Mr. URBAN,

Jan. 1.

HE following account of the for

Tation of a society for the pre

servation of the remains of ancient British Literature, and for the encouragement of the National Musick, will want no recommendation to the Editor of the Gentleman's Magazine. The valuable remains of our ancient national literature have suffered, within these hundred years, irreparable losses by fires and neglect, to the great discredit of a literary age and nation. To prevent such further losses, and to do honour to the most ancient of the living languages of Europe, is the main object of the Cambrian Society. To promote such an object will, I am sure, give pleasure to Mr. Urban. 1am, Sir, your faithful servant, BRITANNICUS.

Primary Meeting of the CAMBRIAN SOCIETY.

Oct. 28, 1818. A Meeting was held at the White-Lion, Carmarthen, which formed itself into a Society for the Preservation of the remains of Ancient British Literature, Poetical, Historical, Antiquarian, Sacred, and Moral; and for the Encouragement of the National Musick, by the name of the CAMBRIAN SOCIETY, under the patronage of the Duke of Beaufort, the Earl of Powis, the Bishops of Bangor, St. David's, St. Asaph, and Llandaff, Lord Dynevor, Lord Kenyon, Lord Cawdor, Lord Clive, Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, Sir Thomas Mostyn, Sir Robert Vaughan, Sir Charles Morgan, and C. W. W. Wynn, esq. M. P.

Adjourned Meeting at the Palace Aber. gwilly, Oct. 29.

The following Committee was ap pointed: The Lord Bishop of St. David's, Lord Dynevor, William Lewes, esq. D. Davies, esq. M. D. T. Bowdler, esq. Capt. Philipps, R. N. J. E. Saunders, esq. William Morgan, esq. The Rev. Archdeacon Beynon, Rev. B. Millingchamp, Rev. Edward Picton, Rev. Edward Da

vies, Rev. Eliezer Williams, Rev. David Williams, Rev. David Nicholl, Rev. William Morgan.

The objects of the Society are expressed in the following, amongst other Resolutions passed at this Meeting:

"That one of the first objects of the Society will be to collect a complete Catalogue of all Welsh Manuscripts, to be found in the several Libraries in the Continent, both public and private.— Principality and in England, or on the That a Literary Agent, of competent abilities, be employed by the Society, as soon as its finances are equal to the charge, to visit the said several Libraries of Welsh Manuscripts, of which they may obtain information, in order to transcribe, with the permission of the owners, copies of the said Manuscripts.-That a complete collection of the transcripts, so obtained for the Society, be deposited in the British Museum, or elsewhereafter the publication of such of the transcripts as shall be approved by the Committee for that purpose.-That it shall be a special object of the Society, to collect all printed works in the Welsh Language of which there are not copies, at present, in the Library belonging to the Welsh School in Gray's-inn-lane, in order to be deposited in that Library.That Mr. Edward Williams be requested to reside, for a certain portion of the year, at Carmarthen, to superintend the printing of the Society's publications, and to give instructions fo young Students in Welsh Poetry and Literature. -That Mr. Edward Williams's acceptance of the said appointment be entered into the minutes of the Society. That the Prospectus of Collections for a new History of Wales, collected and translated from ancient historical documents, in the Welsh Language, by Edward Wil liams, be printed and published at the expence of the Society."

The Thanks of the Society were then given to the Lord Bishop of St. David's, for his great Exertions in conducting the Formation of this Society, and the lively interest he has taken in promoting its objects.

Queries

Queries on particulars desirable to be known relative to Welsh Antiquities and Literature.

1. What inedited Welsh Manuscripts are known to you?-2. Where are they deposited?-3. Are you acquainted with any portion, or any whole translation, of the Holy Scriptures, in Welsh, more ancient than the Norman Conquest, or than the art of printing?-4. Do you know any unpublished Welsh Triads, handed down by tradition or otherwise? -5. What Welshmen have left the Principality, since the time of the Reformation, on account of their Religion, or any other cause, whom you think probable to have conveyed with them any Remains of Welsh Poetry and Literature?-6. In what Libraries, in England, or any other part of the British dominions, do you think it likely that some of these Remains are deposited?-7. In what Continental Libraries do you think it probable that some of them may be found?-8. What original Welsh Books, or what Books, relative to Welsh Literature, in any Language, do you know to be published?-9. Do you know any Pennillion not yet published?-10. Do you know of any species of Welsh Composition, Poetical or Musical, corresponding with that called "Glee" in English, or which is known by the name of Caniad tri, or, Caniad pedwar' ?-11. Can you exhibit to the Society any old Welsh Tunes, Sacred or otherwise, not yet published?-12. What Welsh Books, and Books on Welsh Literature, already published, and now become scarce, do you think merit to be republished?"

At a Committee Meeting, held at Carmarthen, Nov. 25th, 1818, the following Resolutions were adopted:

"That the special Thanks of the Society be given to Mr. J. Jones, of Jesus College, for his offer to transcribe Welsh Manuscripts for the use of the Society; and to the Rev. Walter Wilkins, now at Florence, for his promise to examine the Catalogues of Foreign Libraries, with a reference to the fifth Query.-That Lord Dynevor be requested to be the President of the Society in Dyfed.-That the annual Meetings be appropriated to the recitation of the Prize Verses and Essays; and to the performances on the Harp; and that all other business be reserved for the Committee.-[The Literary Prizes proposed by the Society have already been noticed in our last volume, p. 538.] That there be four Judges appointed for the decision of the poetical Prizes,

two from North and two from SouthWales; and that a President of the four be chosen by ballot, and have the casting vote,That Mr. Edward Williams

TH

HERE is something peculiarly pleasing and interesting in the Anecdotes of Original Characters who have passed through a long life,provided that nothing occurs injarious to sound morality, or offensive to good manners, which make the man. lu the singularity of men retired from all society, it is curious to investigate, and satisfactory to know, in what manner they have filled up the many hours, in which we, who occupy the more busy scenes of an active life, fancy ourselves to be more usefully, and better employed. Though the effect and influence of example be totally lost by the retired habits of the solitary and recluse; still from the simple and inoffensive life of the Nobleman developed in the following Memoir, the contemplative mind cannot fail of deriving some amusement: and, I hope, some instruction from his benevolence, and from the genuine mildness of his W. C. D.

manners.

On Saturday, August the 29th, 1818, we went from Sandgate by the venerable and picturesque ruins of Saltwood Castle, and the elegant modern house of Mr. Deedes at Sandling, to Mount Morris, the seat of the late Lord Rokeby, whose portrait we purchased at Sandgate. It is situated in the parish of Monks Horton, about five miles from Hythe in Kent, in a sort of park, which, save some handsome trees below the house, could never have much to recommend it. The house, which I imagine to have been built in the reign of Charles II. is of red brick, square, of tasteless unimposing elevation; and having a heavy balustrade at the top. Since Lord Rokeby's death in 1800 it has been uninhabited and neglected, has a desolate and melancholy appearance; and probably, in a very few years,

will become a complete but uninteresting ruin.

We were shewn over the house by an intelligent woman, who lives in a cottage in the grounds, and who had been house-maid to Lord Rokeby during the last five years of his life. She related many interesting particulars of her old master-who having been dissuaded in early life from a marriage with a widow, and this widow, burthened with seven children, devoted himself to a life of celibacy and retirement; not that he wholly secluded himself from society: he received his friends and neighbours very hospitably, but never returned their visits. He was in the habit of attending the market at Hythe, for the purpose of buying and selling cattle, of which he was a good judge; and sometimes went to Canterbury, and to Maidstone: on which occasions he hired a postchaise, though he usually accompanied the chaise on foot, being a great walker.

During the last twenty years of his life he let his beard grow long, as seen in the engraving; while his long white hair, floating on his back and shoulders, gave him a patriarchal, venerable, but very extraordinary appearance. He seldom wore a hat; but always carried one, of antique form, under his arm; and he is said to have looked singularly ill with a hat on. His coat, of good fine cloth, was old fashioned. His waistcoat, of swan-down, without a back, with tapes to keep it up. His stockings were of coarse yarn, without feet, excepting enough to cover the heels, and thereby prevent the stocking from riding up. His shoes were of thin leather, with remarkably thick soles; and so very long, that they never could have kept on, had they not come up very high.

Lord Rokeby had long given up the use either of bed or body linen. He wore flannel shirts with sleeves, to which were tacked the old-fashioned appendage of ruffles. He changed them three times a week. He slept in the very finest new blankets; which were changed every three weeks in Summer, and every six weeks in Winter. They then were washed and passed to the servants beds as required; their old blankets being distributed amongst his poor. He always washed in salt water, never using any kind of

soap, and dried himself with a flannel towel. He was very fond of bathing; and used to remain very long in a cold bath, in a grove near the house. He rose at five; and passed much of his time out of doors-beginning the day by drinking some water from a favourite spring near the house, fetching it himself, or watching the ser vant who went for it, that he might be sure of its freshness. Latterly, his breakfast consisted of beef-steaks; of which he was very fond. He never tasted beer, wine, tea, or coffee, but frequently drank milk. He dined at four-took his meals standing, át a very small round table, just large enough for one dish, and one plate; it was about three feet high, and was covered by a table-cloth of unbleached linen; he used wooden trenchers, a very common knife, silver threepronged forks; never eat either pepper, salt, vinegar, or mustard; disliked boiled meat, and vegetables of all kinds; preferred steaks, game, poultry, and beef-tea.

He would frequently in Winter go into the kitchen, a very small, indifferent one, while the servants were at tea; desire them not to disturb themselves-listen to their chat-sometimes fall asleep-and indeed remain so long, that they desirous of going to bed, made noises to awaken him. He preserved his sight to the last; had a keen aud penetrating eye; latterly he became rather deaf; and when out of humour pretended to be more so; peevishly saying, he could not hear. His establishment consisted of three men and three maids. The butler lived forty-two years with him. Lord Rokeby had a rooted dislike to bank-notes; and always paid his servants in guineas, constantly expressing fears, that the next time he must pay them in paper. At his death much gold was found in his possession.

One of his brothers generally paid him an annual visit; but though on excellent terms, with his family, it always seemed a restraint on Lord Rokeby; and before the fortnight or three weeks, was over, he became fractious, as the maid said, and to those used to his ways, evidently uneasy: and as if relieved from a weight, when Mr. Morris quitted him.

His death was occasioned by a mortification in his foot. He suffered much pain-sent for many physicians,

but

Monument. Parliament, we have heard, has it in contemplation to vote 200,000l. for the erection of a fabrick, which may be a permanent memorial of British glory. Sir William Scott, says Fame, proposes that

the notice issued by the Governors of Christ's Hospital, relative to the Rev. William Hetherington's Charity to the Blind established in 1774: as it will remove some erroneous reports which have lately been circulated.

PHILO.

"Whereas the above-named Gentleman (the Rev. W. Hetherington) in his life-time, enabled the Governors of this Hospital to pay annuities of 107. to each of 50 blind persons, in the hope that his example would be followed by other benevolent characters, the Governors give this public notice, that from the very munificent additions made to Mr. Hether

ington's original fund, by deed of gift, and by will, they are now enabled to extend the annuity to upwards of 500 persons.

"The Governors give this public notice, that from the 7th of October to the 3d of November, in every year, they are ready to issue from the Counting-houseof the Hospital, upon the personal application of a friend *, petitions for any blind persons duly qualified.

"The leading qualifications are stated hereunder; and unless the parties can respectively prove themselves strictly within them, the applications in their behalf will be entirely fruitless:

"Birth in England, to the exclusion of Wales and Berwick-upon Tweed.

66 Age, 50 years, and upwards. "Residence, three years in their present abode; and total blindness during that period.

"Those who have ever begged, received alms, or are deemed objects for parish relief, are excluded from the benefit of these charities, which are intended for those who have been reputably brought up, and who want some addition to what they have, to make life more comfortable under the misfortune of blindness.'

"THOMAS WILBY, Clerk."

Mr. URBAN,
Jan. 10.
T has been rumoured, and is ge-

Scott has suggested an admirable idea concerning the proposed National

"From the great extent of this Charity it is found impracticable to attend to letters."

edifice in Waterloo Place, whither the British Museum shall be removed, and which shall include also a grand Temple or Gallery of our trophies, acquired in the late war, &c. &c. Possibly there cannot exist a doubt, but that the site of the present British Museum would bring a large sum for a new square and streets; and for the necessity of such removal, it has been stated, that the building at present is insecure from the bulk and weight of the articles contained in it, and the large crowds who daily frequent it. However this may be, it is impossible Scott for the suggestion. It would not to feel gratitude to Sir William combine both utility and ornament; and the addition of the Museum would, as it were, be a permanent biographical account of the thing and its intention. B.C.D.