Welsh Journals
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ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS 4. LETTERS OF MORGAN JOHN RHYS TO WILLIAM OWEN [-PUGHE]. The Mysevin Manuscripts, which were acquired by the National Library of Wales in 1940, contain a large collection of letters written to William Owen [-Pughe]. His correspondents include Owain Myfyr, Iolo Morganwg, Twm o'r Nant, Thomas Charles, J. R. Jones (Ramoth), Edward Davies, Theophilus Jones, Thomas Johnes, William Richards (Lynn), Gwallter Mechain, Dafydd Ddu Eryri, Thomas Pennant, Sharon Turner, Morgan John Rhys, and even Sir Walter Scott. These letters, undoubtedly, form the most interesting and important feature of the Mysevin collection, and to the literary historian they are, of course, invaluable. The Editor and I felt that this material should be made available for Welsh students, and we decided to publish in this number of Cylchgrawn Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru the letters written by Morgan John Rhys. They are ten in number. Four of them were written in Trevecca, one in Carmarthen, one in Pont-y-pool, and the others in Philadelphia. These letters contain much new informa- tion, and some of the most important points are discussed in the foot- notes. In Mysevin MS. I (N.L.W. MS. 13221), p. 309, there is a broadsheet printed by Lang & Ustick (of Philadelphia ?) which deals with Rhys's attempt to found a Welsh Settlement in Pennsylvania.1 This sheet probably accompanied Letter VIII which was written on the 14th of June, 1796. An account of the Settlement is given in John T. Griffith's biography of Morgan John Rhys (1899). G. J. WILLIAMS. I. Treveka Jan. 9, 1793. Dr. Sir, We are sorry to have been so long in answering your eccellent [sic] letter. We had sent to Caslon Finsbury square for a fount of new letters small pica body, long primer Rom No i and requested an answer whether they were ready or not; but as yet we have not heard from him. We should be oblig'd to you for waiting upon him & know whether they are sent according to directions, for Roberts Trevecka- if they are you'll be pleased to order the new letters fdr ng & ch on the same size (provided your founder cannot spare so much) that xSeePlateXII. Evan Roberts was the manager of some of the industries carried on by the family' at Trevecca. Mr. J. Ifano Jones states in J. History of. Printing and Printers in Wales (1925), p. 78, that his name ('E. Roberts & Go.') appears on the publications, of the j Trevecca press during the years 1800-4. He died in I^°4*