Welsh Journals

CEREDIGION CYLCHGRAWN CYMDEITHAS HYNAFIAETHWYR SIR ABERTEIFI JOURNAL OF THE CARDIGANSHIRE ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY CYFROL (VOLUME) V 1966 RHIFYN (NUMBER) 3 EDWARD RICHARD OF YSTRAD MEURIG* EDWARD RICHARD (1714-1777) is one of those men whose life and work badly need re-interpretation in the light of our modern knowledge of the eighteenth century and of subsequent history. I do not propose to give that re-interpretation today for the simple reasons that neither would the time at my disposal allow it nor would you be much edified if I did, for eighteenth century Welsh poetry is not something that can form the subject of a public lecture. Nevertheless, we must be aware of Edward Richard's stature as a bard and poet before we can fully understand his approach and contribution to the history of Welsh education. Those of you who are enthusiastic about Welsh Literature could well consult, first of all, Saunders Lewis's chapter on Edward Richard in his work A School of Welsh Augustans, and then Sir D. Emrys Evans's critical appreciation in his article in Y Beirniad, vii, 252. After that you could consult the various printed editions of Edward Richard's works-those of 1803, 1811, 1813, 1851, and 1856, together with Cyfres y Fil, 19 12, whilst for his prose you could delve into the work called Additional Morris Letters. I, particularly, find amusing the title of Edward Richard's work published in Shrewsbury in 1776 by J. Eddowes, Bugeilgerdd. Yr Ail yn yr Iaith Gymraeg, gan Ed. Richard. Awdury Gyntaf But this afternoon we had better see what can be gleaned from lighter works of more popular appeal, and in this field none is more useful than that produced in 1934 by an old pupil of St. John's College, D. G. Osborne-Jones's Edward Richard of Tstrad Meurig. We turn then to Ystrad Meurig as it was in the second decade of the eighteenth century, to the small cottage that then stood near the *An address delivered to the Society at Ystrad Meurig Church, 29 June 1966.