which the procession passed. Along the banks of the canal there were thousands of spectators. At the entrance to the Woodville-road there was another crush. The road here to the top of the Cathays bridge over the Taff Vale Railway was covered with spectators. The cheering, which began in Dukestreet, subsided up the North-road, but was again taken up by the crowd outside the entrance to the building. On the other side of the bridge two carriages were stationed. One contained Lady Bute, Lady Margaret Bute, Mr. G. T. Clark (Dowlais), Miss Clark and Lady Hill; the other contained Sir James Hill, Sir John Conroy, Mrs. Clark and Mr. Mullock. When the mayor's carriage drove into the yard, the corporation, members of the Cymmrodorion Society, members of the executive committee, &c., forming a passage on each side, the carriages from the Castle drove up and followed Lord Bute. The crowd seemed then for the first time to be aware that Lady Bute intended to grace the Eisteddfod with her presence, and the cheering was renewed with even greater enthusiasm than before. At the Eisteddfod building Lord and Lady Bute were received by the stewards, the secretary, Mr. D. Tudor Evans, and a number of members of the Eisteddfod committee, and conducted by them to a room at the back of the orchestra.

(FROM "CERDDOR Y CYMRY.")

"Er nad yw pwyllgor Eisteddfod 1883 wedi bod yn haelfrydig iawn gyda'u cefnogaeth i gerddoriaeth Gymreig, rhaid i ni ganmol y detholiad-y mae, yn ddiau, o chwaeth uchel-ac mae yn bosibl mai y pwyllgor (yn cael eu rheoli mor ddheuig gan Mr. D). Tudor Evans, yr ysgrifenydd), sydd fwyaf cyfaddas i drefnu gogyfer a thref fel Caerdydd; eto, dysgwyliant filoedd o Gymry i'r wyl, a thebyg y buasai ychydig mwy o ddarnau Cymreig yn dygymod â'u chwaeth hwy-Eisteddfodwyr Cymru yn well. Y mae y beirniaid yn ddigon lluosog, ac yn ddynion enwog a blaenllaw yn y byd cerddorol. Bydded i'r cantorion, a phawb o'r cerddorion sydd yn dymuno lles cerddoriaeth, fyned yno i ddysgu rhywbeth gan y beirniaid, ac i dderbyn budd trwy y gweithrediadau ; fel y byddo cerddoriaeth ar ei henill, a'r Eisteddfod fel sefydliad i fagu nerth a dyfod yn uwch yn meddyliau estroniaid ac yn anwylach nag erioed yn ngolwg pob Cymro. Ar un olwg, Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Caerdydd oedd y fwyaf a gynaliwyd eto yn nghof neb sydd yn fyw, fel yr addefodd yr hen eisteddfodwr, Clwydfardd, yn nghyfarfod Cymdeithas yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol prydnawn dydd Iau; ond mewn ystyron ereill, bernir yn lled gyffredinol nad oedd yn d'od i fyny a rhai o'r ychydig gwir genedlaethol a gynaliwyd yn ystod y deng mlynedd diweddaf, yn enwedig un Caernarfon, 1877. Rhaid addef ei bod y fwyaf poblogaidd a gymerodd le hyd yn nod yn nosbarth gweithiau mawrion Morganwg, a gobeithiwn (er ein bod yn ofni naddo) fod y derbyniadau wedi mwy na dyfod i gyfarfod â'r draul anferth. Yr oedd amryw bethau hefyd yn peri ei bod yn un urddasol dyma'r unig Eisteddfod y blynyddoedd diweddaf (er cymaint o geisiadau sydd wedi eu gwneyd) gafodd nawdd ein Grasusaf Frenines; felly, dilynwyd ei hesiampl gan lu o urddasolion ereill fel llywyddion ac is-lywyddion. Yr oedd y cystadleuaethau cerddorol yn lluosog, a rhai o honynt yn bwysig ; a chafodd pob dosbarth sylw lled gyfartal-lleisiol ac offerynol. Rhoddwyd canmoliaeth uchel i rai o'r cystadleuwyr, megys ar y solo tenor, The enemy said,' a'r chwareu pedwarawd ar offerynau tant (string quartette); ond ni ddygwyd neb o allu neillduol i'r golwg o'r newydd, heblaw y crytiau 10 oed ddaeth Mr. Brinley Richards a Phencerdd Gwalia o hyd iddynt fel

chwareuwyr ar yr harmonium a'r delyn. Cawn fod y cynyrchion cerddorol yn dra lluosog ond nid oeddynt o nodwedd mor uchel ag arfer. Ataliwyd y gwobrau ar y anthem, er fod 30 i fewn ; ac nid oedd teilyngdod yn y ddau gyfansoddiad offerynol (i'r piano a'r harmonium). Ac yn union fel y darfu i ni raghysbysu ataliad y gantawd (cantata), gyda 50p o wobr. Meddyliodd y pwyllgor y gallent gael cyfansoddiad teilwng i'w ddatganu yn un o gyfarfodydd yr Eisteddfod, gyda dim ond ychydig dros ddau fis i gyfansoddi, ond hysbysu hyny yn dda fel ag i dynu allan broffeswyr Lloegr a'r Iwerddon; ond cawsant eu siomi, a dangosai dau o'r proffeswyr hyn nad ydynt yn gwybod rheolau cyntaf cystadleuaeth, gan iddynt osod eu henwau priodol, megys Hall, Mus. Bac.," "Smith, Mus. Bac.." wrth eu cynyrchion. Wel, efallai y bydd y dynoethiad yn werthfawr i lawer. Yr oedd y beirniaid o ddosbarth uchel, ond y mwyafrif yn estroniaid i'n hiaith a'n defion. Chwareuteg hefyd, cafwyd gwell sylwadau ganddynt, er nas gellir eu galw mewn un modd yn feirniadaethau. Yr ydym yn gwneyd y goreu allom o'r sylwadau yma, trwy eu cyfieithu i'r Gymraeg er lles ein cerddorion. Yr ydym yn gobeithio y gadawa yr Eisteddfod hon ei hol er daioni ar ein cerddoriaeth a'n cerddorion. Yr ydym yn siarad yn gyffredinol. Am gerddorion a cherddoriaeth Gymreig, druain o honynt, ni chawsant hwy fawr o sylw! Y mae pethau yn gwaethygu yn yr ystyr yma bob blwyddyn! Wel, y mae eisieu diwygiad, onid oes? ac y mae hyny ar law cerddorion Cymru, os ceisiant. Dyma rai o'r pethau sydd eisieu talu sylw ddynt ; ac er na allwn yn y llith hon ond eu crybwyll, ni a'u triniwn yn yr ysbryd goreu mewn llithiau dan y pen hwn y misoedd nesaf :

I. Rhaid cael llai o rif o destynau, a'r cyfartaledd o'r testynau i gyfansoddi arnynt i'r CERDDOR gyda gwell gwobrau, a mwy o amser i gyfansoddi-o leiaf un dydd a blwyddyn ar y prif destyn cerddorol, fel y ca y bardd a'r prif draethodwr yn bresenol. Cyffyrddwyd a'r mater hwn gan yr ysgrifenydd yn nghyfarfod olaf Cymdeithas yr Eisteddfod, a chafodd gymeradwyaeth, yr hyn a brofai fod y pwnc yn aeddfed i'w drin.

Dim

II. Fod yn rhaid cael mwy o gefnogaeth i gerddoriaeth a cherddorion Cymreig yn yr Eisteddfod, ac y dylid dadganu cyfansoddiadau un Eisteddfod mewn Eisteddfod ddilynol, a'u gosod allan yn llawn, ac i'r fantais oreu. ond dau ddarn yn rhestr Caerdydd. Mae hyn yn warth arnom fel cerddorion Cymreig Siaradodd Mr. D. Emlyn Evans yn frwdfrydig ar y diffyg yma, a chafodd cheers calonog y cyfarfod. Cyffyrddwyd yn ysgafn a'r peth hwn hefyd gan yr hen gerddor parchus, Mr. Brinley Richards. Y mae yntau, erbyn hyn, yn gweled pethau yn myned yn rhy ddrwg.

III. Parhad o'r sylw a delir i gyfansoddi a chwareu ar offerynau cerdd, yn enwedig offerynau cerdd dant; yn cynwys seindyrf cyflawn er ffurfio cerddorfäau yn Nghymru (orchestral bands), gan adael allan gystadleuaethau y seindyrf pres milwrol (military bands) bellach. Nid yn yr Eisteddfod y mae eu lle.

IV. Mwy o feirniaid Cymreig sydd yn deall ansawdd Cymru yn yr Eisteddfod Gymreig. Dylai y mwyafrif o lawer fod yn Gymry trwyadl, sydd yn medru deall ac ysgrifenu yr iaith odidog. Y mae o'r goreu i gael un boneddwr o safle Syr George Macfarren i'r Eisteddfod, ond pa reswm sydd dros gyflogi o bedwar i chwech Sais, nad oes ganddynt fawr dirnadaeth, na nemawr gydymdeimlad a'n hiaith, yn feirniaid? A dim ond dau gerddor Cymreig y rhai a fedrant ysgrifenu beirniadaeth yn Gymraeg, a siarad yr iaith.

V. Rhaid cael gwell beirniadaethau ; eto, cymedrol o ran hyd. Beth yw y corau well o weled haner dwsin, neu ychwaneg, yn codi ar eu traed, ac un yn

Gôr

y canol yn hysbysu fod y wobr gyntaf yn myned i Gôr, a'r ail wobr i Pan yn talu o £50 i £70 yr uu i gynifer o feirniaid, dysgwylir cael rhywfath o feirniadaeth ganddynt.

VI. Pan yn cyflogi cerddorfa--fel y gwnaethpwyd y tro hwn am y swm anferth o tua £500 neu £600-dylid dwyn allan weithiau o bwys, megys prif oratorios y meistri, a gweithiau teilwng o eiddo cerddorion Cymreig; a gwneyd defnydd o honynt yn yr Eisteddfod er lles y werin. Y mae yn rhy gynar eto i'r werin i ddeall overtures a symphonies clasurol yn ngyngherddau yr Eisteddfod."

Opinions of the Press.

(FROM THE "DAILY TELEGRAPH.")

"The Local Committee have devoted an unusually large amount of time and money to the encouragement of excellence in the various branches of literature, science, and art. The managers in this instance discern that the Eisteddfod should promote culture; that it should encourage the people to rise above their surroundings and cultivate both intellect and imagination in a region higher than that of ordinary life. This is the right course, and equally important is it to observe that the committee have taken measures adapted to place before the public good examples tending to raise the standard of excellence. It has been too much the fashion of Eisteddfod meetings to judge according to conditions dictated rather by regard for the competitors than for absolute merit. Hence a contentment of mediocrity with itself, and an absence of striving after a superior condition, the existence and necessity of which are kept out of evidence. The Cardiff committee have taken pains to avoid this mistake. Not only do observers find the character of the competitions raised, but they note the engagement of adjudicators who are not likely to forget, in consideration for the candidates, what is due to the literature, science, and art they represent. In respect of music, always prominent at an Eisteddfod, even more has been done by the engagement of a first-class London orchestra, nearly sixty strong, and the making of programmes that, save for a few incongruous, and therefore objectionable, pieces, are most instructive. An orchestra of some kind is no novelty on occasions like the present, but I believe that such a body of instrumentalists as that brought down here is without precedent in Eisteddfod history. Unique also will be the performance during the week of works like Spohr's Power of Sound,' Schübert's Symphony in B minor, Mendelssohn's Concerto in G minor, the overtures to Leonora,' 'Der Freyschutz,' 'Die Zauberflöte,' and other compositions of a similar class. It is by thus setting before a local public the highest examples of universal art that the existence of shortcomings is demonstrated, and wholesome dissatisfaction with actual attainments encouraged. On the whole the Cardiff Eisteddfod bids fair to prove most valuable as a stimulus to Welsh culture. Its general tendency is less national, and, therefore, less narrow than of many gatherings in the past. I mention this approvingly, without disparaging reverence for ancient traditions or pride in local characteristics. These are feelings always to be cherished, but the matters which excite them should be studied in the light of universal intelligence, and the standard of national intelligence as well as of national achievement should be that which serves to measure the best things of the world rather than of a few counties."

(FROM THE "MUSICAL STANDARD.")

"Cardiff has displayed that public spirit which may always be confidently expected of one of the grandest centres of healthy, vigorous, commercial life to be found in the United Kingdom. An enormous building, with a fine large concert organ by Brindley and Foster, an ample staff of English and Welsh musical and literary adjudicators, and a series of high class concerts were awaiting the besieging army of competitors and listeners. A London orchestra formed a notable feature of the exhaustive scheme. Under the management of the able concert agent, Mr. J. Stedman, this department was as perfect as it could well be, and included such leading players as Herr Pollitzer, Messrs. Watson, Herr Bernhardt, Messrs. Woolhouse, Reynolds, Barry, G. Horton, H. Lazarus, Wooton, Wedland, W. Morrow Chattaway, Smith, &c. The welcome innovation of such an array of instrumental skill in the exemplification of the orchestral masterpieces of Mozart, Beethoven, Schübert, Mendelssohn, Weber, &c., was an effort indeed worthy of artloving Cardiff, and for this the town and visitors were chiefly indebted to Mr. S. Aitken, the esteemed and able Chairman of the Music Commttee, whose earnestness, large-sightedness, and musical experience were simply invaluable. This gentieman is not only an enthusiastic caterer for the public but an accomplished and talented musician, playing the organ part in Sullivan's In Memoriam' overture at one of the recent Cardiff concerts with admirable judgment, and giving other practical proofs during the Eisteddfod of his artistic taste and musical skill. The provision of such illustrations of the great composers' choicest works presented in their entirety, furnished a memorable precedent at perhaps the most memorable Eisteddfod yet held; and greatly helped to weld the ancient institution to the exigencies of the art of our own times; and by this happy adaptation of the purposes of the venerable Welsh nursery of vocal and instrumental music to the present requirements of living Welshmen, such worthy to be recorded judgment and energy has, whatever the heedless lovers of antiquity for its own sake may assert, helped not a little to satisfactorily solve the question of the future hopeful existence of the Eisteddfodau. The admirable precision, excellent discipline, and earnestness of some of the competing choirs again showed the real life of Welsh musical instincts. To see an audience of many thousands patiently seated through a long and severely contested trial of vocal skill was truly an invigorating spectacle. The leading merits of the different choirs were displayed in the directions of certainty of attack and a watchful unity of purpose. However, the National Eisteddfod of 1883 was a grand and striking event, proving abundantly the presence in the sister country of remarkable musical gifts, extensive cultivation, and unmistakeable earnestness. That the artistic power of the Principality will be discreetly fostered, that the ancient Eisteddfodau will continue under wise guidance to promote the development of Welsh talent, and that these interesting and important meetings will still fulfil their original purposes upon a sufficiently enlarged and enlightened basis to expand their objects in accordance and in just proportion with the exigencies of our rapidly advancing artistic life, must indeed be the earnest wishes of all anxious for the highest attainable growth and welfare of the talented people of Wales, and of those near neighbours whose interest is ever onwards bound up in the doings of the gifted, hospitable, kindhearted inhabitants of the Cambrian plains and mountains."