LONDON AND PROVINCIAL NEWS. ECCLESIASTICAL PROMOTIONS. Cambrian. The Rev. W. L. Jones, rector of Llanegan, in the county of Carnarvon, has been appointed domestic chaplain to Baron Paget (Lord Uxbridge), lately called to the Upper House of Parliament. On the 2d of May, the Lord Bishop of St. Asaph was pleased to collate the Rev. John Samuel Smalley, M. A. to the vicarage of Cwm, in the county of Flint, vacant by the resignation of the Rev. J. Jones, B. D. vicar of Holywell. Caledonian. The Rev. Ludowic Grant, A. M. was ordained minister of the church and parish of Ordequhil. The Rev. Peter Jolly, schoolmaster of Dunnet, in Caithness, was ordained pastor of Canisbay. CYMMRODORION CONGRESS AND EISTEDDVOD. This meeting held its thirteenth anniversary on the 22d of May, at the Freemasons' Hall, London, the right honorable Lord Kenyon, president, in the chair. His lordship was supported by a very numerous meeting. The great hall was filled with company, its predominant feature being beautiful and elegant females. Lord Kenyon was exceedingly happy in his address to his numerous auditory; indeed, we have since heard, from persons who were perfect strangers to him, remarks, in relation to his conduct in the chair, which must be highly gratifying to any man who appreciates the opinion of that portion of society termed "the middle classes." This is no immaterial digression; for it is its intercourse which best enables the world to judge of men occupying dignified stations: and if that takes place, the corruption of the press, or the infatuation of party, be it aristocratic or democratic, may rage, even as the ocean rages; but the firm rock of love of country, and of duty to society in general, strengthened by intercourse, will scatter the one, even as the spray of the other is scattered. Lord Kenyon alluded to Eisteddvods which were formerly held in Wales, under royal sanction and patronage. Their objects were to rescue from oblivion the works of the ancient bards, which tended to throw so much light, and to shed so much renown, on the ancient history of the Britons; the cultivation of the poetry and the music of Wales; the promotion of moral and religious instruction, with a strict adherence to truth in all the proceedings, according to the bardie motto-Y Gwir yn Erbyn y Byd. The remarks of Lord Kenyon could not fail to interest every hearer, unless indeed he were some nerveless apathetic creature, whose creed is to condemn without examination. Who, if he does not know it already, can be told, and not feel, a respect for our ancient customs, that long before the genius of English poesy and song had awoke to brighten her land, Gwalchmai, the son of Melir, was composing in verse, and perpetuating the heroic deeds of Owain Gwynedd; that Einion, the son of Gwalchmai, celebrated in plaintive couplets the virtues and beauty of the princess Nest; that the wild measures of David Benvras dwelt upon the towering exploits of Llewelyn the Great; and that Owain Glandwr was wellnigh worshipped by his countrymen; certainly beloved more than he would otherwise have been, because his attachment to liberty and his nobleness of mind was sung of in camp and cot by Iolo Goch. These are recollections which pass like shadows before our eyes; and the knowledge of the changes which have taken place in the observances and usages of our land implants itself with bitter regret upon the patriot's heart. But, although the wild genius of our bards can be no longer encouraged by the kings and princes of Cambria, and although superior talent must seek abroad for countenance and fame, (which is the true reason why the bards have declined,) yet surely it cannot be wholly uninteresting to see a few individuals meet together, in order to keep alive the latent spark of old British fire; to emulate in humble distance the august Eisteddvodau of venerable antiquity, when separated from their own country; to hear in England their old harp awakened to the thrilling melody which led their fathers onward to oppose armies nursed in oppression's lair, and overwhelming in the strength of their tyrant power: surely, this love for the melody of by-gone time, is creditable to them and to Wales; and, however inefficient their power of encouraging living native talent may be, still that is also one of their nearest and dearest objects. We do not fear contradiction when we class the objects of the Cymmrodorion Society of London among the most useful that any literary society can effect. After Lord Kenyon had concluded his address, he read a letter which Sir John Conroy had addressed to Sir W. W. Wynn, the president of the Society, by command of her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, expressive of her Royal Highness's regret at not being able to attend the meeting, with the Princess Victoria, as they were anxious to evince the deep interest they take in all that relates to the Principality, where their Royal High nesses experienced so much affectionate attention from its inhabitants. Amongst the company present we observed Sir W. W. Wynn, with his son, and several members of his family; the Honourable Misses Rice, and other distinguished persons. Nor should we omit to mention that a son of the old Gaël appeared in Highland costume; indeed, it is fit that the sons of Ossian and Taliesin should meet together in Celtic unanimity. The first part of the National Concert commenced after the noble President had concluded his address. The principal singers were Mrs. Knyvett, the Misses Caroline and Clara Novello, Miss C. Lyon, Miss Bourke, the Masters Smith, Messrs. Knyvett, Vaughan, Horncastle, Parry, sen. and jun., and Bellamy, who sang a variety of Welsh airs, also popular songs, duets, and glees, with great effect. Puzzi performed a Welsh fantasia on the horn admirably. Mr. Thomas played a solo on the violin in a brilliant style. Master Hughes performed" Ar hyd y nos," with variations, on a pedal harp, with great taste; and Roberts, the blind minstrel of Carnarvon, executed the airs of "Sweet Richard," and "Syr Harru Ddu," with variations, on the triple-stringed harp, in a superb style, and with electrical effect. Pennillion singing with the Welsh harps was performed also by Messrs Jones, Roberts, Humphreys, Edwards, &c. Mr. Parry, sen. executed "The last Rose of Summer" on Wheatstone's patent symphonion, and the rondo in the overture to William Tell, accompanied on the harp by Mr. Parry, jun., and was deservedly encored. Mrs. Knyvett's" Prince Madog's Farewell," (written by Mrs. Hemans,) to the air of "Lady Owen's delight," was beautifully and feelingly given. Mr. J. J. Jones, Mus. Bac., Oxon, presided at the pianoforte. PRINCE MADOG'S FAREWELL. Why lingers my gaze where the last hues of day But my soul's quenchless fire, dear Cambria, is thine! A grand Druidical chorus on the landing of the Romans in Britain, written by Mrs. Hemans, for Parry's Welsh Melodies, was then sung by Mr. Parry, jun., the opening stanza of which is subjoined: Our blue seas foam'd beneath the Roman oars, The legions' march was heard along our sands; In white robes gleaming, stood the Druid-bands; At the end of the first part of the concert Lord Kenyon read a Report prepared by the Committee, stating that the Royal Cambrian medal was awarded to the author of the "History of the Monasteries and Abbeys in Wales," who had signed his name Olrheiniwr (the Searcher), and he was requested to declare himself, if present. No one answering to the call, his lordship opened a sealed paper containing the author's name, who proved to be the Rev. P. B. Williams, rector of Llanrug, near CarnarThe hon. and lovely Miss Rice, Lord Dynevor's daughter, invested Master Hughes with the medal, as proxy for the successful candidate; but, in order that the infant lyrist might not be altogether deprived of the badge of distinction, the ladies present entered into a subscription to purchase him a medal. Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, the President of the Society, was cheered on his entering with his son, whose birthday it happened to be, to which Lord Kenyon alluded in a very happy manner. His Lordship afterwards stated that the subjects for next year were "The History of the Castles in South Wales," and a "Welsh and English Essay on Welsh Poetry." Lord Kenyon alluded to, and by desire, we believe, of the Hon. Miss Rice, recited, as appropriate to the day, the immortal Sir Walter Scott's soul-stirring invocation to country, beginning: "Land of brown heath and shaggy wood, Land of the mountain and the flood; The unanimous thanks of the meeting were voted to Lord Ken yon, for the very able manner in which he had conducted the proceedings of the day; and about four o'clock the company separated, highly delighted with the proceedings of this national meeting. Several of the members dined together in the evening. By far the most interesting portion to us was the announcement of prizes, the harping, and pennillion. We have repeatedly heard persons object to these parts of modern Eisteddvodau; our answer is, that they are the only legitimate Eisteddvodau, and that if the usages of our ancestors present no attractions to the eyes and ears of such persons, they can be gratified to satiety at the Opera or the Philharmonic: we can appreciate both, the elaborateness of the one, the simplicity of the other. Modern music astonishes the hearer by the improvements of science; but simple melody, even without historic recollection, has assuredly its charms. 3 SUMMER ASSIZES-NORTH WALES CIRCUIT. Before Mr. Justice Gazelee. Montgomeryshire.-Saturday, July 13, at Welshpool. Denbighshire. Saturday, July 27, at Ruthin. SOUTH WALES CIRCUIT. Before Mr. Justice Bosanquet. Glamorganshire.-Saturday, July 6, at Cardiff. LONGEVITY. Between Aberystwith and Machynlleth lived, in a small cottage, a tall venerable old man, and his aged helpmate, who died about eight years ago, within two months of each other, at the respective ages of 105 and 104! They had been married at the youthful age of nineteen; and so vigorous did these truly "ancient Britons" remain to the last, that, a short time before death, they could walk to Aberystwith, and home again, fourteen miles! ALDERMAN WAITHMAN. A handsome obelisk has been within these few days erected to the memory of the late Alderman Waithman, at the intersection of Fleet and Farringdon streets. This patriotic gentleman, of whom we gave a short biography in our last number, was a native of Wales, and raised himself to affluence and respectability by his industry and integrity. The obelisk is a granite block, which with the pedestal, is about thirty feet high, and stands opposite to that erected for the noted John Wilks, at the foot of Bridge-street; and it is remarkable, that so eligible a position should happen to be the very spot on which, when Fleet-market existed, the Alderman commenced the business by which he accumulated his fortune. The inscription is short and unostentatious, intimating that it was erected by his friends and fellow-citizens. |