David William Bibliography

In 1821 he accompanied his father to Aberdare and afterwards settled in the neighbourhood of Abernant. For two or three years young Williams and his father were occupied as sawyers at the works, and having thrown up the saw, the former was subsequently engaged for several years as a haulier, his wages amounted to nine shillings per week, but from being a servant to others, he soon grew to be his own master.

His first attempt at coal mining was at Ynyscynon in 1843, and this venture was not a pit, but a short drift, for purpose of intersecting the Four Feet Seam. There was some difficulty at first, and Lewis retired; but Mr Williams persevered and eventually won coal. To how few the same remark may be applied: that the friendships he had formed in the time of his adversity he preserved in all their pristine vigour throughout the riper years of his prosperity. Many a man who had plied the mandrill, side by side with him could claim him as a close friend to the hour of his death.

The landowner offered to lease the land at £600 a year dead rent, and nine-pence per ton royalty. On the other Mr Williams offered to pay £800 per annum dead rent, if the landlord would reduce he royalty to eight-pence per ton. This was conceded after some discussion, and when the large annual output of this colliery is recalled, it will be at once seen how large a sum was gained by this arrangement.

Before he was forty years of age, Alaw Goch was recognised as a leading authority in mining, and was called upon to superintend the sinking and opening of deep pits in the valley. He had a fine physique and was a hard worker.

The sinking of Deep Duffryn Colliery was a costly one, for it must be remember that in those early days there were no diamond drills, or dynamite and other special explosives. The pumping and winding machinery also was of a very primitive character. Mr W.S. Clarke, agent of the Bute Estate, rendered valuable service during the sinking operations by introducing rubbing in order to keep the water back. Mr Williams vowed that some of the sinking cost him a guinea an inch, a number of friends assisted him, including, among others, Mr George Insole. At last, after great trouble, the coal was reached, and was worked at first by the old method of pillar and stall. The daily output under Mr Williams was 130 to 150 tons, which was then considered good. As recorded in the sketch of Mr John Nixon, this output was soon multiplied a dozen times. Mr Williams, however, the question of ventilating Deep Duffryn was too great a problem and as a result David Williams sold the colliery. Leaving Mountain Ash, he again tried sinking a pit in Cwmdare, which he sold to a firm including Mr Rhys of Llwydcoed, Mr G. Martin, Mr Jenkin Rhys, and Mr Richards.

This pit subsequently became the property of Messrs Brogden, and then passed into other hands. It is now worked I believe, in connection with the Bwllfa Dare Colliery. He then open pits in the Rhondda and had villages named after him – Williamstown and Trealaw.

Crawshay Bailey, Esq., after sinking his pit 126 yards deep, on last Saturday night week, struck the coal (at Aberaman,) generally termed the Four Feet Vein, which proved Jo be 5 feet 9 inches thick, and of the best quality. We understand that on the day Mr Bailey ascertained the thickness of the coal, he presented his agent, Mr D. Williams, Ynyscynon, with the sum of £100 for his faithfulness in superintending his works at Aberaman. On the Saturday evening following, at the Swan Inn, he gave a good supper and half a gallon of “ceffyl gwyn” to everyone connected with his Aberaman works.

The whole number that supped was 137. The entertainment was excellently made up of the best mutton and roast beef.

After the cloth was removed, Mr D. Williams addressed the company as follows :—” My dear friends, I hope I can call you all friends, I hope that we will, of one heart, return our most sincere thanks to Mr Bailey for his handsome treat and present of to-night. Of course we will not thank him personally all of us; but we will thank him-firstly, by conducting ourselves well, and secondly, by being faithful in his employment. I can assure you, my friends that I feel it a great honour to be under such a gentleman as Mr. Bailey. There are some that have wealth, but no spirit for speculation others have a sufficiency of such spirit, but no wealth but our present honourable master has Loth; and I have no hesitation in saying that he will be the life of Aberdare, and a blessing to the whole neighbourhood.

“Then Mr D. Williams proposed the health of Mr Bailey and his family, which was drank with “three times three” by the whole company; after which Mr. James Lewis rose and said that he was of the same opinion as Mr. Williams, that there was not such another master to be found as Mr. Bailey; and that he would assure them that Mr Bailey would make bar iron at Aberaman in a shorter time than a great many were aware of Mr Lewis proceeded to propose the health of Mr D. Williams, assuring all present that he never knew a more upright and straightforward man than Mr Williams, that he never had a dispute with him in his life, and thought he never would. Mr. Williams’s health was then drank by the whole company after which he (Mr Williams) rose and after thanking Mr. Lewis for his high opinion of him, addressed his Welsh friends in poetry as follows: (Shorten version)

As a coal pioneer Mr David Williams met with only ordinary success, but it was a great Welshman that he will best remembered. He had a great liking for bards, and preferred few things better in life than to preside at an eisteddfod. In this position, or as chairman over other matters, his facility in rhyming, in telling a good story or indulging in playful humour made him a special favourite with the multitude. He had a sunny side to his character and he was always ready to help an eisteddfod either with his money or by his genial presence. Another good feature of his character was his homeliness. He knew every one of his workmen, and called them by name, and knew their families and their ailments. In those days there was not much distance between employers and employed. The link was a human one, of kindred sympathies, and when any trouble arose it was settled between owner and workman on the spot. He was owner of many local papers in Aberdare such as the Cambrian Daily and “Y Gwladgarwr” a Welsh paper in which he encouraged local poets to publish their poetry in the paper. The “Cambrian Daily Leader”, was then published by the Swansea Press Ltd., Swansea. Mr. Williams and his late father expended about £12,000 in establishing the Cambrian Daily Leader, which for many years espoused Liberal principles in the Principality.

Owing to gross mismanagement the paper became defunct, after Mr. Williams had transferred it to other hands, in consequence of the serious expense it entailed on him. The Liberal party in Swansea, after the removal of the offices of the Leader from Cardiff, allowed it to expire from a fit of impecuniosity.

He excelled as a poet and Welsh litterateur, and this gave him a commanding influence over the ordinary working class, and a status amongst the gentry who owned the industries in the earlier days. He had patronage if the Bruce’s of Dyffryn, the Fothergill’s of Abernant, and his ability and character won the confidence and respect of that great industrialist Crawshay Bailey, Aberaman.

He took a leading part in the protest against the report on conditions in Aberdare as given by the vicar in the Blue Book of 1847. He presided over most of the public meeting held in the town in those early years. He took position as a Poor Law Guardian, a member of the old Highway Board; a director of the Gas Co.; a member of the Local Board of Health; and equally ready with any other movement that contemplated the good of Aberdare.

David Williams was chairman of the first British school established in the district (1849) (the Park School), and bequeathed £100 to that school in his Will. He was elected member of the first Board of Health established in Aberdare, and was chief patron of the Eisteddfodau of the Carw Coch in the 1850’s. David Williams took great interest in public schools and the education of the masses. Besides schools in Glamorgan he contributed to schools in Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, and other places, received his countenance and support.

The list of the famous who have stayed at Miskin included the late Duke of Windsor, who, as Prince of Wales, slept there in 1923 at the time of his celebrated ‘Something must be done” visit to the South Wales mining communities.

Mr L. W. Lewis, Llew Llwyfo, delivered an appropriate speech on the occasion, after which a procession was formed, and preceded by the band they walked to the tent, which had been prepared in a field at Heol y Felin, belonging to Mr William Williams, Stag Inn (Y Carw Coch).

The audience wore an exceedingly dull aspect for more than an hour, and everyone thought it would be a very flat affair; however, the worthy and respected chairman was at last announced, and entered amidst the most rapturous applause, in the meantime the meeting was kept alive by another speech in Llew Llwyfo’s usually excellent style and a few tunes on the Welsh harp; after which David Williams, Esq Ynys Cynon, (Alaw Goch), proposed that the Rev. D. James, take the chair, was seconded by Thomas Joseph, Esq.

An address to the Chairman was then read by the Secretary, and was responded to in a most eloquent style. The Chairman’s speech drew forth the most enthusiastic applause, at the conclusion of which the following bards addressed the meeting and recited Welsh stanzas, viz., Gwilym Teilo, Eiddil Glan Cynon, Cynonwyson, Alaw Goch, G. ab Ioan, Ieuan Wyn, Dewi Wyn o Essyllt.

The two o’clock meeting

Bardd Clydach recited a story between the Idler’s Wife and the Hawker in a most humorous manner; Llwyfo sung with the harp, and Mr Thomas Llewelyn played a Welsh air on the triple harp. Then the adjudication of the prizes was resumed.

Picture courtesy of RCTCBC

John Roberts, Esq., opened the proceedings in a pithy and appropriate speech after which the Chairman proceeded to award the remainder of the numerous prizes.

In conclusion, the Chairman said that the object of such meetings was to cultivate the Welsh language by offering prizes for the best essays, odes, stanzas, &e., upon certain subjects previously announced and published in the Welsh periodicals, by which a spirit of emulation was promoted among the literati of Wales. He was happy to tell them that their efforts upon this occasion had not been in vain, as the adjudicators said that many of the compositions received from the competitors were of a very high character, manifestly evincing that a great amount of labour, time, and talent had been employed upon the different productions.

The meeting then terminated.—On the following day a great many were admitted to the orders of bards and ivorite by Mr Jonathan Reynolds, (Nathan Dyfed), Mr David Evans, auctioneer, (Dewi Haran), and the veteran Mr Thomas Williams, (Cilfynydd), boll  yn feirdd yn ôl braint a defod Gwent a Morganwg.

Therefore off went Gwilym Mai and I with the train and we had the pleasure of leaving our kind Gwilym Tawe behind at the mercy of the boys in blue until the morning.  I therefore arrived home before three o’clock (in the afternoon) and I was more or less doubting myself.  I left Gwilym Mai in Merthyr.  I haven’t heard whether he is dead or alive; but I heard, through Aneurin Fardd, that he saw Gwilym Tawe alive, in Shrewsbury, the following morning.  Good lad.  That’s what it is to be ‘weather proof’, isn’t it?

But now for a few verses of poetry-unless the inspiration has been completely chilled.

The time will soon arrive when this much- looked for gathering will take place. Hirwain Wrgant will be visited in August next by men who have never before put foot on Aberdare soil, and by men also of whom Gwalia may well be proud. The Eisteddfod is a very ancient Welsh Institution, and has fallen down to us in a very different state to what it was some centuries ago.

Although, as first held, it was a credit to its originators or founders, yet, we can look back to a period when Eisteddfod gatherings were a disgrace to the then civilized state of society. The games that were carried on in connection with it, and the drunkenness they gave rise to, exercised a very demoralizing influence upon the literati and their admirers. We have, however, a better state of things in our days. The standard of Eisteddfodau has been and is being raised, and we hope their generous supporters will ever continue to work in this direction.

The friends at Aberdare have worked admirably, and are coming out in their preparations for the Eisteddfod in a manner worthy of Welshmen even. Everybody knows what a Welshman can do in his country’s cause, and we are glad that we are going to have another proof of his ability in this way in the month of August next. We are informed by D. Williams, Esq, {Alaw Goch,) that purses of every description, and of very costly material, have been forwarded by ladies of high standing in England and Wales. A purse from London has been the subject of special remark, and we hope to have the pleasure of a glance at it when suspended from the neck of the winner of the chair in our next National Eisteddfod. We trust our friends will now go ahead with their preparations against the influx of Bards and Philosophers, amongst whom we hope to see Gwilym Hiraethog, Eben Fardd, Emrys, Caledfryn, Islwyn, and hundreds more.

Presentation of the Medals Awarded at the National Eisteddfod of 1861. 23rd November 1861

On Tuesday evening last, a number of gentlemen, many of whom had taken an active part in carrying out matters connected with the recent National Eisteddfod held in our town, assembled at the Stag Hotel, Mill Street, for the purpose of presenting the successful competitors with the medals won at the Eisteddfod, which, it will be recollected, were not handed over to .them at that time, but retained in order to have the names, &c., engraved upon them. This event was celebrated by a supper, which was provided in a manner that reflected the highest credit upon the host, Mr W. Williams, (Carw Coch,) who has always taken a prominent part in the promotion of Eisteddfodau, and proved himself a true friend to “Cymru, Cymro, a Cymraeg.” The cloth having been removed, Mr Abel Seth Jones proposed, and Mr T.H. Evans seconded, that D. Williams, Esq, of Ynyscynon, should take the chair, which he accordingly did amidst loud cheering. Mr T. H. Evans was afterwards voted to the vice-chair. Mr Williams said he felt sorry he had been called upon to preside, as he was then suffering from indisposition, but under the circumstances he expressed his readiness to do his best. He was glad to see so many present on the occasion, and thanked them for their attendance. He was sorry time would not permit him to give a history of the late Eisteddfod, but would lay before them a few particulars with reference to their financial condition.

He had distributed 97 collecting books only 40 of which had been returned, some of them without any subscriptions entered, and in some cases, owing to the senders having enclosed private notes, he had to pay the postage. The sum collected from this source amounted to £80 8s. He then alluded to the accident that befell their tent, which had cost them something like £255. Had this accident not occurred they would have been in a position to hand over a large sum to the committee of the forthcoming Eisteddfod. The total amount paid out was £995 17s. 10d, and the amount received was £879 12s. 10d. At one time he expected they would have lost £500 through the destruction of the tent; but rather than disappoint the public he would have expended £1000 (Cheers), but after all he was glad to find that their loss was only £100 or so.

The chairman then remarked that the Prince of Wales would become of age next year, and if they were only to be unanimous they might prevail upon him to preside at one of the Eisteddfod meetings, or at least to become a patron. The president further announced that, owing to the compositions sent in on the poem on Neath Abbey having been mislaid, they were consequently not adjudicated upon at the Eisteddfod, but during the evening, Mr Aneurin Jones, (Aneurin Fardd,) would read his adjudication upon them.

The chairman called upon Aneurin Fardd, who proceeded to give his adjudication on the contributions of the competitors for the 5 guineas offered for the best Cywydd ar Fynachlog Nedd. Mr Aneurin Jones stated that four compositions on this subject had been put in his hands, but he regretted that neither of them merited the prize. He therefore recommended that the matter should remain open to competition until the Eisteddfod of 1862. The adjudicator explained with some minuteness the deficiencies which characterised the productions referred to, and expressed his sorrow at being obliged to disappoint the writer.

The chairman said they had received an offer from North Wales for the contributions and he should be glad to hear any suggestions as to what had better be done.

Mr Price observed that that was a matter which had better be submitted to the Local Committee, and after some further discussion it was proposed by Mr Philip John, and seconded by the Rev Thomas Price, “That a committee be held on the following morning, at 11 o’clock. This was subsequently carried out. At this point Mr Price stated a few friends had determined to present D. Williams, Esq, (Alaw Goch,) with a gold medal and a suitable address, as a mark of respect for the great interest he has taken in the affairs of Yr Eisteddfod. Several influential gentlemen had intimated a desire to be present on the occasion of this presentation, and he a felt pleasure in informing them that a public meeting would be held in the Temperance Hall, early in the New Year, for the purpose of carrying out their intentions.

Mr Williams remarked that this was quite unexpected on his part, and, he feared, quite un-deserved. (No, no.) After this the proceedings of the evening partook of a new character. The well-known harpist Mr Thomas Lewis, played a variety of beautiful Welsh airs, and Gwilym ab loan also delighted the company by his excellent singing. Mr Abel S. Jones contributed his quota to the harmony of the evening, by singing with his wonted fullness of voice, “I am a Friar of orders Grey.”

Upon the motion of the Rev. Thomas Price, seconded by Mr William Williams (Carw Coch), the Rev. John Griffiths, rector of Neath, was called to the chair. After the performance of a waltz by the band, the chairman opened the proceedings in a good practical speech. He thought that, considering the facts that they had met in a Welsh town, and to do honour to a thorough Welsh-man, it would be more prudent to conduct the proceedings in English than Welsh. Indeed, only in the morning he had received a letter from the “Gohebydd y Faner”, giving him positive instructions on that point!
He also knew that complaints loud and frequent had been made that too much English was spoken at the recent Eisteddfod, and too much English and Welsh They had met to night to do honour to a patriot who was a hearty supporter of “Cymru, Cymry, a Cymraeg.” He and other friends had come there from a distance not so much to speak of him as a man, but as a patriot. They had also come to thank him for what he had done towards the Eisteddfodau. He thought if a man were not a patriot he could not be a good man at all. As they were speaking of Mr Williams in connection with Eisteddfodau and bardic literature, he thought it would be better to drop the “Mr Williams” for the evening, and call him, “Alaw Goch.” (Cheers.) The chairman then went on to speak of Eisteddfodau, their antiquity, and benefits. Some had said that Eisteddfodau had been in existence long before Noah knocked the first nail in the ark, but as all these matters were much disputed he would content himself by simply mentioning them, and would restrain from committing himself to an opinion. No doubt Eisteddfodau had done much good, and were destined to do still more good. Some time ago, at the Llangollen Eisteddfod, a committee was formed for the purpose of working out certain reformations, but although the committee had been in existence twelve months, nothing was done until the Denbigh Eisteddfod, when the whole matter was taken well in hand. Upon that occasion no one entered into the good work with more spirit than their esteemed friend, whom they had met to honour – Alaw Goch. To him-his energetic perseverance and intellectual suggestions much was due.

Let all, therefore, unite and render honour to him for what he had done. After a few farther remarks, the chairman sat down amidst much cheering. He afterwards read a whole batch of letters of apology received from bards and others who could not attend. The following were among the writers whose letters were read:—Gwrgant, Owain Alaw, Ioan Emlyn, Ceiriog, Nicander, Glan Alun, Caledfryn Creuddynfab, and Mr Roberts, Blaina. The following letter from Gwrgant was also read.

Having been called upon, the Rev. J. Davies, Aberaman, moved the following resolution: “That this meeting cheerfully recognizes, David Williams, Esq., (Alaw Goch) as a neighbour, master, patriot, and bard, and especially as a liberal supporter of the national institutions of his country,” Mr Davies spoke in very eulogistic terms of Mr Williams under the several heads enumerated in the resolution. His remarks were frequently cheered, and at the conclusion of his address he recited a few appropriate verses. (Just about this stage of the proceedings some scores of people, who had been waiting on the hall stairs were invited to take their seats on the platform galleries, and a few minutes’ interruption occurred.)

The chairman next called upon Mr Morris ((Gwilym Tawe), to second the resolution. In a brief English speech, in the course of which he recited eight nicely written verses of poetry bearing on the occasion, Mr Morris complied with the chairman’s request. He said that it pleased him very much to come up from Swansea to pay his respects to their esteemed friend, Alaw Goch, and he also felt a pleasure in bearing testimony to the truth of what had fallen from the previous speaker, the Rev  J. Davies.

Rev Saunders (Bethania Chapel), in a good speech, seconded the resolution. Considering he was the minister of the chapel at which Mr Williams and his family attended, he thought it would ill become him to say very much. He had hoped to have been excused from speaking. He fully agreed with the resolution that had been moved, and he felt much pleasure in seconding it. He referred to the progress which Mr Williams had made in the world, and illustrated his remark by relating an anecdote. A weaver’s son had just sat down, after making a speech in one of the houses of parliament, and his antagonist replying to him sneeringly remarked that he was only the son of a weaver. Whereupon the former retorted that if his (his antagonist’s) father had been only a weaver, be would have been a weaver too. Notwithstanding the many disadvantages under which Mr Williams had laboured, he had managed to work himself into a high position in the commercial world, whilst at the same time; he enjoyed a high reputation as a bard. During the recent Eisteddfod Mr Williams was at one time doing the duties of chairman, secretary, and treasurer, and they ought to feel very thankful to him for his great exertions. He felt great pleasure in seconding the resolution proposed.

The chairman afterwards called upon the Rev. W. Edwards, who spoke at some length to the resolution, which was subsequently carried amidst applause. At this stage of the proceedings the chairman said it was his pleasing duty to read the address, which was framed and exquisitely got up. Advancing to the front of the platform the rev. chairman then read the address, which was prefaced by the resolution referred to at the commencement of our report, and was couched in the following terms.

Respected Patriot (David Williams), in accordance with the above resolution the committee chosen took the matter in hand, and they have now the honour of presenting to you this simple address, together with the gold medal that accompanies it. The committee feel conscious that they could neither do justice to the feeling of the subscribers, nor your labour, were they to attempt to represent the one worthily and acknowledge the other properly in the money value of the testimonial; while they consider your labour invaluable, they feel confident that this medal and the address will be acceptable to the respected family of Ynyscynon.

The committee desire to make it known that no one was solicited to contribute towards this testimonial, further than to give an opportunity to a few of your warm-hearted friends to show their approbation of your services in this way. The committee wish you a long and happy life, to serve your generation in every respect, but especially in cultivating and patronizing the literature of your country and they hope that an example so worthy of imitation will not be unnoticed by the gentlemen of the principality.

The committee also desire to greet most warmly your cheerful and liberal wife with their best wishes, and likewise your daughter and two kind-hearted sons, whom, they hope, will transfer the name and popularity of Ynyscynon, free from blemish, to coming generations. “The committee cannot better close their address than by desiring, with the purest motives, that the kind family of Ynyscynon may remain for ever ‘Dan nawdd Duw a’i dangnef’ (Under the favour of God and His peace).”

The Rev Hughes (Tegai) proposed the following in a short speech: “That the thanks of this meeting be given to the Musical Association and the Rifle Corps Band, especially to Messrs Woodcock, Helmore, and Griffiths, for their services at the meeting.”  This was seconded by the Rev Griffiths, brother of the chairman. The Rector of Neath also spoke to the resolution in English, and made a few appropriate remarks on the Welsh language. He thought that as undoubtedly three-fourths of the meeting were Welsh, he need not apologise for the proceedings having been carried on in that language; he did not despise the Saxon language; on the contrary he acknowledged its usefulness in a commercial sense, &c. His ministrations were chiefly carried on in English, and had so much practice in that language that it had almost driven the Welsh off his tongue. However, if that had been done, he was quite sure it would net drive it out of his heart.

“Lives there a man with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said
This is my own—my native land?”

1. The small medal won at the Aberdare Eisteddfod 1840.
2. The trophy bearing the feathers of the Prince of Wales was presented to Alaw Goch for his efforts to bring about the Eisteddfodic revival.
3. The large medal was awarded to David Williams for the best Awdl at the Dowlais Eisteddfod of “Unity and Knowledge” in 1851.

Last week I had the honour of seeing this fine place, the residence of Lord and Lady Llanofer.  One would think that nature was at its best when it designed and beautified this place.  The expanse of its plain, the pattern of its roads, the frequency of its lakes, the peculiarity of its wells, together with its variety of trees of every species, reveals taste and nature as if they ran hand in hand.  In addition, all the buildings have been constructed of oak and precious stonework only, and one may appropriately call this place an ageless stronghold of a castle.  Here also we have the image of the Welsh language on everything within and without, pictures of oak leaves on the panels.

But I must be silent lest I become too long-winded, with a line or two of poetry, having last one word, may Gwenynen Gwent live forever, and let all people echo, Amen.

On Friday last the remains of D. Williams, Esq., of Miskin Manor, in this county, were deposited in the burial-ground of Aberdare cemetery. Shortly after two o’clock the funeral cortege entered the town, and a procession, little short of a mile in length, was formed in the Boot Square. In the following order the mournful concourse afterwards moved towards the graveyard: – Bards and other literati, Ministers of the Gospel, Gentlemen and tradesmen of the town and neighbourhood, workmen and bearers.

The bards, as we have above stated, headed the mournful procession, and were distinguished by wearing band round the left arm. We noticed the following present: – Aneurin Fardd, Nefydd, T. Stephens (Merthyr), Gwilym Tawe, Hugh Tegai, Iago ap Dewi. Carw Coch, Nathan Dyfed, Telynog, Dewi Haran, Robyn Ddu, Cymro Gwyllt, Dafydd Morganwg, Eiddil Cynog, Cynonwyson, Pencerdd y De, Gwilym Medi, and Gwyndaf Morganwg.

The ministers of all denominations numbered about forty, among whom we saw the Rev. J. Griffiths, rector of Neath; D. Rees, Swansea; the Rev. W. Williams, Swansea; R. Lumley, Cardiff; T. Price, Aberdare; J. Davies, Aberaman D. Charles, J. Thomas, Aberdare; D. Charles B.A.; W. Edwards, Aberdare, &c.

In the procession, which comprised a large number of carriages, there were noticeable nearly all the gentry in the valley, a large gathering of tradespeople, and an immense concourse of respectably-attired workmen.

Upon the arrival of the procession at the cemetery, the corpse was borne to the edge of the vault, on the sides of which were the words. ‘The wearied is sleeping’, and the Rev. David Charles, B.A., late President of Trevecca College, performed the last solemn duties of a chaplain. The Rev. Gentleman preached and prayed most impressively. In speaking of the deceased, he eulogised his character, whose loss, he thought, would long be deplored throughout the Principality.

The weather proved very inclement, and the services were much abridged in consequence. But it needed no oratorical fervour to excite a proper feeling of regret for the departed. Many a moistened eye bespoke the mental anguish which its owner laboured under many a man, and many a Welsh bard and literati, whose long experience of Alaw Goch had mellowed into friendship, sighted forth his grief at the grave side. The service closed, and all that was mortal of a generous patriot was consigned to its earthly rest.

Month followed month, and that huge uncouth block remained a shaped piece of matter. True, a few hands with rude tools were occasionally told off to do certain execution by way of chipping and chopping the great monster, but for what ultimate purpose the uninitiated had not the remotest idea. It was, however, but repetition of an old story, the perpetuation of a memory. To repeat “Alaw’s” own words, “0 Addaf hen hyd heddyw” (from Adam of old unto this day) stones have been set up to commemorate the illustrious dead and to celebrate exceptional events in national and other histories, and here, in the person of Mr Clarke, we find a follower of Praxiteles steadily at work. And right well has he accomplished his task, for what at one time was a huge mass of shapeless rock today stands “a thing of beauty and a joy for ever”, in the form of a magnificent monument, standing about ten feet high, weighing many tons and bearing abundant Celtic interlacings, surrounding a sketch of the indispensable Welsh goat.  In the course of a few days the monument will be laid with tender care and loving memory over the remains of “Alaw Goch”, resting in peace at Aberdare.

What a contrast we have here to the offensive fanfaronades too often sounded over the resting places of some of those who had their brief and uneventful day, and ceased to be! The brevity of the inscription is not due in the remotest way to a scarcity of material for a lengthened obituary. Now, to perpetuate the memory of “Alaw Goch” we have, fortunately, other and more endurable means than precious and artistically-prepared stones, for though dead, “Williams Ynyscynon” yet speaketh far and wide, even beyond the fair borders of Morganwg. He was a poet of no mean order. Thus, he wrote, after hearing sermon delivered by the sweet, immortal: