The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-10

sometimes increased to twenty-ene, who were
called freemen, set, and gave verdicts
In cases of forfeited citizenship, reclamation OF
lands or rights appertaning thereto, jury OF 500
men were called together Jnrymen were sometimes
called assessors. Every legal head Of family pos
sessing land, was assessor, or liable to jury duty
There were districts called commotes," commons, or
hundreds. One OF the laws Of Dyvnwal Moelmued
declared that State cannot be formed without three
things, viz: "A king, prince or chief elected by the
voice OF the people (who could also deprive him OF
office); secondly laws enacted by the people; and
third their administration by judges and juries" We
have here the division OF government into execu-
tive, legislative and judicial departments. Another
law declares perfect equality OF political, civil and
religious rights under constitutional laws. Young
were considered OF age as soon rs their boards
grew, and were allowed to vote. All under fourteen
years of age were infants or minors. Strangers OF
learning, on peaceful erands, were allowed to 90
and come unmoested; and the persons OF ambassa-
doris were to be respected and received by the king
or judges. Heralds and expresses wee secured
from arrest. All Britons secured In ole right
to carry arms of defence Of which they cou2 not be
deprived.
man in the industrious performance of the domestic
duties Of weaving, spinning, and dairy work, which
was honored and respected. Strangers shipwrecked
on the coast were to be provided for, and hospi-
tably treated. Old age was honored and respected;
infants, idiots, and distressed people were pro-
tected II was crime to strike ministers,
old men, children, or unarmed strangers.
Other laws pointed out the manner and kinds Of
pleading allowed in courts of law. The pledging
the word )" or affirmation, in or out of court, was
considered OATH and its violation treated as per-
jury. The oaths of ministers who had apostatiZed,
of a man who had sworn falsely, or violated his
pledge of truth, were discredited, and their testi
mony in courts set aside. Truth, with the Brltons
held in the highest reverence, and hence one Of
their favorite triads was, g,cir yss erby~ Y
| b1d -" Truth against the world Women and
minors, when accessories to theft, were exempt
from punishment. A person who committed theft
under the following circumstances was excused =
That should he be distressed for means OF existence
and after going through three towns and calling at
nine houses fail to receive aid, then he might steal
| what was necessary to maintain life." Whether
from the influence Of such laws, or other circum-
stances we know not, yet the TACT IS no less true,
that more honest race OF men never existed, and
the greatest lie ever put in rhyme, is the old Eng
lish song, beginning with, Tatfa was Welshmau,
Taffa was thief" The doors OF houses, barns, and
granares never locked in the interior OF Wales,
and it being the custom of the sheriff to present the
judges with pair of white kid gloves when there
are no criminal cases to try it frequently happens
that they leave the circuits of the principally for
several consecutive rulings. with white kid gloves,
the jail doors in the meantime standing open. Long
habit has implanted strong love of independence in
the people. You may travel through all the coun'
ties of Wales, especially those Of the most print,
tive character, and no Welshman will ever hold
out his hand to beg from you. This know from
personal experience. In many cases they would
rather die than beg. Whenever you see beggars in
new OK, OF III OJner large Clues, make up your
mind at once that they are not Welsh people; neither
will you find them in your poor houses. In
Noelmud's laws mechanics were everywhere
held in high esteem One triad, or law the
list, provides for the maintenance and encour-
agement Of science, lest there should be a def
cheney of regular teachers, and arts and sciences
depending upon memory and regular instruction
should be lost and also for the further improvement
of the arts and sciences by the addition Of every new
discovery approved by the learned and the wise and
confirmed by them as SUCH lest the advantages aris
ing from the powers of natural genius and invention
should be lost" The clause in the constitution of the
United States for encouraging arts and sciences,
granting patents, &C., is not more to the point
Their laws also honor peace and peacemakers. They
were warlike in defending their country against in
vaders, but not aggressive.
! They have boosted q country and language
for two thousand five hundred years. Such were
the laws of Dyvnwal Moelmud, (who fourished 800
years before the Christian era, having been King
Of Britain and which Asser Menevensis handed over
to Alfred the Great and most conspicuous Of them
all were the rights Of conscience At Assers sugges
ton, Alfred founded Oxford University, and among
himself being the first Provost. At that time there
were several Furnishing colleges in Wales Asser
wrote history Of Alfred's reign, and gives no ac-
count of his education anywhere else than in Eng
land neither is there any found in his by Stephens
He frequently made Latin quotations to Alfred, who
finally requested him to write them down. Asser
then suggested to him to keep q Hand Book for
such records, which he did; and "Alfred's Manual,
! or " Hand Book" thus began, is still extant.
Asser also translated Boethus " Consultations of
! Philosophy" and wrote several other works. The
Welsh never united with England until the accession
of the British or Welsh House of Tudor Tor Tywder
or Tewdyr. in Welsh9 whose glorious reign com.
menced with Henry (Tudor) the VII, and who
was the first to curb the power Of the Pope. 1t
was the great reign of this house including that of
| Queen Elizabeth, that covered ngland with glory
It was not until Henry (Tudor) the VIII, entirely
| overthrow the power of the Pope, and suppressed
the union, which was effected in 1914, Wales
being allowed representatives in Parliament, sub
mtted to taxation and the English common law
Edward the First left Wales independent in her in
situations and laws, and secured peace and alliance
by giving them representative in royalty in the
person Of the Prince Of Wales. At Rhudand castle,
which was built by Prince Llewllyn Sstiht in North
Wales, may still be huge stone with the follow
ing inscription
:" This fragment is the remains