Welsh Journals

and the source of each article is indicated by the Editor; occasionally this is vague, 'From a London Paper,' but usually more specific, 'From the London Courier,' or 'From the Chester Guardian'. The Kaleidoscope, issued initially as The Gleaner, could be regarded as being somewhat closely related to the modern 'Digest' type of publication, and the Editor explained that they had 'access to upwards of half a hundred Journals together with a great variety of American and other Foreign Papers'. The correspondence which is reprinted here repeats, with variations, the story of Madoc, and the later tales of various travellers in America, including the Reverend Morgan Jones, whose account is accepted without hesitation. Professor David Williams, however, has shown conclusively that Morgan Jones's background 'does not produce much confidence in the truth of his extraordinary statement'. In the correspondence there are references to John Evans and 'Mr. E. Williams' (Iolo Morganwg), and to several other less famous Welshmen, whose names may well be of considerable interest even now. The first communication written by R- contains many inaccuracies, e.g.,? Ddol y Fran should be Dolobran, which have not been corrected in transcription; because another correspondent Ordovex takes R- to task because 'some of the Welsh names are so greatly disfigured as to render the account almost unintelligible'. There is perhaps a more direct and lively personal interest in 'Lieutenant Roberts's Account of his interview with a Chief of the Welsh Indians', which took place in 1801, and in his statement that the Chief spoke 'the ancient British language as fluently as if he had been born and brought up in the vicinity of Snowdon'. There is also a direct personal touch in the letter signed by Owen Williams, the Fur-merchant, who was 'a plain man of business', and 'a native of Cardiganshire, S. Wales'. It is evident that he was not burdened with details of historical back- ground, and he went on to claim unequivocally that he had 'had dealings with some hundreds of them' (Welsh Indians), 'during a residence of forty years in different parts of the United States'. It is strange that The Kaleidoscope correspondence, which started with observations on the finding of Roman coins in Tennessee and Kentucky, should have led to a series of animated communications on matters directly concerned with Wales and the Welsh Indians. References to John Evans and his remarkable journey enhanced the interest as the writer knows the old home of Gwredog Uchaf, Waunfawr (and was rewarded there on several occasions with an excellent harvest treat for energetic, if inexpert, youthful efforts in the hay field). John Evans's father moved to Hafod Olau in the same district, and it is very unlikely that Evan Jones, who farmed Gwredog Uchaf about fifty years ago, had any family link with John Evans. John Evans failed in the main object of his journey, and there is evidence to show that he had no intention of making another attempt. At the age of twenty- eight he decided to retire, and his testimony, quoted by Professor David Williams, makes strange reading, especially bearing in mind his amazing physical prowess, and his determined and tenacious personality. Evans wrote: 'A reflection upon the shortness of life and the frowns of delusive fortune convinces me dayly of my duty to live a retired life as soon as I can.