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A collection of notebooks and unbound leaves and fragments containing poetry in strict and free metres and prose writings by and largely in the hand of Rhys Williams ('Manod Wyllt'; 1841-67), of Hendre, Blaenpennal, Cardiganshire. Such of the compostions as are dated belong to the period 1857-65. Some of the verses are covered by letters to [Richard Davies] 'Mynyddog', 1864, [Hugh Parry] 'Hywel Glan Cefni', 1864, [John Lewis] 'Ioan Mynyw', undated, etc., and others are annotated in the hand of Benjamin Williams ('Gwynionydd'), who anonymously edited Caniadau Manod Wyllt, gyda Chofiant o'r Awdur (Aberystwyth, 1867). The prose writings consist of essays, lectures and expository notes on scripture and among the titles are 'Meddwdod a'i Effeithiau', 'Dylanwad Cymdeithas ar Fasnach a Chelfyddyd', 'Darlith ar Nodweddiad Cynulleidfaol y Cymru', 'Santeiddhad a Ffrwythau' ('Un o Destynau Cyfarfod dau fisol yr ysgolion yn Ysbytti, Mawrth 20 1861'), 'Darlith ar y Myglys', 'Anniweirdeb', 'Na chymer enw Duw yn ofer', 'Cariad', 'Meddwl', etc. One volume was originally an account book, 1845-65, of ?a local (Blaenpennal area) Women's Friendly Society and was subsequently used as a scrap book for cuttings from Baner ac Amserau Cymru, 20 September 1865, recording proceedings at the Aberystwyth National Eisteddfod of that year. Among a few related items in the collection is a holograph list of literary prizes entitled 'Cofrestr o'r Gwobryon a Enillais', 1862-3.

A volume in the hand of Daniel Silvan Evans (1818-1903) containing annotated extracts from manuscripts in the Llanover Collection, taken at Llanover during the period 1881-2; a vocabulary of the dialect of Lleyn; etc. Among the insets and pastedowns is a holograph letter from B[enjamin] Wil[liams] ['Gwynionydd'], Cwmdwr to [D. Silvan Evans], 1882 (a contribution by the writer to Yr Haul, personal).

Extensive material relating to Welsh bibliography accumulated by, and mainly in the hand of, D. Silvan Evans. It includes a volume entitled 'Bibliotheca Cambrensis. Llyfrofyddiaeth Cymru' ('A[u]ctore Dan. Silvano Evans, Cereticense') (pasted on to the inside lower cover is a holograph letter from the Reverend David Williams, Llanedy Rectory, 1868, giving the entry of baptism of John, son of John Walter, cleric and lexicographer, on 22 August 1721); a home-made notebook entitled 'Llyvryddiaeth Gymreig' (pasted on to the inside lower cover is a note in the hand of Benjamin Williams, ('Gwynionydd')); another home-made notebook entitled 'Emynau detholedig at Wasanaeth yr Eglwys. Rhag. 29, 1862', being a bibliography of Welsh hymnals and relevant source material; copious unbound leaves containing book titles (one of the titles is written on the dorse of a letter from M. A. Lewis, Tredegar Post Office, 1868, requesting the return of the writer's copy of 'Dr. J. D. Rees's Old Grammar'); and letters from John Peter ('Ioan Pedr'), Bala to [Henri] Gaidoz, 1870 (publications not contained in Rowland's work [Llyfryddiaeth y Cymry]), to D. Silvan Evans from W[illia]m Price, Llanffwyst, Abergavenny, 1869 (an addition to Llyfryddiaeth y Cymry), [Robert John Pryse] 'Gweirydd ap Rhys', Bangor, [18]78 (the title of Llyfer Plygain, 1618, transcribed by the writer from a volume examined at the Pengwern [Mostyn] sale in 1874), W[illiam] Rowlands ('Gwilym Lleyn'), Machynlleth, 1862-4 (4) (additions and corrections to [Llyfryddiaeth y Cymru], with references to Evan Evans ('Ieuan Brydydd Hir'), to [Jane] Davies, Penmaen, to W. F. Skene, etc., a request by a local printer to be allowed to print the recipient's edition of the works of [Walter Davies] Gwallter Mechain', the writer's removal from the manse to another house in Machynlleth and subsequently to Oswestry, the reported cataloguing of 'Llyfrfa Coleg Dewi' [the library of St. David's College, Lampeter], the illness and voyage to Australia of the writer's son), and from W[illiam] Spurrell, Carmarthen to [William] Rowlands ('Gwilym Lleyn') at Brynmawr, 1851-2 (2) (the writer's copy of Sion Dafydd Rhys's Welsh Grammar, biography of John Daniel, printer of Carmarthen). Some of the unbound titles are in the hand of Richard Williams (1835-1906), Celynog, Newtown and there is some later and additional material in the hand of J. H. Davies.

Two volumes containing over one hundred and sixty holograph letters and postcards and fragments of letters from B[enjamin] Williams ('Gwynionydd') to D. Silvan Evans ('Hirlas'). The letters are addressed from a variety of places, such as Rhydlewis, Llanfihangel ar Arth, Llangeitho, Llangan, Trefilan, Cenarth, Newcastle Emlyn, Cwmdwr, Abergwennol, Llandovery, Llanddeusant, Penboyr, Pontlottyn and Llanover. The inclusive period of the letters is 1860-91 but the majority are dated within the years 1882-8. The main subjects of discussion are family bereavements and other news, South Cardiganshire pedigrees and biographies, the etymology of place and dialect names, institutions within the Established Church generally of interest to the writer, and day-to-day events and conditions of life and employment at Plas Llanofer. In addition there are copious references to other matters, such as the election of H[enry] Richard ('y dihyryn') for Merthyr [Tudful]; the recipient's edition of Llyfryddiaeth y Cymry; the writer's visits to North Pembrokeshire and South Cardiganshire parishes to examine registers; a proposed second edition of the writer's Enwogion Ceredigion; the writer's activities with the Archaeological Association; the writer's visits to Bronwydd, to St Davids, etc.; the discovery by the writer of an ogham stone at Llandygwydd; news of the family of David Owen ('Brutus'); a new lease of the writer's home at Wenallt, [in Troedyraur]; the library of D. L Wooding at Beulah; the absence of Welsh services at Llechryd Church; the writer's purchase of Tir y felin Ban [near Wenallt] on the Gogerddan estate; the death of [John Morris Jones] 'Ioan Cunllo' and the sale of his library; rumours of the appointment of the recipient to the see of Llandaff (1883); the political and religious affiliations of contemporary Welsh barristers; the reroofing of Tirabad Church (1883); the progress of the recipient's Dictionary; the award to the recipient of a Cymmrodorion medal; the consecration of Llanfair ar y Bryn Church (1883); coming-of-age celebrations at Pentre [in Maenordeifi, Pembrokeshire]; the frequency of bastard words in the work of Rhys Prichard; the proposed memorial chapel to 'Williams Pantycelyn' at Llandovery; the progress of the woollen industry at 'Felindre Siencyn y Drefach'; the reluctance of H. M. Stanley to acknowledge his Welsh origins; the shortcomings of Yr Haul; the efforts of [Richard Lewis] the bishop of Llandaff to save Y Llan; the presence of Father Ignatius in the writer's congregation; the writer's mistrust of Welsh Nonconformity; the writer's acquisition of copies of Seren Gomer at Dalar Wen, near Ystradffin; eisteddfodau at Caerwys and Abergavenny; the use of Welsh in religious services in Goettref Church; tithe disputes in Penbryn and Troedyraur; the literary knowledge of Dafydd Evans of Glynbuarth in Llangeitho; the phenomenal knowledge of plant names of Pritchard of Crynca in Llanddeusant; the erection of an iron church at Abercarn; a shield designed by Milo Griffith for presentation to the Prince of Wales, and a detailed pedigree of Miles Griffith; a secret conference at Lampeter to promote the union of the Episcopal Church and 'Y Corff' [the Calvinistic Methodists] (1889); the efforts of Mr (aft. Sir) [Joseph Alfred] Bradney at Llandeilo Croesenni to learn Welsh and to promote the learning of the language in that area; etc. At the end of the volume are verses and miscellaneous notes, and a holograph letter to [D. Silvan] Evans from Ivor P. Williams [son of 'Gwynionydd'] from Wenallt, Rhydlewis, [18]91 (the will of 'Gwynionydd').

An article (21 pp.) by and in the autograph of the Reverend Benjamin Williams ('Gwynionydd'; 1821-91) entitled 'The Meaning and History of Some Places in the Surrounding Neighbourhoods of Lampeter'. Bound in with the manuscript is a letter, 31 August 1918, from S. Susie Williams, Lledrod Vicarage, Llanilar S. O., a grand-daughter of 'Gwynionydd', to Miss [Mary Elizabeth] Davies, [Cwrt-mawr].