its efforts to rescue from a similar fate the records that still remain unpublished in various parts of the country? It is of no avail to deplore-we must work.

SION MOWDDWY.-John Mywddwy, son of Rhys Mywddwy, son of Gruff Mywddwy, son of Meredydd Mywddwy, son of Wilcox Mywddwy.-MS.

LLANGOLLEN EISTEDDFOD.-There is now not the least doubt but that this truly national festival will prove a complete success. The public have already liberally responded to the appeal made by the Secretaries in its behalf, and as there are yet six months during which the patriots of Wales may be canvassed, the fund will, we feel certain, be greatly augmented by the time the Eisteddfod is to come off. If any of our readers who have not already subscribed, wish thus to countenance the literature and music of Cambria, they are requested to forward their names to the Rev. J. Williams ab Ithel, Llanymowddwy Rectory, Merionethshire, or to the Rev. J. Hughes, (Carn Ingli,) Meltham Parsonage, Huddersfield, Honorary Secretaries. AN EISTEDDFOD IN BRETAGNE.-The Paris correspondent of the Globe says:"The Welsh are first cousins of the Bretons. The latter, from Cape Finisterre throughout the length and breadth of old Armorica, are stirring for a grand gathering, a sort of Eistteiffodd, (do I spell right?) to be held at Quimper, where old Bretonne poesy, and legends, and what not, are to be the order of several days. At this congress the final arrangements are to be made for the erection, in front of the Cathedral, of an equestrian statue to the good 'King Gradlon,' who flourished long before Arthur or his Round Table."

REVIEWS.

CATALOGUE OF THE ANTIQUITIES OF STONE, EARTHEN, AND VEGETABLE MATERIALS IN THE MUSEUM OF THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY. By W. R. WILDE, M.R.I.A., Secretary of Foreign Correspondence to the Academy. Dublin: printed by M. H. Gill.

Mr. Wilde has executed his task admirably, and has compiled a volume, which will not only prove useful to such persons as intend to pay a personal visit to the Museum, but also be of great service to those antiquaries who are compelled to gather all their knowledge of the arts and customs of the past from books alone. We have here not a mere classification of technical terms, but the articles enumerated are graphically described as to their material, form, and use; and many of them are moreover illustrated with wood engravings-the illustrations being drawn according to scale, and directly on the wood.

The study of Irish antiquities is not without its practical use in determining the line of demarcation between British and Roman remains. It too often happens that a relic of good design and workmanship is at once attributed to the Romans, whilst such only as are rude and simple are thought worthy to be called British. But what will be said of the urn mentioned at p. 179, "which, so far as the published accounts afford us information, is, the most beautiful specimen of the mortuary urn, both in design and execution, that has yet been discovered in the British Isles?" And yet this unique article has been discovered in a spot where, we are sure, none of the legions of Rome had ever penetrated!

The present volume contains a description of the articles composed of Stone, Earthen, and Vegetable Materials. Another part is soon to follow, which will illustrate the articles made of Animal and Metallic substances. We subjoin a specimen of the work:—

"SLING-STONES.-That sling-stones were generally employed by early nations long after they had become acquainted with the use of metal, and had attained to great perfection both in arts and literature, we have the evidence afforded by the history of the combat between David and Goliath; and that such weapons were used by the early Irish, we learn from some incidental references to them in our ancient histories. Thus, Kethlenn, the wife of the Dagda, killed Balor of the One Eye, with a stone thrown from a sling, at the battle of Moy Tuiredh, fought before the Christian era; and Keating, quoting from the Bardic Records, relates the story of an Ulster prince named Furbuidhe, who was so expert that he could, at a great distance, strike an apple off a stake with a stone cast from a sling; and eventually slew Meave, Queen of Connaught, by a stone slung at her across the Shannon, when she was bathing near Innis-Clothran. The Dinnseauchus records the fact of the poetress Dubh having been slain by a stone cast from a sling, when

she fell into the Linn, or dark pool of the Liffey, and hence the place was said to have been called from her, Dubhlinn.-(See also Gilbert's History of Dublin.) The ancient Irish warrior carried a stone in his girdle the Lia Miledh to cast at his adversary; but how this was done, whether it was a sling-stone or a celt, we as yet know not. Finally, we read that when the celebrated chief, Cuchulaun, went in his chariot from Tara to the Boyne to fish, he brought with him a number of stones to fling at birds.”—pp. 17, 18.

Tenby: R. Mason. London: 1858.

TALES AND TRADITIONS OF TENBY. Piper, Stephenson, and Spence. This book, as we learn from the preface, "is intended to serve as a companion in country or sea-side rambles, as a medium for chasing ennui on those wet evenings that will sometimes surprize the visitor even in the generally fair and unclouded summers of the Town, and -which is perhaps its chief intent-to lie on the visitors' book-shelves in after years, as a memento of a visit to a watering-place in South Wales, which yields to none in variety of scenery, grandeur of prospect, and innate beauty." We think it well calculated to answer such a purpose, and we should like to see the plan adopted in other parts of the Principality. Every locality abounds more or less with Tales and Traditions, the publication of which would not fail to throw much light upon the manners and customs of the past, and thus prove a valuable aid to the antiquary in general. There is one "Tradition of Tenby" in the manual before us, which has struck us as being peculiarly interesting and instructive. It is entitled "The Deaf and Dumb Man's Curse," and is as follows:

-

"In former times Tenby was so celebrated for its fishery, both as to the quality and number of the finny inhabitants of its waters, that it was known far and near by the name of 'Fish Tenby.' Before going to sea in those days, the fishermen always went to St. Julian's Chapel, (built for that purpose on the pier,) and offered up prayers for success; on their return, with well-laden craft, they did not forget to repair to the same chapel, and offer their thanksgivings; nor was their gratitude confined to barren words, a tenth of their fish was always devoted to God's service, a portion of which was presented to His minister, and the remainder distributed among their poorer townsmen. So His blessing was upon them, and the trade of the town wonderfully increased. This prosperity continued until the fishermen ceased to remember Who it was that kept them in safety while on the deep waters, and blessed their daily toil; and the inhabitants of the town brought a curse upon themselves, by their barbarous usage of a deaf and dumb man, who had come into the town begging. Now, a few years before, some pirates who had anchored in Caldy Roads had sent a spy to examine the town, who, being taken by the inhabitants, and examined before the mayor, pretended to be deaf and dumb; however, the fact of his being a spy having been proved against him, he was hanged by the local authorities on Garrow Tree Hill, where the remains of the gallows have been seen by persons still living. On the occasion to which our tale refers, the mayor of the town, (one Stedman Davies,) perhaps suspecting this deaf and dumb beggar to be also a spy, offered a reward to anyone who would flog him,—an offer which was readily accepted by a person

known by the cognomen of 'Leekie Porridge.' This man seized the beggar, and carried him to the Norton end of the town, where the poor mute fell on his knees, and by piteous gestures implored mercy; but this was sternly denied him, and the cruel sentence was carried into execution. The poor man was so inhumanly flogged that it was with great difficulty he managed to crawl up to a place known as 'Slippery Back,' to a spot a little above where the Cemetery Chapel now stands; there falling on his knees, and stretching out his hands towards Tenby, he turned his streaming eyes to heaven, and (it is supposed) implored of Him Who heareth in secret,' and 'Whose eyes are over the poor,' just reparation for his wrongs on the town and its inhabitants. "The curse at once took effect. The fish immediately forsook their favourite resort on the bank known as Wille's Mark, from which bank formerly such quantities had been taken that the town and quay had been first built with the produce. From this time the prosperity of Tenby ceased, the trade of the town declined, and the place itself dwindled away, until the last man died who sanctioned this cruel outrage on the deaf and dumb beggar; but, ere this period arrived, the once flourishing town of Tenby had become little more than a mere village. After this the place once more recovered, and forthwith made, and has since continued to make, rapid progress towards regaining its ancient importance.

"It is said that the principal actor in this barbarous tragedy did not escape a particular and well merited retribution; he himself was struck dumb, and continued so during the rest of his life, and a mark was set upon his children by their being deprived of the usual ornament of manhood-a beard! and singular as it may appear, for truth is stranger than fiction,' his descendants, although now in the fourth generation, are devoid of either

beard or whiskers.

6

“The unfortunate victim of this cruelty died from the inhuman treatment he had received; while his curse was so speedily and strikingly fulfilled, that its effects have been a wonder and a marvel from that time until the present day."

The book concludes with a communication, which is well worthy of the attention of geologists, "On the Change of Level in the Country near Tenby." We can highly recommend it.

GLADYS OF HARLECH; OR, THE SACRIFICE. A Romance of Welsh History. By L. M. S. 3 vols. London: C. J. Skeet. 1858. We are sorry that our copy of this much praised work has only just arrived-too late to enable us to review it in the present Number of the Cambrian Journal. We anticipate much pleasure from a perusal of it; and we have no doubt that we shall feel it our duty to recommend it warmly in our next to the notice of our countrymen, and all who admire the romantic land and history of Wales.

LLEUCU LLWYD, YNGHYDA CHANEUON ERAILL. Gan GLASYNYS. Second Edition. Dolgelley: O. Rees. 1858.

Those of our readers who are fond of Welsh poetry, will find some beautiful pieces in this unpretending manual.

SKETCH OF THE EARLY ORIGIN AND PRINCIPAL FEATURES OF CELTIC HISTORY.

(Continued from page 68.)

PRYDAIN the son of Aedd the Great was a prince of the chief branch of the Celta in the west, and I must here add the account of Brude from the Pictish Chronicle, with various derivations, to corroborate the position that, both from character and name, he can be no other than Prydain,' the establisher of order, law, and jurisdiction in the island (in that term comprizing the whole).

The account of Brude and his sons is as follows, from the Pictish Chronicle, he being therein described,— "Cruithne filius Cinge." Cruithne, or corn eaters, was the generic title of the Northern Celt; so we shall observe that Brude, the judge of the Celta, had seven sons, or 1 As the Celtic ancestor, or giver of law. 2 Skene on the Highlands, i. p. 247.

SECOND SERIES, VOL. I.

M