channel they were transmitted, their universal adoption in so short a space of time, constitutes a very extraordinary mental phenomenon. Nor was this impression, made by the Welsh legends in the twelfth century, ever obliterated; but on the contrary, its existence may be traced through each successive generation to the present day. founded several of his Plays upon these Tales. intended making Arthur the hero of his Epic. the most perfect Poems produced within our own time, “The Bridal of Triermain," proves how deeply the mind of Scott was imbued with Arthurian Romance.

Shakspeare Milton once

And one of

In prosecuting this subject we encounter a very remarkable fact; which is, that the poets and prose writers amongst the Welsh, have respectively taken up positions, the very opposite to those of the same classes in other nations. The Bards occupying themselves with the matter of fact occurrences of the day, whilst the prose writers were employed in composing Romances: for such are the Mabinogion; a series of Tales which, for variety of incident, originality, and power of invention, are not to be equalled by those of any country whatever, prior to the revival of literature in modern times. Such an assertion will of course be disputed, and the Arabian Nights, and French Metrical Romances adduced in confutation. But it must be recollected that the Arabian Nights, in their present form, are not older than the sixteenth century; such ancient Arabic Tales as have been preserved, and which appear to be the rudiments of the present compositions, being greatly inferior in point of imagination and general interest. And with regard to the French Metrical Romances, they are merely the legends of the Welsh, translated and versified.

In reviewing the impressions made by the consideration. of this subject, we arrive at the conclusion, that during the prescribed period of 250 years, the Welsh language did not, in its grammatical structure, undergo any perceptible change. Also, that in its idiom, and turn of expression, there is but little difference to be noticed; and that little, must be attributed to the difference of taste in the several writers, rather than to any essential alteration in the language itself. And as the number of writers increased, the variety of modes of

expression would naturally increase as well; and new compound words would be formed. During this period also, a trifling addition was made to its vocabulary, through the introduction of Norman words. Subject to these exceptions, we can scarcely discover any difference in the language used by Gwilym Ddu in the fourteenth century, and that of Meilyr in the eleventh.

AN

HISTORICAL ACCOUNT

OF THE

Statuta Walliæ, or the Statutes of Rhuddlan,

BY WHICH WALES WAS ANNEXED TO ENGLAND.

BY

Rhynyr Yuad.

At the Abergavenny Eisteddfod of October, 1848, a Prize of Five Guineas was given by Lady Parry of Madryn, for the best historical account of "Statuta Walliæ," or the Statutes of Rhuddlan, by which Wales was annexed to England. The following production was described by Archdeacon Williams, as "a most able and well written Essay, which will prove most interesting to all who possess an antiquarian taste." The Prize was awarded to its Author; who wrote under the signature of "Rhynyr Ynad," and sealed the envelope, which contained his real name, with the impression of the Dying Gladiator. It was his last.