d at the Royal Academy, which I cherish as the most
beautiful work of art in my possession; but he was too modest and
retiring, and never gained the public esteem to which he had an undoubted
claim. I was present at the unveiling of his fine marble bust of Edith
Wynne, then radiant in her glory as the Welsh Nightingale, of whom I saw
enough to learn that she was as charming in private as in public life.
The place was Hanover Square Rooms. My friend Edwards received quite an
ovation, the Sir Watkin Wynne of that day presiding; but on the whole I
fear that Edwards by his genius did more for Wales than ever Wales did
for him. His life ought to have been written. Young men, I am sure,
would have learned many a useful lesson. He was a true genius, with, as
far as I could see, none of the failings which by some are supposed to be
associated with genius. It was my painful privilege to be one of the
mourners at his funeral in Highgate Cemetery. His works he left to the
Cymmrodorion Society, where I hope that they are guarded with tender
care. South Wales has reason to rejoice in having had born to her such a
son. Let me mention another Merthyr man whom I knew, who, if not such a
genius as Joseph Edwards, had at any rate as great an enthusiasm for the
literature and language of Wales. He was a chemist and druggist, named
Stephens, and found time to write a work on Wales, which was deemed
worthy of the prize offered on the subject by some Welshman of wealth and
position, whose name has, alas, escaped my treacherous memory. At that
time Wales had failed to attract much attention on the part of England.
It was far away and difficult to get at. Now and then an adventurous
Englishman made his way thither, and wrote a book to show how grand was
the scenery and hospitable the people, and how cheap it was as a place of
residence. But as a rule the average Englishman knew as little of it as
he did of Timbuctoo. Since then Wales has learnt the art of advertising
and is better known, and that is an advantage not to be overlooked, for
it is now all the richer. Then few English resided there, and those
chiefly from motives of economy.

Another Welshman whom I had the honour to reckon as a friend was Sir Hugh
Owen, an earnest worker in the Temperance cause, and for the social
elevation of the people and righteousness. In his case his high position
on the Poor-Law Board was won by merit, and by merit alone, as he entered
the Dep