Gladdens the welkin, and with loud acclaim The spirits of the mighty dead, Hail the glad pæan, and, rejoicing, spread That mantles round the past, they come Are destin'd soon To share with them the high and holy noon Of immortality:-and wear the wreath That fades not, withers not, and owns not death! They came to hail a brighter morn Than ever yet to Mona's isle, In the fair orient of the past, was born, Or woke creation's smile. Mother of Wales! Around thy shore, Songless and harpless long, Behold from North and South, once more, Thy gifted children throng! Fired by the spirit that of yore Inspired the masters of the lofty tongue; The minstrel aged, and the seer, Renown's fair guerdon and award, The smile of beauty and the cheer Of gratulation,-proud reward, To every child of song and every minstrel dear. And these to other times shall tell, Through other lands proclaim, When Wallia from her deepest dell, Echoes exulting to the swell Of joy and triumph, that bespeak, The smile to Cambria long unknown, The presence of the princely heir to British Arthur's crown. PRIZE IV.-The Gwyneddigion medal, to the author of the best stanzas on Adam and Eve in Paradise. The Secretary stated that the Judges of Adam and Eve in Paradise, were not present, and that the adjudication of the prize would be deferred. PRIZE V.-A premium of £10 and a medal of the value of £3, for the best elegy (Rhyddalaeth) in Welsh blank verse, on " Ifor Ceri," (the late Rev. J. Jenkins, Kerry,) and a premium of £5, for the second best elegy in Welsh verse on the same subject. The Rev. J. Blackwell read the following adjudication, which was signed by himself and Mr. Wm. Owen Pughe:-" Eight compositions have been received on the lamented death of one of the best of men and of Welshmen-one of the principal promoters of modern Eisteddfodau. We are glad to see in our bards a growing taste for a species of metre in which the sweetness of their national cynghanedd is not likely to lead men astray. Of these eight compositions, four are excellent: those are signed " Galarwr," "Cynddelw," "Ymddifad, Hiraethog," and "Cyuddelw." But we consider the two signed "Cynddelw' the best; that commencing "Tan ywen hên," is evidently the production of a man of much poetic talent. His imagination is warm, his taste good, his language elegant, and he would most probably have gained the prize, had not the merits we have mentioned, united to other merits peculiarly his own, been possessed by his rival " Cynddelw." We conceive "Cynddelw" commencing "Pan y machludo huan araul nawn,” to be eminently worthy of the prize." The Secretary called upon "Cynddelw" to declare himself, when Mr. Thomas Lloyd Jones, of Holywell, answered, and was invested with the medal by Miss Charlotte Williams. The premium of £5, for the second best elegy on the same subject was adjudged to the Rev. Johu Jones, (Tegid) of Christchurch, Oxford. PRIZE VI.-A medal for the best ode on the coming of age of Pyers Mostyn, Esq. eldest son of the worthy and much esteemed SirEdward Mostyn, of Talacre, president of the late Denbighshire Eisteddfod. The judges in this case were the Rev. J. Blackwell, and the secretary, Mr. Wm. Jones. The latter gentleman read the following adjudication to the meeting, signed with both of their names. "We do not recollect having a severer task to perform than to determine the palm of victory between two competitors on this exhilarating subject"Simwnt Vychan," and "Simwnt yr oes yma." Both are, in our opinion, deserving, and almost equally deserving of praise; but as the medal must be awarded to one competitor, we think, that the striking national peculiarity of "Simwnt yr oes yma" entitles him to a very slight preference over his rival. When we venture to say that these poems are not utterly unworthy of their subject, we feel that we pay them the highest compliment in the estimation of all who are acquainted with the rising and manly virtues of the young chieftain of Talacre. We think so very highly of "Simwnt Vychan," that we would wish him to declare himself, and if we dared, we would earnestly recommend him to the consideration of the committee." The secretary having called upon "Simwnt yr oes yma" to declare himself, Mr. William Edwards, of Ysgeiviog, Flintshire, answered, and being introduced upon the platform, was invested with the medal by Mrs. Brice Pierce. The person using the signature of "Simwnt Vychan," was called to declare himself. Mr. William Edwards, Llanberris, answered. PRIZE VII.-A premium of £20, and a medal of the value of £5, for the best awdl (Ode) on the wreck of the Rothsay Castle, (Llong ddrylliad y Rothsay Castle): and a premium of £10, for the second-best Ode on the same subject. On this subject, 19 compositions were received, the judges of which were the Rev. Walter Davies and Mr. William Jones. A critical letter was read to the meeting, from the former gentleman, by which it appeared that he considered the poem by “Un a gár fyw yn nglan y múr," the best composition, although several of the others were of great merit. Mr. Wm. Jones. the other judge, stated that at the request of the Rev. Walter Davies, he had read the two best poems, and cordially agreed with that gentleman in his de cision, and considered the composition above mentioned one of the finest bursts of poetic genius, and the most striking ebullition of the Welsh Awen, which had ever fallen under his observation. In confirmation of that opinion he made several quotations; and concluded by observing, that if the Eisteddfodd had been got up for no other purpose than the production of this poem, its promoters and the Principality would have been amply rewarded. The successful bard, being called upon to declare himself, stood confessed before the meeting in the person of the Rev. W. Williams, of Carnarvon, and as it was the principal literary prize, the reverend gentleman was installed in the bardic chair, by the chair bards theu present, namely, Rev. E. Evans, Robert Davies, of Nantglyn, and William Jones, of Carmarthen. Lady Bulkeley then invested him with the medal amidst the approbation of the meeting. The second prize was awarded to Mr. Griffith Williams, alias Gutyn Peris, of Llandegai; and Mr. Blackwell observed that his poem was scarcely inferior to the other. Pennillion singing was introduced again; after which the secretary announced that the subject fixed upon for the prize Englynion for the medal given by their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Kent and Princess Victoria, was "the Marriage of Sir R. B. W. Buikeley, Bart." The Concert. In the evening a very numerous and fashionable company assembled at the Town Hall, to witness a concert of vocal and instrumental music, under the superintendence of Mr. John Parry. The selection was judicious, and passed off to the evident satisfaction of every one present. The vocal performers were Mr. and Mrs. Knyvett, Miss Cramer, Mr. Horncastle, Mr. Parry, sen., and Mr. Parry, juu. The instrumental performers were Mr. Cramer, leader; flute, Mr. Nicholson; trumpet, Mr. Harper; violoncello, Mr. Lindley; principal violin, secondo, and viola, Messrs. Herman; clarionets, Mr. Stubbs and Mr. Entwistle; violoncello, Mr. Jackson; double bass, Mr. Hill; patent symphonion, Mr. Parry; pedal harp, Mr. Parry, jun.; grand pianoforte, Mrs. W. Knyvett. At half-past twelve o'clock, Sir R. B. W. Bulkeley entered and stated he had received a letter from Sir John Conroy, which he would read. The letter was expressive of the regret of her Royal Highness that the state of the weather prevented her intended presence at the Eisteddfod, and announced her intention of being at Baron-hill in the evening at four o'clock, when the Princess and herself would invest the successful candidates with the medals. Sir Richard then proceeded to say, that as the room would not hold one-third of the ladies and gentlemen who wished to be present, it was proposed to adjourn to the castle; and that he should be happy to see such of the company as wished to be witnesses of the investure of the successful competitors with medals by their Royal Highnesses, at Baron-hill, at four o'clock in the evening. These announcements were received with loud cheers, and the company began to move towards the castle. A little before one o'clock the band announced the arrival of the president, by striking up a national air. The President upon entering advanced to the front of the platform amid loud cheers, and repeated the information respecting the intentions of their Royal Highnesses which he had previously given in the Town Hall. Sir Richard concluded by inviting such of the company as might be desirous to be present at the ceremony of investing the successful candidates with the medals given by their Royal Highnesses, to Baron Hill, in the evening. The Rev. Henry Parry, of Llanasa, opened the proceedings of the morning with the following address: "It may appear intrusive in me to address this splendid assembly, met to celebrate the bardic festival, as I am no bard myself; but I assume the liberty, as being present when this Eisteddfod was first thought of, being on its committee and as being a hearty well wisher to the order of bards. I shall endeavour to give a brief outline of the history of the institution, occupying as little as possible of your time; and on that account I shall omit all that bears upon the subject before the time of Edward the First. From the period of the conquest of Wales by that great monarch, till the accession of the House of Tudor to the throne of England, a dismal cloud hung over the bards and minstrels of the Principality. We have a tradition that Edward massacred the bards in this very place, where their successors this day hold their festival. But this is a point supported by such a slender testimony, that it is not credited at the present time, though it furnished an occasion for one of the sublimest odes in the English or any other language. The bards were inimical to the government of Edward; and, as the press now, were powerful agents in forming and directing public opinion. With the insurrection of Owen Glyndwr—must I call it rebellion?—the bardic spirit seemed to rekindle a little, but it was soon suppressed by the vigilance and prompt measures of Henry IV. In the time of his grandson, however, Henry VI., a very great Eisteddfod was held at Caermarthen, under the presidency of Gruffydd, grandfather to the great Sir Rice ap Thomas, so well known for assisting and placing Henry VII. on the throne, and ancestor to the present Lord Dynevor. This Eisteddfod was attended by all the bards and minstrels of Wales, and under the conduct of the well known Llawdden. Two silver badges were provided; a silver chair, and a silver harp. Both these badges were triumphantly carried away by a bard from Flintshire, and a minstrel from the same little county. The silver chair, after being honourably borne by Tudur Alde, passed back into South Wales, and was lost. The silver harp never revisited our southern brethren, and is now in the possession of the Hon. Edward Ll. Mostyn, of Mostyn. Some half a century after this Eisteddfod, brighter days shone upon the bards and minstrels. A Prince of the House of Tudor was on the throne. Henry VIII. distinguished himself for his great literary attainments and love for music, for he was a composer in that noble science; he summoned, in the fifteenth year of his reign, an Eisteddfod, which was accordingly held at Caerwys, in 1526. This was under the presidency of Richard ap Howal Vychan, Esq., of Mostyn. Of this meeting we know but little, for, in those days, there were no reporters to cook up an account of it. But his daughter, Queen Elizabeth, called, by a royal commission, now extant, a meeting to be held at the same town of Caerwys, which was accordingly held there in May, 1568. This commission is directed to Sir R. Bulkeley, to Thomas Mostyn, and to Peers Mostyn, Esquires; and it is singular, that the representatives of those gentlemen are now here, possessing the same ardour for promoting Welsh literature as their ancestors in the reign of the virgin queen. We are acquainted with every thing that was done at the Eis. teddfod; for a contemporary author, the learned Dr. J. David Rees, a native of Llanfaethlu, in this island, has given us a full account of it. From this era to the latter part of the eighteenth century, the Eisteddfodau were entirely dropped. But they were partially revived by the exertions of the Cymmrodorian Society in London, in the end of the eighteenth century. Then the nobility and gentry of Wales caught the flame, and Eisteddfodau have been ever since held, every third or fourth year, in different provinces of the Principality. As the encouragement increased, the productions of the bards and minstrels also improved. The Royal Eisteddfod, held four years ago at Denbigh, under the presidency of Sir Edward Mostyn, left all others far hehind it. But what shall we say of this, under the presidency of Sir R. Bulkeley, in ancient Mona, "Món Mam Gymmru;" the land that gave birth to Owen Tudor, the founder of the house of Tudor, that gave birth to Lewis Morris and Goronwy Owen; from which sprung Sir William Jones, and the brave warrior now holding the vice-regal sceptre on the other side of the water, and who derives his title from this beloved island. The bards were always loyal, and they often suffered for their loyalty. For their attachment to their native princes, Edward I. discouraged and repressed them; for their attachment to their legiti mate sovereign, Richard II. when he was deposed, Henry IV. took severe measures, and enacted cruel laws against them; and, on account of their supporting the falling cause of monarchy in the time of the first Charles, Cromwell, when he obtained the supreme power, visited them with his severest vengeance. But now their prospects are splendid." There was much cheering during the time that the reverend gentleman addressed the meeting. The Rev. E. Evans, of Chester, stated that the prize for the best composition on Adam and Eve in Paradise," which had not been awarded yesterday on account of the absence of the judges, was declared in favour of the writer using the appellation "Eryon Gwyllt Walia." The author, Robert Owen, not being present, Lady Bulkeley invested Mr. John Parry as his representative. PRIZE I.-A medal to the author of the best six Welch Englynion on "the honour conferred by the presence of their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Kent and the Princess Victoria at our National Festival." The Secretary stated that on this subject eighteen compositions had beeu received, from which the judges selected two as the best. They could not determine to which of these two the palm of superior merit ought to be given, and had therefore called in a third friend, who had pronounced in favour of the composition signed "Owen Tudor.” Robert Davies, of Nant Glyn, a chaired bard, on whom had been conferred many prizes at former Eisteddfodau, was introduced with “all his blushing honours thick upon him," and was invested with the medal by Lady Harriet Mostyn, of Mostyn. After the ceremony, the successful bard, at the particular request of the company, recited his Englynion. The following is a copy: "I Dduges Caint, braint i'n bro,-bid mawl mawr, Bid mil a myrdd croeso, A'i seren drylen deg dro, Hoen ddiwrnod i'n haddurno. Teyrnwaed Tudurwaed, da dirion,―oreu Aeres Prydain goron, Derchafid yn dra chyfion O blanwydd Penmynydd, Môn. Mal cenedl, grym hawl cynhes,-i'n tiriou Mac ynom o wraidd monwes Da deuodd, a Duw i'w dewis,-i Fôn, Os bu Iorweth gerth, waith gau,—yn tòri Daeth hon i'n gwlad, clymiad clau, Casglwn, cofleidiwn flodau tyner, I'w taenu'n ei llwybrau, · Aw ei rhwysg, i'w thra mawrhau, |