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58 BYE-GONES. Apr. 1, 1891. yet have not been explored. In unravelling the threads of the great legend of their race, Welsh scholars should ever be amongst the foremost. The Chairman (Mr Clodd), in inviting dis¬ cussion, confessed himself staggered with the view set forth by Professor Rhys. Personally he thought that although there was a vast adulteration of the actual in the Arthurian legend, yet the legend itself had crystalized round an actual man and hero.—Dr. Furnivall, after complimenting Mr Nutt on his ex¬ cellent performance, expressed the wish to see all "propounders of nature-myths drowned."—-Lord Powis, in an iconoclastic age, was glad to see the attempts made to preserve and glorify so heroic a figure as that of Arthur.—Mr Stuart Glennie gave his reasons for concluding that Arthur was a North- British king, and that he fought his battles in Southern Scotland.which was then Northern Wales. —Dr. Sommer observed that his coming book on the sources of Malory's " Morte d' Arthur" would trace that work back to its French original.—Mr G. L. Gomme commented on the derivation of the name Arthur, and Dr. Isambard Owen pointed out that the Arthurian legend in the mediaeval romances was more in prose than in verse, and was apparently the work of South Wales writers.—Mr D. Lleuvei Thomas noted the absence of any reference to the Arthurian legend in the Mabinogion proper, and Mr W. F. Kirby instanced a similarity between an Abyssinian legendary description of a modern General and that mentioned by Mr Nutt in reference to Arthur.—Mr Joseph Jacobs observed that the Angevin kings who reigned in Western France had their seats in London, where trouveres from Wales and Brittany might meet, and thus occasion the spreading of the Arthurian legend.—Mr Nutt, in acknowledging the vote of thanks accorded to him, referred again to Professor Rhys's " brilliant and suggestive, but occasionally exasperating, book," as one to be carefully read and studied by all Celtic scholars. APRIL 1, 1891. NOTES. SACHEVEREL AND SELATTYN CHURCH (March 4,1891).—The old family estate'of Sidbury Hall near Bridgnorth is still in possession of the Cresswell family, the present owner being Richard CresswelPs direct descendant, Charles Richard Escourt Cresswell, Esquire. Hubert Smith. THE THELWALLS.—In the old MS. which I mentioned (Oct, 22,1890), Eubule Thelwall signs as a Councillor, on Oct. 21st, 1659, as also does Gabriel Thelwall on March 22nd, 1660; also Ed. Thelwall, May 14, 1663, and Andrew Thel¬ wall, June, 1668. Eubule Thelwall signs as Alderman in August. The tablet in Llanrhydd Church to the memory of the Thelwalls is well known. In the centre, under an arch, surmounted with the shield and arms, are two figures (male and female) of the 17th century, as is evident by their dress; and lower down the tablet is a row of small miniature figures, fourteen in all, ten male and four female. The men are on the left, in a row, separated from the women by a kind of altar or reading desk, and all face the desk. The names are—Peter, Ambrose, Bevis, Simon, Theo, Eubule, Richard, Robert, Edward, John, Katherine, Lowrie, Gwen, and Ann. There is another tablet to the memory of " Ambrose Thel¬ wall, yeoman of ye Robes to Prince Charles," who died Aug. 5, 1653 ; also John Thelwall, who died March 25, 1664, and whose wife died three years previously ; also to John Thelwall, fifth of that name, of Bathafarn Park, who died in 1675. Cyffin. QUERIES. RUNNER.—Is the word " runner," applied to a bodkin or tape-needle, local ? If so, in what county is it used ? Emma Elizabeth Thoyts. EPITAPH NEAR OSWESTRY.—Among some old papers the following epitaph was found, marked as being in a churchyard, " near Oswestry." Can any reader of Bye-Gones give the name of the churchyard ?— , R.E.D. Shrewsbury. In crossing o'er the fatal spot, John Morgan he was slain, But it was not by mortal hand, But by a railway train. WILLIAM VINCENT MOORHOUSE.—I have lately picked up a small volume of poetry by this writer, published at Wellington, Salop (Houl- ston and Son), in 1828, under the title, " The Thrasher and other Poems." In his address to the subscribers (over 1,500 copies were subscribed for) the author says, " I was deprived in the year 1816 of a hand by the bursting of a gun, and was thus prevented from procuring my bread by any laborious employment, while my partiality to poetry has led me to hope that the cultivation of a small poetical genius might at the same time amuse me and, through the kindness of friends, contribute to my support." This is dated " Repton, September, 1828." The author was in his 20th year when the accident above referred to took place. Will some reader of Bye-Gones give some further account of the author ? The poetry is very commonplace and mediocre in character. R.W. REPLIES. PRIVATE BANKS IN WALES (March 18, 1891).—I remember a private bank at Newtown. I believe the office was next door to Messrs Phillips and Son, stationers. I am not sure, but I think it was called " Tilsley and Jones's Bank." I believe it stopped payment, but the liabilities were paid in full. I should say it is nearly if not quite sixty years ago since the bank was closed. A Newtonian. ABERHAFESP(Feb. 11,1891.)—I am not aware of any earlier authority than the Taxatio of 1291