Welsh Journals

The Cambrian office, Wind Street, 1881. (Swansea Reference Library). Haven Telegraph 51,500. An added boost came in 1855 with the long awaited abolition of Advertisement Duty and Stamp Duty. Although this enabled the price of the Cambrian to be reduced to 3 V2d, it also contributed to the establishment of rival newspapers. Williams continued to manage the Cambrian until March 1857 when he passed control to his youngest son, Howel Walters Williams, who had just attained twenty-one years of age. Possibly Williams felt that it was time to retire and return to his main interest of writing, although it has also been alleged that he was 'forced' into voluntary exile in France for a number of years to avoid punitive financial losses following unwise investments. Whatever the reason, H.W. Williams appears to have assumed control somewhat precipitately. Not unexpectedly, with apparently little training or experience in the family firm, coupled with his youth, H.W. Williams preferred to leave management matters to others. Having wealthy relatives and being comfortably off himself, he spent much of his time travelling abroad or in London. A handsome and charming man he reputedly commented that he "had done nothing, and had done it well!" According to the 1861 census he was a newspaper proprietor employing fifteen men and four boys and twenty years later the census entry describes him as a 'master printer'. However, he was best remembered for his convivial nature and his frequent jaunts across Wind