the cause of temperance), an attack by Hugh Thomas, clerk to the Board of Guardians [of the Machynlleth Union], on Captain Thruston [? chairman of the board] at [his home in] Talgarth, the election of the writer as clerk to the aforementioned Board of Guardians as successor to Thomas (some of the letters dealing with this election are dated January 1838, but this is a mistake for 1839 as the election was held in January of that year), a query with regard to the registration of a Calvinistic Methodist chapel at Aberangell in 1836, a subscription by the writer towards six copies of the Rev[eren]David W[illiam] Williams ['Caledfryn']: Drych Barddonol [neu Draethawd ar Farddoniaeth . . ., Caernarfon, 1839], a meeting to discuss enclosing 'the Park and other Commons', possible proposals for enclosures in the manor of Cyfeiliog) the letters contain occasional references to Samuel Roberts and John Roberts, the writer's cousins). 12560D. Eighty letters, 1841-1845 (personal and family news, legal and financial transactions by the writer and recipient, the commutation of Machynlleth tithes, a query concerning the legal venue for the parliamentary election for the county of Montgomery (1841), doubts as to 'whether the Conservative voters at Newtown will be allowed by the mob to vote' [? in the election for the borough seat], a post for [their brother] George in Liverpool, the moving of the Dovey bridge toll gate and the building of a road by Sir John Edwards, owner of Ffrydd, in order to evade paying toll at the new gate, the birth of recipient's son, mention of the certificate of registration of Capel y Graig [Independent Chapel at Machynlleth], [their sister] Hannah's schooling, the mental illness of [ their brother] Samuel, a request for advice in connection with the commutation of Darowen tithes).

Fifty-five holograph letters addressed to Abraham Howell at Welshpool and in London (1) by various members of his family, 1835-1845 and undated. The writers include Edward Howell [recipient's brother], Shrewsbury, Quatt, Collingbourn, Bontdolgadfan, Towyn and Carshalton, 1837-1841 (12) (personal and family news, the writer's activities as an excise officer in the Quatt- Bridgnorth area [co. Salop] and in the Collingbourn area [co. Wilts.], his posting to the Croydon excise district, comments on his health, lodgings, acquaintances, etc., a visit to [their sister] Ellen who was at school in Minsterley [co. Salop] (1837), the writer's plans to have Ellen to live with him at Carshalton, a visit to London and wonder at seeing a 'Diving Bell', a visit to Windsor and a sight of the Queen and Prince Albert (1841)), Eleanor Howell [recipient's sister], Minsterley [co. Salop], 1838-1839 (2 ) (personal, mention of the Llanidloes rioters, hopes that there would be no attack on her parents), Elinor Howell [recipient's mother], Llanbryn- mair and [Y] Drefnewydd, 1835-1841 (5) (personal and family affairs, the sending of [recipient's sister] Elinor to school in [y] dref newidd in 1835, the need to speak to the steward about wainwen, concern about an impending visit by recipient and his wife in 1840 and the inadequate state of the house, worry because [recipient's brother] Samuel was not settling down in his job in Newtown) (one of the letters is endorsed with a note from S[amuel] Howell from Newtown, 1839), Geo[rge] Howell [recipient's brother], Machynlleth and Liverpool, 1839-1841 and undated (11) (personal, copying work undertaken for recipient at Machynlleth, the writer's office employment in Liverpool), Lewis Howell [recipient's brother], Cincinnati [America], 1841 (recipient's marriage, reflections on the married state and on the death of the writer's wife), Samuel Howell [recipient's brother], Newtown, Carshalton, London and Bont[dolgadfan], 1839-1845 (17) (personal, family affairs, a request to recipient to buy specified medical and scientific books for the writer (1839), the writer's employment in druggist stores in Newtown and London, his unfavourable impressions of London and the English, a bad report (1842) on the flannel trade [in Llanbryn-mair], a proposed move to a shop in Brighton in 1844), and W[illiam] and E[linor] Howell [recipient's parents], Llanbrynmair, 1836-1839 and undated (7) (personal and family affairs, news from America of [recipient's brother] Lewis, of the illness of Lewis's wife, and of the death of recipient's uncle Edward Bebb, mention of other emigrants to America, a visit to London by [recipient's cousin] John Robearts [sic] who, in company with Evan [Howell, recipient's brother], had visited the Houses of Parliament and heard [Daniel] O'Conel [sic] making a speech [1836], the purchase of £130 worth of wool by recipient's father, straitened financial circumstances, the [flannel] factory at Llanbrynmair, condemnation of alcoholic drinks (including verses on this theme), the poor harvest prospects in 1839, and a request for information concerning the leasing of Geselddu farm).

Holograph letters addressed to Abraham Howell at Welshpool and very occasionally elsewhere, by his brother David Howell mainly from Machynlleth. 12558D. Seventy-seven letters, 1833-1837 (financial and legal matters [relating to the professional activities of the two brothers in the solicitors' offices in which they were working in Welshpool and Machynlleth respectively], personal and family affairs including the writer's efforts to improve his education, his inclination to seek a post in Manchester so that he could study at the Mechanics' Institution, his prospects in his law career at Machynlleth, his attempts to become an articled clerk, the problem of deciding upon a career for [their brother] George, the sending of [their sister] Elinor to school at Minsterley [co. Salop], and the health of their brother Edward, the possibility of a new bank being opened at Machynlleth, the certificates of registration of a chapel at Mallwyd and of Hebron chapel at Aberangell (1836), mention of Llanbrynmair and Diosg schools, the presenting of the rules of the Darowen Friendly Society to the [Quarter] Sessions (1836), a fire at [Machynlleth] (1836), mention of the Mer[ioneth] election (1836), a public dinner and ? firework display to be organised [at Machynlleth] to celebrate the coming of age of Princess Victoria) (one of the letters contains an abstract of the contents of a letter sent by another brother, Lewis Howell, from Lake Providence, Louiziana, to his father and mother, January 1837, in which he comments on wages, land transactions, cotton growing, etc., in that state). 12559D. Seventy-two letters, 1838-1840 (the financial and legal activities of the two brothers, personal and family news, the writer's career prospects in the solicitor's office in which he was employed at Machynlleth, [their sister] Ellen's schooling at Minsterley, the writer's impressions of James Rees Jones ['Kilsby'] the prospective minister of Capel y Graig [Independent Church at Machynlleth], the members who had separated from Capel y Graig, trouble concerning possession of the said chapel and the advisability of having it registered, a plan to invest in property in London (the letter referring to this topic is accompanied by a copy of a letter from David Howell to his brother Evan in London giving more details of the plan), the tenancy of a factory [? at Llanbryn- mair] (the letter referring to this point is on the dorse of a lengthy letter to Abraham Howell from [Elinor Howell] his mother, from Llanbrynmair, 27 November 1838, containing local news including details of a fatal shooting accident near Diosk [farm, Llanbryn-mair], news of [the recipient's brother] Lewis in America, moral exhortations to the recipient and his brothers and sisters in the form of verse, and a long poem advocating the cause of temperance), an attack by Hugh Thomas, clerk to the Board of Guardians [of the Machynlleth Union], on Captain Thruston [? chairman of the board] at [his home in] Talgarth, the election of the writer as clerk to the aforementioned Board of Guardians as successor to Thomas (some of the letters dealing with this election are dated January 1838, but this is a mistake for 1839 as the election was held in January of that year), a query with regard to the registration of a Calvinistic Methodist chapel at Aberangell in 1836, a subscription by the writer towards six copies of the Rev[eren]David W[illiam] Williams ['Caledfryn']: Drych Barddonol [neu Draethawd ar Farddoniaeth . . ., Caernarfon, 1839], a meeting to discuss enclosing 'the Park and other Commons', possible proposals for enclosures in the manor of Cyfeiliog) the letters contain occasional references to Samuel Roberts and John Roberts, the writer's cousins). 12560D. Eighty letters, 1841-1845 (personal and family news, legal and financial transactions by the writer and recipient, the commutation of Machynlleth tithes, a query concerning the legal venue for the parliamentary election for the county of Montgomery (1841), doubts as to 'whether the Conservative voters at Newtown will be allowed by the mob to vote' [? in the election for the borough seat], a post for [their brother] George in Liverpool, the moving of the Dovey bridge toll gate and the building of a road by Sir John Edwards, owner of Ffrydd, in order to evade paying toll at the new gate, the birth of recipient's son, mention of the certificate of registration of Capel y Graig [Independent Chapel at Machynlleth], [their sister] Hannah's schooling, the mental illness of [ their brother] Samuel, a request for advice in connection with the commutation of Darowen tithes).