Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 54.djvu/166

 teristic, and chiefly bears the impress of Handel's influence. Its strength lies in its choruses, some of which, especially ‘Dyma'r gwyntoedd yn ymosod’ (‘How the giant winds do wrestle’), are deservedly popular with Welsh choirs. The airs had numerous defects, which Stephen more or less remedied in a revised score; this was published posthumously under the editorship of Mr. D. Emlyn Evans, with improved English words by the Rev. J. H. Johnes (Dolgelly, 1887).

Apart from his oratorio, Stephen's fame chiefly rests on the services he rendered to congregational singing among the independents of Wales, as John Roberts (1822–1877) [q. v.] did among the methodists. He edited, with the exception of the first two or three metres, the musical portion of a Welsh hymnal entitled ‘Cerddor y Cyssegr’ (Bethesda, 1860, 8vo), which contains several melodies harmonised by himself, but no tunes of his own composition. This was superseded by the publication in 1868 of a new hymnal, ‘Llyfr Tonau ac Emynau’ (Wrexham, 4to), under the joint editorship of Stephen and Joseph David Jones [q. v.] of Ruthin, the chief burden of the work falling on the latter. This was followed in 1879 by a supplement (‘Attodiad’), edited by Stephen alone, containing six tunes of his own, the best known of which bears the title of ‘Tanymarian.’ The completed hymnal contains over three hundred tunes and nine hundred hymns, and until recently was in universal use among Welsh congregationalists.

He also composed a number of fugitive pieces, none of them being of the first importance, except perhaps a requiem (Bethesda, 1858), on the death of John Jones (1796–1857) [q. v.] of Talsarn. Stephen, who was a fair geologist, wrote several papers in Welsh on geology, and his collection of specimens was presented to the university college of North Wales, Bangor.

The Welsh memoir of Stephen, edited by Mr. W. J. Parry (1886), contains two portraits of Stephen. There is appended a selection of his prose and poetical compositions, together with several anthems and part-songs, the greater number published for the first time.

[A Welsh biography of Stephen, Cofiant Tanymarian (Dolgelly, 1886, 8vo), under the editorship of Mr. W. J. Parry of Bethesda, with an account and criticism of Stephen's musical work by Mr. Emlyn Evans; Jones's Cerddorion Cymreig, pp. 123–7, 135, 160; Hanes Eglwysi Annibynol Cymru, by Rees and Thomas, v. 304–7; Y Geninen, July 1885; Byegones, 1889, p. 102.]

 STEPHEN, GEORGE (1794–1879), miscellaneous author, born in 1794, was the fourth son of James Stephen (1758–1832) [q. v.] He was placed under a surgeon at an early age, with a view to an appointment in the medical department of the army; but upon the peace was sent to Magdalene College, Cambridge. He showed more taste for hunting than for study, and was therefore removed, after two years' residence, by his father, and placed in the office of Mr. Freshfield, solicitor to the bank of England. During the trial of Queen Caroline he was sent to the continent to collect evidence. Having completed his five years' apprenticeship, he set up in business for himself. In 1826 Sir Fowell Buxton applied for an inquiry into the report that a slave trade was being carried on at Mauritius with the connivance of the governor. Stephen was employed to collect evidence. The inquiry was dropped in consequence of the governor's death. Stephen was led by his investigations to form a plan for stimulating the anti-slavery agitation. He applied to O'Connell, who gave him advice as to the proposed organisation, and drew up a scheme, which was rejected by the committee of the Anti-Slavery Society. It was then taken up by James Cropper [q. v.] and others. The ‘Agency Committee,’ formed in consequence, arranged for public meetings, and for the promotion of petitions throughout the country, and played an important part in the final agitation (a full account in the Anti-Slavery Recollections). About the same time Stephen was requested by Lord Lyndhurst to act as solicitor under a measure for the relief of pauper prisoners for debt. He had no salary, and advanced sums for the repayment of which there was no provision. In recognition of this service or of his anti-slavery labours he received a knighthood upon the queen's accession. Stephen also wrote pamphlets upon the police and the poor laws. He published in 1835 the ‘Adventures of a Gentleman in search of a Horse,’ which became very popular; and in 1839 the ‘Adventures of an Attorney in search of Practice,’ an amusing work, which, though no names were given, was supposed to contain indiscreet revelations. He had at an early period started a society for the purchase of reversions, to which he acted as solicitor. A quarrel with the directors led to his dismissal, and involved a considerable loss of money. He then gave up his profession in 1847, and was called to the bar at Gray's Inn in 1849. He settled at Liverpool, where for some time he had a fair practice in bankruptcy cases. His business, however, declined upon a change