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THE CYMMRODORION SOCIETY. MR ALFRED NUTT ON "THE STORIES OF ARTHUR AND MONGAN."

The second meeting of the Cymmrodorion Lecture Session, held on Wednesday, March 11, was devoted to the consideration of a "Study in Heroic Legend, based on the Stories of Mongan and Arthur." The discussion was opened up in a masterly way by Mr Alfred Nutt, who is known to Celtic scholars and Folk-lorists as the author of "Studies in the Legend of the Holy Grail," and of the essay upon the Irish version of the Happy Otherworld and the Celtic Doctrine of Re-birth, which is added to the Voyage of Bran, son of Febal, recently edited and translated by Professor Kuno Meyer. Principal Rhys of Oxford, who presided, admitted that he, too, had been guilty of writing, about Arthur, but was quite willing to do penance, and to consent to the perverse theories" being handed over for burning! Meanwhile, he was glad to be present to listen, and to learn more about Arthur from a master of the craft.-Mr Nutt commenced by pointing out that there exists no full account of the mythical Arthur, who ended his days in Avalon, where he was attended by fair and lovely damsels. It is interesting to inquire why the story of the birth and death of Arthur came to be described in this fashion. The first account is given in Geoffrey, but the birth story is not there fully developed. The incest story is passed over, and the passing into Avalon is only casually mentioned. From the Arthurian Romances it is clear that the story tellers did not understand the mysterious features of the legend they were dealing with. The story of Manannan and his son Mongan in Irish legend may very profitably be compared and equated with that of Arthur. In the older portion of the Voyage of Bran, which goes back to the eighth century, the birth of Mongan is predicted. The details hinted at are explained in the story as given in the Book of the Dun Cow. Examination shows that the birth story is practically on all fours with that of Arthur. In a later fifteenth century story the comparison is much closer. The carrying off of Mongan is paralleled by the carrying off of Arthur by Merlin. There is correspondence again in the absence in Fairyland, and in the wife story. Mr Nutt elaborated the points o comparison at great length, but it would only do him an injustice to try and summarise all his points within a short newspaper report. who are interested in the connection between Welsh and Irish legend will find them fully set forth in the second part of his essay, which deals with the Celtic Doctrine of Re-birth. Dr Furnival, Dr Gaster, Mr Ernest Rhys, and the Chairman took part in the discussion. Dr Gaster found parallels of the stories mentioned in the traditional tales of the East, but Principal Rhys was strongly against the orientalisation of the Celtic traditions. On the proposal of the Chairman, seconded by Mr Daniell, a vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Nutt for his paper.-Mr Cadwaladr Davies proposed, and Sir John Williams seconded, a vote of thanks to Principal Rhys for presiding.

last night week, at the Hotel Metropole, London, on the occasion of the annual dinner, when in the unavoidable absence of Lord Bute the chair was filled by Lord Tredegar. Sir Charles L. Cust was the Equerry in attendance, and among the company present were Lord Penrhyn, Lord Kenyon, Lord Kensington, the Bishop of Bangor, Sir Geo. Osborne Morgan, Bart, M.P., Sir J. Dillwyn Llewelyn, Bart, M.P., Sir John Williams, Bart, Sir W. T. Lewis, Bart, Sir David Evans, Sir William Roberts, Sir Owen Roberts, Sir Lewis Morris, Sir John Puleston, Mr J. Herbert Lewis, M.P., Mr Vaughan Davies, M.P., Major Pryce-Jones, M.P., Mr J. Herbert Roberts, M.P., Mr Powlett C. Milbank, M.P., Mr D. Brynmor Jones, Q.C., M.P., Mr W. Abraham, M.P., Mr W. Tudor Howell, M.P., Sir James W. Szlumper, Mr Henry Owen, F.S.C., Dr Isambard Owen, Dr Hicks (president of the Royal Geological Society), Dr Frederick Roberts, Dr J. T. Jones, Mr John Francis (of Wallog), Mr D. H. Evans, Mr T. J. Harries, Mr Isaac Shone, C. E., Mr Thomas Jones, M.E., Mr Stephen Evans (chairman of the Council), and Mr E. Vincent Evans (secretary). During the evening & musical programme of glees, choruses, and anthems was rendered under the direction of Mr Charles Coram, by the Rhondda Glee Society, Mr Tom Stephens acting as conductor. Mr John Thomas, harpist to the Queen, contributed a harp solo.-After the loyal toasts had been heartily honoured, Lord Penrhyn gave the toast of "Our Guest." In the name of the Society, he expressed the pleasure which they felt and their hearty appreciation of the honour which had been done them by the acceptance by his Royal Highness of their invitation. (Cheers.) He might add that they were honestly proud of this occasion. His Royal Highness, he gathered from a recent speech, was determined to exemplify in himself the time-honoured precept that "England expects every man to do his duty." In speaking of the foundations of the empire, he might say that one of the corner stones of the kingdom rested upon what he might describe figuratively and geologically as "real Cambrian grit," and although to those who were not acquainted with that formation its exterior might seem sometimes difficult to deal with, they had found at the magical touch of a sympathetic hand it could be moulded or worked at will, or shaped at pleasure. (Cheers.) Inasmuch as this Society was not only a patriotic and a literary society, but one which in a quiet, unobtrusive way did good philanthropic work, he felt that the kindly presence of his Royal Highness would be regarded throughout the Principality as a token of his Royal Highness's sympathy with the best and highest aspirations of the people of Wales. (Cheers).The Duke of York, in reply, said-My lords and gentlemen, I thank Lord Penrhyn most sincerely for the very kind and much too flattering terms he has used in proposing this toast. I can assure you all that I am deeply touched by the very hearty reception you have given it. (Cheers.) I look upon it as a very great honour to be your guest H.R.H. the Duke of York was the principal here this evening, and to have this opportunity of guest of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion | meeting so many distinguished and eminent Welsh

THE ANNUAL DINNER.

Those

men. (Cheers.) I am very glad to think that my outside Welsh circles, or possibly her preachers, father has accepted the position of Chancellor though the world at large knew only of Christmas of the University of Wales. (Loud cheers). I Evans. He would never think of answering " her believe he will be installed in a few weeks' story-tellers." Yet that was the truth. The only time at Aberystwyth. (Cheers.) The visit Welsh figure known throughout the whole world which my father and mother paid to the was Arthur, the one institution of which every Principality of Wales in 1894 gave them the one had heard was not the bardic Gorsedd or the greatest possible pleasure, and I can assure you Bala Sassiwn, but the Round Table, while their that they will not easily forget the hearty welcome English neighbours were not likely to borrow the and the enthusiastic reception accorded to laws of Howel the Good or the poetry of their them by all classes of the community. bards, they had ever since they knew anything about (Cheers.) I am sorry to say that it is many them been borrowing their stories,and seeing that years ago since I had the pleasure of visiting good stories were so remarkably scarce,could they Wales; I believe I was only about ten years not as a nation justly pride themselves upon the old at the time. I then went to Carnarvon Castle fact that they had contributed to the literature of and one or two other places in that locality; but I Europe the most popular stories the world had hope and trust that another opportunity may ever seen. Welsh story telling was, in its origin, occur when I shall again be able to pay a visit to closely bound up with Welsh mythology and your beautiful country. (Loud cheers.) I have history. The early connection between the story been asked to propose a toast which I know will and the historical narrative explained the fact be most heartily received by you all. It is "Suc- that they got their old romances and their primicess and Prosperity to the Honourable Society of tive history from the same class, viz., the Cymmrodorion"-(cheers)-but I wish, however, bards. Story telling, as comparatively that it had been entrusted to someone more able easy accomplishment, was usually left to the than I am-"No, no")-te do justice to the bardic novices, who were styled Mabinog, hence valuable work which this Society has carried on the term Mabinogion. By the time of Lewis Glyn for nearly 150 years. This work consists of the Cothi the bards and story tellers appeared to have preservation of Welsh antiquities, the collection become two distinct classes. The task of reciting and publication of Welsh manuscripts, and the stories from memory was not an easy one, for they promotion of everything connected with the history, were no flimsy, unsubstantial trifles, but works of literature, and language of Wales. (Cheers.) It art, most compactly knit together. Unhappily has also taken a very prominent part in furthering much of the old lore, the old customs, the old the cause of education. (Hear, hear.) From the songs, and the old stories had been irretrievably literary point of view the Society has done inesti- lost, but they had still enough material in the mable service to Welsh learning, and this work, by Mabinogion, in the Triads, in the Brat of Geoffrey the generosity of Lord Bute, Lord Tredegar, Sir of Monmouth,and in the works of the early bards, John Williams, Mr Henry Owen, and other gentle- to show how skilful the bards were in the charmmen-(hear, hear)—will be largely increased in the ing art of story telling. With regard to the age future. Because it promotes the study of Welsh of those stories the probability was that many literature, because it assists in the development were, in substance, as old as anything belonging to of the national life of the Welsh people, and be- them, older than their civilization, their language, cause it serves to unite all classes for the advance- and separate existence as a nation. They were ment of Wales, we wish success and prosperity the tales that diverted their primeval ancestors as to the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion-they gnawed the bones of wild beasts around the (cheers) and with this toast I beg to couple the fires in the great caves. He arranged the tales, as name of Principal John Rhys, of Jesus College, follows: 1, "Mythological tales or stories about the Oxford-the foremost Celtic scholar of the day. ancient gods and goddesses of the Welsh; 2, his(Cheers).-Principal Rhys having duly acknow- torical tales, or stories dealing with well-known ledged the toast, the Bishop of Bangor proposed historical characters; 3, tales of the supernatural, that of "Gwlad ein Tadau" ("The Land of our dealing with fairies, magicians, ghosts, and other Fathers"), to which, in the Welsh language, Mr weird and uncanny creatures; 4, tales of the fireWilliam Abraham, M.P., responded. The con- sides, dealing with the domestic life of other days, cluding toast was that of the health of the Chair- the ways of the old people, and the love adven man, submitted by Lord Kenyon. tures of the olden times; and 5, literary_tales, constructed by skilled literary workmen. In the Mabinogion, that magnificent collection of old Welsh romances, they were brought face to face with the oldest traditions of the Welsh, with stories once related of the gods, but in those romances told of ordinary human beings. Here and there a stray phrase employed showed them clearly enough that they had to deal with the remnants of a primitive mythology and the wreckage of a primeval ocean. He proceeded to deal with the tales of the Mabinogion and the Arthurian legends. One of the most prominent features in the two Brythonic tales, the dream of Rhonabwy and the story of Cilhwch and Olwen, was the delight displayed in fresh and

PROFESSOR J. E. LLOYD ON WELSH

STORY TELLING.

On Thursday night Mr J. E. Lloyd, M.A., registrar of the University College of North Wales, Bangor, gave a highly interesting address before the members of Christ Church Guild at Oswestry, on "Welsh Story telling." The Rev J. J. Poynter presided.-Mr Lloyd said if anyone were asked what force of Welsh origin had told most powerfully upon the rest of the world he fancied there would be some hesitation as to the answer. Perhaps he would answer, her poets, though the names of none of them were known

county October 20, 1823. He was at Rugby School under Dr Arnold, as many people know from reading Mr Hughes's most famous book, "Tom Brown's School Days," which has run through many editions. He passed from Rugby to Oriel, and left Oxford an advanced Liberal. In succession he represented Lambeth and Frome, but he left Parliament in 1874. He took the deepest interest in social questions, and was a strong advocote of co-operation, and he united with Maurice and Kingsley in the promotion of what was known as Christian Socialism. In 1848 he was called to the bar, and in 1882 he was appointed County Court Judge. Besides "Tom Brown's School Days," he wrote "Tom Brown at Oxford," "The Scouring of the White Horse,' ""ALayman's Faith," a Memoir of his brother and a defence of the Establishment, and other works. He married,in 1847, Anne Frances, daughter of Prebendary Ford, and leaves three sons and three daughters.

When he went to reside in Chester, several years ago, Mr Hughes was an ardent supporter of Mr Gladstone and his policy, but though he was always an admirer of the aged statesman, he became a Liberal Unionist on the introduction of the Home Rule Bill, and he was regarded by the Unionists of Chester and Cheshire as one of their most influential supporters.

end, and under medical advice took a trip to the Mediterranean, intending to visit Palestine if his health permitted. He, however, found himself unable to continue the voyage beyond Algiers. He returned to Bangor about a month ago, and remained at home for about twelve days when he went to London to consult Sir William Roberts, the eminent physician. On Thursday week an operation for peritonitis, caused by some organic disease of the bowels, was performed, but only faint hopes of recovery were entertained, and death occurred on the 17th as stated. Dr Davies leaves a widow and three children. The remains were removed from London to Bangor on Monday, and at Bangor they were received by the House Committee of the College. The interment in Bangor Cemetery yesterday afternoon was of a public character, and the general expressions of regret shown throughout a wide district testified to the great esteem in which the deceased was held.

APRIL 1, 1896.
NOTES.

WILD CATS IN WALES.—A correspondent of Notes and Queries (March 28, p. 252) quotes from Mountaineering Below the Snow-line the statement of a Scottish keeper living in Cwm Eigiau, at the foot of Carnedd Llewelyn, in 1881, that the wild cat was still sufficiently common in that part of Wales to account, partly at least, for the scarcity of game. ED.

FROM AN OLD DIARY. The following extracts are taken from notes left by the late William Lewis, for many years blacksmith at Montford Bridge:

Montford Bridge Sixty Years Ago.-Situated on what was then the great highway between London and Dublin, as well as on the chief road leading into North Wales, a very considerable traffic passed to and fro through Montford Bridge. As there were then no railways, heavy goods were conveyed in stage waggons from one town to another, the journey sometimes continu

The Late Rev. Gethin Davies, D.D. We regret to record the death of the Rev. Gethin Davies, D.D., Principal of the North Wales Baptist College, which took place in London on Tuesday, March 17. By his death the Captist Church in Wales sustains a great loss, especially the weaker causes, which always excited his deep interest and support. Dr Gethin Davies, who was born in 1846, at Morriston, near Swansea, was the only son of a foreman at a local tinplate works. He was educated at Morriston School, at which he was subsequently for a time pupil teacher, and was admitted into the Bristol Baptist College in 1866, remaining there for four years. During his studentship there he had pastoral charge of the Welsh Baptist Church in Bristol. He matriculated and passed the intermediate examination, then known as the first B. A. examination, at the London University, and in 1870 was appointed classical tutor at the North Wales Baptist College, then situated at Llangollen, a post which he held till 1888, when, on the deathing for several days, to the most remote towns of of Dr Hugh Jones, the principal of the College, he was appointed to the Principalship, in which post he remained until the time of his death. Meantime the College was removed from Llangollen to Bangor. in order to give the students the benefit of the University College classes in that city. During his residence at Llangollen Dr Davies paid great attention to congregational singing, and to the assisting of weak Churches, taking personal charge first of the Welsh Baptist Church at OswesDr Davies try, and afterwards of that at Mold. was a sound all-round scholar, and he did an immense work in the interests of his denomination, and was universally beloved. His last illness reached an acute stage during the summer of 1895. He began the work of the first term of the session, but was unable to continue it to the

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the Principality. The passenger traffic, too, of those days along the Holyhead road deserves notice. First, there was the Royal Mail Coach, drawn by four fine horses, which conveyed the Irish mails between London and Holyhead, and also carried a limited number of passengers, and drove through the village, going and turning each day. Then there were two or three (and in the summer months half a dozen) stage coaches, running past daily, Sundays excepted. And again, gentlemen's private carriages and post-chaises were very numerous on the road. Nor was this all, for the river, passing through the village, was used in those days for the conveyance of a good deal of heavy merchandise, and the proverbially foul-mouthed, swearing barge