137 



forty-four of his poetical productions, together with many able critical remarks 

 upon some of his jjieces. 



With respect to the inquiry as to the existence of the Welsh language 

 between Longtown and Kerne Bridge, it may be stated, that according to the 

 " Archaeologia Britannica " of Edward Ll^\^d, published in the early part of the 

 last century, there was a Gwentish British dialect spoken in Gwent, and in 

 Irchenfield in Herefordshire, which was in use after the Norman Conquest ; for, 

 according to the Domesday Survey, the Kings of England had three Churches in 

 Irchenfield, the Priests of which were employed to go on embassies for the English 

 Court into Wales, a knowledge of the Ancient British tongue being necessary in 

 those days for such missions. 



The Welsh language lingered in the extreme west parts of Herefordshire — 

 such as Longtown — and the Black Mountains and bordering districts, imtU the 

 early part of the present centurj'. In Rowlstuue Church there is stiU preserved 

 a Welsh Bible, which marks the continuance of the language until a late period. 



In other Churches also in this region directions to Churchwardens in Welsh 

 and English were to be seen twenty years ago. 



Before leaving John Kent, it may be interesting to etymologists to know 

 that on the Wye, near Goodrich, is a stone called Kent's stone. Kynaston is not 

 far distant. As regards the derivation of Kentchurch, we are informed that 

 probably it is from St. Keyna's Church. See ifees' Wehh Saints, pp. 153, 340. 



The following attended the meeting : — Rev. W. Elliot, President, and his 

 friend Mr. W. W. Fowler ; Messrs. F. Bainbridge and G. H. Piper, Vice-Presidents. 

 Ladies — Miss Baker, Miss Beddoe, Miss E. Bull, Miss L. Bull, Miss Chapman, 

 Miss du Buisson, Mrs. Clarke, Miss Davies, Miss Hopton, Mrs. A. W. Horton, 

 Mrs. C. A Horton, Miss Jones, Mrs. Lindsay, Mrs. Moore, Miss Morgan, !Mrs. 

 W. Pilley, Miss Piper, Mrs. Warren and two friends. Gentlemen —Revs. J. E. 

 Grasett, M. Hopton, A. W. Horton, A. G. Jones, D. Price, F. H. Tatham, H. 

 W. Tweed, M. G. Watkins, and Chas. Wesley, Dr. T. A. Chapman, Messrs. R. 

 Clarke, J. Docking, Luther Davis, James Davies, F. Ford, J. Lloyd, T. C. Paris, 

 James B. Pilley, Assistant Secretary, and H. C. Moore, Honorary Secretary. 

 Visitors — Messrs. — Browne, A. B. Donaldson, C. A. Horton, F. W. Lindsay, 

 and Rev. E. R. Firmstone. 



KILPECK CHURCH. 



Upon arrival at Kilpeck Church, the members were received by the Vicar, 

 the Rev. E. R. Firmstone, who addressed them as follows : — 



Mk. President, Ladies, and Gentlemen, — Your good Secretary, 

 Mr. Moore, has accredited me with a much higher ambition than I myself can 

 lay claim to, of reading to you an exhaustive description of the detailed beauties 

 of this marvelluus little church. I have by me certainly a few extracts, read by a 

 member of the Cambrian Archseological Society, some years ago, I suppose, at a 

 meeting here before my time ; but they are not very full or complete. I have 

 also a few fragments of the history of the successive lords and owners of the 

 manor and castle of Kilpeck — but they are only fragments. I have also received 



