Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 2.djvu/110

88 De la Laund; 2 and 3, or, a lion rampant, queue fourchue, sable, Welles; 4, barry of five, ermines and gules, three crescents sable, Waterton. The crest, which is placed on a most grotesquely fashioned heaume, is a lion, queue fourchue, probably assumed from the Welles family.

Mr. Way submitted, for the consideration of the Committee, the circular recently issued by the Philological Society, requesting the assistance of all persons who have given attention to the peculiarities of local dialect, in furtherance of the intention of the Society to compile and publish a Dictionary of British Provincialisms. Mr. Way observed, that the proposal of the Philological Society to collect such remains of our older language as are still preserved in the local dialects of the British islands, appears to be an object well deserving of the attention and concurrence of the Committee, and that essential aid might be afforded to the efforts of the Philological Society, by making the object known to the members of the Association, through the medium of the Archæological Journal. The Committee expressed their desire to give furtherance to so important an object. Many of the readers of the Journal may have taken an interest in observing and noting down the peculiarities of local dialect in various districts, and they may be disposed to make their researches available for such a purpose. The Philological Society will thankfully receive any communication addressed to the Secretary, I. G. Cochrane, Esq., 49, Pall Mall, London. (See the list of Archæological works preparing for publication.)

The Rev. John Williams, of Nerquis, Flintshire, author of the Ecclesiastical Antiquities of the Cymry, or the Ancient Church of Britain, communicated the following observations on the early use of lime-mortar in England.

"In an article 'on Ancient Mixed Masonry of Brick and Stone,' in the Archæological Journal (vol. i. p. 307,) by Mr. Bloxam, he observes; "That it is doubtful whether we have any remains of early masonry, to evince that, prior to the Roman invasion, the use of lime in a calcined state mixed with water and sand, or any other substance, so as to form an adhesive cement by which stone could be joined to stone, was known to the ancient inhabitants of this island." This made me curious to know if our old Welsh documents have recorded any traditionary incidents which might throw light upon the subject. I accordingly looked into some of them, and the following extracts are the fruit of my labours. "The three beneficial artisans of the isle of Britain; Corvinwr, the Bard of Ceri Hir Lyngwyn, who first made a ship, mast, and helm, for the nation of the Cymry; Morddal Gwr Gweilgi, the mason of Ceraint ab Greidiawl, who first taught the nation of Cymry how to work with stone and lime—at the time when Alexander the emperor was extending his conquests over the world ;—and Cocl ab Cyllin ab Caradog ab Bran, who first made a mill with wheels for the nation of the Cymry. And they were bards." (Triad 91, third series, Myvyrian Archaiology, vol. ii. p. 71.)