The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-16 00:00:00

unquestionably given a stimulous to enterprise in
quarters where it was needed. The Western
States have been among those who have profited
most largely by it, and it is some satisfaction that
works of an enduring character, and of permanent
benefit to the people, have owed their existence to
the blood-stained struggle of the last two years.

The Bishop of St. DAVID'S made a very interest-
ing speech at Swansea, on nationalities. The dis-
course of the right roe prelate is well worthy of
uperusal,enee, as
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details.ationfromits elo-
quence,
to commence with, that much diversity of
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opinion had prevailed with regard to these " Bardicssemb'ics." He cited the authority of the ancient
Greeks, who held their national Eisted-dfodan, the
most celebrated of which were Olympic Games.
These games were most valuable, as they were a
"centre of national unity" for the Greek people,
and they also stimulated the progress of literature,
since the victories there obtained inspired the muse
of PINDAR. But, said the Bishop, you have the
advantage in your Eisted-dfodan, as compared with
the Olympic Games, for they were all feats of bodily
, activity. It belonged to a totally different order
of entertainments to that which they were assem-
, bled to enjoy. Dr. THIRLIVALL then entered at
some length into the disputes that arose regarding
the question of the maintenance of the old form of
speech. He said that these disputants were exag-
gerating the effect of language, good or bad. If
they crossed the Channel and went to France, they
would find a portion of that great country, called
Brittany, whose inhabitants spoke very much the
same language as themselves. In regard to this
place, the greatest unity subsisted between it and
other parts of the empire. There was no part of
France where the spirit of nationality prevailed to
a greater degree than in Brittany, and hence it was
apparent that all did not depend upon language to
such an extent as some erroneously supposed. In
Ireland, the greater part, indeed, nearly all the
people spoke the English tongue. Hence it could
not be said that the small remnant preserved of old
language cause any of the disturbances that arose
occasionally. There were sad proofs how little
a unity of language was instrumental in pre-
serving a unity of nationality. Need he take
them across the Atlantic and ask what had been
the effect of a common language there ; it had not
prevented " two sections of the same great people
from breaking out into the most dreadful civil war
which has been known in the history of mankind."
At all events, said the speaker, let us not exagge-
rate the effects of language, but reduce them to
their true value. This little sketch of the most
striking instances of different tongues not prevent-
ing unity from existing, and also that the same
tongue does not deter from the most violent alter-
cations arising from among those who speak it in
wide domains, was most appropriate. It reduced
the question to its true bearings, and confined it to
its just limits. Dr. 9 2HIELIVALL rendered essential
service to the cause he then represented by his able
arguments and forcible expositions of the compli-
cated subject before him. It is surprising what
people will find to dispute about at times, and how
angrily they will pursue their details, and with
what zeal carry on their opposition, when all the
time they have most likely no case to make out,
and had much better have remained quiescent, and
not made any hostile move at all. Dr. THIRLIVALL
said that those who were so much against the
Welsh language might believe him that it was not
so great an obstacle as they supposed. As to
those on the other side, he would say that they
had no reason to be over-anxious and so easily
alarmed. " Depend upon it, so long as the great
body of the Welsh people continue to value and to
love their ancient language it is impossible that
it can die out." This is essentially true, and the
experience of all time attests its veracity and
bears out its authenticity. What is engraven on
the mind of a nation cannot perish, what is
cherished in the heart of a people must sur-
vive. The advice given by the Bishop of St.
DAVID'S was very wise, and it is to be
hoped that many who heard may take heed to
it. He said he wished that every Welshman should
have something added to what he possessed, and
not taken from him. He wished him not to lose
the chance of exercising his talents and cultivating
his faculties, so that he might pursue a career of
useful activity and honourable ambition in all parts
of the world, which advantages he could not expect
to realise if he only carried about his ancient
tongue. He wished that in this generation it would
cease to be necessary to employ an interpreter in a
court of justice. He thought the people of Wales
were threatened witn a new Saxon invasion. It
had begun, it was spreading, and it would reach
the remotest corners of the land. There was a dif-
ference, however, in this second approach of the
Saxon. He " came not now with mailed troops for
the purpose of devastation and plunder, but to pour
his riches over the whole country." Whoever,there-
fore, stopped the progress of this invasion, and
sought to limit the people of Wales to their own
tongue, to the single use of their own language, was
an enemy to the interest of Wales. Dr. Trinu,
WALL concluded his able address by stating that he
hoped he represented the opinions cf many in his
views such as he had just expressed them. He
thought the subject he had referred to was one
which required grave consideration. This is un-
doubtedly the case, and he is deserving of thanks
for the pains which he has been at to explain
rightly the important subject before him. It is one
which is intimately connected with the interests of
the nation, and it is to be trusted that no mistaken
notions of independence will prevent the people
from benefiting themselves by it, and acquiring all
the additional knowledge in their power. It was a
true saying of CHARLES THE FIFTH that the man
who knew two languages had two hearts and two
souls. Let those belligerents as to nationality,
then, profit by this precept, and sec vexed questions
at defiance by being doubly armed; let them retain
the old and receive the new, thus setting a good
example to other people, and putting a stop in their
own domains to the strife which is engendered by
disunions of this class, to the detriment of social
advancement and the hindrance of public improve-
ments of all kinds.