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Miscellaneous holograph letters, 1806-1914, written by the following: D[avid] Thomas ('Dafydd Ddu Eryri'), Waunfawr, 1806, to Dafydd Owen ('Dewi Wyn o Eifion'), Gaerwen, Llanystumdwy (contributions to Y Greal), R. H. Richards, Llanfair isaf, 1823, to D[avid] Owen ('Dewi Wyn o Eifion') (appreciation of his 'awdl' Elusengarwch, arrangements for addressee to address Cymdeithas Cymroaidd Llanfair), G[riffith] Williams ('Gutyn Peris'), Braich Talog, Llandegai, 1822, to Robert Williams ('Robert ap Gwilym Ddu'), Betws, Llanystumdwy (letters were his chief delight because his work prevented him travelling, absence of Caernarvonshire poets from the Caernarvon eisteddfod, reading old manuscripts, refers to a manuscript of Lewis Morris, a manuscript of William Elias of Plas yn Glyn in the possession of a captain at Holyhead, the manuscript of Angharad James of Penamnen, wishes to be remembered kindly to Dewi Wyn and to assure him that he was not 'Brytyn') (published in Llais Rhyddid, XIII, pp. 111-114), J[ohn] Richards ('Iocyn Ddu'), Llanerchymedd, 1824, to Richard Jones ('Gwyndaf Eryri'), Caernarvon (commends the intention to form a poetry society but warns of the dangers of disputes, has sent his opinion on the 'Awdlau ar Ymweliad y Brenhin a Môn' to the appropriate place, addressee's prize winning 'awdl' on 'Cerddoriaeth' at the Caernarfon eisteddfod of 1821), John Williams ('Sion Dwyfor'), Y Ffrwdgoch, undated, to Richard Jones ('Gwyndaf Eryri'), y Bontnewydd Gerllaw Carnarfon (possibility of writer competing at an eisteddfod, sale of (?addressee's) awdlau) (published in Llais Rhyddid, XIII, pp. 115-116), John Williams ('Ioan Twrog'), Factory, Maentwrog, 1836, to Richard Jones ('Gwyndaf Eryri'), Carnarvon, (names of competitors in a 'pryddest' competition in order of the adjudication, requires a weaver, states his rates of pay for various weaving work, [William Rees] 'Gwilym Hiraethog', Llynlleifiad, 1845, to Robert Williams ('Robert ap Gwilym Ddu'), Monachdy bach, Llangybi (enclosing 'Cywydd Anerch y godidog Brif fardd R. ab Gwilym Ddu (cf. Caniadau Hiraethog (Dinbych, 1855), pp.174-177)), [Edward Roberts] 'Iorwerth G[lan] Aled', Rhyl 1851 to [Ebenezer Thomas ('Eben Fardd')] (criticism of Richard Parry ('Gwalchmai') and his poetry), Robert Ellis ('Cynddelw') (2) to [John Edwards] 'Meiriadog', one from Sirhowy, 1851 (addressee's intention of publishing a monthly magazine Yr Hyfforddwr, denominationalism in Wales, writer was preparing a primer on Welsh prosody, writer's opinion of the 'gorsedd', writer's family), the other (a copy) from Caerynarfon, 1871 (writer preparing a biography of the Reverend J. Williams, Rhos, requests addressee's recollections of him, is considering collecting his poetry for publication in a 3/- or 4/- volume, intends finishing his commentary [on the New Testament] and to publish a book entitled Athrawiaeth y ddau Cyfammod), D[aniel] Silvan Evans, Talybont by Aberystwyth, Llangïan etc. to Ebenezer Thomas ('Eben Fardd'), Clynnog, 1843-60 (9), (writer's publication Blodau Ieuainc, commends the publication of a Welsh translation of Chambers's Information for the People, addressee's contribution to Y Brython, seeks addressee's help in collecting colloquial words and phrases for his dictionary), D[aniel] Silvan Evans, Llan ym Mawddwy, 1865, to O[wen] Jones ('Manoethwy'), (addresseee's offer to copy manuscripts in the British Museum), D[aniel] Silvan Evans, Llanymawddwy and Llanwrin etc., 1869-94 (69), to John Jones ('Myrddin Fardd'), Chwilog, with some (20) letters from John Jones to D. Silvan Evans (enquiries concerning books and words, bookbinding, receipt of books, references to other collectors and their collections viz. [Edward] Breese, E[dward] H[umphrey] Owen, [St George] Armstrong Williams, the Plas Gwyn (Panton) collection of books and manuscripts moved to Plas Hen, Llanystumdwy, 1890); Rowland Vab Owen, Trenton and Remsen, Oneida, New York, 1868-70(2), to Owen Williams ('Owain Gwyrfai'), Waunfawr, and John Roberts, Poultney, Vermont, 1871, to Owen Williams ('Owain Gwyrfai'), enclosing a letter to John Roberts from Rowland Vab Owen, Ty Seth Llwyd, Utica, 1871 (Rowland Vab Owen's searches in America concerning Abraham Williams ('Bardd Du Eryri') and information relating to Rowland Vab Owen's family in Wales) (these four letters have been published in Llais Rhyddid, Vol. XIII, pp. 41-8), W[illiam] O[wen] Jones (editor of Llais Rhyddid), Liverpool, 1914, to [John Jones] 'Myrddin Fardd', (returning two letters published in Llais Rhyddid), various writers ('Pryse] Pryse Loveden, Gogerddan, etc.), 1850-56 (12), to D. Douglas Wemyss, Dalkey, Dublin (replies to requests for help in obtaining employment).

Lewis Morris's 'Celtic Remains'.

A composite volume compiled by Owen Williams, Fronheulog, Waunfawr in 1857. It comprises: I. 'Y Gronfa' (pp. 1-200), largely in the hand of David Thomas ('Dafydd Ddu Eryri'), containing an introduction ('Y Rhagymadrodd') signed 4 October 1790; an English translation by D[avid] T[homas] of two lines of poetry by Gwalchmai; 'Cyfieithiad o Awdl Sibli (Sibyl's Ode, translated by the Revd. Gor[onwy] Owen)' ('See the above, versified in D. Thomas's poetical collection'); etymons of Mr Jones of Llanegryn, Mr L. Morris, and D. Tho[ma]s; extracts from letters from the Revd. Gor[onwy] Owen to Mr Richard Morris of the Navy Office, London, 1753-67; Welsh poetry by Bleddyn, Gwgon, Taliesin, Cynddelw [Brydydd Mawr], 'Guttun Gwrecsam' ('sef John Edwards neu Sion Ceiriog now dead'), Rhisiart Jones 'o Fôn, Syr Thomas Jones ('Iechyd i Galon yr hen offeiriad O na bai Gant o'i fath ynghymru y dydd heddyw'), Hywel ap Reinallt, Llywelyn Goch ap Meurig Hen (with a translation by Evan Evans ['Ieuan Fardd']), Hywel ap Dafydd ap Ieuan ap Rhys, Thomas Celli, Tudur Aled, D[avid] Thomas, Owen Williams (Waunfawr) (c.1820), Rhys Jones 'o'r Blaenau', and Goronwy Owen; English poetry by Alexander Pope, John Dyer, and Thomas Gray; anecdotes and biographical notes relating to Gruffydd Hiraethog, William Phylip, Sion Tudur, William Lleyn, etc.; 'Athrawiaeth y Gorphwysiadau', being rules of punctuation, copied in 1809 ('not intended for public inspection'); observations in verse on 'Barddoniaeth Gymreig', for publication in the North Wales Gazette, 1818; a holograph letter from D. Thomas to Robt. Williams, land surveyor, Bangor, 1820 (plagiarism of one of the writer's poems, comments on the poetry of 'Gutyn P[eris]', results of the Wrexham eisteddfod); 'Sibli's Prophecy. A Fragment from the Welsh', translated by D. Thomas; 'A Discourse between St Kybi and other saints on their passage to the Isle of Bardsey ...'; epithalamia to Dafydd Thomas and Elin, his wife, by [John Roberts] 'Siôn Lleyn', [Griffith Williams] 'Gutyn Peris', [William Williams] 'Gwilym Peris', and Dafydd Owain ('Bardd Gwyn o Eifion', i.e. 'Dewi Wyn o Eifion'), 1803-4; reviews by 'Adolygwr' of 'awdlau' by Walter Davies ['Gwallter Mechain'] and Edward Hughes ['Y Dryw'] on 'Amaethyddiaeth' submitted for competition at Tre Fadog eisteddfod, 1811; and critical observations on Welsh poetry entitled 'Ystyriaethau ar Brydyddiaeth Gymraeg ai pherthynasau yn gynnwysedig mewn rhai nodiadau ar waith Mr. T[homas] Jones ['Y Bardd Cloff'] yn y Greal', by 'Peblig', Glan Gwyrfai [i.e. 'Dafydd Ddu Eryri'] (published in Golud yr Oes, 1863, pp. 118-23), together with copies of two letters, 1806, to the author from 'Padarn' [i.e. 'Gutyn Peris'] and John Roberts ['Sion Lleyn'] containing their observations on the views set forth in the treatise. Pp. 61-8 are in the autograph of Owen Williams, Waunfawr. The compiler has included a few cover papers from manuscripts of 'Dafydd Ddu Eryri' bearing such inscriptions as 'This Morrisian MS (with some others) I found at a Farmhouse called Braint near Penmynydd, Anglesey, Sept. 9th 1793. D. Thomas' (p. 123) and 'This MSS (with several others) has been bequethed to me, by the Rev. David Ellis, late Rector of Cruccaith in Caernarvonshire. D. Thomas' (p. 189). Ii. The works of Griffith Williams ('Gutyn Peris'), Braich Talog, Llandegai, - 'Sef Casgliad, O Ganiadau, Carolau, a Cherddi, Ac awdlau, a Chowyddau, Ac Englynion ...', transcribed by Owen Williams, Ty ycha'r ffordd, Waun fawr, Llanbeblig, 1811, together with a few 'englynion' by Goronwy Owen (pp. 201-48). Iii. 'Bywyd a Marwolaeth Godidog Fardd, Dafydd Thomas; neu Dafydd Ddu, o Eryri', being a biography collected and transcribed by Owen Williams, Waunfawr; 'Casgliad Barddonawl O Waith Dafydd Ddu o Eryri, Y rhai a gyfansoddodd Yn ol ei argraffiad o Gorph y Gaingc' (imperfect) (1 page), 'Englynion ar Fedd Dafydd Thomas' by Dafydd Owen ('Dewi Wynn o Eifion'), Robert Williams ('Robert ap Gwilym Ddu' 'o'r Bettws Bach Eifion'), Griffith Williams ('Guttun Peris'), Richard Jones (Erw), Wm. Edward ('Gwilym Padarn'), and [Owen Williams]; 'englynion' by 'Dafydd Ddu Eryri', 1796-1815 and undated; and extracts from three letters from 'Dafydd Ddu Eryri' to P[eter] B[ailey] W[illiams], 1806-20 (the death of the recipient's parishioners in Llanberis and Llanrug, the death of the recipient's brother the Reverend Eliezer Williams, the displeasure of 'O[wain] Myfyr') (pp. 251-84). Iv. A transcript of Cofrestr o'r holl Lyfrau Printiedig ... (Llundain, 1717) (pp. 287-452). Inset are three leaves containing transcripts of a letter from Edmund Francis to [ ] (the writer's health, the recipient's preaching engagement) (incomplete) and of a letter from D. Thomas ['Dafydd Ddu Eryri'] to [John Roberts, 'Siôn Lleyn'], 1810 (the sale of the writer's [Corph y Gaingc]). Written on the inside lower cover is a long note by O[wen] Williams, Fronheulog, Waunfawr, 1857, of which the following is an extract, - 'Myfi a gesglais gynhwysedd y llyfr hwn o'r hen ysgrifiau a ddaeth i'm dwylaw oeddynt eiddo Dafydd Ddu Eryri ac a delais am eu rhwymo yn nghyd megys y gwelir yma er's llawer o flynyddoedd yn ol ...'.

A composite volume, partly in the hand of Mary Richards, Darowen, containing poetry (some composed by poets on visits to Darowen), largely in the form of 'englynion', by Rowland Parry ('Ieuan Carn Dochen'), David Richards ('Dewi Silin'), Evan Evans ('Ieuan Glan Geirionydd'), [William Jones] 'G[wilym] Cawrdaf', [William Williams] 'G[wilym] Cyfeiliog', [William Williams] 'Gwilim Iorwerth' (Darowen), Robart Parri (?'Robyn Ddu Eryri'), [David Richards] 'Dafydd Ionawr', Aneurin Owen, 'Llewelyn Idris', William Edwards ('Gwilym Padarn'), David Pugh, [Benjamin Jones] 'P. A. Môn', [Morris Jones] 'Meurig Idris' (Dolgellau), 'Cynfrig', Robert Parry ('Robyn Ddu Eryri'), David Ellis (Llanwrin), John Davies, W. W. Jones (Glaslyn), Robert Davies ('Bardd Nantglyn'), J[ohn] A[thelston] Owen ('Bardd Meirion'), William Edwards ('Gwilym Callestr'), 'Gwilym Tew Glan Taf', Walter Davies ('Gwallter Mechain'), [W. Williams] 'Gwilym Bryn Mair', [Henry Griffyth] 'Hari Goch o Wynedd', [Morris Davies] 'Meurig Ebrill', Griffith Llwyd, Evan Jones ('Ieuan Gwynedd') [Robert Jones] 'Bardd Mawddach', John Jones ('Vicar Llanfair'), Edward Beynion [Bennion] ('Meddyg Cyrnybwch') (Oswestry), David (Dafydd) Harries (Nantllemysten), Dr [William Owen-] Pughe, etc., and anonymous poems; 'Traethawd neu Raglwybr yn dysgu Egwyddorion a Gwreiddiau Cerddoriaeth (incomplete); notes on bardic and ogham alphabets; 'Cofrestr or Cromlechau neu Allorau'r Derwyddion'; 'Drygioni Meddod'; 'Tri thlws ar ddeg o Frenindlysau Ynys Brydain' and 'Achau Llywelyn ap Gruffydd' (from a manuscript [Cwrtmawr MS 200] of Lewis Morris ('Llywelyn Ddu o Fôn'); copies of letters to Mary Richards, &c. from [Daniel Evans] 'Daniel Ddu o Geredigion', Maesmynach, near Lampeter, 1830 (the publication of the writer's Gwinllan y Bardd), William Edward ('Gwilym Padarn'), Waun fawr, 1822 (a visit to Gwent eisteddfod, a silver cup of Capt. William Griffith of Caernarvon, enclosing poetry), W. Owen-Pughe ('Gwilym Owain o Feirion') (to John [Ryland] Harris 'Ieuan Ddu Glan Tawy'), 1823 (personal) (with an incomplete reply) ('ni bu yr yscrifell byth mwyach yn ei law'), J. Blackwell ['Alun'] Oxford, 1824 (enclosing a stanza by 'Ioan Tegid'), Jas. Evans, secretary, Cymmrodorion or Metropolitan Cambrian Institution, 1821 (the addressee's election to honorary membership), etc.; an address of the Cymreigyddion Society of Aberystwyth to Mary Richards, 1822, and the latter's reply, 1823; an account of a St David's Day dinner of the Cymreigyddion Society of Aberystwyth, 1823 (from Seren Gomer, June 1823); miscellaneous memoranda and anecdotes, etc. Some of the transcripts are in a bardic alphabet. Inset are two 'carolau' composed in America, 1860, by John Lewis Davies ('Ioan Cadfan').

A manuscript consisting largely of transcripts and memoranda by Mary Richards and Thomas Richards of Darowen. The volume appears originally to have been used as an account book of receipts and disbursements in respect of the farms of Llwyn, Cafnmaelen and Byrthlwydd [parish of Dolgellau, Merioneth], 1799-1802, and also to record biographies of [James Crichton, 'The Admirable'], Sir Francis Walsingham, Sir Francis Drake and William Cecil, Lord Burghley. The additions made by the Richards family consist of contemporary and some near-contemporary poetry in both strict and free metres by Walter Davies ('Gwallter Mechain'), Robert Parry (Eglwysfach, Denbighshire), [Morris Jones] 'Meurig Idris', Robin Ddu o Fôn, David Richards ('Dewi Silin'), Sion Pryse (Penant Mowddwy), [John Jones] 'Myllin', Dafydd Ellis (Mowddwy), William Owain (1822), [Thomas Edwards] 'Twm o'r Nant', John Roberts (Herseth), [Hugh Jones] 'H[uw] Erfyl', Evan Evans ('Ieuan Glan Geirionydd'), William Jones ('Cawrdaf'), David Rees (1785), John Morgan ('o Lanfread Ceredigion'), Hugh Moris, Robert Davies ('Bardd Nantglyn'), Evan Evan ('o Arwydd yr Arth'), H. Griffith ('H[arri] Goch'), Robt Parry (Darowen), Robert Richard ('mab Hugh Richard Tailiwr Darowen'), [William Williams] 'Gwilym ab Iorwerth' (Darowen), Richard Richards [Meifod], William Pugh, J[ohn] H[ughes], Pontrobert, [John Jones] 'Ioan Tegid', Robert Dafydd ('o Fowddwy'), [Daniel Evans] 'Daniel Ddu o Geredigion', Edward Taliesin Llwyd (Tal y bont, swydd Gaerdigan'), John Athelystan [sic] Owen ('Bardd Meirion'), John Blackwell ['Alun'], John Morris ('Y Wern Philyp, Llanbadarn'), David Morgan (1743), Dafydd Morris (Llanfair Caer Einion), [Robert Williams] 'Robert ap Gwilym Ddu', W. Jones (Llanerful), ? Morris Jones (Towyn), ? Lewis Richards ('Person Llan Erful'), Thomas Williams (Llanfihangel) ['Eos Gwynfa', or 'Eos y Mynydd'], Evan Williams (Darowen), Dafydd Thomas ('Dafydd Ddu Eryri'), [William Edwards] 'Gwilym Padarn', John Williams (Dolgelley), Dafydd William (Llandeilo fach), Thomas Ellis (Caerwys), etc., and anonymous compositions; transcripts and extracts from earlier manuscripts, consisting largely of 'cywyddau', 'awdlau', etc. by Ifan Llwyd, Edward Urien, Huw Mathew, Leilin [recte Heilin] Fardd, Rys Cain, Davydd ap Gwilim, Dafydd Nanmor, Lewis Trefnant, Efan Tew, Mathew Bromfield, Syr Owen ap Gwilim ('Persson Owen'), Owen Gwynedd, William Llyn, Huw Arwystl, John Philip, Rissiart Philip, Sion Cent, Evan Llwyd Owain Erigain [recte 'o waun Einion'], Morus ap I[eu]an ab Einion [Morus Dwyfech], Lewys Glyn Cothi, Edmund Prys, Owain ap Rhys ap Sion ap Howel Koetmor, Sion Tudur, Ystyffan Bardd Teiliaw, Thomas Lloyd Iangaf ('o Penmaen'), Thomas Pryse (Plas Iolyn), Gwilim ap Ieuan hen, William Cynwal, Syr Rhys Carno, Dafydd Llwyd Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, Meredydd ap Rhys, Llywelyn ap Guttun, Sr Huw Jones ('Bicar Llanvair Ynyffryn Clwyd'), Taliesin, Howel ab Reinallt, Sion Brwynog, Iorwerth Fynglwyd, Gutto'r Glyn, Huw Penant, Gruffudd D'd ap Howel, Howel Cilan, Dafydd ap Einion, Gruffudd ap Jenkin ap Llywelyn Vychan, Gruffudd Hiraethog, Deicin Kyfeiliog, Ifan Tudur Owen, Huw Kollwyd [recte Kollwyn], Iefan Brydydd hir, Iolo Goch, etc. and anonymous compositions; letters from W[alter] D[avies] ['Gwallter Mechain'] to T[homas] Richards, Berriew School, 1824 (inscriptions on medals), John Davies, Llanbryn Mair to Mary Richard, Darowen, 1828 (a request for a carol), Dafydd Richards ['Dewi Silin'] to his brother Richard Richards, undated (an appointment), William Tolman, Carnarvon, to [Mary Richards], 1826 (engraving on silver cups presented to Llanbeblig Church), John Blackwell to D. Richard ['Dewi Silin'], Llansilin, undated (enclosing 'englynion'), and Robert Nanney [Llwyn, Dolgelley], Dartmouth to [Thomas] Richards, Llan y Mowddwy, 1793 (the writer's tithe); 'Gofrestr or Tansgryfwyr at y Cwpanau Arian a gasglwyd yn y flwyddyn 1823'; notes on excavations of cairns in Darowen and Cemes; a treatise, being 'a Preface to a Book composed by me L[ewis] M[orris] Entitled Y [swe]lediad byr or holl Gelfyddydau a gwybodaethau Enwogaf yn y Byd June 1729' (extracted from Cwrt Mawr MS 200; see Y Gwyliedydd, 1837, 85-6 et al, and Cymru XII (1897), 261-4: a note on page 185 verso states that 'Trysor Gell Barddoniaeth ... Gan Lewis Morris' (Cwrt Mawr MS 200) was then in the possession of Mrs Watkin, Moel Cerni, Llanfihangel Genau'r Glyn, Cardiganshire, and that she also possessed several other manuscripts. Mrs Watkins' father, Mr Morgan 'o Lanfread' is stated to have been a friend of Lewis Morris); 'Grwgnachrwydd yr Oes. Sef Traethawd byr ar un o destynau Eisteddfod Tal y Cafn ... y 30ain o Hydref 1823. Gan Ednyfed', pedigrees (eg Dr John Davies, Mallwyd and Thomas Jones, Esgir Evan, Llanbryn Mair); medical recipes; memoranda and diary entries; cut-out autographs; press cuttings, etc. The volume is lettered 'Llyfr Hir Mair Richards'.