These few specimens are sufficient to prove the extraordinary affinity between the Hebrew and the Welsh, and the consequent utility which a knowledge of the ancient British must necessarily prove to all those who study the Oriental languages. It is not unworthy of remark that the most accomplished Orientalist of modern times, Sir William Jones, was a native of the Principality. His countryman and namesake, Sir Harford Jones, now Sir Harford Jones Brydges, has also distinguished himself for his knowledge of the Eastern tongues during his residence at Bagdad, and his other diplomatic missions. Nor should we here omit to mention the name of Major Price, a native of Breconshire, whose History of the Mahometan Religion has fully evinced his proficiency in Asiatic literature, and his thorough acquaintance with those sources from whence the Arabian writers have drawn their information. This illustrious trio of Cambro-British Orientalists well warrant us in our inference, that the study of the Welsh must tend to facilitate the acquisition of the languages of the East. Indeed, the Rev. Archdeacon Pryse, in his Latin Hexameters, prefixed to Dr. Davies's Welsh Grammar, expressly mentions this great advantage of a knowledge of the Welsh to the Hebrew student.

"Hic docet et Cambros, distinct è Grammaticèque,
Verba loqui, linguæ veteris radice repertâ
Hebræam ut citius valeamus discere linguam."

Translation by the late Rev. JOHN WALTERS, of Cowbridge.

"He gladly deigns his countrymen to teach,
By well-weigh'd rules, the rudiments of speech;
That when the roots first of our own we gain,
The Hebrew tongue we thence may soon attain."

Dr. Davies himself tells us, that almost every page of the Welsh translation of the Bible is replete with Hebraisms, in the time, sense, and spirit of the original. In the preface to his Latin-Welsh Dictionary, he affirms that the ancient British tongue retains a manifest agreement and affinity with the Oriental languages, in its words, phrases, composition, or texture of speech and pronunciation; and he thus continues,—“ nec tamen hic Hebraismos dat â operâ venamur, aut affectat â diligentiâ cudimus, sed quos adducimus meri sunt Britannismi, lippis atque tonsoribus, idiotis, plebi, pueris, noti, vulgo usitate."-Vide Preface to Dr. Davies's Welsh Grammar.

Mr. Charles Edwards, whose Dedication we have cited, further informs us that he was always much struck with the near resemblance between the Welsh symphonies, and the sacred music performed in the Jewish synagogues in London.

The Hebrew and the Welsh approach very near each other in almost all their monosyllabic roots.

Idris, or Edris, is well known to the Arabians. They regard him as the prophet Enoch, and say that he was a Sabean, the first that wrote with a pen after Enos, the son of Seth. "Oriental

Collections," vol. ii. p. 112. We are further informed that Idris was no other than Hermes, or Mercury, the celebrated Hermes Trismegistus of the Egyptians; so that the name of Cader Idris, in North Wales, is demonstrated to be of Eastern origin.

General Vallancey* has proved the Irish, which (like the Welsh, the Gaelic, the Armoric, the Cornish, and the Waldensii, &c.) is a dialect of the Celtic, to have retained a certain degree of connection with the Chaldaic, Arabic, Persian, Coptic, and Phoenician. He has ingeniously, and we think satisfactorily, deduced the emigration of the Irish from India, to the coasts of Arabia, Egypt, and Phoenicia; and from the latter country, by sea, through Spain to the British Islands.

In the 197th page of "Davies's Celtic Researches," it is suggested that the Menw ab Teirgwaedd," or Menw of the three Veds, one of the masters of the mysterious and secret science amongst the Cymry, must be the same personage with Menu, author of the Vedas, in the mythology of the Hindus. But the most extraordinary proofs of an ancient intercourse between Britain and India, are adduced in Wilford's Dissertation on Egypt and the Nile, printed in the Asiatic Researches, vol. v. We are there told that the British Isles are described by the old Indian writers, as "the sacred islands of the west," and that one of them in particular was called Bretashtan, or the seat and place of religious duty.

See General Vallancey's Prospectus of an Irish Dictionary.

Dr. Borlase, in his History of Cornwall, demonstrates the close analogy between the Druids and the Magi of Persia, and Pliny absolutely identifies them by the same name, in calling the Druids the Magi of the Gauls and the Britons.

The author of the Indian Antiquities points out the same affinity between the Druids and the Brahmins of India.

The recent foundation of a Sanscrit professorship at Oxford will probably lead to a further elucidation of the connection between ancient Britain and ancient India.

We reserve the Welsh Hellenisons, Arabicisms, and Gallicisms, for the subject of another paper.

* Lib. xxx. c. 1.

GLAS.

Translation of TEGID'S Y LLEUAD to the Moon.

(See No. XIV. p. 167.)

OH, silvery MOON! fair in thy path so high,
How bright and graceful thou dost pace the sky;-
Yet, GODDESS! though so fair thou dost remain,
We may perceive some spots thy bosom stain.
Thus into human nature if we pry,

Some faults, some blemishes we shall descry:
And, all must grant, perfection dwells alone
In the Almighty and Eternal one.

T. JENKINS.

I SUBMIT to your consideration the following notices, in reply to the inquiry of your correspondent Trevnant, as to the name of CEVN DIGOLL, a mountain on the eastern boundary of Montgomeryshire.

Where I find it first occurs is in the moral triplets called Gorwynion, written by Llywarch, the aged, about the beginning of the seventh century, and the original is as follows:*

Gorwyn blaen coll ger Digoll vre,
Diaele vydd pob foll:
Gweithred cadarn cadw arvoll.

The literal import of which is this:

Very white the hazel tops near DIGOLL mount;
Every squabby one hath no ailing :

The act of the mighty is to keep a treaty.

The second triplet is from an elegy, by the same bard, upon Cadwallon, King of the Britons, who was slain in the battle called Cad-is-gwal, near Hexham, A. D. 634, and which is thus: Lluest Cadwallon glodrydd

That is:

Yn ngwarthav Digoll vynydd,
Seith-mis, a seith-cad beunydd.†

The camp of Cadwallon the illustrious,

On the top of DIGOLL mountain,

It was for seven months, with seven skirmishes daily.

The third is the following passage, in an ode by Cynddelw, to Owen Cyveiliog, Prince of Powys, written about, A. D. 1170.1 Gwirawd Ewain draw tra Digoll vynydd,

Mòr vynych ei harvoll;

O win cyvrgain, nid cyvrgoll;

O vedd o vuelin oll.

The import of this is as follows:

The wassail of Owen yonder beyond the DIGOLL mountain,
So frequently it is received;

Of wine transcendently pure, not gone to waste;

Of mead, all from the bugle-horn.

The foregoing authorities imply that Cevn Digoll was a post generally occupied in the warfare of the Britons; so that the appellation was not for the first time applied to it, as being the place of assemblage for the forces of Richmond previously to the battle

* See "Heroic Elegies by Llywarch Hen," p. 16, edited by W. Owen, in 1792. Also, Archaiology of Wales, p. 121.

+ Heroic Elegies, p. 110; and Archaiology of Wales, p. 122.

See Archaiology of Wales, p. 234.

of Bosworth; but they most probably did assemble on that commanding eminence, as it afforded a full view of any movements of an enemy, and consequently it was a place of security against every surprise. This shows the propriety of its being called CEVN DIGOLL, or the loss-less summit, as the name literally implies; and it must have been imposed anterior to any historical allusions preserved respecting it, for the quotations given above have more of the character of a traditionary epithet than otherwise. W. OWEN PUGHE.

GENTLEMEN,

To the Editors.

monu

THE following corrections are requisite in that part of my paper on Irish Mythology, printed in your last: at p. 146, for formed, read found; at p. 148, for Walter Davies, read Edward Davies; and at p. 155, for pyramidal plane, read pyramidal flame. Such communications as The History of Northop" add much to our stock of knowledge, and I hope to see the example often followed. I should like, however, to be informed by your correspondent, his authority for the positive assertion, that mental statues of kings and episcopal dignitaries were begun to be erected in Wales about the year 1073;" for I wish your Welsh correspondents to bear in mind that the antiquaries of the present day lay it down as a rule to take nothing for granted. Fifty years back, they justly incurred ridicule for the hypothetical data on which they proceeded; and which, I fear, is still too much the practice in the Principality. In England, no one now who pretends to explain subjects of antiquity can obtain credit, unless he adduces his proofs. I'll venture to defy the production of any monumental effigy before the following century. No sepulchral statue ever graced the tomb of an English monarch before that of Henry II., nor that of any ecclesiastic before the commencement of his reign. Previously, the grave, whether within or without the church, was covered either by a flat or a roof-like stone, on which was sculptured a cross, lance, sword, or banner, &c. according to the quality of the deceased. I have not myself seen any military effigy in Wales older than the time of Edward I., for of this period are the two mutilated remains at St. David's.

The object of this letter, however, is to introduce to your notice the indefatigable exertions of a Mr. Morris, residing at Claremont Hill, Shrewsbury, towards the acquisition of authentic Welsh pedigrees. He follows up his pursuit not only with ardour, but discrimination; and has consequently gleaned a vast deal of entertaining and useful information. From being a cor