wave her banners on high as a welcome to the sons and daughters of the Snowdon ranges who had pluckily come the day before all the way to contest for the chief choral prizes with the best singers of South Cambria. It had been anticipated the Ven. Archdeacon Griffiths would this day offer up the Gorsedd prayer from the centre of the Druidic circle, and thereby once more testify by his example what was often testified at Eisteddfodau in the early ages of Christianity, that 'da yw'r maen Gyda yr cfengyl' (God is the stone with the Gospel). This was actually the motto of an Eisteddfod held at St. Mellons in the 6th century, but, owing to other engagements, the Ven. Archdeacon Griffiths failed to reach the Gorsedd in time; in fact, yr oedd yn ddiweddar yn dyfod at ei gyhoeddiad, and the Vicar of St. Asaph was again the officiating priest. After some preliminary rites, the Rev. Glanffrwd Thomas was again called upon to invoke Divine blessing on the gathering. It was to the following effect:—

'Render us, O God, Thy protection, and in that protection power; in that power wisdom; in that wisdom knowledge; in that knowledge, know the just; in knowing the just, love, and in love, love every attribute, and by loving every attribute, love God,'

The prayer being over, the bards ascended the Ark Stone and delivered short, poetical addresses. After the bards had finished delivering their effusions, Archdeacon Griffiths introduced to the circle a lady, who, he said, was a descendant of the ancient family of Matthews, of Llandaff. She had distinguished herself in the literary world, and he recommended her as a suitable candidate for the honours of the Gorsedd. The lady, who was Mrs. Bishop, of Swansea, was then led to the Ark Stone, and invested with the green ribbon of the Ovate order amid applause. The ceremony of investiture being over, the lady ascended to the top of the stone, and delivered a specimen of her literary productions.

She received the title of Morfydd Mathew Aradyr. Dr. Benjamin Ward Richardson, of London, was similarly invested. When the chief bard, Clwydfardd, was in the act of tying the green ribbon round the arm of the learned doctor, he somewhat irreverently, from a Druidic point of view, remarked, "I feel myself born again." He had a narrow escape from being excommunicated on the spot, 'trwy gynffon y sarff dorchog. But it was apparently deemed by the Druidic authorities on the present occasion that he had referred sarcastically to the mysteries thoughtlessly and not while actuated by the influence of either Avagddu or Annhras, and he was permitted to retire unpunished. The Rev. G. Arthur Jones, St. Mary's, Cardiff, received the high distinction of being made a full Druid, and was invested with the white ribbon of that venerable order. But he was not required to favour the audience with a specimen of his gifts; probably they were sufficiently known to everybody. Mrs. F. E. Hoggan, M.D., was invested with the title of Meddyges Cymru, and was made an Ovate of Braint a Defod. The following passed the necessary examinaion successfully, and were admitted into the Ovate Order :-Manod (Treforest), Gwilym Rhondda (Treorky), and Maesyddog. Didamus ab Ioan received a similar distinction, and received a new name, and will be known in future as Eurwedd.' Mr. Benjamin D. Williams also was made an Ovate of the first Degree, and Mr. D. Morris an Ovate of the second degree. Mr. T. H. Thomas, artist, Cardiff, was made a full Ovate, and was received into the circle.

The trumpeter was then requested to sound the clarion of the country. This was done right lustily, and the sweet notes were heard far above the sound of the barrel organs and the blasts from the pipes of music by machinery' in the neighbouring field. This was followed by the chief Bard

ascending the ark, and from there he proclaimed that the next National Eisteddfod would be held in the City of Liverpool, a deputation from that city having applied to the Committee for its consent to have it held there, under the mottoes Truth Against the World,' 'Under the Protection of God and His Peace,' 'Heart to Heart,' 'Jesus, permit no evil,' 'Who kills shall be killed,' and 'God and all Goodness.' It is to be called 'The Chair of Arthur and the Gorsedd of the Bards of the Isle of Britain.'

The proceedings then closed in the usual form.

I.

Music.

VOCAL COMPETITIONS.

1. Great Choral Competition, to consist of three pieces :"Wretched Lovers" (Acis and Galatea) Handel; "Lord of the Golden Day," omitting the Contralto Solo and Chorus, pages 27 to 31, in the vocal score (Martyr of Antioch) Sullivan; Cyfoded Duw,' Jenkins. Choirs to be not less than 150, or more than 200 voices. Choirs to provide their own Accompanist. Accompaniment may be on organ or piano. First Prize 100, and a Gold Medal to the Conductor; Second Prize £30, and a Silver Medal to the Conductor.

The following were the choirs, and the order of their singing-1. The Llanelly United Choir; conductor, Mr. R. C. Jenkins; accompanied on the piano by Mr. Arthur W. Swindell. 2. Penrhyn Quarries Choral Union; conductor, Dr. Rogers, Organist of Bangor Cathedral; accompanied by Mr. Pritchard, piano, and Miss Williams, harmonium. 3. Rhondda Choral Union; conductor, Mr. Moses Owen Jones; accompanied by Miss Meta Scott, Merthyr. 4. Dowlais Harmonic Society; conductor, Mr. Dan Davies; accompanied on the piano by Mr. Videon Harding, Carmarthen. 5. Rhondda Philharmonic Society; conductor, Eos Cynlais; accompanist, Miss Meta Scott. 6. Pembroke Dock Choral Union; conductor, Mr. William Thomas; accompanist, Mrs. Kebel.

The adjudicators were Sir G. A. Macfarren, Principal of the Royal Academy of Music; Mr. Joseph Barnby, Eton College; Mr. E. H. Turpin, London; Mr. Joseph Bennett, London; Mr. D. Jenkins, Aberystwith; Mr. Brinley Richards, London; Mr. John Thomas, London; and Mr. D. Emlyn Evans, Hereford. These gentlemen were not prepared to deliver their award at once; but, on the Rev. Glanffrwd Thomas, the conductor, making this announcement, the audience expressed their dissatisfaction in unmistakable terms. It was stated that the adjudicators must consider their verdict, and that their decision would be communicated at the concert. This met with disapproval, and the audience were not pacified until the conductor stated that the adjudicators would consider their verdict at once.

During the interregnum, Madame Edith Wynne sang with great effect "Hen Wlad fy Nhadau," and, at the request of Glanffrwd, the audience joined in the chorus. This they did very heartily, singing the chorus after the last verse three times over.

Sir George Macfarren, accompanied by Mr. Brindley Richards, Mr. John Thomas, and Mr. Emlyn Evans, then came forward to deliver the adjudication. Sir George simply announced that the jury awarded the first prize to the Penrhyn Quarries Choral Union, and the second to the Llanelly United Choir. He remained standing with the intention of making some remarks, but the excitement was so great that he could not make himself heard, and he sat down. The Archdeacon of Llandaff introduced the conductor of the winning choir, Dr. Rogers, who was loudly cheered on stepping to the front of the platform. The Archdeacon said he would be presented with the prize by a lady connected with North Wales, and one who was descended from one of the old families of Anglesey, but now the wife of the Dean of Llandaff.

Mrs. Vaughan then invested the conductor with the ribbon and rosette, the Dean afterwards presenting him with the gold medal.

A representative of the Llanelly United Choir was then brought forward and invested by Mrs. Aitken. The enthusiasm that prevailed throughout the whole of these proceedings was very great, and it was evident that, though the singers of South Wales lamented their defeat, they did not begrudge the winners the honour that was conferred upon them. Both in and out of the building there was cheering and shouts of congratulation, and when Dr. Rogers left the Pavilion a large crowd met him and gave him a perfect ovation.

During an interval in the choral competition the mayor stepped to the front of the platform, and said that Mr. Aitken, chairman of the Musical Society, had made a suggestion that an invitation should be given to the choirs to have tea on the ground at half-past five. Sir Edward Reed at once consented to bear his share; Mr. Aitken did the same, and he (the mayor) would also be very happy to comply. There were 1,200 members of choirs present, and it would be very inconvenieut for them to go into the town and get refreshments when they had to be back in time for the evening meeting. Therefore, he felt very great pleasure in inviting the different choirs to tea in the principal tent outside at half-past five o'clock.

SIR GEORGE MACFARREN ON WELSH VOCAL AND INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC.

From the "WESTERN MAIL."

"The letter we publish this morning from Sir George Macfarren, the President of the Royal Academy of Music, and the principal musical adjudicator at the recent National Eisteddfod held at Cardiff, will be read with interest throughout the length and breadth of the country. From a musical point of view, it is the lesson of the Eisteddfod given by a master. Valuable as are Sir George's remarks on the difference in singing and the respective merits of the first and second best choirs in the competition for the grand musical prize of the Eisteddfod, they occupy only a secondary place when we come to pass in review the whole of the letter. The technicalities of the choral contest affect primarily the leaders of, and singers in, choirs; the other remarks of the President of the Royal Academy affect the Welsh nation throughout the world. And they affect the English nation, or a very large section of it, also. It will no longer do for English writers to English newspapers to ignore or pooh-pooh the talent which has thus thrust itself into the

front, and claimed the attention and hearty commendation of men who can distinguish ability from address, genins from pretension. Here is the evidence of an expert, the foremost musical authority in the country, one who has no Celtic prejudices to gratify, the English President of an English Royal Academy of Music.

To the Editor of the "WESTERN Mail.”

SIR.-In compliance with your request, I will state, more or less, what I might have said had it been possible to speak through the tumult of the enthusiastic audience when I announced the adjudication on the choral contest at the Cardiff Eisteddfod last Thursday. The grounds whereon the unanimous verdict of the seven judges was founded, and which, in their estimation, raised the Penrhyn Choir far above all its competitors, were purity of tone, correctness of time, precision in the taking up of points, musicianliness of phrasing, and just variety of power. The Llanelly United Choir, though remote in merit from that which honourably won the first prize, was, in the particulars that have been named, deemed superior to the others. The tendency, whether resulting from excessive ardour or from whatever cause, to force the voice induced always harshness of quality, and often falseness of intonation-the last sometimes to such an extent as to change the key that should prevail-and this tendency was manifest occasionally to an extent that disabled the instrumental accompanist from continuance, and that was painful to the hearers. Too much praise cannot be awarded to those conductors of choirs who, without special musical education, had educed from their singers good points which must not be ignored even in the least meritorious of the six performances. An obvious conclusion from the morning's experience is, however, that a trained musician is in all likelihood the ablest teacher of music, and that the excellence of a performance is in most instances commensurate with the technical skill of its director.

It will not be irrelevant to remark generally on the musical proceedings of the very important and highly-interesting meeting at which it has been my happy privilege to be present. First, then, let it be said in the face of the whole world that the allegation is totally false which denies the musical capacity as a possession of the natives of this island. The long roll of names of singers of the present generation who have come from Wales, and who command the admiration of the whole country, gives living proof that the vocal faculty is strong in the ancient British race-the faculty that comprises sweetness of the voice, distinctness of enunciation, intelligence of declamation, and, above all, the power of sympathy which magnetises the hearers and holds their attention enchained to the executant and to the music he animates. Lovers of art must rejoice in the valuable sign of progress evinced in the exhibition of instrumental skill that has of late been witnessed. It is not to speak of individual merit. examples of which may be found here, or there, or everywhere, when nature has been generous and study assiduous; but of the highly-important advance displayed in the performance of orchestral music in which many a talent is united to produce one effect. Science reveals not a sublimer or more wonderful phenomenon than the rhythmical unity of multitudinous performers who join in time and in tune with such accurate exactness as proves the dominion of a single all-pervading will. The marvel is the greater when the