or Walli,) must seek their etymology in the Welch language, the purest dialect of the ancient Celtic now existing. To conclude, there is no notice in history of any such conquest in Wales, as might cause a change of language: from all which reasons we may be certain that the modern Welch language is, in the main structure of it, the same as that of the ancient Britons or Gauls. extract for our readers' amuse- when, how, and by whom it was first planted, our commonly received stories make our the middle point or center of mankind's Mr. Rowlands, the "incomparable author" of the present work, (as he is called by Nicholson,) was born in Anglesey, and is said to have acquired his extensive learning in his native island. He lived to repay that through huge deserts, and over dreadful obligation by the publication of its history. We have no means of ascertaining the particulars of his life. He lived on the most intimate terms of friendship with the profoundly learned Edward Lloyd, author of "Archæologiæ Britannicæ," and some of their correspondence is given in the Appendix to this volume. Mr. Rowlands appears to have been a complete linguist and an universal historian. Natural philosophy had evidently occupied much of his attention, and his theoretical remarks on the formation of islands are very ingenious. In fact, the production of this work will secure for him the reputation of the most solid and extensive learning. We will venture to say that the most prejudiced will not be able to withstand the evidence adduced in this volume for the antiquity of the Welch people and language, and that the most fastidious readers will find in Mr. R.'s interesting treatises on the Druids, and the ancient superstitions of the Britons, sufficient to gratify their taste. We may call it unique in this feature; it unites the authority of history with the magic of romance. We must now proceed to offer an NEW SERIES, No. 11. rocks and mountains; and having two and establish themselves here a distinct settled nation. But probable it is, (and we have nothing but probabilities and conjectures to guide us in things of that remoteness and obscurity,) I say probable it is, that at what time those people who moved to the westward, had extended their colonies to the Belgick or Gallick shores; thence taking a view of the great Albion, or Isle of Britain, they soon wafted over, and being entered into, and their multiply'd families proceed on in the possessed of that rich and spacious land, like manner, hewing and hunting, the work of that time, until they came to the end or utmost corner of the land, which, on the western side of it, was this island I am accounting for; and therefore when the prime colonizers came into it, and finding it the hindermost island, or the utmost corner of the land that way, we may well presume that they might then properly call it y von gnys, that is, the hindermost or furthermost island, or y von wlâd, viz. the lowermost country; Bon, being in the British structure the radical of Mon, and signifying in the ancient British, as also in the Irish, as much as Caudex, or pars inferior, does in the Latin tongue; neither is it unlikely that the Latin finis (labial sounds being promiscuously pronounced in ancient times,) might be owing to the same derivation, but a little varied, that is, what we call Von or Fôn, the Latines call Fên or Fines, as Finis-Tir, the utmost 4 H cape or point of Spain, the same with Tir-Môn in signification. That the respective site and position of this island gave it first that name, will appear the more probable, for that it is undeniably apparent that the ancient Celts or Britains did frequently denominate themselves, or were by others denominated, from the situation of their territories, and such other comparative respects; for what were the Cattiuchlani and Dobuni, so named in Roman authors, but the upper and lower inhabitants of that part of Britain where these resided? What the Ordovices, and Silures, but gwyr or dhyoi, and issilwys, viz. the men inhabiting above Dyoi, and the men below it, or towards the sea; which is still in our dialect reckon'd lowest or lowermost. And we may have this further to observe, that as Kyn or Cyn, in the most ancient British tongue, (and is still retain'd in the Irish,) betokens head properly, as Cynwy, Cynvelyn; head-river, and yellow-head; and improperly, or metaphorically, first, or foremost, as Cyntav, first; Cyn, before, &c., and in the same manner is bón, properly taken in that language for tail, stump, butt-end, but improperly for last, or lowermost; so we may take notice that those regions or countries in this isle of Britain which border on, and 1ye next to the continent land, (and which countries were probably first inhabited, as having the shortest cut to come into them from the main continent,) do seem to have anciently retained the sound Kyn in the composition of their names, as betokening first or foremost, yet distinguish'd by their respective sites and positions: Thus, we have Kyn, or Cynta, by the Romans call'd Cantium, by us Kent. A little sideways of that we have Uch-Kyn, i. e. Tunorum Regio by the Romans, now Norfolk and Suffolk; and beyond that, down towards the North, is Obri-Cyn, or Obrigantum, Brigantium Regio by the Romans, and these, with submission, I take to have been the first, the upper, and further Kents, or lands, which were first arrived unto and inhabited, they all lying along opposite to the Gallick and Belgick shores. And as these countries, being the most eastern parts of the isle of Britain, and next to the main continent, were originally, as it seems to me, called by names importing first or foremost; so it may seem very agreeable, from the then manner of imposing names, and the allowable readiness of expression at that time, to call this lowest, utmost, and one of the most western provinces of Britains, in respect of these first inhabited countries, y-Von-wlad, or Gwyr-ym-món-y-wlûd: on which account I take it, that not only this isle of Móna, was so called in respect of its site and position; but for more confirmation of this conjecture, onc may trace the sound Môn in many other corners of this and other countries, where we may presume the ancient Celta to have arrived; as if the first inhabitants of these western regions called those furthest points or ends of land Món or Bón, which put a stop to their progression : so we find Cornwall called by the Romans Dammonium, and the furthest point is to this day call'd Pen-von-laz, or Wlad; the Isle of Man, Monida; and in Ireland, the furthermost part of it to the west, is called Momonia, or Moun; and so likewise is one of the Orchades, the furthest isles of Scotland, called Pomona; nay, three of the largest rivers in the farthest end of Spain, and indeed of all the western world, seem to have in their name at this day some resemblance of a Celtick origin, two whereof have apparently this sound, viz. Lisbon, Monda; and the third, to show their extraction, is called Douro from the Celtish dwr; the Celtiberians having anciently inhabited that part of Spain. Now these ancient names, agreeable with the propriety of things, being thus taken and settled, it opens a way, not only to account for the nomination of this isle of Mona, but also it may serve to confirm what is generally conceived as most coherent and natural in this particular, viz. that islands were first arrived unto and inhabited, in those parts of them which come to, and border nearest to other adjacent islands or continents. This is what I take to be sufficient to offer, in order to account for this island's ancient name, Mona, and the present Môn : for if it deserves to be granted, that Cantium, Brigantium, and Icenorum Regio, may have relation to the Celtick or ancient British word Kyn, as it betokens first or foremost, 'tis, I think, but fair to conclude that the furthest and utmost places of the land should be called by names importing Bón and Món; they being correlatives, must mutually plead for and prove one another."-pp. 19-22. The most useful portion of Mr. Rowlands's treatise is that which treats of the introduction of Christianity into Britain. The ancient church histories of Britain are in many instances substantiated by Mr. R.'s ingenious explanation of several old inscriptions on the monuments of the primitive Welch saints. But the limits of our miscellany forbid any additional extracts. We reluctantly conclude our remarks on this most interesting volume. LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS, WITH SHORT NOTICES. By MEMOIRS OF MR. JOHN CHAMBERLAIN, late Missionary in India. William Yates. 8vo. 10s. 6d. - Mr. Chamberlain, it appears, had been stationed in India twenty years at the time of his death. His history, therefore, as may be readily supposed, throws much light upon the state of missionary affairs in that country. We cannot but think the interest of the volume, in some measure, injured by the detail of minute and trifling circumstances. It is an error in the composition of biography into which the partial hand of the friend is apt to fall. We have no hesitation, however, in recommending this memoir to the notice of all readers interested in missionary history. A MEMOIR OF MISS MULLINGER, late of Chatham; comprising Extracts from her Diary and Letters, and an Account of her last Illness and Death: with a recommendatory Preface, by the Rev. Joseph Slatterie. London. 12mo.-This is a memoir of a very pious and excellent young lady, and cannot therefore, to the pious, be uninteresting; and to young females it may prove highly useful. A PASTORAL ADDRESS to the Members of a Dissenting Church: suited to the present times. London: Westley, 1825.--This is a judicious and wellwritten little tract; and contains some excellent observations on the points of difference between the Establishment and Dissenters. We recommend it to the attention of every Dissenter who wishes to know why he is one, but who cannot afford time or money for larger works on the subject. THE EVANGELICAL RAMBLER. Vol. III. 1825.-The former volumes of this work have had our recommendation. This appears by no means inferior to the others in talent or interest. SERMONS, by John Bruce. London: Westley, 1825. 8vo.-It is very seldom that sermons from the press are generally read, or extremely interesting. In the first place, there are too many published by half; and, secondly, that first applause, which generally induces the publication of them, is the effect, almost certainly, of the circumstances and manner of their delivery. The present volume is composed of sermons, preached at different times, by the author to his congregation, to whom they are now dedicated. They are considerably above the ordinary level of these publications, and must be exceedingly pleasing to those to whom they were first preached. We wish them an extensive circulation. A SCRIPTURE CATECHISM: forming a Compendium of Divinity, in which a great number of the Questions, and all the Answers, are in the exact words of Scripture, designed especially for Young Persons, and the use of Sunday Schools. By Peter Jones. Liverpool : Marples, 1825.-We give this little work a warm recommendation; it is peculiarly welladapted to give children an intimate knowledge of Scripture. It is very neatly printed. ADDRESS TO A DESTITUTE SICK PERSON. By the Author of "The Decision" fc. &c. PHILIP COLVILLE; or a Covenanter's Story, (unfinished.) By the Author of "The Decision." Oliphant. 12mo. Edinburgh. Both these are by the same author. The first is a little tract, which, if properly distributed, will, we doubt not, be found consolatory to many in the condition of the character addressed. The latter, we cannot help thinking, would have been better left in manuscript. It would, doubtless, if the authoress had lived to complete it, have worn a different appearance, but the disadvantages under which it now appears are neither few nor unimportant. It is a posthumous publication, unfinished, and betrays in many parts a looseness of diction, which would have been avoided, had the authoress lived to finish* and perfect her work. Of the dramatis persona little can be said. We have the Covenanters and Sharp once more brought upon the stage, but to answer what end we cannot see. It is time the bones of the prelate should repose in that obscurity into which they would long since have fallen, but for the officiousness of his murderers. To the moral of the work nothing can be objected. The name of the authoress is a sufficient guarantee, in this respect. THE PARISH APPRENTICE; or the Advantages of Domestic Religion exemplified in the History of Sarah Lock. Lon don. MARY AND ARCHIE GRAHAM. A Sabbath Story for Children. Edinburgh. THE ALMONER; or Sketches of the Scottish Poor. Edinburgh. 18mo. THE FAITHFUL SERVANT: an Authentic Memoir, &c. 18mo. Edinburgh. EARLY IMPRESSIONS; or the History of Allan Stewart and Colin Gray. 18mo. Edinburgh.-These are all very excellent little books for children. They will be found to be very well adapted as presents or rewards for Sunday-school children. The first of this list is, we are told in the advertisement, a narrative of "facts." A CATECHISM on the Evidences of the Bible; in easy rhyme. Intended for the Young to commit to Memory. By W. F. Lloyd. London. A CATECHISM on the Principal Para bles of the New Testament. Intended for the Young. By W. F. Lloyd. London. It is gratifying to see the daily-increasing efforts that are making to disseminate religious knowledge among the poorer and younger classes of society. Mr. Lloyd's little works will, if we mistake not, be found to contribute their full share to this desirable object. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY: a Sermon de livered at the Opening of a New Inde pendent Chapel, erected on the Estate of J. D. Bassett, Esq. at Berry-Narbour. By D. R. Thomason. The opening of a chapel is certainly one of the fittest seasons that could be selected for stating the principles which render its foundation necessary, and for enforcing those doctrines of nonconformity, which oblige so many men of talent and piety to dissent and withdraw from the communion of the English Established Church. Mr. Thomason has done this very plainly, yet with an equal degree of suavity and Christian mildness; by no means denying the many advantages which are incident to a birthright in this favoured country, yet on the other hand not forgetting to show forth the large portion of ecclesiastical injustice to which far more than one half of the subjects of the united kingdoms are still subjected. This subject merits a far more frequent introduction to pub lic notice than it has hitherto met with. THE IMPORTANCE OF EMINENT PERSONAL HOLINESS TO THE CHRISTIAN MINISTER: a Discourse delivered at the Congregational Meeting-House, Broad Street, June, 1825, before the Patrons, Tutors, and Students of Homerton College. By Henry March. London: Churchill, 1825.-This sermon is principally devoted to a discussion of the various dispositions and qualities which a consistent Christian minister ought to possess. The subject is perspicuously divided, and the doctrines, which are elicited from an examination of the text, are dwelt upon and enforced with much eloquence, and an abounding spirit of Christian piety. The whole of the discourse well merits a close and attentive perusal from the ministers of the church of God; particularly from those who are but entering upon the arduous and awful duties of their sacred stewardship. A REVIEW OF NONCONFORMITY: a Discourse delivered at the Ordination of the Rev. J. Kennedy, of Bury, Lancashire. By John Ely, Minister of Providence Chapel, Rochdale. Price 1s. AN ESSAY. The Deity of Christ, the Uniform Testimony of the Holy Scrip tures. By William Jones, &c. London: R. Baynes, 1824.-This little work has been some time before the public; we are not aware what success it has met with; but it is well deserving of public attention. The arguments are well digested, and the work is written in a style perfectly intelligible to all classes. There are many works already before the world upon this subject; but the far greater portion of them would be useless in the hands of illiterate persons. The Essay before us is not liable to this objection. The Sacred Scriptures are the best test of all creeds, and we are well convinced that the mis-begotten creed, which this volume combats, needs only to be held up before the light of the Sacred Scriptures to secure it due reprobation. We cannot do otherwise than give this Essay" our hearty recommendation. 66 THE CHRISTIAN FATHER'S PRESENT, By the Rev. J. A. James. Third Edition. 12mo. Price 7s. boards. THE JUVENILE CABINET of Travels and Narratives for the Amusement and Campbell, Author of "Travels in Africa." Instruction of Young Persons. By John ligious public, we believe, are pretty 4s. London: Westley, 1825.-The regenerally acquainted with the various instructive and entertaining works with which Mr. Campbell has enriched the library of juvenile readers. In the present volume are collected the "Walks of Usefulness"-" Worlds Displayed" Voyages and Travels of a Bible," and the "Picture of Human Life." Mr. Campbell has a peculiar felicity in fixing upon the slight and passing incidents of life, and in drawing thence a store of honey to enrich his "bag o' the bee:" and the very extensive view he has taken of things as they are, in more than one quarter of the globe, together with his spirit of truly Christian philanthropy, has rendered him peculiarly apt in drawing the picture of things as they should be. It is scarcely necessary to say, that we give our hearty praise and best wishes to these fruits of his zeal in the cause of God. A DISCOURSE preached before the London Missionary Society, at the Church of the United Parishes of St. Ann's, Blackfriars, and St. Andrew by the Wardrobe, &c. By John Charles Williams, B. A. London: Westley, 1825. THE EVERLASTING AGE OF GRACE AND TRUTH: a Discourse delivered at the Tabernacle, May 11, 1825, before the London Missionary Society. By Henry Belfrage, D. D. Minister of the Gospel, Falkirk. London: : Westley, 1825.— The doctrines of both these sermons are orthodox and pious: the diction of the first is chaste and elegant, while that of the latter is more free and spirited. Missionary sermons, we believe, (unless some great name be prefixed to them) are principally sought after by those before whom they were originally delivered notices of them therefore serve rather to announce their publication than to recommend. They almost uniformly recommend themselves. STATEMENT by the Committee of the Edinburgh Bible Society, relative to the Circulation of the Apocrypha, by the British and Foreign Bible Society. New Edition. Price 4d. A VINDICATION of the Proceedings of the Edinburgh Bible Society, relative to the Apocrypha, against the Aspersions of the "Eclectic Review." ROXTON HYMNS. By the Author of "An Old Year's Gift." 12mo. 1s.This neat volume contains one hundred original compositions, all relating to the most important articles of the Christian faith, and to the most interesting points of Christian experience. We most cordially recommend it as a very suitable reward for Sunday-school children-as an appropriate present to be left at the cottages of pious poor-as an useful assistant to the village congregation-and as an excellent companion to the closet for the humble and unsophisticated follower of Christ. We give the following as a fair sample of the whole : True Circumcision, Rom. ii. 28, 29. If self be unsubdued; God with delight the work beholds, PREPARING FOR PUBLICATION, The Rev. Dr. Morrison is printing". Parting Memorial;" consisting of Discourses written and preached in China, at Singapore, on board ship at sea, in the Indian Ocean, at the Cape of Good Hope, and in England. The Rev. W. Ellis, Missionary from the Society and Sandwich Islands, is preparing to publish, in rative of a Tour, by a party of Missionaries 8vo. price 12s. to subscribers, The Narin the Sandwich Islands, around Hawaii, the principal of those Islands. The work will be handsomely printed, and embellished with nine engravings and wood cuts. -Characters Contrasted; or, Character modified by Education. By the Author of the "Mirven Family." In one volume, 42mo.-The Rev. Robert Hall's Sermon, on the Death of Dr. Ryland.-Memoirs of the late Rev. Stephen Morell, of Norwich. By the Rev. J. Binney, of Newport. In one volume, 12mo.-Pastoral Memorials; being a Selection from the Manuscripts of the late Rev. John Ryland, D.D. of Bristol; with a Memoir of the Author, and a fac-simile of his handwriting. In one large volume, 8vo. containing at least 600 pages. Price to subscribers, 14s.-The English-Gaelic and Gaelic-English Dictionary, which was nearly ready for publication, but destroyed at Mr. Moyes's fire in Greville Street last year, is again printed, and will be published early in November. To it is appended a Grammar of the Gaelic language, the whole forming one large 4to. volume, containing nearly 1100 closely printed pages. This may be said to be the first Dictionary of the Gaelic ever published; all former attempts deserving no higher title than that of a vocabulary. A great portion of the impression, which is very limited, is subscribed for it is dedicated by permission to the King.—The Evangelical Diary, a Religious, Historical, and Literary Almanack, for the year 1826, |