Cân o Senn iw tên Feiltr TOBACCO A Gyfanfoddodd Gwafanaethwr Ammodol iddo Gyn't pan dorodd ar ei Ammod ac ef, ynghyd a'r Rheffymmeu paham y deffygiodd yng wafanaeth y Concwerwr beunyddiol hwnnw. Ar hen Dôn ac oedd dri gannol yn y Deyrnas hon Lawer Blwydd ŷn faith Cyn Tirio'r crwydryn ynthi ag a Elwid y Frwyner lås, neu Dan y Coed a Thany Gwydd Y mae's 8 fylaf gyntaf o'r breichiau yn groes rowlog or draws gyhydedd, a'r berreu'n amlaf yn Cyfocho Argraphwyd yn Nhre-Hedyn, gan Ifaac Carter yn y Flwyddyn 1718. The first book printed in Wales. From the unique copy in the National Library of Wales. Welsh people at home and abroad; and books in all the Celtic languages (Welsh, Gaelic, Manx, Breton, and Cornish), and all books dealing with Celtic matters. The organisation is necessarily not complete, but, so far as it has gone, it augurs well for its future as a special library for Celtic studies, and as the centre for higher studies in Wales and for Wales. Thirty-nine years have passed since the desire for a National Library first took shape in connection with the establishment of the University College of Wales at Aberystwyth in 1872, and the first Committee was formed with that object at the National Eisteddfod, which was held at Mold in Flintshire in 1873. It has since leaped into a position of first-class importance. Celtic scholars, and those engaged in Celtic studies in Europe and America, have shown their interest, and many of them have sent their own writings and have also made other contributions. It would be impossible to convey an adequate idea of the wealth of treasures already brought together through the instrumentality of its first president, Sir John Williams, and in response to the appeal of the Library Committee for gifts of books, periodicals, and MSS. It has always been supposed that the first piece of printing executed within the borders of the Principality was dated 1719, but the Shirburn Library contains two pieces from the same press, Isaac Carter, Trehedyn (Adpar), Newcastle Emlyn, dated 1718, one, Cân ar Fesur Triban, and the other (see illustration), Cân o Senn iw hên Feistr Tobacco (A song of censure to his old master, Tobacco, which was composed by a former bond-servant of his when he broke his pledge to him, etc.). And so with many other rare volumes, like Kynniver llith a ban and the Dictionary of William Salesbury, either they are unique, or nearly all the other known copies are imperfect. Of the twenty-two books known to have been printed in Welsh before 1600, eighteen are in Sir John Williams's library, and a nineteenth is in another collection transferred to the National Library. CHAPTER X THE WELSH IDEAL-WALES AND IRELAND FOR OR well-nigh four centuries the Principality has been united to England, and its history merged with that of Britain. To all intents and purposes the country has since been one with the whole of the island, but it has been and continues to be itself. Overshadowed by a mighty Imperial State, the greatest absorbing power ever known, it has preserved the consciousness of its own national identity, still retaining its literature, tradition, and many of the characteristics of the ancient Cymry. These facts are worthy of consideration, especially when we bear in mind that during the three hundred years extending from 1535 to 1837, that is, from the date of the English annexation to the ascension of Queen Victoria, the governing principle of British legislation affecting Wales was the assimilation of the country to England. Wales was then, and until recent years, what Metternich had called Italy, "a geographical expression," and treated as such. Ever since the days of Canning the English people have sympathised with national movements on the Continent, though it is a curious fact that they have been traditionally averse to the recognition of the national rights of Wales. In regard to many matters of legislation and administration, Wales ought, on the ground of race, history, literature, social and political aspiration, to be treated as a separate entity, even as Scotland and Ireland are so treated. The Welsh people always had a prince, but until this year it was an empty title. The Welsh arms are not included in the royal quarterings, no order of knighthood exists for her |