The Express.
London, England, 1850-06-17 00:00:00

THE WELSH LANGUAGE.

On Saturday a meeting of gentleman connected
with Welles was held in the Welsh Charity School, Gray's- '
Im-road, to promote the increase of secular information
amongst the Welsh people by means of their native language.
The Earl of Pomo presided, and amongst the gentlemen
present were Colonel Trevor, 51 P , the Dean of Bangor, Sir
Thomas Phillips, W. Jones, Esq., R. V. Johnson, Esq.,
and the Rev. John Owen.
peociseduogs commenced by Mr. Jean. tie secretary,
reading an addsess from 62 Welshmen resident in Lou-
don and members of the Cymreigyddion &slily to Esrl
Fowls. setting forth the advantages which would accrue
to the Welsh people by the circulation among than of books
of a useful character is their own language. He also read
a circular signal by the Earl of Pow,., in answer to the
address. This circular stated that—
The population of Wales, including the county of Mon-
mouth, numbered, at the census of 1841, 1,045,763 persons,
of whom it may be estimated that half a million either un- '
demand- no ether language than Welsh, or employ that
imam as the ordinary medium of familiar communication.
Not only is public worship conducted in the language of
the native population In a large number of the pushes
f Wales, but periodical publications printed in that len.
guage, have an aggregate circulation of 00.000 copies, and
are probably read by 200,000 persons. Religious and po-
litical controversies enter largely into the composition of
those publications ; and when the study of polemical theo-
logy and piety politics is pursued with ardour, but ironer.'
lite Titus. and popular Deimos are neglected, an injurious
influence on the intellectual character of the people must be
the mule Great efforts have recently been made to pro.
vide for the people of the principality an education suited to
their condition and by supplying works of a healthy and in-
'tractive char-cur in their own tongue to thaw who either
cannot or will not read English books, the improvement of
that numerous portion of the community will be materially
promoted. Ignorance of English and not the knowledge of
Welsh is the great &stale to she advancement of the native
population, and the acquisition of knowledge by the people
is their own tongue will increase both the desire and the
ability to acquire end ear ploy the English language."
The Earl of POWIS said the address stated,
_what was
very well known to most persona costumed W with ales, that
on me of the most Important breaches of instroction—tbat
relating to matters of religion, then are, of one sort or an-
other, a very considerable number of books existing, and also
a considerable number of periodicals published, and
besides that, there are in this metropolis one or
two societies already established for the purpose of
publishing hooks connected with religious matters
so that they might safely leave that department to those
societies, and they moatd not be on the one hand intruding
on their province, and attempting to set up works, either in
opposition to theirs or attempting to set up an inferior orga-
nisation, to do the work which these societies had attempted,
or on the other hand be exposed to the otjection of neglect-
ing or undervaluing religiose 'Batten. It was obvious to
every one connected with Wales that there was a considera-
ble number of elementary books relating eskleteey, to semi-
tore, to chemistry, to maaufeethres, to the diffueat braaeltee
of domestic industry, published at a very small price by
different societies who had undertaken to convey information
on there particular bespokee which it would be very desir-
able for the Welsh people that they should have translated
into their own, because this did sot 'evolve any question of
maintaining an exclusive knowledge of Welsh any mom
then publishing English books in Wales involved any
notion of hostility to the Welsh language. In the natural
course of things the English kinguage would prevail more end
more in the principality, and it would be a great advantage
to the Welsh people to assist them in obtaining employment
in England if the knowledge of the English age
more prevalent. But, in order to spread knowledge wee
among
the Welsh people, it was necessary to enable them to obtain
books published in their own language.
The meeting was also addressed by Sir Tumuli Pamirs,
Colonel Tatmon, the Dean of Bemetort, Mr. Joni., and
Mr. MIIIDITH, who dilated upon the kind of works which
it would be desirable to publish. All the speakers repudiated
the notices that it was intended by this movement to per-
petuate the Welsh language, but contended that the pub-
of works in the Welsh language was the readiest, If
s7s7tle only means of diffusing information among the
Welsh. Eventually a neolution was carried in accordance
with the object of the nestle'', and a provisional committee
wig maimed for t
the purpose of considering the best means
of ist ai g tha object.
• list of donations to the amount of 1161. was then an-
someed, and the nasal vote of thanks to the chairman
wound up the proceedings.

SINGULAR DEATH.—On Friday afternoon Mr. H.
Willey held an inquest at the Portman At.., Smalley.
street, Direst-equarej on Mr. Joseph Watkins, SOU of Mr.
Watkins, arises. strand, sod 20, and assistant to Mr.
Jaynes. Osaka and dregehe, Broadlepterrase. Mr.
Isms Maned that he liege ewe separate establieltseents, see
el whisk Anew/ seepeelneesded. He was infocsed last
amicsing Meat the letter was not ore at the
we
bow, sad be masediagly repaired to it, sad locking
thumb demased's badmen window, he beheld him at the
last el his bed, es his knees, as if preying. Ham *lda
endeavoured to verse him, he catered kb room, sad was
Issererunielms at tad* Ithe quite dead, his head and bee
enveleyed is the bedgethas. W countesenee blast and im-
am& se by annemien. Mr. Masada, surpos, who was
t laud
emietilinaae.d perinneed ea " anioPs7, "km k•
eingmtles of the brain, but so nese of pokes.
la his *Opt doomed was smothered by his head end bee
bit Meleir awed by the bedelothee. A vordist we
retuned Is essordeem with the above evidenee—namely
"That diseased was smothered by the bedelothes."