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The statements made, and the facts recorded in the Essay, are almost entirely the result of my individual observation; therefore when persons are mentioned by name, with commendation, it is not to be inferred that they are the only useful individuals in their respective neighbourhoods, but not being sufficiently acquainted with the merits of others, I could not venture to characterize them. I very much wished to insert a sketch of the late H. Griffith, Esq., of Gareg Lwyd, in this county, but not being in possession of the materials necessary to do justice to so excellent a man I was unable to gratify my inclination.

The Welsh part is not a literal rendering of the English. In some places the translation is rather close; but it has been my endeavour to vary it as much as was compatible with propriety, so that those courteous readers, who may honour both the English and the Welsh with a perusal, may find some things in the latter to interest them, which are not inserted in the former; at the same time I must say that the composition, in its essential features, is the same in both languages.

This Essay is published in three forms:

In the English and Welsh languages. Also in English only.

And lastly in the Welsh language alone.

CONTENTS.

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THE LITERARY CHARACTER OF THE NATION. Eisteddvodau. T. Price.
Professor Rees. Poetry. The poets of the present age-those who have
of late years died. Dr. Pughe. Edward Williams. Blackwell. John
Howells. R. Davies. Thomas Lloyd Jones. D. Thomas. Rhys Jones.

Davies, Castle Hywel. Jones of Denbigh. Thomas Jones. Gwilym
Morganwg. David Richards. The living poets. Walter Davies. R.
Williams. David Owen. Peter Jones. Edward Hughes. Daniel Evans.
Owen Williams. W. E. Jones. John Jones. Evan Evans. W. Wil-
liams. Ebenezer Thomas. D. James. W. Rees. Richard Jones. D.
Griffith. Taliesin Willianis. W. Edwards. G. W. Edwards. J. Wil-

liams. Morris Williams. John Williams, &c. &c. Sacred Poetry.
General literature. Eliezer Williams. Joseph Davies. .

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AN ESSAY

ON

THE CHARACTER OF THE WELSH

AS A NATION,

IN THE PRESENT AGE.

MANKIND are in every point of view, an interesting subject of investigation, and philosophers have, in all ages, devoted their powers to study their nature and properties. Our business at present is of a humbler kind. It is not to inquire what faculties man, in the abstract, does possess, but to investigate and describe those traits of character which distinguish, in some measure, one particular nation from the rest of the world. The subject is not without its difficulties. A nation being composed of individuals, each individual has a peculiarity of character which does not enter into that of the nation. Again there are some features common to whole classes, which nevertheless can hardly be considered as national. The same exception must be made in regard to many of the prevailing customs and habits of a people. It is to such as assume a more general aspect that we propose to direct attention in the ensuing pages.

The Society in proposing this subject for discussion, cannot possibly have expected that the competitors would write elaborate essays merely in praise of the inhabitants of Wales. may be that the love of country has misled various authors, poets as well as writers in prose, to dwell in fulsome strains

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