Cylchgronau Cymru

No. 9.] SEPTEMBER. [Id. THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MONMOUTHSHIRE WELSH ASSOCIATION. rPHIS kind of meeting is known in the Principality "by that con- 1 secrated and expressive Welsh word CYMANFA, which carries in it a peculiar charm to all the Independents of Wales, as the word Eisteddfod does to its bards and antiquarians. Long may it be so ! Uhe above meeting for this year was held at Maclien, a hamlet of considerable size, which stands in a narrow but beautiful and picturesque valley whose pleasantness is scarcely, surpassed by any part of Monmouthshire, through which the, Rhymney river flows in its onward course to the Bristol Channel Not far from it is Ruperra Castle, a mansion belonging to the Tredegar family, which stands upon the summit of a pleasant hill and is surrounded by tall trees to protect it against the rush of the storm, whence the most multiform and variegated scenery is., to be seen, sufficient to refresh the mind of every spectator, and fire the imagination of every true poet. From the general clean¬ sing, whitewashing, painting and beautifying which had been going; on for weeks, it was evident that some event of unusual import¬ ance was to take place at Machen; and it is supposed thai'ths; habitations there had not been so neat and bright for, years as tlxey, were the week of the Cymanfa. Nearly all the inhabitants,—s not the Independents only—but those of all denominations, evinced the greatest interest in the occasion, and co-operated to make lias glorious as possible. The Rev. Augustus Morgan, M.A., recto| of Machen, (a brother of Lord Tredegar), was present at one of i"he services, thereby giving additional evidence of the usual courjtesy and kindness which characterise that evangelical, benevolent and,