I happened to come upon business to this place; and being so near you,
and having an hour's leisure, I could not help sending this to remind you
that there is such a one alive, who wishes you well, and who is really
glad you have got into such a worthy family. I hope that you will make
the best use of your time; you will not be able to see how precious it is
till most part of it is gone. This world (or this age) is so full of
people that take no time to think at all, that a young fellow is in the
greatest danger as can be to launch out among them. The terrestrial part
of men being predominant, is as apt as a monkey to imitate everything
that is bad. So that the little good which is to be done, must be done
in spite of nature.
I expected a line from you upon your being settled, and that you had time
to look about you; and when you have leisure, I shall be glad to hear of
your doing well. I make no doubt but you will follow your British
studies, as well as other languages: for I suppose it will hardly leave
you, whether you will or no. Therefore to whet your parts, and in order
to improve yourself that way, I propose to you a correspondent, a friend
of mine, an Anglesea man; who will be glad of your acquaintance, and I
daresay _you_ of _his_; especially when you have seen some of his
performances. His name is Gronw Owen; and you may direct to him at
Donnington, near Salop; he keeps a school there, and is curate of a place
hard by. He is but lately commenced a Welsh poet; and the first ode he
ever wrote, was an imitation of your ode on melancholy. His _Cowydd y
Farn_ is the best thing I ever read in Welsh. You will be more surprised
with his language and poetry than with anything you ever saw. His ode is
styled _The Wish_, or Gofuned Gronw Ddu o Fon; and is certainly equal, if
not superior, to anything I ever read of the ancients.
I have shared the dominion of poetry in Wales among you. He shall have
the north, and you the south. But he has more subjects, a hundred to
one, than you have, unless Glamorgan affords some.
Mr. Gronw Owen has been for some years laying a foundation for a Welsh
rational Grammar, not upon the Latin and Greek plan, but upon the plan
that the language will bear. It would be unreasonable to expect an old
archbishop to dance a jig and rigadoon with boys and girls; it is certain
that the Greek and Latin are such when compared with the Celtic. He has
desired of me to bring you acquainted together; and here I do it, unless
it is your own faults. He does not know how to write to you, nor I
neither; but direct this at a venture.
I am,
Your assured friend,
And servant,
LEWIS MORRIS.
_Llandeilo Vawr_, _April_ 23, 1752.
* * * * *
The same to the same.