Welsh Journals

Oct. 26, 1892. BYE-GONES. 427 TREVECCA. Anonymous.......................................... 1770-1800 E. Roberts & Co.................................. 1800-1803 BRECON. E. Evans............................................ 1772-1782 J. Evans............................................. 1784-1794 W. and G. North ................................. 1785-1815 TREFRTW. Dafydd Jones....................................... 1776-1785 Anonymous (probably D. Jones and I. Davies, his son) ................................. 1786-1795 Ishmael Davies .................................... 1796-1817 SWANSEA. D.Evans ............................................. 1781— ? Voss and Morris (J. Voss alone from 1803 to 1812)............................................. 1797-1799 MACHYNLLETH. Titus Evans.......................................... 1787-1793 Edward Prichard................................. 1795-1805 MONMOUTH. Charles Heath .................................... 1793-1829 BARMOUTH. T.Evans ............................................. 1794- ? DOLGELLEY. Thomas Williams ................................. 1795—1807 CARNARVON. Thomas Roberts.................................... 1797-1811 HOLYWELL. E. Carnes............................................. 1798-1826 NEWTOWN. J. Salter ............................................. 1799-1832 This list was appended to some notes on " Printers of Welsh Books " which appeared in the Geninen for October, 1891, and January, 1892 ; but is now slightly corrected. It is suggested in those notes that, in some cases, a father and son of the same name may have carried on the business succes¬ sively at the same place. According to the list, Richard Lathrop printed for 58 years, and Thomas Durston for 65 years, at Shrewsbury ; and John Ross for 58 years at Carmarthen. These seem rather long periods for one man to be in active business ; but certainly within the range of possi¬ bility. (See also Bye-Qones, March 6th,1878). --------- C.A. QUERIES. NUMBER OF HOUSES AND POPULATION OF NEWTOWN A CENTURY AGO.—Is there any means of ascertaining how many houses there were in Newtown a century ago, and what was the population ? Has the population of Newtown de¬ creased these last fifty years ? If so, what were the causes ? Ardennes. TENNYSON IN WALES (Oct. 19, 1892).—It is stated, on Tennyson's own authority, that he wrote part of " In Memoriam " at Barmouth. One stanza is mentioned, but it is hardly likely that he wrote only one there. Can anyone say when, during the years in which " In Memoriam " was written, Tennyson was at Barmouth ? W.O. REPLIES. THE GREEN STONE (Oct. 12, 1892. )-I can only suggest that the explanation of this expression lies in the fact that the Welsh " Glas " means green as well as blue. Thus " Carreg Las " might be interpreted the green stone ; and many of the slabs which mark the resting-places of the dead are of blue slate, Bonwm. WELSH MUSICAL BOOKS (Aug. 24, Oct. 19, 1892).-(a)Thefirstcollection of Welshmusic printed, of which we have any record, is the following :— " Antient British Music ; or a Collection of Tunes, never before published, which are retained by the Cambro-Britons, more particularly in North Wales, and supposed by the learned to be the remains of the music of the antient Druids, so much famed in Roman history ; Part I., containing twenty-four Airs set for the harp, harpsichord, violin, and all within the compass of the German flute, and figured for a thorough-bass. To which is prefixed an historical account of the rise and progress of music among the Antient Britons ; wherein the errors of Dr. Powel and his editor, Mr Wynne, on that subject in their history of Wales, are pointed out and confuted, and the whole set in its true and proper light. London : Printed for and sold by the compilers, John Parry, at his house in Jermyn Street, near St. James's Market; and Evan Wil¬ liams, at Mr Mickleborough's, in New Bond Street, near Union-street ; and are to be had at the Music Shops. MDCCXLII." This John Parry was the " Blind Parry " of Ruabon, and harpist to Sir Watkin Williams Wynn (1). Evan Williams, otherwise known as Ifan William, is also stated to have been a harpist. Some of his tunes (sacred ones) are still extant. A " Book of Psalmody, by Joseph Williams, who teacheth the same," was published in the early part of the same century, the 3rd edition being dated 1727; but there is no evidence that this Joseph Williams was a Welshman. Forming an introduction to the book was " The scale of music, called the Gamut," in accordance with the habit that prevailed at that period. The same remark as to nationality applies to similar collections published in 1762 and 1776 by Aaron Williams, in 1785 by John Jones, Organist of St. Paul's, London, in 1796 by Geo: Ebenezer Williams, in 1789-90 by Thomas Williams, and in 1789 by the Rev. William Jones of Nay land (2). The first collection of Welsh Psalmody, properly speaking, was " The Praise of the Lord, viz., a collection of portions of the Psalms and Hymns, in vocal responses (sic), and some verses, (1) Gray write3 thus of his visit to Cambridge (Works, by Gosse, ed. 1884, ii., 312): " Mr Parry has been here, and scratched out such ravishing blind harmony, such tunes of a thousand years old, with names enough to choke you, as have set all this learned body a dancing, and inspired them with due reverence for Odikle [Gray's nickname for "The Bard'] whenever it shall appear. Mr Parry (you must know) it was that has put Odikle in motion again." This John Parry died in 1782, and was the father of John Parry, (2) W. Jones was Perpetual Curate of Nayland in Suffolk, and Rector of Paston and Hollingborn. Nayland is also the old name of New Milford, or rather the place where New Milford was built. -E. P.