with other copies, it was impossible for him to do anything
effectual.--Now the method I would propose to a person that would carry
this project into execution, is, that as soon as he is become master of
the ancient British language, as far as it can be learned, by the
assistance of Dr. Davies's dictionary, and Moses Williams's glossary at
the end of Dr. Wotton's translation of Howel Dda's laws, he should
endeavour to procure access to the great collections of ancient British
MSS. in the libraries of the Earl of Macclesfield, Lady Wynne of Wynstay,
the Duke of Ancaster, Sir Roger Mostyn at Gloddaith, John Davies,
Esquire, at Llannerch, Miss Wynne of Bod Yscallen, William Vaughan,
Esquire, at Cors y Gedol, and in other places both in South and North
Wales in private hands. By this means he would be enabled in time to
ascertain the true reading in many MSS. that have been altered and
mangled by the ignorance of transcribers. I am satisfied there are not
many copies of the Bards of the sixth century extant, nor indeed of those
from the conquest to the death of Llewelyn. But two or three ancient
copies on vellom, if such can be met with, will be sufficient; for in
some transcripts by good hands that I have seen, they are imperfect in
some copies. This would in a great measure enable our traveller to fill
up the blanks, and help him to understand what, for want of this, must
remain obscure, if not altogether unintelligible. We should by the means
of such a person have a great many monuments of genius brought to light,
that are now mouldering away with age, and a great many passages in
history illustrated and confirmed that are now dark and dubious. Whole
poems of great length and merit might be retrieved, not inferior,
perhaps, to Ossian's productions, if indeed those extraordinary poems are
of so ancient date, as his translator avers them to be. The Gododin of
Aneurin Gwawdrydd is a noble heroic poem. So are likewise the works of
Llywarch Hen about his battles with the Saxons, in which he lost
twenty-four sons, who all were distinguished for their bravery with
golden torques's. _Aurdorchogion_.

Taliesin's poems to Maelgwn Gwynedd, to Elphin ap Gwyddno, to Gwynn ap
Nudd, and Urien Reged, and other great personages of his time, are great
curiosities. We have, besides these, some remains of the works of
Merddin ap Morfryn, to his patron Gwenddolau ap Ceidis, and of Afan
Ferddig to Cadwallon ap Cadfan; and, perhaps,