daughter and sole heir of Thomas ap Thomas, of Wenvoe Castle. This castle, with other estates, got into possession by marriage of the Cromwellian General Ludlow, from whence it returned again by a marriage of a Mr. Thomas, to the General's widow. This family are nearly allied to the Earl of Albermarle, and other distinguished families. I believe the latter baronet, John Thomas, sold this estate to Mr. Jenner, who now inhabits the castle. 15. Mr. Vaughan, was of Cefn bodig, near Bala, and a branch of the Vaughans of Glanllyn. His tomb is extant in the churchyard of Llanycil. 16. Sir John Pryce, bart. of Newtown Hall, near the town. The title of this highly ancient and respectable family is, I believe, extinct. There is hardly a pedigree of any respectable family in days of yore, where there is not an intermarriage with the Pryces of this Hall,--a portion of the once extensive property of these baronets, and the old mansion, is owned and occupied by the Rev. Mr. Evors, who proved himself an heir by the female line. He is a highly respectable clergyman, and has a benifice in the county of Pembroke, and is a magistrate in Montgomeryshire. 17. Sir Erasmus Phillips, bart., of Picton Castle, in this county, only son of Sir Richard Phillips, bart., of the same place. His mother was a daughter of Sir Erasmus Dryden, of Canons Ashby, in the county of Northampton, bart. Sir Erasmus married two wives; the first was the Lady Cecily, daughter of Thomas Finch, earl of Winchelsea, by whom he had issue; secondly, to Catherine, daughter and coheir of the Honourable Edward Darcey, esq. by lady Elizabeth, daughter to Philip Stanhope, earl of Chesterfield, by whom he had issue. Of the public character of Sir Erasmus, neither history nor tradition will afford me any aid; both he and his ancestors, as well as descendants, have represented some parts of this county often in parliament, and when they could not be accommodated with seats, the borough of Plympton, in Devon, has been represented by them. Sir Erasmus's father garrisoned Picton castle for King Charles I. in the civil wars, yet his near relation, a son-in-law, James Phillips, esq. M. P. for Cardigan, was a great favorite of Cromwell's, hence I conclude that it was by the latter's influence that Cromwell issued an order not to destroy any of the Picton castle property. Mr. Thomas Jones, solicitor, of Caermarthen, informed me that he had seen the original order. 18. Mr. Arthur Owen was the second son of Sir Hugh Owen, bart., by Catherine, daughter of Evan Lloyd, of Yale, in the county of Denbigh, esq., relict of John Lewis, of Prescood, esq. He married two wives, his sister married William Scourfield, of the Mote, in the county of Pembroke, whose descendants now possess Robertson hall. I am glad to find that the present Mr. Scourfield is rebuilding the ancient seat of his ancestors at Mote, where they have resided ever since the Conquest, I believe without any interruption of the name. Of Mr. Arthur Owen, my small means of knowledge does not afford me any information of his political character. That of this family, generally speaking, have been ever since they were seated in Pembrokeshire, in the reign of Elizabeth, stanch royalists, and supporters of the Protestant religion, which has endeared them greatly to the freeholders of the county, which they have represented oftener, and for a longer period, than any other family residing therein. I find in Mr. George Moore's History of the Revolution of 1688-9, p. 193, that a Mr. Hugh Owen, of Wilton, went to Holland to carry despatches, hastening King William's arrival in this country. I have also heard that in Queen Anne's reign one of this family was the means of preserving the blessings of the protestant religion to this realm. Either he or his descendant was offered an earldom, which he declined. 19. Mr. John Upton appears to be a commissioner of customs. He represented Fowey in the long parliament, and Haverfordwest for four years. How he came there not even tradition will assist me, nor can I trace what part of England he came from, saving that an inference may be drawn, that a Mr. Arthur Upton represented Devonshire in the same parliament, which induces me to suppose that he was either from Devon or Cornwall. JEU DE MOTS, or old Punning Englyn Priddyn wyv o'r prudda-a'r Pryv, A'r pryved a'm hysa, Prudd yw meddwl mai pridd vydda, O'r pridd yr wyv i'r pridd yr a. INCERTI AUCTORIS. Translation. Of dust I am, or heavy clay, And swiftly hasten to decay, And sad to think-how soon I may Be yet converted into clay. THE DELIVERANCE OF RHYS. Who spake of brotherhood? who spake of love?—SHAKSPEARE. "TIS Autumn-on Caermarddyn's woods A few wan leaves are ling'ring still-the last; Are wailing in the evening breeze, As if they mourned their Summer glories past. Home thy trite moral to the weary heart: Learn their deep truth, ere thy last leaf depart. But there is light in Dinevor's princely towers, Oh, conscience! can they blunt thy sting? I seek a dungeon, desolate and chill, To the swoln river's ceaseless wail; And still, at intervals, a far off tone Of festal music, in the distance dying, Blends with the stream's hoarse din, a sadder moan, Than e'en the night wind's hollow sighing. He looks and listens, till each anxious sense, O'er wearied, yields to fancy's vague dominion; To other scenes, and brighter days, On sleep's untiring pinion. The moon's pale gleam he sees no more; Meets joyously his searching glance; And proudly, on a hillock near, He sees his own broad banner fly; The river's murmur, in his ear, Has deepened to a battle cry; • Maelgwn, son of Rhys, Prince of South Wales, put out the eyes of his brother Howell, and, fearing his father's vengeance, made him a prisoner; but Rhys, by means of Howell, who was blind, escaped from Maelgwn's prison. His hand is on his charger's mane- Sudden he starts-Ho! is he dreaming still? Or did a light touch on his eyelids thrill? No; 'twas no dream; for now, distinct and near, No second bidding to be free; One moment's pause the chieftain made, to raise But still the youth unwillingly replied, But never, through its dreary space, No more my throbbing breast shall swell I loved thee, that, of all my race And marked thy weak uncertain tread, Had bound my darling's youthful head; "Twas a fair scene; the moonlight strayed Seems laden with the Spring's perfume; In eyes long strained through prison gloom." Young Howell sighed, and answered low, In broken accents, falt'ring slow, "Dear father, while I hear thee speak, Fall softly on my burning cheek, Wreaked not his fiercest cruelty on thee: |