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COMMISSIONS SIGNED BY THE LORD LIEUTENANT OF THE COUNTY OF CARDIGAN.

The Right Hon. the earl of Lisburne; George Williams Parry, Esq.; Matthew Davies Williams, Esq.; John Hughes, Esq.; and Charles Richard Langcroft, Esq. to be deputy-lieutenants.

THE HAFOD ESTATE.

The duke of Newcastle has purchased the fine estate of Hafod, from the representatives of Colonel Johnes; together with the timber, the splendid collection of books and furniture, and the large cellar of choice wines, for which he has given about £62,000.

EISTEDDVODD.

We learn, from authority, that it is in contemplation to hold an Eisteddvod in Glamorganshire next year.

LIVERPOOL AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY.

On Friday evening, the annual meeting of the Liverpool Auxiliary Bible Society was held in the Exhibition Rooms, Postofficeplace, J. Eden, Esq. in the chair. Among the grants made abroad, one of more than ordinary interest was announced, namely, a supply of Arabic Bibles and Testaments, for distribution in Central Africa, by the expedition which some months ago proceeded thither, under the direction of Mr. Macgregor Laird and the enterprising Richard Lander. The formation, a few days since, of a Welsh branch of the society, under very favourable prospects, for the more adequate supply of the natives of the Principality settled in Liverpool with the Scriptures, was announced. The meeting, which was very respectably attended, was addressed in succession by the Chairman, by the Rev. G. Driffield, Vicar of Prescot, the Rev. Dr. Paterson, on behalf of the parent Institution, the Rev. J. Lister, Rev. T. Tattershall, Rev. D. M'Nicol, Rev. Dr. Stewart, Rev. W. Carruthers, Rey. S. Saunders, and others; and separated, apparently much gratified with the proceedings of the evening.

WELSH BIBLE SOCIETY IN LIVERPOOL.

A meeting of the natives of the Principality in Liverpool was held at the Welsh School Room, in Russell Street, in the latter end of May, for the purpose of forming a Welsh Bible Society. The attendance was very numerous, and the speeches effective; though, as they were all delivered in the ancient language of Britain, it would be useless to give any report of them. The

chair was taken by the Rev. Robert Davies, minister of St. David's Church; and the following gentlemen took part in the business of the evening: Samuel Pierce, Esq., Richard Griffith, Esq., the Rev. Messrs. R. Richards, Rector of Caerwys, Edward Anwyl, Edward Jones, Daniel Jones, John Breeze, Daniel Morgan (Machynlleth), David Davies (Cardigan), William Rees (Mostyn), Mr. Owen Jones (Anglesey), Mr. Richard Williams, and Mr. David Lewis. A collection was made at the close of the meeting, and several gave in their names as annual subscribers.

WELSH CALVINISTIC ASSOCIATION.

During last month the Annual Meeting of the Anglesey Welsh Calvinistic Association, was held at Amlwch. We are informed, by an eye witness, that nearly 20,000 persons attended. On Wednesday evening, the Rev. John Edwards, of Berthyn Gron, Flintshire, and the Rev. Richard Davies, of Gayo, Carmarthenshire, preached in a large field where the meeting was held. At six o'clock on Thursday morning, the Rev. William Jenkins and David Bowen, of Cardigan, preached; at ten in the forenoon, the Rev. John Phillips and William Williams, of Cardigan, preached; at two in the afternoon, the Rev. Daniel Jones, of Llanllechyd, and R. Davies, of Gayo, delivered discourses; and at six in the evening, the Rev. John Foulkes, of Denbighshire, and Robert Davies, of Montgomeryshire, concluded the services of the meeting.-Bangor Paper.

PRESERVATION OF RIVER FISHERIES.

The landowners of Wales do not attend to the preservation of fish in the rivers running through their domains. The general complaint of the scarcity of fish in the Welsh rivers, formerly so justly celebrated for angling, has arisen from the neglect of gentlemen, who ought to have been conservators of their own fisheries, in not prosecuting poachers for spearing and netting salmon and sewen, when spawning and out of season; and, above all, in not bringing to justice the miscreants who are in the practice of throwing every summer a quantity of quicklime into the rivers, and thus destroying the fish, both great and small, to the extent of several miles. Such depredations have been annually committed with impunity in the rivers Llan and Llew, near Swansea; but have at last attracted the attention of J. D. Llewelyn and T. Leyson, Esqs., who have offered a reward for the conviction of the offenders.

ACCIDENTS IN COAL MINES.

A comparative estimate of the explosions and loss of life in the British collieries, for the ten years preceding the invention of Davy's safety-lamp, and the ten years succeeding that period, we regret to say, is disadvantageous to the latter. From 1805 to 1816, there were nine explosions, accompanied with a loss of life amounting to 284; and, from 1817 to 1828, the number of explosions amounted to nineteen, and the loss of life 360, being an excess, since the invention, of ten explosions, and seventy-six lives; and we doubt that the catalogue, if extended to the present period, would be yet more appalling, witness the loss in the Croft-pit, at Whitehaven, and numerous others. We are certainly afraid that confidence in this invention has imprudently relaxed a proper attention to ventilation; but, it must be granted, that the inventor is not chargeable with any abuse to which the invention may give rise. It was never intended to be a substitute for ventilation: and if this last be neglected, the inventor must not bear the blame. It should be observed, that the danger in mining is now increased, from a variety of causes. Old workings can be explored, and excavations extended incomparably further than could be done before; so that, if ventilation be neglected, or only regarded as a subordinate affair, while the safety which scientific skill has provided is discarded or despised, through ignorance, or a bold and criminal defiance of danger, it is evident the amount of danger and destruction must be fearfully enhanced. To the causes of accident, where the safety lamp is in general use, (it is in vain to deny that explosions have occurred with it,) must be added, the indiscriminate employment of copper and iron safety-lamps, and the mere occasional use of the lamp, for instance, as an exploring lamp.

EDUCATION IN THE HIGHLANDS.

The annual donation of £2000 from his Majesty, for promoting religious education in the Highlands, was received by the General Assembly with suitable expressions of gratitude.

There was lately transmitted from New York £361 17s. 7d. subscribed for the same purpose.

The London Board of the Society for the propagation of Christian Knowledge in the Highlands and islands, held the Sixtieth Anniversary Festival on Friday the 26th April, at Freemasons'hall: Sir George Murray in the chair. £400 were subscribed, and the treasurer, Sir Peter Laurie, intimated that he had received a legacy of £500, bequeathed by an English clergyman.

On Sunday, 28th April, three sermons were preached in the National Scottish Church, London, by the Rev. Dr. Mac Intosh

XIX.

HH

Mackay, of Dunoon, the learned co-editor of the Gaelic and Latin Dictionary. The collections were for the Gaëlic School Society, instituted in 1811. This Institution is formed on the migratory plan, adopted so long since by the Welsh; an observation of the good effects of employing itinerant schoolmasters, having determined numerous clergymen and gentlemen connected with the Highlands, to establish, and support by voluntary contributions, a similar system in the remote districts.

The mid-day sermon was in the Gaëlic language; and it appeared, from the small attendance, that sufficient notice had not been given. The strong national feeling of the Highlanders, who are so numerous in London, would have otherwise led them to appear in much greater numbers. The nobility and gentry connected with the Highlands only require proper intimation of such matters, to afford the patronage which useful institutions deserve. In London considerable exertions are necessary to apprise the scattered Caledonians of what may interest them. We suspect it is not yet generally known, that the fund subscribed for the support of a clergyman to preach to the Highlanders in their mother-tongue, which, on the removal of the Scots Church from Cross-street, fell into Chancery, has been again appropriated to its intended object. Such is the case; and the Highlanders have had their just cause of complaint on this subject

removed.

The Celtic Society, which has for some time given prizes for the promotion of education in the Highlands, lately awarded a small sum, in premiums, to the most deserving scholars of four schools in Inverness-shire: that of Caplach, belonging to the Inverness Education Society; that of Aberiachan, instituted by the Society for propagating Christian Knowledge; of Dochgarrach, on the General Assembly's foundation; and one erected some years ago at Leachdan, and supported by the inhabitants, who are chiefly labourers. Many of the scholars were distinguished by the ease with which they read Gaëlic, and translated subjects into it.

The trusteees of the fund left by the late Capt. Mac Intosh, of Farr, on the 25th April, had to perform their duty, of nominating one boy from each of the families of Farr, Holm, Dalmigavie, and Kyllachy, to be educated in the Inverness Academy.

Daniel Mac Cormac, town-drummer or crier of Dundee, who died March last, left 1500 volumes, several of them in Greek, Hebrew, Arabic, Syriac, and other languages, which were transferred to Edinburgh for sale. It is curious to find a person in so humble a station in life possessing so much learning and literary taste. It is related of him, that, on one occasion, the provost,

who had been applied to by a professor of Greek, and was himself unable to judge satisfactorily of his applicant's acquirements, referred him to the town-drummer, who, on examination, found the candidate incompetent.

We have heard of the intelligence and high-breeding of the old innkeepers, and recollect some stories of their learning. Those in the Highlands were so well educated, that, during the insurrection, in 1745, the officers, who could not speak Gaëlic, found their hosts able to converse in Latin.

CALEDONIAN ASYLUM.

The Sixteenth Anniversary Festival, in aid of the Caledonian Asylum for supporting and educating the children of soldiers, sailors, and marines, natives of Scotland, who have died, or been disabled, in the service of their country, and the children of indigent Scottish parents resident in London, not entitled to Parochial relief, was celebrated at the Freemasons' tavern, on the 18th of April, the Earl of Ormelie, M. P. in the chair.

The Caledonian Fancy Ball, in support of the same objects, was held in London the beginning of June, and was remarked as peculiarly brilliant. It produced upwards of £600.

IONA CLUB.

The following notice of the proceedings of a Society, which has been projected by some able and enthusiastic admirers of Gaëlic literature in the northern capital, will interest every one who delights in that antiquarian research which tends to illustrate national history, and add to the stock of general knowledge. Our friends in Cambria will be glad to see a spirit in Caledonia which has led in the Principality to the rescue of so much interesting bardic and other important remains.

Abstract of the Rules.

The club is to be called the Iona Club, in commemoration of the monastery of Iona, the ancient seat of Scottish learning.

The objects of the club are, to investigate and illustrate the history, antiquities, and early literature of the Highlands of Scotland in the manner following:

The club shall print, half-yearly, a Miscellany, comprehending two branches; the one, "Collectanea de rebus Albanicis," shall comprise, first, copies and abstracts of interesting lhistorical documents, in Latin or English, connected with the Highlands. Second, extracts from ancient Gaëlic mss. with a view gradually to dispel the erroneous impressions which exist on the subject of early Gaelic literature. These extracts shall be accompanied by translations into English from the pens of Gaelic scholars of the highest eminence; and fac-similes of the MSB. Third, selections from au

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