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Seventy-two holograph letters of John Rhys from Rhyl, Oxford, etc., 1871-84, of which ten, mainly from the period 1871-2, are addressed to J. H. S[ilvan] Evans at Llanymawddwy and the remainder to his father D. Silvan Evans at Llanymawddwy and Llanwrin. Subjects of the correspondence include the writer's appointment as Inspector of Schools in North Flintshire and Denbighshire, the writer's marriage, the Principalship at Aberystwyth [College] (1872), ogham and other inscriptions, Welsh borrowings from classical languages, contributions to Archaeologia Cambrensis, charters belonging to Welsh churches preserved at Canterbury, Mr [Richard Rolt] Brash's contemptuous treatment of the writer, the resignation of the recipient (D. Silvan Evans) as editor of Archaeologia Cambrensis, the writer's appointment to the chair of Celtic at Oxford, the publication of the writer's volume [2nd ed. of Lectures on Welsh Philology, 1879], Welsh words of English origin, Cardiganshire dialects, the writer's desire to examine the Peniarth manuscripts, the position of Welsh at [St David's College] Lampeter, the desire of Mr [E. G. B.] Phillimore to consult the recipient (D. Silvan Evans)'s text of Y Marchog Crwydrad, the recipient (D. Silvan Evans)'s dictionary, copious observations on matters of Welsh etymology, personal, etc. The volume also includes an incomplete copy reply by [D. Silvan Evans], 1874, and an unsigned holograph letter of [E. L. Barnwell], Melksham [1874], both concerned with the controversy between John Rhys and Richard Rolt Brash.

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').