Ffeil 404C. - Letters of David Williams, Castell Deudraeth,

A volume of seventy-three holograph letters of David Williams ('Dewi Heli'; 1799-1869), Castell Deudraeth, Penrhyndeudraeth. They comprise: (A) Thirty-six letters from Bronhaulog [parish of Ceidio, Caernarvonshire], Llanfyllin, Pwllheli, etc. to John Thomas ['Sion Wyn o Eifion'], Chwilog, 1816-46 (books read by the writer and the addressee; critical observations on poetry mutually exchanged by the writer and the addressee; an opinion on contemporary English poets; the writer's illness; the writer's opinion of 'Mr Williams Werne' and of 'witty Preachers'; references to Welsh books and periodicals, e.g. Gorchestion Beirdd Cymru, Seren Gomer, etc.; the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act; observations on the dictionary of [William] Owen [-Pughe] and an appreciation of his works; the writer's love of music and of musical instruments, with special references to the flute; an appreciation of [David Thomas] 'Dafydd Ddu [Eryri]'; the writer's study of globes; French books from Plashen for the writer; the writer's desire to improve his mastery of Welsh; an opinion on the administering of the Sacrament to the addressee; numerous references to the addressee's health; a report of the Lleyn-Eifionydd Bible Society written by the writer; an appreciation of Miss Higginbottom, 'a female literary character' well known to the addressee, and the writer's meeting with her; copies of the compositions of 'Pedrog Penfoul alias T. Williams' [i.e. Thomas Williams ('Twm Pedrog'), see Cwrtmawr MS 559 p. 214]; critical observations on Richard Edwards [recte Richard Robert Jones], 'commonly called Dic Aberdaron'; references to the writer's schooling at Chester; the writer's removal to his brother at Llanfyllin and his impressions of the 'literary advantages' of the town; urges the addressee to publish some of his writings; competitions at the Brecon eisteddfod (1822); a request on behalf of 'a literary female character' in Liverpool for manuscript entries by the addressee, David Owen ['Dewi Wyn o Eifion'] and R[ober]t Williams ['Robert ap Gwilym Ddu'] in a volume of 'Scrapiana'; reflections on the writer's electioneering activities; the writer's marriage (1842) and his change of residence and offices; a gift of a sovereign to the addressee from charities distributed by Lady Parry, Madryn; an opinion on 'the old woman's will'; the writer's estate agency and the payment of the addressee's rent; etc.); (B) Thirty seven letters from Pwllheli, Bron Eryri (afterwards Castell Deudraeth), etc. to Ebenezer Thomas ('Eben Fardd'), Clynnog, 1830-60 (an opinion on a notice to quit on 'the person with whom you lodge'; the completion of a lease by the writer for the addressee; an offer to the addressee of the post of Relieving Officer; the addressee's application for the post of master of Troedyrallt Free School, Pwllheli; an offer to the addressee of the management of the writer's office in Pwllheli; the rent required for a property in Llangybi; offers to secure employment for the recipient's son in a solicitor's office; the writer's retirement; the writer's reason for changing the name of his residence from Bron Eryri to Castell Deudraeth; the writer's fortune and his purchase of property; the writer's 'contemptible opinion' of the proposed Llangollen eisteddfod (1858); the compilation of the Saethon pedigree with the assistance of materials from the addressee; a request for information on the antiquities of Ardudwy; writer considers 'that the age of Eisteddfodau, for all useful purposes, is gone by' and that this age is 'the age of Progress and scientific discoveries ... One Railway is worth ten thousand Eisteddfodau', the Welsh translation by the addressee of a speech by the writer; criticism of 'Ab Ithel' for his attack on addressee; the writer's opinion that 'literary and social service meetings' are gaining in popularity as a form of modern eisteddfodau, 'in lieu of the antiquated tomfoolery advocated by Ab Ithel'; pressure on the writer to contest the [Merioneth] county parliamentary seat; the addressee's 'domestic bereavements'; materials collected by the writer towards a history of Merioneth; the proclamation of Porthmadog eisteddfod; etc.).