Welsh Journals

Jan. 1, 18 96. BYE-GONES. 249 JANUARY 1, 1896. NOTES. EBEN VARDD'SDIARY, 1843—46. Continued (Dec. 26, 1894.) Dec. 2, [1843] went to Carnarvon, got on the top of the Mail a little beyond Qlyn. Pd. la it waa a dirty day thia morning after the fair. I applied to Mr O. Jonea for two quartera' Salary due for the School at Clynnog—he appeared very courteoua, and talked a long while about many thinge; he enquired if I waa not on good terma with Mr. Hughea. I said I waa not as usual, but that I waa not angry with bim though I had given him up as a friend never more to have any thing to do with him except on business.blamed him lor his want of dignity as a Magiatrate and a Gentleman, for noticing old women's stories and gossipping about the village; &c. O. J. seemed concurring, he asked me if I was giving up the School, I replied I was giving it up at Church as the place waa unfit to keep it. He paid me £4 the last paymt., I suppose after 16 years service. Paid Mr Thomas. Grocer, Hobley, & P. Ellis. Bought some Beef, Clogs for Mary, Raisins, &c. Went to the Bank to pay the Collection of the Bible Society for 3 Districts of Clynnog Parish, the amount was £4 18s 6id, con¬ sisting of 3 sovs. and a half, the rest silver & 1 halfpeny—two of the sovs. were light and the Clerk deducted the 6^d from the above amount in consideration of short weight in gold. He did not take the statement for inserting in the Report, I must furnish the Secretaries with a copy again— called on business at the Bulkeley Arms, shook hands with Wm Jones very cordially. C. Jones was a little more stiff but on my giving my hand she joined, but seemed not so cordial as her husband. Reached home abt. 5 p.m. without having drunk a drop of any intoxicating liquor, and indeed I never felt more solidly strong and comfortable. After coming home I went to Sportsman to deliver a gown.I had brought for Betsey there. I took 2 £ P. of A. and brought home 1 G. of R. in a B. I am sorry I have done so, for I needed not, but I was stunned a little by the enemy after a long Battle throughout the day. I will not by the grace of God again. Deer. 26—Christmas passed oft without any singing in Church, but a dreadful row occurred immediately under the Bedroom window of the Vicar abt. 11 at night and those concerned in the fray were young men whose plausible excuse for coming to the village at all was the Church celebration of the feast of Our Saviour's Birth &c. ! Having been for years wishful for some Christian mode of uniting the Church in love and concord which is now divided into so many sects and parties to the great detriment of the cause of the gospel I have at last touched upon a most perfect mode and plan, developed in the writings of the Brethren called by the world " the Plymouth Brethren" whose views as exhibited in their temperate and most Christian writings I am greatly taken up with. January 4, 1844. Thank God for his Mercy towards me Sinner in VpL. IV. New Series [being Vol. 13th from the beginning] the extension of my own and my family's lives, in favoring us with all spiritual blessings and temporal privileges. May his mercy endure for ever towards us all for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen. Feby. 8th, a remarkable manifestation of God a Providence occurred. I had resolved to go to London to learn the British School Society's plan of teaching. A Committee was organised for pro¬ moting the School cause in the lower part of Clynnog for the exercise of my calling, but very little encouragement and patronage of any per¬ manence appeared to ensure a fixed and com¬ petent salary. Still I had nothing to do but to venture forward and throw away some £20 in expenses and leaving my family for half a year in order to qualify myself even __ for this poor situation and uncertain salary, but in the midst of this cheerless prospoct lo !the wise and bountiful hand of Providence opening a door of patronage as gratifying as it was unexpected. A letter was received by me the previous evening from my kind friend Mr W. Bron Eryri, offering me the Pwllheli School at once, which offer I have this day thank¬ fully accepted at Bron Eryri, whither I had gone at his request to agree on the terms upon which the school was to be had. Sir Love Parry, who was there and shook hands with me most cordially, was very friendly in my behalf on this occasion, so was Mr Mostyn too. The school is an endow¬ ment of no less than £50 yearly value in the gift of the last mentioned gentleman. The 8ecret wheels of Providence had been turning to produce this result for some weeks unknown to me—O ! the wonderful and gracious mercy and goodness of God towards me, I was lost in adoration, admira¬ tion and gratitude on the receipt of the welcome intelligence. May God cause the whole to work for my good. Febr. 16. The Ploughing Match came off at Clynnog, I have been very busy this week measur¬ ing land and allotting it in 3rds of an acre ready for Ploughing on this day. At night I was invited to Plas to report the Dinner Proceedings, &c.; had a Dinner Ticket myself; great numbers attended and a lively business was made of it. February 17,1844, in consequence of receiving a letter from Mr D. Williams, Bron Eryri, request¬ ing me to meet him at Pwllheli this evening, I went there, and about 5 o'clock he too arrived. About 6 I had an interview with him, and he and his Brother Dr Williams showed me the Troedy- rallt School and the Premises. After inspecting the House and the Schoolroom and planning some new buildings, we went together to his Brother's Castle, and in the Parlour he gave orders to the Dr.'s Housekeeper to bring in the Keys of the House and Schoolroom, which he did, and Mr Williams presented them successively to me, I taking them from his hand in the presence of his Brother and the Horsekeeper, the latter having been requested to stay there and act as a witness on the occasion. Thus I was fully put in possession and my appointment was recorded on paper, which Mr Williams signed and delivered to my custody. Started home 7 o'clock after taking 3 small glasses of Port. The night was very dark and it rained all the way home. 32