mother's womb; man's physical perfection only takes place between twenty and thirty, and his moral completion from thirty to forty. Institutions must have ages to produce all their fruit; witness Christianity, the effects of which are not yet accomplished, notwithstanding eighteen centuries of existence."

The question whether the Welsh language should be perpetuated, or that means should be adopted to produce its rapid decline and death, deserves the grave consideration of all that are concerned in the welfare of the principality. Who does not see that, in point of knowledge, the introduction of English, into general use in Wales, would enable a man to become acquainted with the best kind of books in infinite variety, and that mechanics and labourers would have almost the wide world before them, to which they might go in quest of employment, if a deficiency should occur at home? The consequence of doing away with the Welsh language would be, that the nation would, become amalgamated with the English, and would form one people, distinguishable only by the names of the two countries.

On the other hand, it is a question of importance whether the extinction of our language be practicable, and, if practicable, whether, upon the whole, such a thing would be beneficial. It must be allowed that it is a most ancient language, and possessed of considerable power of expression. If it is deficient of much that is good, on literary subjects, it is likewise exempt from nearly all that tends to corrupt the mind. The most objectionable part of the mental food administered to the common people appears to be contained in some of the monthly periodicals, which are conducted in a very unfair and scurrilous manner. But infidelity and popery, two of the greatest foes of human nature, have found it difficult to penetrate among our hills. There is, throughout the country, an

ardent, even an enthusiastic attachment to our native tongue.

Since I commenced writing this Essay, I have asked the

opinion of a great number of my friends on the point under consideration, and no one has given the least encouragement to the idea of extinguishing the language. A gentleman, who is in respectable circumstances in society, declared that he would resist such an attempt even to the last drop of blood in his veins. One of the toasts always proposed, at anniversary dinners of Welsh societies is, 'The age of the world to the Welsh language.' The prophecy of Taliesin has had very great power in continuing the determination to give it perpetuity, and he is considered to have spoken almost under the influence of inspiration. His words are to the following purpose:

"EU NER A VOLANT;

EU HIAITH A GADWANT;

EU TIR A GOLLANT,

OND GWYLLT WALIA."

Latin version by Dr. Davies.

Usque laudabunt Dominum creantem;

Usque servabunt idioma linguæ ;

Arvaque amittent sua cuncta, præter

Wallica rura.

English version by the Rev. J. Walters.

Still shall they chant their great Creator's praise;
Still, still, retain their language and their lays;
But nought preserve of all their wide domains,
Save Wallia's wild, uncultivated, plains.

On the whole I am inclined to the opinion that the extinction of the language is impracticable; consequently, the discouragement of it must be both impolitic and wicked. Another thing I may say, in favour of cultivating the Welsh is, that the progress of the English will by no means be impeded by so doing; and the reason seems to be that an acquaintance with the scanty literature of Wales gives a taste for knowledge, but does not satisfy the cravings of the mind. A desire for more is excited, and our rising population strive to acquire a knowledge of the English, that they may drink

from the abundant streams which flow in that language. Facts bear me out in this statement. Never has the Welsh language been more encouraged than during the last twenty-five years, and never, in the same compass of time, has the English spread itself so much over the principality.

How very desirable it is to see innocent recreations introduced among the people in general! Greatly is it to be lamented that many teachers of religion, possessed of more zeal than knowledge, have kept up a regular thunder against almost all innocent amusements, and have succeeded in creating a prejudice against them, and banishing them from use in society. For my part I am very anxious to see instrumental music restored to a respectable position, and becoming generally cultivated. I plead for no abuse, but for the rational use, of various instruments. The following remarks by Dr. Channing will illustrate my own views and ably defend them:

"In every community there must be pleasures, relaxations, and means of agreeable excitement, and if innocent ones are not furnished, resort will be had to criminal. Man was made to enjoy, as well as to labour; and the state of society should be adapted to this principle of human nature. France, especially before the Revolution, has been represented as a singularly temperate country; a fact to be explained, at least in part, by the constitutional cheerfulness of that people, and by the prevalence of simple and innocent gratifications, especially among the peasantry. Men drink to excess very often to shake off depression, or to satisfy the restless thirst for agreeable excitement; and these motives are excluded in a cheerful community. A gloomy state of society, in which there are few innocent recreations, may be expected to abound in drunkenness, if opportunities are afforded, The savage drinks to excess because his hours of sobriety are dull and unvaried, because, in losing the consciousness of his condition and his existence, he loses little which he wishes to retain. The labouring classes are most exposed to intempe

Public

rance, because they have at present few other pleasurable excitements. A man who, after toil, has resources of blameless recreation, is less tempted than other men to seek selfoblivion. He has too many of the pleasures of a man to take up with those of a brute. Thus the encouragement of simple innocent enjoyments is an important means of temperance. These remarks show the importance of encouraging the efforts which have commenced among us, for spreading the accomplishment of music through our whole community. amusements, bringing multitudes together to kindle with one emotion, to share the same innocent joy, have a humanizing influence; and among these bonds of society perhaps no one produces so much unmixed good as music. What a fulness of enjoyment has our Creator placed within our reach, by surrounding us with an atmosphere which may be shaped into sweet sounds! And yet this goodness is almost lost upon us, through want of culture of the organ by which this provision is to be enjoyed."

Establishments, on a simple plan, for the training of servants, would be of essential benefit to the lower classes of our people. England has many such establishments, and why may not Wales have a few dispersed over the country? Complaints are made, in all parts of the kingdom, of the troubles experienced by families from inefficient, unfaithful, or disorderly servants. Wales bears an ample share of those troubles. At the same time it is but just to state that, in England, most of the Welsh servants sustain a good character, and are doing well. It is easily accounted for: the most able of them leave their native country, and enter into service in England. The absolute necessity of preserving an irreproachable character, and the pecuniary encouragement afforded to good behaviour there, act as motives with them to do all they can to give satisfaction to their employers. In gentlemen's families in the principality also some very excellent servants are to be found. But how frequently it happens that an English house

keeper is appointed to superintend the Welsh servants, owing to their own incapacity. A remedy for this and other serious grievances would be found in establishments for the training of young people, of both sexes, to habits of industry and cleanliness, as well as to a careful performance of their duties. Plans of such institutions have already appeared before the public. The good which society in general, and young people in particular, might derive from them, would amply repay for the expense and trouble.

Friendly Societies, though in a prosperous condition in many parts of Wales, have not yet been encouraged to the extent they deserve, or joined by so large a portion of the working classes as from their merit might have been expected. There ought to be no labourer or mechanic unconnected with a Friendly Society. He that neglects this prudential duty is guilty of great, if not criminal indifference, and may well be suspected of a want of due reflection, in regard to the fortuitous circumstances by which human life is encompassed, and the frail tenure by which it is held.

But of all the establishments which might be devised, having a tendency to improve and benefit the community, the writer can think of none that is more wanted, or that would be of greater service, than a REFORM ASYLUM for those classes of intemperate characters, who corrupt society by bad example, and ruin their families by prodigality. This would be a new thing, it must be confessed, at least in our country; but the only surprise is that it was not thought of and established many centuries ago. I have already given short sketches of characters that would have been most fit inmates of such an institution. Thousands might be found in Wales, who would derive most important advantages from confinement in such a place. As to the restrictions which it would impose on the liberty of the subject, I maintain that no man who corrupts society by his example, and who, at the same time, ruins many members of it, by wasting the substance which