of the most eminent of the friends and advocates of the Eisteddfod in recent times have been persons in no way connected with the Gorsedd. Standing here, on the platform of the Wrexham Eisteddfod, is it possible to forget that most able and eloquent defence of the Eisteddfod delivered from the platform of an Eisteddfod held in Wrexham some fifty-five years ago by that "Mitred Minstrel", whose honoured name will ever be associated with Wrexham, as having written in this place, and in the vicarage house in which it is my happiness to dwell, that missionary hymn-" From Greenland's icy Mountains"—which is known wherever the language and religion of England are known-need I say that I refer to the seraphic and sainted Bishop Heber? And need I recall the unanswerable arguments with which the Eisteddfod was advocated a few years later at the gatherings of the Cymreigyddion at Abergavenny under the auspices of the late Lord Llanover, of honoured memory, and of his happily still surviving lady, the most patriotic, the most eminently and fervently patriotic, Gwenynen Gwent? Some of you may still remember how the late Chevalier Bunsen, Hallam the historian, and others of illustrious memory, there pleaded with irresistible eloquence the claims of this time honoured Olympic of Wales. And at this, the first National Eisteddfod held since his deeply lamented decease, it would be unpardonable not to remember, and that with the deepest gratitude, the ever memorable speech delivered at the Swansea Eisteddfod some few years ago by that most enlightened, large-hearted, and liberal minded prelate, the late Bishop Thirlwall-who not only mastered the language of Wales, as he mastered everything he took in hand, with a marvellous degree of perfection-such perfection that I have myself heard him preach a Welsh sermon with much greater effect than he had just preached the same sermon in English—who not only, I say, acquired the language of Wales, but who studied and fostered the literature of Wales, and who, to my knowledge, was one of the most ready and bountiful benefactors which the poor literary men of Wales ever had. (Applause.)

The Vicar then addressed the audience in Welsh as follows:

Gymry a Chymryesau.-Y mae yn bleser ac yn hyfrydwch o'r mwyaf genyf gael yr anrhydedd o gyfarch cynnulleidfa mor lluosog o feibion a merched Cymru ag sydd yma yn bresennol yn Eisteddfod Gwrecsam. Y mae yn hysbys i'r byd mai nodweddion hynotaf ein hen genedl ni, y Cymry, yn mhob oes yw ein gwladgarwch, ein cenedlgarwch, a'n crefydd. Ac wrth weled y canoedd a'r miloedd sydd yn dylifo o bob parth o'r wlad-o eithafoedd Mon, ac o eithafoedd Gwent, Morganwg, a Dyfed-i gadw gwyl Eisteddfod Gwrecsam, ni a allwn haeru yn

ngwyneb byd a fu cariad y Cymry at eu gwlad, eu hiaith, a'u defodau, erioed yn wresocach, os mor wresog, ag yn ein hoes a'n hamser ni. Anaml y gwelir cenedl y Cymry i fwy mantais nag ar amser Eisteddfod fel y presennol. Yn mha fan araill o'n byd y ceir miloedd ar filoedd o'n dosbarth gweithiol-crefftwyr, mwnwyr, llafurwyr, a bwthynwyr tref a gwlad,—yn aberthu eu cyflogau, ac yn teithio ugeiniau o filldiroedd, i fwynhau peroriaeth, cerddoriaeth, a llenyddiaeth, fel y gwelir yr wythnos hon yn Ngwrecsam? Yn mha fan arall o'n byd, ond yn hen wlad anwyl y mynyddau, y delyn, a'r beirdd, y ceir 2,270 o gystadleuwyr ar byngciau llenyddol, cerddorol, a chelfyddydol, y mwyafrif o honynt o blith gwerin ein gwlad? Ac eto, fe geir yn Nghymru, ie, fe geir rhai Cymry, nad oes ganddynt braidd un amser air da i'r Eisteddfod, am ei bod, fel y tybiant, yn wrthwynebol i'r iaith Saesonaeg. Fe geir rhai yn Nghymru a fynant gysylltu pob rhinwedd a phob rhagoriaeth yn y nefoedd ac ar y ddaear a dysgu yr iaith Saesonaeg. Ond ai gwir yw fod y rhanau Seisnig o Gymru yn fwy moesol a rhinweddol na'r rhanau Cymreig o honi? Ai gwir yw fod sir Faesyfed, a'r parthau Seisnig o o sir Fynwy a sir Benfro, yn fwy enwog o ran addysg, masnach, a chrefydd, na'r siroedd gwir Gymreig, megys Meirionydd, Caernarfon, a Mon? Y gwir yw fod cryn nifer i'w cael yn Nghymru sydd fel wedi haner feddwi ar Saisaddoliaeth. Y mae genyf barch calon i bob Sais rhinweddol, ac i bob peth teilwng a berthyn i'r genedl Seisnig, ac nid oes neb o fewn cylch y deyrnas yn fwy awyddus na mi am i'r Cymry o Fon i Fynwy ddysgu Saesnaeg. Ac wrth ddysgu Saesnaeg a oes angenrheidrwydd i'r Cymro i wadu ac anghofio ei hen Gymraeg? Y mae hen ddywediad yn sir Forganwg i'r perwyl hwn, mai "gwell dau nag un i bob peth ond i fwyta bara pan y mae yn brin." Ac onid yw yn fantais i filwr ar faes y gwaed fod ganddo ddwy saeth at ei fwa, a dau offeryn wrth ei law? Cofiwn, gyfeillion, mai nid peth dibwys ᎩᎳ difrodi iaith sydd yn un o ieithoedd henaf y byd, iaith sydd wedi bod, ac yn para i fod, yn iaith yr un genedl am fwy na dwy fil o flynyddau – iaith sydd wedi bod yn gyfrwng addoliad a mawli fi'iynau sydd uchaf heddyw yn y drydedd nef―iaith fu am ganrifoedd yn iaith yr orsedd a iaith y bwthyn, iaith y brenin a iaith y cardotyn-yr iaith drwy yr hon y gwefreiddiwyd Cymru ag ysbryd yr efengyl-iaith pregethau Llangeitho a iaith hymnau Pantycelyn-na, na, ond o waelod calon dywedwn, "Tra mor tra Brython."-" Oes y byd i'r iaith Gymraeg.” (Applause.)

THE EVENING CONCERT.

At half-past five o'clock, under most favourable circumstances, the first grand miscellaneous concert was held in the Eisteddfod pavilion.

The President, Sir Robert Cunliffe, on rising, said:

When I look at the very long programme which is before us this afternoon, I feel sure it would not be the wish of the committee, and I cannot think it is yours, that I should detain you at any length; but it is in the programme that I am to make an address, therefore I shall say a few words. I must, at the outset, congratulate you on the great success of this meeting, and the numbers by which it is attended (hear, hear). When I hear of the thousands that attended here this morning to do honour to the Welsh language and the ancient traditions of the country, I am reminded of that prophecy which pointed out that the Welsh people would have their will, that they would praise their speech, that they would keep their land, and that they would lose nothing except wild Wales. They have kept their speech, as we have seen to-day, and they have kept wild Wales, though it may be said Wales is not so wild as it used to be. The English railways have been laid down in many parts of the Principality, and we are now made to mingle with our English neighbours, which is well for both countries-(applause)—for the English have found that Wales has some very valuable commodities. Before I pass on any further, I have much pleasure in congratulating you on the successes of this Eisteddfod, and let me say a word concerning Eisteddfodau in general. I do not think that at a meeting like this, in the most important town in Denbighshire, we ought to pass over the mention of that Denbighshire worthy, Owen Jones-(loud applause)— who edited the Myvyrian Archæology, and it was the one scheme of his life to give permanence and publicity to the treasures of his national literature. He was, as you know, a man with a devout love of the Welsh language and poetry, and although a man of comparatively humble circumstances, the idea of spending much of his time in collecting together the remains of the ancient literature of his country was his love. He went to London, where he remained for about forty years, when he devoted his attention to preparing his Myvyrian Archæology, which is a most important collection of the national treasures of Wales. Having mentioned his name I will say a word or two about the Eisteddfod. Some eight or ten years ago the Times contained a leading article of a rather vicious nature on Eisteddfodau, and it said they were mischievous and selfish pieces of sentimentalism, and that its language was a curse to Wales. It is possible perhaps to make the Eisteddfod a matter of prejudice to the country, and it would be possible for people to attach too great importance to one side of the matter. What I want to say is that we are able to preserve and honour the Welsh language and at the same time to diffuse throughout the Principality a thorough knowledge of the English. (Applause.) That is a proposition which I hope will meet with your cordial assent, and it ought to go forth that

we do not occupy a hostile position to the English language, but that we wish it to live side by side with that more ancient one. These Eisteddfodau are valuable, and encourage a desire for most honourable tastes, and I trust they will encourage our English friends who do not know much about the Welsh language to study Celtic literature, for it is a part of scientific knowledge which has not been thoroughly searched into and explored. I will quote from Morley, an able English critic, who said "The main current of English literature cannot be disconnected from the lively Celtic wit, in which it has one of its sources. The Celts do not form an utterly distinct part of our mixed populations. But without the early, frequent, and various contact with the race that, in its half barbarous days, invented Oriain dialogues with St. Patrick, and that quickened afterwards the northmen's blood in France, Germanic England would not have produced a Shakespeare." English literature has been, so scholars tell us, in no slight degree influenced by the Celtic blood and literature. It has been said by those competent to express an opinion on the subject, that even rhyme, as one of the most important parts of modern poetry, has originated in Celtic literature. Now let me remind you that we are indebted not only to the English, but to the Welsh language also, for that which Shakespeare and Milton wrote. It is most desirable that the world in general should know that here in Wales we do not claim exclusively the Welsh language, but wish it may continue side by side with the English. (Applause.)

WEDNESDAY.

The Druid at the Gorsedd this morning was the Rev. David Roberts of Wrexham. Degrees were again conferred. After which the Rev. Richard Parry (Gwalchmai) addressed the meeting. His excellent oration shall be given on a future occasion.

A procession was again formed, and at ten o'clock Major Cornwallis West, the appointed president, took his seat. Mr. John Jones (Solicitor) read the address. When this had been presented, the President, who was loudly applauded, spoke in the following terms:

I assure you it is with no common feelings that I rise to thank you for the cordial manner in which you have received the remarks contained in the address, made, I am afraid, in a rather too flattering

manner by my friend Mr. John Jones. He has, in that address, alluded to my connection with a very ancient Welsh family. I do not deny that I am proud of that connection as much as any Welshman is proud of his ancient lineage; but at the same time I cannot forget, and none of you should forget, that in the days in which we live there is more than ancient lineage, birth, wealth, and position required to ensure for us success in life. (Applause.) There are numbers of Welshmen, and I have no doubt there are many present, who know that a successful career in life can only be secured by plodding industry, coupled with a cultivation of their talents. (Hear, hear.) I need not go far to find one who in my opinion is a typical Welshman— (applause)-and he is present-(renewed applause)-when I cast my eyes upon him I am very glad that after his many laborious and arduous duties in and out of Parliament he is present with us. I am glad to see him as one of those typical Welshmen who has worked his way, I may say, to the top of the tree, and who has got into a foremost place, and who is an example to a great many others. (Applause.) I will not, at this time, enter into the very recondite points which are so constantly touched upon from this platform. It is sufficient for me that this institution exists. I have heard an address this morning which-I am told, for unfortunately I could not comprehend it-enters in the most learned way into the whole subject of Eisteddfodau. I will not do so; it is sufficient for me that an institution of a perfectly unique character exists, and an institution which I believe exists simply that there may be that spurring on and that development of the intellect and culture of Welshmen which we are all here to-day to do our best to promote. (Applause.) The principal subjects dealt with at an Eisteddfod are, as you all know, music, literature, and the fine arts. With regard to the first, there cannot be a question of the success of this institution. We are all here to witness it, and we believe that there has been an immense amount of good done to the musical profession, and those who take to it. With regard to the literary efforts of those who come forward upon this occasion, I would suggest this, that the prize essays should be published, and not only published in the Welsh language, but I hope in the English language too. (Applause.) With regard to the third point, perhaps I shall have more to say, but in a very few words, because I am not going to detain you one moment longer than I can possibly help. There has been a number of pictures and other works of art, so called, sent for competition, and you will hear from the lips of Mr. Chaffers, the superintendent of the Art Treasures Exhibition, what the committee of that exhibition consider is worthy of a prize. But I would just like to say this, that I hope and trust, without giving