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MANUSCRIPTS

OF

THE REV. EDWARD LLWYD.

It is, we believe, generally known to the readers of Welsh literature, that the Rev. Edward Llwyd, the celebrated author of the ARCHEOLOGIA BRITANNICA, had formed a valuable and extensive collection of Welsh MSS. These consisted as well of ancient MSS. as of others of his own writing, which had a more immediate reference to the project, he is known to have contemplated, of publishing a second volume of his elaborate work, but which the want of adequate encouragement seems to have prevented him from accomplishing. In some remarks on the present state of Welsh MSS., prefixed to one of the volumes of the Archaiology of Wales, it is mentioned, that Mr. Llwyd "left this collection to Sir John Sebright." This, however, was not strictly the fact; for, it appears from some letters, preserved amongst the Harleian MSS. in the British Museum*, that the collection in question was, in fact, sold to Sir Thomas Sebright, for the benefit of Mr. Llwyd's estate. This took place in the year 1713, four years after Mr. Llwyd's death; and we learn from the same documents, that this sale was not effected until both the University of Oxford and Jesus College had refused to become purchasers, a circumstance which is the more remarkable, as it was well understood at the time that, had Mr. Llwyd's affairs permitted him, it was his intention to bequeath his collection equally between Jesus College and the University. What the motives were that occasioned the rejection of so favourable an opportunity for preserving these valuable remains, it would now, perhaps, be vain to inquire; but, considering the untoward fate to which these MSS. have since been consigned, it has, unfortunately, become a matter of serious regret that the learned bodies alluded to were not actuated, on the occasion, by a more liberal, and, it may be added, a more politic feeling.

It farther appears, from the documents above quoted, that, after the contract with Sir Thomas Sebright had been completed, Lord

* Vol. 3777, p. 11.

Oxford, ignorant of the circumstance, made overtures for the purchase of all these MSS. which, if they had become his property, would, no doubt, have now made a part of the famous Harleian collection. But a singular and mortifying fatality seems to have, altogether, attended Mr. Llwyd's labours in this respect, excluded, as they thus were, successively, from Jesus College, the Bodleian Library, and the British Museum, in either of which depositaries they would have found a secure asylum from the fatal ravages to which they have since been exposed. The MSS., thus bought by Sir Thomas Sebright, were afterwards again sold, and became the property of different purchasers, among whom were the late Mr. Johnes, of Havod, and Sir Watkin Williams Wynn. Such as had fallen to the lot of the former gentleman were consumed in the fire which, unfortunately, destroyed his elegant mansion about fourteen years ago; while most of those, purchased by Sir W. W. Wynn, met, subsequently, with a similar fate, at the house of a person in London, to whom they had been sent for the purpose of being bound. And, we believe, that some such catastrophe has befallen another portion of Mr. Llwyd's collection; but we have no precise remembrance of the particulars, nor are we aware, if any of these ill-fated MSS. remain, excepting the few at Wynnstay, where they are now to be found.

The following "Account" of the MSS. purchased by Sir W. W. Wynn, with the accompanying remarks, cannot fail to be interesting, affording, as it does, the only consolation now left, that of knowing the value of one portion, at least, of the literary treasures thus lost. The "Account" comprises, likewise, it will be seen, some other part of the Wynnstay Collection, unhappily involved in the same calamity; and its interest will be enhanced as having been the work of a gentleman, whose learned labours have endeared his memory to the admirers of Welsh literature. For this reason, as well as for those previously stated, it has been thought that the insertion of the following memorial in these TRANSACTIONS could not be deemed irrelevant to their particular object.-ED. TR.

SOME ACCOUNT of MANUSCRIPTS which lately belonged to the valuable Collection of Sir W. W. WYNN, Bart. and were unfortunately destroyed by the Fire in Covent-Garden.-By the late Rev. PETER ROBERTS.

THE loss of manuscripts is one which, though its more immediate estimation must regard the personal property in them, must also be considered as affecting the public interest, according to their importance to the literature of the country. It is, therefore, with great regret, in both respects, that another loss, similar to the one at Havod, is recorded, which will be deeply felt by all who are interested in the antiquities of Wales or Ireland.

The collection of MSS. at Wynnstay is, undoubtedly, one of

the best in Wales, and particularly as to the number of Welsh MSS.; and it had lately been enriched by a large number from the collection of the celebrated Llwyd, the author of the Archæologia, purchased at the sale of the Seabright MSS. The principal part of this addition, and several of the MSS. of the previous collection, being in want of new binding, it was judged expedient to send them to London for that purpose. The misfortune that has befallen them there has left little more to alleviate the regret for the loss than the power of stating generally what they contained, which is the more to be lamented, as it is well known to have been the intention of their liberal owner to have had some of the most important published, and that he is indulgent in permitting every proper use of his collection.

MANUSCRIPTS LOST.

THE WHITE BOOK OF HERGEST.-This was one, and probably the latest, of two books which bear the name of Hergest. The oldest, called the Red Book of Hergest, is now in the library of Jesus College, Oxford: Both were miscellaneous collections in prose and verse. The White Book was particularly valuable, as containing some old Welsh laws, and particularly a specification of the Charter of Hywel Dda, which was not known to Wotton, and which explains much of the motives and purpose of that prince in his revisal of the Welsh laws. A copy of this is at present in the possession of Sir W. W. Wynn. The remainder consisted of religious tracts, one on heraldry, historical notices, and poems. Most of the latter are still to be found in other collections at Wynnstay.

Four copies of THE LAWS OF HYWEL DDA, whole, or in part. Four copies of GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH'S HISTORY: one in Latin, the remainder, I believe, in Welsh. One of the Welsh copies appeared to have been written about the latter end of the thirteenth, or the beginning of the fourteenth century, at the latest, and was remarkable for the correct orthography of the proper names. In a note at the end, but which was written in a later hand, this copy was said to have been taken from the last copy published by Geoffrey.

A WELSH CHRONICLE.

THE STATUTE OF WESTMINSTER.

AN ESSAY ON The Welsh TriaDS, by Mr. Vaughan, of Hengwrt (the antiquarian).

AN ESSAY ON BLATOS, i. e. on a coin bearing the word Vlatos, which Mr. Vaughan (the above-mentioned) understood to signify the Bleiddyd, or Bladud, of the Welsh history. An impression from this coin is given by Camden.

Eight volumes of Mr. LLWYD'S NOTES, taken in his tour through Wales. The general substance of these notes was given to Bishop Gibson for his edition of Camden.

Eleven volumes of his NOTES, taken on his travels in Ireland, and part of Scotland, marking his progress, and whatever he met with worthy of observation as to local or natural history. In one of these it was mentioned that it was in consequence of his desire that the curious Barrow of Grange, in the county of Louth, was opened; and the description of it was very correct.

Eight volumes of DRAWINGS, taken in these travels of Mr. Llwyd, which appeared to have been taken with great care and

correctness.

It is known that Mr. Llwyd intended to have published a second volume of the Archeologia, which, whether from want of encouragement or from other causes, he never accomplished. It is, however, from an inspection of the above-mentioned MSS. certain, that he had been most assiduous in search of information, and accurate in his inquiries; and there is every reason to believe that the second volume would have added much to that just and acknowledged reputation which he acquired by the first volume.

That no use had been made of these notes, farther than the communications made to Bishop Gibson, is, perhaps, to be attributed to their having been written partly in Welsh as well as in English, and also to the necessity of a competent knowledge to elucidate many particulars, which were simply noticed, and which the author possessed. Singular, indeed, has been the fate of this portion of his labours. Suppressed by himself for want of encouragement to publish them, neglected for a century through ignorance or misconception of their value, and destroyed by accident when they had just come into the possession of one sensible of their value and ready to give them to the world. In such a case it is scarcely possible not to bow the head as in submission to a decree of fate, and leave it so.

The following MSS. from the same collection shared also the same fate.

A large folio volume containing a MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTION, in prose and verse, amongst which was a copy of the MABINO

GION.

Sir HUGH PENNANT'S COLLECTION, the particulars whereof are mentioned in the Archæologia*.

Two volumes 4to. of EXTRACTS relative to Wales; inscriptions, &c.

To what has already been said little need or can be added. It is some satisfaction even to know what has existed, even as a record of genius or industry, of patriotism and liberality, as a stimulus to research, or as the means of appreciating a discovery. Thus far is due to the occasion; and, where regret is unavailing, it is unnecessary to say more.

*Sir Hugh Pennant, who was in the church, lived in the reign of Henry VIII. The collection, here alluded to, was in part written by himself, and appears to have comprised twenty-two volumes or pieces, many of them of considerable value, and not to be now replaced. The particulars may be seen in the Archæologia Britannica, p. 257.-ED. TR.

A

CATALOGUE OF THE MYVYRIAN MSS.

BELONGING TO THE

CYMMRODORION*.

PRELIMINARY REMARKS.

THE printed and manuscript books, known under the denomination of the MYVYRIAN COLLECTION, and which have been purchased by the CYMMRODORION from the representatives of the late owner, Mr. Owen Jones, are, in number, one hundred and fifty volumes, besides a few pamphlets and papers of no great value.

Of printed books there are fifty, and some odd numbers of periodical publications. Of these volumes it was thought useless to form a separate catalogue, as it is one of the leading objects of the Institution to become possessed of all books printed in the Welsh language, or which in any way tend to the illustration of the history of the country; and, when a farther progress is made towards the attainment of such an object, a general catalogue will then become expedient. There are a few of these printed books which are become scarce, and therefore now valuable. Such are the four following ones: the Welsh Bible of 1588, in black letter, folio, being the first that was printed in our language; the quarto Welsh Testament, by W. Salesbury, in black letter,

*The following Catalogue, which has been drawn up by the learned Librarian of the Society, Dr. W. Owen Pughe, comprises the valuable MSS. purchased by the CYMMRODORION from the widow of the late Mr. Owen Jones, whose patriotic attachment to our national literature, in the collection of its remains, has received the well-merited meed of his country's gratitude. It will be seen by the " Preliminary Remarks" that, in addition to the MSS., the collection embraces also some printed volumes of considerable interest.-ED. TR.

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