d that it was a very common name in Wales, as I knew several people
who bore it, and observed that most of the surnames in Wales appeared to
be modifications of Christian names; for example Jones, Roberts, Edwards,
Humphreys, and likewise Pugh, Powel, and Probert, which were nothing more
than the son of Hugh, the son of Howel, and the son of Robert. He said I
was right, that there were very few real surnames in Wales; that the
three great families, however, had real surnames; for that Wynn, Morgan
and Bulkley were all real surnames. I asked him whether the Bulkleys of
Anglesea were not originally an English family. He said they were, and
that they settled down in Anglesea in the time of Elizabeth.

After some minutes my wife got up and left us. The old gentleman and I
had then some discourse in Welsh; we soon, however, resumed speaking
English. We got on the subject of Welsh bards, and after a good deal of
discourse the old gentleman said:

"You seem to know something about Welsh poetry; can you tell me who wrote
the following line?

"'There will be great doings in Britain, and
I shall have no concern in them.'"

"I will not be positive," said I, "but I think from its tone and tenor
that it was composed by Merddyn, whom my countrymen call Merlin."

"I believe you are right," said the old gentleman, "I see you know
something of Welsh poetry. I met the line, a long time ago, in a Welsh
grammar. It then made a great impression upon me, and of late it has
always been ringing in my ears. I love Britain. Britain has just
engaged in a war with a mighty country, and I am apprehensive of the
consequences. I am old, upwards of four-score, and shall probably not
live to see the evil, if evil happens, as I fear it will--'There will be
strange doings in Britain, but they will not concern me.' I cannot get
the line out of my head."

I told him that the line probably related to the progress of the Saxons
in Britain, but that I did not wonder that it made an impression upon him
at the present moment. I said, however, that we ran no risk from Russia;
that the only power at all dangerous to Britain was France, which though
at present leagued with her against Russia, would eventually go to war
with and strive to subdue her, and then of course Britain could expect no
help from Russia, her old friend and ally, who, if Britain had not
outraged her, would have assisted her, in any quarrel or danger, with
four o