_Roger Williams_ was a native of Wales, where he was born in the year 1599. He was entered for the church, and was accordingly educated for it; but adopting puritanical principles, he emigrated to North America, where he founded the town of Providence. He distinguished himself by his zeal for the conversion of the Indians to Christianity, of whose language he published a very useful "Manual and Glossary," which has been frequently reprinted. His colony thrived rapidly, as he was decidedly opposed to all restraint in religion, and granted to all who settled there free liberty of conscience. He died in 1683.
_Thomas Williams_ was a native of Caernarvonshire, and received an University education at Oxford. He practised as a physician at Trevriw, near Llanrwst, and he wrote a "Welsh and Latin," and "Latin and Welsh Dictionary," which he left in ma.n.u.script; and it was subsequently published in 1632, with many additions and corrections by Dr. John Davies. He made a good collection of pedigrees, which he ent.i.tled "Priv achau holl Gymru Benbaladr," i.e. The Primitive Pedigrees of all Wales.
In 1606 he was proceeded against as a Papist in the court of Bangor, and in the following year he was excommunicated. There was written also by him a large "List of Plants" in Latin, Welsh, and English.
_William Williams_ was a native of the Isle of Anglesea. He was educated at Oxford, and in 1652 he was elected scholar of Jesus" College, whence he removed to Gray"s Inn. In 1667 he was appointed recorder of the city of Chester. When the Popish plot broke out, he sided with the party then dominant; and in 1678 he was chosen one of the representatives of the City of Chester, and again for the parliament which sat in 1679, and a third time in 1680; in the two last parliaments he was chosen speaker of the House of Commons. After the Presbyterian plot broke out in 1683, he became an advocate for them and the fanatics. When James the Second came to the crown, he was taken into favour, and was made solicitor-general instead of Sir Thomas Powis, who was appointed attorney-general in 1687.
Williams was knighted on this occasion, and soon afterwards created a baronet. He has published several of his eloquent speeches, besides some other works.
_Richard Wilson_, the eminent landscape painter, was the son of the Rev.
John Wilson, rector of Penegoes, in Montgomeryshire, where he was born in 1714. Having received a good cla.s.sical education, he was sent at the age of fifteen to London, where he was apprenticed to a portrait painter: and he set up for himself in London, and painted the portraits of the Prince of Wales and Duke of York, who were then under the tuition of Bishop Hayter, of Norwich. Not obtaining any great success in the metropolis, he went to Italy, and meeting with the Earl of Dartmouth, who saw the young painter"s great abilities, proposed that he should travel with him to Naples, which being readily accepted, enabled him to study some of the finest specimens of painting. Here also he became conscious of his particular excellence in landscape painting, at the height of which branch he soon arrived. His reputation having become now very great, he returned to England in 1755. Although his abilities were esteemed, he was far from obtaining the patronage which his extraordinary talents deserved, and it was not until after his death that his works were duly appreciated. After a long period of neglect, and insult, caused by the mean jealousy of rivals, he died near Mold, in 1782, in the sixty-eighth year of his age.
_William Worthington_, D.D., an eminent theological writer, was born in Meirionethshire in 1703. He received his education at the Grammar School, in Oswestry, and Jesus" College, Oxford, where he proceeded through his degrees. Having taken orders, he obtained various preferment from Dr. Hare, then bishop of St. Asaph, he was rector of Hope, and Darowen, and had a prebendal stall in the Cathedral of St. Asaph, and another in York, to which he was appointed by Archbishop Drummond, whose chaplain he had been. Among the variety of his works, the princ.i.p.al are an "Essay on Redemption," "Evidences of Christianity," and "Sermons on Boyle"s Lectures." He died in 1778.
_Sir John Wynn_ of Gwydir, was born near Llanrwst, in the year 1553. He was made a baronet on the creation of that honour in 1615. He lived in retirement, and wrote a curious and valuable work, ent.i.tled "The History of the Gwydir family," which was first printed in 1773, octavo. He was a member of the council of the marches, and was well versed in the history and antiquities of his native country, and a great patron of its literature. Inigo Jones was born on his estate, and enjoyed the patronage of the family who first brought him to notice. He died in 1626, in the seventy-third year of his age.
_John Wynne_, was born at Caerwys, Flintshire, and was educated for some time at Northop School, from whence he removed to Ruthin, and received his academical education at Jesus" College, Oxford, where he obtained a fellowship. He became rector of Llangelynin, in Caernarvonshire, and prebendary of Brecon. He was appointed also the Lady Margaret"s professor of divinity, and by virtue of that, he had a prebend in Worcester Cathedral in 1705. He was elected princ.i.p.al of Jesus" College in 1712, and was advanced to the bishopric of St. Asaph in 1714. He was a very learned divine, and extremely liberal in the repairing of his cathedral, which had suffered great damage by a violent storm soon after his appointment. He was translated to the diocese of Bath and Wells in 1727, and died in July, 1743.
_John Huddleston Wynne_, an eminent writer on miscellaneous subjects, was born of a respectable family in Wales in 1743. He was brought up to the profession of a printer, which he followed for some time in London; he afterwards obtained a commission in the army, which he quitted and commenced author. His princ.i.p.al works are "A General History of the British Empire in America," and "A History of Ireland." He died in 1788.
His uncle,
_Richard Wynne_, M.A., of All Soul"s College, Oxford, was rector of St.
Alphage, London, and of Ayot St. Lawrence, in Hertfordshire. He published the New Testament in English, carefully collated with the Greek, two volumes, octavo. He died in 1799.
_Philip Yorke_, an eminent antiquarian, and author of a learned work ent.i.tled "The Royal Tribes of Wales," was born at Erddig, near Wrexham, in Denbighshire, in 1743. After a liberal education, he was entered at Benet College, Cambridge, where he graduated M.A. He represented successively in parliament the boroughs of Halston and Grantham. He died in 1804.
ADDENDA.
_John Bradford_, an ingenious poet, who was admitted a disciple of the bardic chair of Glamorgan, in 1730, being then a boy; presided in the same chair 1760, and died in 1780. He wrote several moral pieces of great merit, some of which he printed in the "Eurgrawn," a magazine then carried on in South Wales.
_Rev. Thomas Charles_, A.B., the son of a respectable farmer, in the parish of Llanvihangel, South Wales, was born October 14, 1755. When he was about ten or twelve years of age, his parents entertaining thoughts of bringing him up to the ministry, sent him to school at Llanddowror, about two miles off, where he continued three or four years. When about fourteen years of age, his father sent him to the academy, at Caermarthen, which he left for Oxford in 1775, where he remained about four years. On leaving Oxford, he was engaged to a curacy in Somersetshire, which he gave up in 1783, and removed to Wales, after a ministry of five years. After Mr. Charles returned to Wales, he was engaged successively to serve several churches in the neighbourhood of Bala (where he then resided), at each of which, his evangelical preaching giving great offence to the inhabitants, his services were declined. Mr.
Charles having been so many times deprived of the opportunity of exercising his ministry felt no small perplexity of mind: his active disposition would not allow him to remain wholly unoccupied. The ignorance which prevailed among the people at Bala excited his sympathy; he invited them to his house to give them religious instruction. He was offered the use of the chapel by the Calvinistic Methodists, who were then, and for some time after, connected with the Established Church: this offer he accepted, and there he instructed and catechised the numerous children who attended. In the year 1785, Mr. Charles commenced preaching among the Methodists, from which period to the time of his death his ministerial labours were very great; the effect of which are still to be seen, and will probably continue to appear for ages to come.
Shortly after Mr. Charles left the church, he began establishing circulating schools; they succeeded wonderfully, the whole country being filled with them. The fruits of these schools were numerous Sunday schools throughout the Princ.i.p.ality. Mr. Charles prepared two editions of the Welsh Bible, one in duodecimo, published in 1806, and another in octavo, completed just before his death. But his greatest effort as an author was a "Scriptural Dictionary," four volumes, octavo. Mr. Charles was the princ.i.p.al instrument in originating the Bible Society; the exciting or moving cause of this n.o.ble inst.i.tution was the great want of Bibles, especially in North Wales. He died October 5, 1814, in the fifty-ninth year of his age.
_Robert Davies_, better known by the appellation of Bardd Nantglyn, was born about the year 1769. At an early period of his life he became a votary of the Awen, which propensity was strengthened by his intimacy with Twm o"r Nant, who always expressed a just tribute of admiration for his poetical efforts. In the year 1800 he removed to London, and there became acquainted with those patriotic fosterers of their native language and customs, who inst.i.tuted the Gwyneddigion Society, and he filled at intervals the situation of their bard and secretary. The illness of his family compelled him reluctantly to leave the metropolis, after a residence of about four years, and return to Nantglyn, which he never afterwards quitted. This occurrence, which was unforeseen, obliged him to borrow a sum of money from Owain Myvyr, to defray the expenses of removal, and shortly after he was given to understand by that generous character, that the loan should be a gift; and this munificent donation enabled him to build a decent cottage, which formed his domicile during his life. When the premiums awarded by the Eisteddvodau stimulated the bards to unwonted exertions, Robert Davies early distinguished himself, and acquired the honour of occupying the bardic chair for Powys, at the meeting held at Wrexham, in 1820, by his prize elegy on the death of George the Third. The number of medals he acquired on different occasions amounted to eleven; and in addition he received, on various occasions, many money premiums for meritorious exertions. It would be needless to recapitulate the various subjects on which he was a successful compet.i.tor, as the prize poems of his composition are mostly published in his publication ent.i.tled "Diliau Barddas," which contains the greater part of the productions of his muse. He likewise was the compiler of a very excellent "Grammar," in great esteem in the princ.i.p.ality. He died on 1st December, 1835, and was buried at Nantglyn, where it is in contemplation to erect a tablet to his memory.
_John Evans_, an adventurous young man of Caernarvonshire, who, about the year 1790, went to America, with a view of discovering the Welsh Indians, or descendants of Madog and his followers. After surmounting many difficulties, and penetrating about 1,300 miles up the Missouri River, he was obliged to return to St. Louis, on the Mississippi. The commandant there encouraged him to try another voyage, with attendants and everything necessary to make discoveries; but unfortunately, John Evans died of a fever there in 1797, when everything was prepared to ensure success to his enterprise.
_Wyn Elis_, A.M., an eminent divine and poet, who lived at Y-Las-Ynys, in Meirionethshire, from about the year 1680 to 1740. About the year 1720, he published a small tract in Welsh of great utility, containing letters of advice to Christian professors, with various hymns and other pieces.
Soon after, he published the "Bardd Cwsg, or the Vision of the Sleeping Bard," in the manner of Don Quivedo, a very popular work, which has been reprinted several times since the death of the author.
_Rev. Evan Edward_, Aberdare, Glamorgan, an eminent Dissenting preacher, philosopher and poet, and one of the few who being initiated into the bardic mysteries, have helped to preserve the inst.i.tution to the present time. He died on the 21st of June, 1798, being the time fixed for him to meet the other bards of the chair of Glamorgan.
_Sir John Glynne_, an able political lawyer in the time of Charles the First, and during the Interregnum, was born in the year 1590. He received his academic education at Hart Hall, Oxford, and afterwards studied at Lincoln"s Inn, where he became a bencher. His talents were quickly discovered by the popular party, and through the tide of opposition, he was buoyed up above the common level. He became steward of Westminster, was returned for two parliaments that sat in the year 1640; was made recorder of London, and at length lord chief justice of the upper bench. Cromwell made him one of his council, and placed him on the committee appointed to inquire into the t.i.tle most proper for the usurper to a.s.sume. He continued in office till the Restoration, when he prudently and promptly determined to submit to the new government. After having been one of the ablest supporters of the protectorate, he was received by the reinstated King with the most distinguished attention, and obtained honorary marks of royal favour, for he was appointed prime serjeant, himself knighted, and his eldest son created a baronet. He appears to have been of considerable service, by sitting in the convention parliament, as a representative for Caernarvon; a.s.sisted by his advice to obtain the act of general amnesty; and particularly in his judicial capacity, establishing the first precedent of granting a rule for new trial in cases where excessive damages had been awarded by the partial, or inconsiderate verdicts of a jury. He died in the year 1666.
_Doctor Gabriel Goodman_ was a native of Ruthin, distinguished for his various learning, but especially eminent as a linguist and divine. He was promoted by Queen Elizabeth to the deanery of Westminster; and, with other distinguished characters, appointed an a.s.sistant in that great work, a version of the Holy Scriptures. By his translation of his "First Epistle to the Corinthians," wholly performed by him as well as other parts a.s.signed him, he acquired great fame; yet he obtained no higher preferment, dying dean of Westminster after forty years" inc.u.mbency, in the year 1601. His regard for learned men was great, as appears from his having helped to support Camden in his travels, who, through the dean"s interest, was made under master of Westminster School. His desire for perpetuating learning was no less conspicuous in the free-school founded in his native place, and his philanthropy still lives in an hospital established for the aged poor.
_Howell Harris_, an eminent preacher, distinguished as the introducer of Methodism into Wales, was born at Trevecca, in Brecknockshire, on January 23rd, 1713; and being designed for the church, was admitted a student of St. Mary"s Hall, Oxford, in November, 1735. Here, however, he remained only during one term, at the expiration of which, he quitted the University, with the design of entering immediately on the duties of the clerical profession. He had by this time, apparently, imbibed the tenets and spirit of Whitfield, and determined to propagate the doctrine of Methodism; with this view he applied for orders, but was refused. Having commenced his ministerial career, he came to his native place, and exerted himself with great zeal and earnestness. His style of preaching was much the same as that practised by the ministers of his connection, particularly among the Welsh, who have probably taken him for their model; it was bold, declamatory, and animated, to a degree that might often be denominated vociferation. At a period when religious freedom was but imperfectly understood, even by those who deprecated persecution, a man of Mr. Harris"s active zeal for proselytism, was not likely to pa.s.s un.o.bserved. He was in some instances prosecuted, but more frequently persecuted: his undaunted resolution, however, triumphed over every opposition, and rendered impotent every attempt to reduce him to silence.
He married in the year 1730, Anne, the daughter of John Williams, Esq., of Screene, by whom he had one daughter. In the year 1756, when some apprehensions of an invasion were entertained, he made a voluntary offer to furnish at his own expense, ten light-hors.e.m.e.n completely armed and accoutred, which proposal was accepted. Three years afterward, A.D.
1759, Mr. Harris himself, embarked in a military character. He was first appointed to an ensigncy in the county militia, and afterwards invested with the command of a company, in which were enrolled many of his own followers. In the latter part of his life, he derived much support from Lady Huntingdon, the warm patroness of the Calvinistic Methodists, who came to reside in the neighbourhood. Mr. Harris died at Trevecca, July 28, 1773, and was buried in Talgarth church. In the year 1752 he formed the plan of a religious community, something similar in its const.i.tution to the Moravian societies; and in the same year he laid the foundation of Trevecca house, with a sufficient extent of buildings and garden, and other ground to accommodate a large number of inhabitants. Here he invited his disciples to a.s.semble, and to invest their property in a common fund, of which all members, as occasion might require, were equally to partic.i.p.ate.
_Morus Huw_ of Perthi Llwydion, near Cerrig-y-Druidion, Denbighshire, a distinguished poet, who flourished from about the year 1600 to 1650. He is generally considered to be the best song writer that has appeared in Wales. Many of his compositions are in the Blodeugerdd.
_Thomas Jones_, bardd cloff (the lame bard). This highly respectable bard was born at Mynydd Bychan (the little mountain), in the parish of Llantysilio, Denbighshire, April 15, 1768. When quite an infant, he met with an accident which lamed him for life-hence the appellation of the lame bard. In 1775 Mr. Jones"s family removed to Llangollen, and Thomas was sent to the best school in the town; in 1782 the family removed again to Machynlleth, in the county of Montgomery. In 1780, Mathew Davies, Esq., brought young Jones to London, and placed him in his counting-house, in Long Acre, where Mr. Davies carried on a very large establishment in the coach and military-lace line. Mr Jones was exceedingly fond of reading, particularly poetry; and about this time he began "to torment the Awen" (Muse), as he used to say; and wrote several things both in Welsh and English. In 1789 he was elected a member of the Gwyneddigion, and shortly afterwards he became secretary to the society.
At the time when it was regularly attended by Owain Jones, Myfyr, Dr. W.
O. Pughe, &c., who encouraged the young bard, and gave him much valuable advice. In 1794 we find his name as one of the stewards of the festival of Ancient Britons, and in 1801, as llywydd (chairman) of the Gwyneddigion. In 1802 he published "An Ode of St. David"s-day," and the following year Mr. Davies made him the head manager of his business; a convincing proof of the rect.i.tude of his conduct, which was farther testified by his becoming a partner in 1813. The Metropolitan Cambrian Inst.i.tution, founded on the basis of the Cymrodorion (established in 1750) was revived, and Mr. Jones was elected treasurer; and he gained the gold medal offered by the society for the best poem in the Welsh language, on its revival. In 1821 he was president of the Gwyneddigion for the third time; and at the jubilee anniversary dinner, he was presented with the society"s silver medal, to commemorate the event. Mr.
Jones gained several prizes at the different Eisteddvodau held in Wales.
And, after residing for a period of forty-five years (with little intermission) at No. 90, Long Acre, departed this life February 18, 1828, esteemed and lamented by all who knew him. Mr. Jones was an open-hearted, generous, hospitable, benevolent man; no indigent countryman appealed to him in vain; his name was invariably found in every list of subscription raised for the promotion of literature, or the relief of distress. Y bardd cloff, was, like his equally generous countryman and friend, Mr. David Jones, of the House of Commons, universally known by the Cymry, both in London and the princ.i.p.ality. And when he was gathered to his fathers, the Cymrodorion offered its silver medal for the best approved of marwnad (elegy) on his lamented demise, which was awarded to Robert Davies, bardd nantglyn.
_John Jones_ of Celli Lyvdy, distinguished as one of the most indefatigable collectors of Welsh literature that have appeared among us.
He continued translating old Welsh ma.n.u.scripts for a period of forty years, as it appears from some of his volumes, which are dated variously from the year 1590 to 1630; and of whose works in this way upwards of forty large volumes still exist.
_Edward Jones_ was born at a farm in Meirionethshire, called Henblas, or Old Mansion, on Easter Sunday, in the year 1752. His father was what is generally termed a musical genius: he could not only perform on various instruments, but he also made several. He taught two of his sons, Edward and Thomas, the Welsh harp, another son the spinnet, and another the violin, and he played himself on the organ-so that the "Family Concert"
was at least a tolerable strong one. Edward Jones came to London about the year 1774, under the patronage of several persons of distinction, connected with the princ.i.p.ality. His performance on the harp was considered in those days, when taste, feeling, and expression, were the characteristic features of a lyrist, to be very superior. He met with great encouragement, and had the honour of giving instructions to many ladies of rank. He was appointed Bard to the Prince of Wales in 1783, but it was merely an honorary situation.
In conjunction with Dr. Owen Pughe, Mr. Walters, and a few literary friends, he published a volume of Ancient Bardic Lore, and Welsh Airs, in 1794, and, in four years afterwards, brought out a second volume. In 1820 he published the first part of a third volume, and had employed his days chiefly since in preparing the remainder, so as to complete the work; but he was not permitted to accomplish it. He had been severely afflicted with rheumatic pains for some time, and his memory became daily more defective; he was a very reserved man, and pa.s.sed most of his time alone, with his chamber door locked.
He had been a collector of scarce books, and possessed many valuable ones; but his inability to follow his professional pursuits, and his high spirit preventing him from making his situation known to his relatives, caused him to dispose of a part of his library, on the produce of which he subsisted.
Several friends saw that he was daily becoming an object of their friendly attention, who endeavoured to ascertain his circ.u.mstances; but from him they could learn nothing, notwithstanding it was pretty certain that he pa.s.sed many days without a dinner.
It became at length a duty inc.u.mbent on them to take him under their care; a recommendation to the Governors of the Royal Society of Musicians was promptly attended to, and an annuity of 50_l._ was granted unknown to him. This single act of benevolence speaks volumes in favour of that excellent inst.i.tution, which was founded in 1738, with a view of shielding the "child of song," in the decline of life, from penury and want; also to provide for the widows and orphans of its indigent members, at their decease. Mr. Jones entered the society in 1778.
Mr. Parry was deputed to give him the first monthly payment. It was in the evening when he called; he found the Bard locked in his room, at his lodgings in Great Chesterfield-street, Marylebone, and was admitted: he did not recollect Mr. Parry immediately, although most intimately acquainted with him; he had his dressing-gown and night-cap on, his harp standing by the table, on which was a blotted sheet of music paper. Mr.
Parry told him the purport of the visit, but he did not pay much attention to it, and only asked, with much fervency, whether he knew "The Melody of Mona," (See Relicks, vol. i. p. 168,) a most beautiful pathetic Welsh air, in the minor key, to which Mrs. Hemans has written an excellent song, called "The Lament of the last Druid." He took his harp, and with a trembling hand,
"Struck the deep sorrows of his Lyre."
It was impossible not to feel affected on such an occasion-the scene reminded him of the dying hour of a celebrated Bard, who called for his harp, and performed a most plaintive strain-
"Sweet solace of my dying hour, Ere yet my arm forget its power, Give to my falt"ring hand, my sh.e.l.l, One strain to bid the world farewell."
In a few days afterwards he fell in a fit; the landlady who sat in the apartment below, heard a noise; she ran up, but could not gain admission; the door was burst open, when the poor Bard was found lying on his face, with a heavy chair on his back. He remained senseless for two days, and expired without a groan on Easter Sunday, April 18, 1824, aged 72. He was conveyed to his silent tomb, in St. Mary-le-bone burial-ground, on the following Sunday. Mr. Jones left a number of scarce books, and much music, which were disposed of by public auction in February, 1825, and produced nearly 500_l._ He had, at various times previous to his death, sold books and prints to the amount of about 300_l._, so that his whole collection may be stated at 800_l._; an extraordinary sum, considering the habits of the collector! Of his professional abilities, his "Relicks of the Welsh Bards" bear ample testimony; and will convey his name, with honour, to posterity. They are the result of forty years labour and research; and his countrymen of the Princ.i.p.ality may now boast, that, as well as the Irish and the Scotch, they also have their "Melodies."
_Rice Jones_ of Blaenau, in Meirionethshire, one of the most eminent poets of Wales of recent times. He died in the autumn of the year 1801, at the great age eighty-six. In the year 1770 he published a "Welsh Anthology," in quarto, containing choice selections from the poets of different ages.
_Theophilus Jones_, the ingenious and learned author of the "History of Brecknockshire," was born Oct. 18, 1758. He was the son of the Rev. Hugh Jones, successively vicar of the parishes of Langammarch and Llywel, Brecknockshire, and a prebendary of the collegiate church of Brecknock.
With his grandfather, Mr. Theophilus Evans, Mr. Jones pa.s.sed much of his early life. His princ.i.p.al education was completed in the college school at Brecknock. Being destined by his parents to the law, Mr. Jones, at a proper age, was placed under the care of an eminent pract.i.tioner then resident in the town of Brecknock; and after having pa.s.sed with credit the period of his probation, entered into the profession upon his own account, and continued in it for many years, practising with equal reputation and success as an attorney and solicitor in that place. Upon a vacancy in the deputy registrarship of the archdeaconry of Brecknock, he was appointed to that office, and held it till his death. From the doc.u.ments committed to his charge, and to which he was particularly attentive, he derived much valuable information connected with the parochial history of the county. After Mr. Jones commenced the history of his county, finding that the duties of his profession could not be attended to, and antiquarian pursuits followed at the same time, he disposed of the attorney"s and solicitor"s business. Being now more at liberty to pursue the great object of his ambition, he spared neither pains nor expense to carry it into execution. There was no part of the county into which he did not extend his personal researches, inquiring most minutely into the natural history and antiquities of every place and parish. The first volume of his history of Brecknockshire in quarto, was published at Brecknock in the year 1805, and the second volume in 1809.
With the exception of two communications to periodical publications, and two papers in the Cambrian Register, this was his only literary production. It was his intention to publish a history of Radnorshire, but his enfeebled state of health would not allow him to make the necessary exertions. His last literary attempt was a translation of that well written Welsh romance, ent.i.tled "Gweledigaethau y Bardd Cwsg," or Visions of the Sleeping Bard, by the Rev. Ellis Wynne. He died upon the 15th of January, 1812, and was buried in the parish church of Llangammarth.
_David Jones_ of Trevriw, in Caernarvonshire, a poet who flourished from about the year 1750 to 1780. He edited two collections of Welsh poetry, one called "Diddanwch Teuluaidd," and the other "Dewisol Ganiadau." He also formed a large collection of old ma.n.u.scripts, which have been lately purchased from his sons by the Rev. H. D. Griffith, of Caer Rhun, and appropriated by that gentleman for the enriching of the Welsh Archaiology.
_Richard Llwyd_, generally known in North Wales as the Bard of Snowden, and Author of "Beaumaris Bay," two volumes of poems, &c., was born at Beaumaris, in the Isle of Anglesea, in 1752, and terminated a life devoted to the interest and literature of his country, on the 29th December, 1834, at his residence in Bank-place, Chester. The morning of his days was clouded with adversity. While yet a child, his father, who traded on the coast in a small vessel of his own, was shipwrecked, and lost at once his vessel, his cargo, and his life!-a calamity which plunged his surviving family in hopeless poverty and distress. The extreme poverty of his mother precluded her from giving Richard any education. Nevertheless, in early life his propensities for knowledge discovered itself in a variety of ways, and in spite of the obstacles with which he was surrounded, gave an early promise of the brightness and ardour of his genius, and that greatness of character in which he afterwards so eminently distinguished himself. There was, fortunately for him, at Beaumaris, a free-school, founded by Mr. David Hughes, a man born, like himself, in the vale of humility, but who afterwards became a blessing to his native island. Hence he says in one of his notes to "Gayton Wake," I received an education of nine months, and I acknowledge this blessing with humble grat.i.tude as it has been to me an inexhaustible source of happiness. At twelve years old, his mother gladly accepted a situation for him in the service of Henry Morgan, Esq., of Henblas. Here he remained several years, and here it was that his character was formed; he had not many opportunities of gratifying his insatiable thirst for reading, but such as he had he availed himself of, with unremitting zeal and ardour. He always rose at a very early hour, and devoted the time he thus gained to reading and studying. In temperance and frugality he was remarkable through life, and always studied and practised it with the utmost exactness, which gave him a constant feeling of dignified independence. In the year 1780 Mr. Lloyd entered into the service of Mr.
Griffith, of Caer Rhun, near Conway, as superintendent of a large demesne and family. Mr. Griffith being in the commission of the peace, and the only acting magistrate in an extensive district, Llwyd acted as his clerk; this situation offered him an opportunity of pursuing his favourite studies. Here he lived until Mr. Griffith died, and with what he had saved, aided by bequeaths from two friends, he retired from the world. In 1797 he published his poem of "Beaumaris Bay," which was extremely well received by the public, and materially added to his pecuniary resources. Mr. Llwyd had successfully studied the antiquities of his country, and was exceedingly well versed in heraldry, which added to his native vivacity, wit, and good humour, made his company courted by the first families in the princ.i.p.ality, at whose mansions he was always a welcome guest. In 1804 Mr. Llwyd published his "Gayton Wake," and two volumes of poems, "Tales, Ode," &c., translated from the British, which show the extent and variety of his genius, and which met with extensive encouragement. In 1814 he married Miss Bingley, daughter of the late Alderman Bingley, of the city of Chester, with whom he lived happily in comfortable independence, and whom he survived about twelve months.
_William Maurice_ of Cevyn-y-Briach, in Denbighshire, a distinguished antiquary and the a.s.sistant of Mr. Robert Vaughan, of Hengwrt, in collecting old Welsh ma.n.u.scripts. The collection made by Mr. Maurice is now preserved at Wynnestay. He died about the year 1660.