File 670B. - 'Llyfr Barddoniaeth' John Myrddin Thomas,

An imperfect volume of Welsh poetry and Welsh translations of poetry by, and largely in the hand of, the Reverend John Myrddin Thomas (1838-1914), a native of Felin-wen, Abergwili, Carmarthenshire and Independent minister successively at Abersychan (1858-62), Newport (1862-6), Monmouthshire, Mold and Sychtyn (1866-72), Llong (1866-82) and Pontybodkin (1868-82), Flintshire. The volume was acquired on 25 October 1856 and much of the poetry is dated within the period 1856-?87. In many instances there are copious revisions by the author with a view to publication. Among the titles are 'Deigryn ar fedd fy ewythr yr hwn a huna yn monwent bruddaidd Abergwili', 'Can i ddyffryn Tywi', 'Laura Annie. Merch Morgan John Ysw Pontypool', Galareb i D. W. Evans B.A. Athraw Ysgol y Tabernacl Caerfyrddin', 'Baban newydd eni Mr Evan Jones Contractor Abersychan a'i briod', 'I'w osod ar fedd Dd Morgan Twynyffrwd Abersychan', 'Englyn i'w osod ar feddfaen gwraig y Parch. Thomas Morgan Noddfa Abersychan', and 'Englyn yn ymholi am ansawdd iechyd Emily Gwenfrewi Merch fach William Howell Town Lock Casnewydd'. On the flyleaf and on the inner lower cover the author has recorded brief particulars of his educational and ministerial career, and among the insets are a few additional poems and a letter to J. Myrddin Thomas from T[homas] Johns ('Taborfryn'), Llanelli, 1886 (thanks for contribution to Tywysydd [y Plant], a personal tribute to the recipient and his family at Felinwen and a reference to an estrangement following the 'dadl Falayddol' [Bala College controversy]).