The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-26 00:00:00

VIE EISTEDDFOD, ST. MARTIN'S-HALL.

Eleven o'clock was announced as the hour of meet-
ing, but it was past 12 before the Right Hon. President
to, .k the chair. His apology was a very sufficient one.
He was (as he said) in a transition state, having within
a few hours vacated his seat in Parliament by accepting
a Government office, and his time, consequently, being
completely engrossed ; for which reason, he added, he
could remain but for a short time. Sir Benjamin opened
the proceedings by an excellent address, explaining the
objects of these meetings, advocating their usefulness,
and warmly recommening them to public favour.
The first business was the competition of performers
on the Welch harp, a noble instrument, but of pri-
mitive construction. It has three rows of strings ;
the two outer rows are unisons, consisting of the
diatonic scale, the chromatic semitones being produced
(there being no pedals) by an intermediate row. It is
thus a difficult instrument, but very effective in skilful
hands. There were only three competitors, in conse-
quence, as was explained, of the short notice that had
been given. Each of them played a Welsh air with va-
riations ; and when they had done, Mr. John Thomas
(our well-known harpist) came forward to announce the
award of the judges, of whom he was one. He stated,
more plainly than would have been pleasant to the
honest fellows if they had understood him (which most
probably they did not), that none of them were first-rate,
and that in Wales there were hundreds of others as
good ; but they received a first, second, and third prize,
from 5 guineas to 3 guineas, in purses attached to ribbons,
which were presented to them by some of the fair occu-
pants of the platform. Then there was a similar com-
petition of singers. There were only three—young girls
in their primitive costume, whose rustic deportment
was very engaging. Each of them sang a Welsh
ditty, accompanied on the harp. Nothing could be
simpler than their singing, or more unadorned by the
graces of art, yet they all had sweet tunable voices, and
one of theta (Ann Price by name) sang with such re-
markable sweetness and expression that a loud encore
burst from the whole audience. It is needless to add
that Ann Price carried off the first prize, smaller ones
beingr
Benjamin
to the
left the chair, but before his
departure a vote of thanks, moved in an eloquent address
ivne
jaminHallother now two.
S.
by Mr. Lloyd Davies, the newly-elected member for the
Cardiganshire boroughs, was passed by acclamation.
The chair was then taken by one of the Vice-Presidents,
and a number of prizes were awarded to the authors of
poems and essays on subjects connected with the Prin-
cipality.
Oa the whole, the proceedings of this Eisteddfod were
pleasing and interesting. ; and we trust that it will lead
kind, more to other meetings of a similar , fully prepared
and on a greater scale.

ISLINGTON LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY.-Mr.
Joseph Simpson has just resigned the librarianship of
this society, to the great regret of the committee and
members, by whom he is much respected. A. more
lu-
crative appointment is the occasion of Mr. Simpson's re-