Dec. 22.
_Madoc's Emigration to America._--"ANGLO-CAMBRIAN" (No. 4. p.
57.), in contradiction to the occurrence of Madoc's emigration, has
adduced what he supposes to be a gross anachronism in the words
"Madoc was directed by the _best compass_, and this in 1170!"
Now, unfortunately for this opinion, the passage on which it is
founded will not allow of his interpretation. The original words are
in Sir Thomas Herbert's _Travels_, and, in his expressive
language, they are as follows:--"By Providence, the best compass,
and benefit of the pole-star, he returned safely to his own
country." Most certainly this cannot imply that Madoc was acquainted
with the mariner's compass.
"J.M.T." also seems to give great weight to the fact of a
"Welsh-Indian vocabulary" having been formed, containing no trace of
any Celtic root. This seems conclusive, yet it is not so; for I have
some words, extracted from a vocabulary of the Mandan (Indian)
language made by Mr. Catlin, during his sojourn among them, all of
which, with very slight allowance for corruption, are clearly Welsh.
Mr. Catlin believes the Mandans to have been descended from the
followers of Prince Madoc, from the strong evidence which he
considers his stay among them afforded him, and detailed in his work
on the Indians. I regret to add, that the Mandans have been
exterminated by the small-pox and the weapons of their enemies. I
have long taken a deep, because a national, interest in this
question, and have endeavoured to examine in the spirit of that
noble {237}precept, which ought to be bound up with the existence of
every _Cymro_, "The truth against the world." Consequently, I
have found that much of what is put forth as evidence on this
question is, as Mr. Corney has very justly intimated, quite
inadmissible; in short, unworthy of belief. Still, the inquiry has
afforded me sufficient reasons for viewing the question of Prince
Madoc's emigration as a fact, and for supporting it as such as far
as my humble testimony will allow.