Welsh Journals

Jan. 1, 1890. BtE-GONES. 289 JANUARY 1, 1890. NOTES. BYE-GONE REMINISCENCES OF MACH¬ YNLLETH. Snuff Manufacture.—In 1839,1 heard Mr William Pierce (father of the Revd. Thomas Pierce, of Liverpool, a Welsh Independent minister), a native of Machynlleth, relate that snuff-making was once a trade there, and that he when a boy worked at the snuff business. That would be about the year 1775. William Pierce was at the time he related this about 75 years of age or more. The business had been introduced from Anglesey by an Amlwch firm of snuff makers, but it did not continue many years. The building occupied for the manufacture was in Penrallt-street—the house afterwards used as the National Provincial Bank, just opposite the Old Eagles Hotel. In subsequent years I made enquiries of some old people about this snuff-manufacture, but no one there, I was told, knew or had heard anything about it. This record then, I presume, will be a piece of news to the residents of the ancient Roman-Welsh town of Maglona. In my early recollection of the place, there used to be a goodly number of old snuff-takers in the town. The Amlwch snuff was then a coarse manufacture. Lucifer Matches. — Mr Jarrett, then at the Corner Shop, first introduced lucifer matches for sale in 1834, for which he charged sixpence a box, which was rather less in size than Bryant and May's present penny box. The matches were lit by drawing the end through a piece of folded sand paper, which accompanied each. Previously, the tinder box, with its flint and steel and common brimstone match, were the only household means of getting a light. Postal Arrangements.—I think it was in 1838, the first mail coach ran from Aberystwyth through the town. I recollect the turn out there was to see it. The coach was new, and the horses picked and high-mettled, and their harness all new and bright. Previously letters were conveyed on horseback. Mrs Lewis, the Shop, kept the Post office, assisted by Miss Breese. The post-ride between Aberystwyth and Machynlleth was a very severe one for both man and horse; and I well remember one summer evening, about eight oclock, seeing Thomas Jones, the old postman, and his horse coming to grief at the post office door. The horse stumbled as he was pulled up at the door, coming rather sharply, and the rider with mail saddle bags and parcels went sprawling over the horse's head right into the shop, making an entangled block, and creating no little alarm to those inside, and merriment to the onlookers in the street. He was not much hurt as the poor animal let him down easily, and lay quietly until the stirrups were relieved, and the saddle-bags' ■traps loosed. Letters before the introduction of Vol* I. the penny postage were few in number, and were delivered by the shop apprentice, who carried them about in his apron. The general town delivery was made about8 or 10 hours after thearrival of thepost from Mallwyd with the London letters, which was about 11 o'clock at night. Col. Edwards, M.P., of Greenfields (afterwards Sir John), was^ much besieged, when at home, with applications to frank letters that had a heavy postage to pay ; this consisted in his writing his name and parlia¬ mentary title, and the date on the letter. The present writer, through the Colonel's obliging a^ent, Mr Hugh Morgan,had several thus franked. ° 8 » » T.W.H. QUERIES. THE PRYCES OF NEWTOWN HALL.—I was informed some time ago by a collateral des¬ cendant of the Pryces of Newtown that there is a tradition in the family that the decay and extinc¬ tion of the main line was attributed to the fact that a member thereof slew a priest in a brawl at Newtown. Is there anything known of this tra¬ dition at Newtown, or what member of the family it relates to ? An answer would greatly oblige. Z. FULL OF BLOWS.—Miss Jackson gives this curious expression in her "Shropshire Word Book," as used in the Worthen and Pulverbatch district.apparently amongst the poorer people. But I have heard it used in Oswestry within recent years by men of business. Is it used in other parts of the county ? " Blows," Miss Jackson de¬ fines as " affairs," and " full of blows " as " having many irons in the fire." In Oswestry a man will say " I am in a hurry, I cannot stop, I am full of blows," meaning he is very busy. W.O. A CENTENARIAN.—In the history of the parish of Llanrhaiadr-yn-Mochnant in Montgomery¬ shire Collections, vol. 5, page 319, the following account is given of the Rev. Henry Parry, who was collated vicar by Bishop Parry in 1612. It is stated that he was rector of Llandegla 1597, rector of Llysvaen 1606-13, rector of Castell Caereinion 1616 (by Parry), rector of Manafon 1631-35 (by Owen), vicar of Bettws Cedewain 1666-1699 (by Griffith), rector of Llandderfel 1675-1705, and pre¬ bendary of second portion of Llanvair 1696-1705. He died 1705. Now, if this good gentleman were (as it is fair to suppose) aged at least twenty- three in 1597, he must have been of the age of one hundred and thirty-one at the time of his death. Is this noticed anywhere ? Is there any mistake ? Newo. REPLIES. TELLING THE BEES (Oct. 30, Nov. 13, 27, 1889.)—Another illustration of the way in which old beliefs still linger amongst us occurred not long ago at Middleton. One of the inhabitants died, and no one " told the bees." It was remarked •47