Ffynh 1E

The old customs are now held in low regard, because they are so uncommon. However, the crowd which came together were well pleased with the clumsy poesy that was there, so much that they ordained another eisteddfod at Corwen in Merioneth to be on May 12th next, expecting more bards to come there, and many promise to come there, but what stops many is poverty. Many are held back by worldliness, others by faintheartedness, for there is neither profit nor advantage from such a custom, so everyone is very slack and dragging their feet, and slow to build or to beautify or to extend the bounds of the Welsh language, and now we, the few natives here, greet you and believe that there is in you some remains of the spirit of Fraternity. We would beg for your patronage if you would be pleased to give us some small present, out of goodwill to those who are trying to crawl after their Mother tongue ... Perhaps we may bit by bit come to walk – for children are enticed to walk by a few toys.

(Translation of a letter sent by Jonathan Hughes of Llangollen to the Gwyneddigion Society of London on 25 February 1789, quoted by G.J. Williams in ‘Llythyrau ynglyn ag eisteddfodau’r Gwyneddigion’, Llen Cymru, vol. I, 1950, p. 29)