The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-05-28 00:00:00

It don not appear that the Raids leaf any mythological fables.
They had triad., and other kinds of aphorisms, containing their
political, moral. religious, and other maxims, and branches cf
knowledge. which it was necessary that every disciple should learn
by heart, before he could gain tulinlasion into the order. Of these
thing% as many are still presentd as would take up a long time
for a person of common capacity to acquire.
Whatever superstitions might have originally belonged to the
system, must in a gnat measure, or perhaps totally, have been ex-
punged by the introduction of Christianity. In other respects,
believe that the system is still preserved, as to the general princi-
ples. within • small district of lilarnorganshire, whilst it has be-
come nearly unknown in every part of Wales for several ages. This
appears more particularly front a celebrated Eisteddrod, or Co n-
gress. held at Carmarthen about the year 1430, against which the
Synod of the Bards of tilatnorgan protested, as being totally sub-
versive of the ancient institutions, as preserved by them. This
Congress at Cartmuthen, and those subsequently held in North
Wales, were scarcely anything more than the simple meetings of
poets and minstrels, under a few etnninon and indispensable re-
gulations, for the sake of good order, and therefore not worthy of
particular notice.
The ('hair of 61Rn:organ being the only one that preserved the
ancient Herdic instittit:ll, it is of consequence to bring it more par.
Ocularly to the notice of the public, for without it we should have
probably nothing left of Banlism or Druidism, except in scattered
ruins, of which nothing satisfactorily could now be made out.
This provincial chair, or lionsedd, has regularly preserved the
ancient discipline, and has occasionally held public meetings, to
give edict to die functions el the Bards belonging to it. Some of
these mcetincs were expressly convened at the desire of the Lords
Marchers and other powerful families, who were desirous of learn-
ing somethieg of this extraordinary system, which was so formed as
to have within itself the means of self-v.-nervation, under all the
great changes of the nation. And to satisfy the wishes of those
noble personages, several of the 1111/4 intelligent Bards of the
times were appointed to (collect together and digest every particu-
lar relating to the t /min. Of the Congresses convoked by such
authorities the first was under the patronage of Sir Itichard Ne-
vine ; a subsequent one was held under the auspices of William
Herbert, Earl of Pembroke. at Cardiff Lamle, in 1370;
another in 1390. under the direction of Sir Edward Lewis,
of the Van ; and the last fur such special purpose was held at
Bewpyr Castle in KM, under the authority of Sir Richard Basset.
The result of these meetings was entered into books, which were
revised in the last-mentioned Congress, and of which manuscript
copies are s7iit extant ; and the original register of the last meeting
is in the possession of Mr. Turberville, of Llan Haran, in lila-
morganshire.

FATAL AERIAL EXCURSION.

BEDINGTON,MAY

Immediately after tb' inquest so Mr. Ilarris elm body of the
deceased was !aid nut and put into a shell, by Order of the church-
warden*. blesses. Simpson end Lambert.
Mr. Harris, the father of the deceased, who has the appearance of
being about 60 years of age, a.-rived about four o'clock yesterday
Amoral, amompanied by a younger brother of the deceased, a
youth ahaut 13 year* old. Owing to the circumstance of the Jury
being at the time viewing the belly, he was prevented for some time
from seeing the remains of his anti, and went in the interval to the
room of Miss Stocks. Mr. llarrk asked hey what his son had said
tuber during the voyage ; she gave him nearly the mate account as
that which appeared ia nut pular of yesterday. He then scent into
the roam of the &erased several times, and afterwards took a seat
in the bar of the inn. where he wits introduced to the step-mother
of 3liss Stocks, and he was head to say that he had repeatedly told
his son that be was building a machine for his own destruction ; to
which he said the answer from his son wins, ". Never mind that,
father, but go and attend to your own business."
The widow of the deceasnd his not yet been down, Lut is ex-
pected to-41r.e, as well as the father of 31iss Stocks.
31m. Stocks returned to London with one of the members of the
Committee, about six o'clock yesteniay evening.
Mar Stocks has passed the night in a very bad state, continually
moaning. she says it is too much for her to bear, and is continu-
ally praying to (lad to relieve her. She often says she is sure her
recovery is impossible. This morning she said, with apparent sa-
tisfaction, that her side was better. About seven o'clock she drank
about half a can of tea, since which she has complained of in.
creased pain and restlessness'. She awoke from a very abort slum-
ber in the greatest fright, fancying herself in the balloon.
So great is the detnand for pieces of the tree against which the
balloon struck, that it has been found necessary to station two men
near It this ramming, to prevent its being literally turn up by the
mots. All the bustle and confusion of yesterday is now completely
I subsided. The two pigeons which 31r. Ilarris took up in the bal.
' loon are now almost conipletely recovered trim. the shock of the full.
At eleven o'clock the lice. Air. Ferries, the Rector, tame to the
assistance of the sufferer, and remained with her some time. She
expressed to him a great wish to see the mother of the deceased,
or sonic of her own family, and appeared to be considerably can-
"ed.
It has been said that Miss Stocks is not informed of the death of
31r. Harris. The fact is, she inquired after him oa coming to her I
senses, and was informed of the fatal event.
As many false reports of the cirssor.stsnees attending the offer of
Miss Stocks to accompany Mr. Haiti. have been circulated. it may
be proper to supply the following particulars, which are said to be
authentic Ilarris having advertised for a companion, and
mentioned :4 guineas as the sum required fur the ascent, three
gentlemen applied to him during the inflation. each offering thirty
guineas ; but for same private reasons these offers were de.
dined by Mr. 11. On his retiring feint the committee-room
to dress tor the ascent, bliss Stocks came to the window of
the committee-loon), and intimated that she had seen the
advertisement for a person to accompany Mr. Ileitis, and
Iwas herself willing to do so. On being informed that Idly
!guineas were required she appeared considerably disappointed ; but
her application bring mentioned to 31r. I hurls, he went to her, and
seeing her display much of the cool courage so necessary in a
perilous enterprise, offered her a sent in his car. MISS Stocks was
then Introduced to seine female friends of the I 'onimittre, who with
great propriety asked her if she did nut wish the attendance of some
of her family ? She replied that her mother, who was outside of
the gate, had consented to her ascent, but had &vino d cunning the
gardens. She was then induced, with much persuasion, to take a
glass of wine, but would not accept the offer of additional cover-
ing, which some persons thought necessary, as she was dressed in
*bite, without a shwa