Copyright
Helen Forder
2004
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Under the pseudonym
‘Gwenynen Gwent’ Augusta Hall won a prize of ‘A Seal Ring, with a Welsh
Motto engraved on a Welsh Pebble, value £10. 10s.' at the 1834 eisteddfod
in Cardiff. The title of the essay was The Advantages Resulting from
the Preservation of The Welsh Language and National Costumes of Wales
and in it Augusta argued strongly that the preservation of any language
leads to a greater sense of nationality and stated :-
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‘The fact must certainly
be admitted that nationality is desirable as it tends to promote honourable
conduct, and by disposing us first of all to love our country, it induces
us to wish for its welfare, and next to promote that welfare to the utmost
of our abilities.
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Y
Ddraig Goch
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It being allowed then
that nationality contains the essentials of Patriotism, it of necessity
follows that every circumstance which promotes and fosters that most
beneficial quality must be deserving of encouragement; and as it is
admitted that the existence of the Welsh language has in an eminent degree
contributed to the maintainance [sic] of national feeling, we may surely
assert with confidence that the preservation of that language calls for the
support of every well-wisher of his country;'
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Amongst Lady Llanofer's
other literary achievements are the six volumes of The Autobiography
and Correspondence of Mary Granville, Mrs. Delany, which she
edited, and which were published in 1861 and 62.
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In 1867 The First
Principles of Good
Cookery was published. It is a
strange book, in which Lady Llanofer states her opinion on a wide variety
of subjects, from home economics to the effect of the Poor Laws. As well as
providing the reader with sound advice as to the preparation and cooking of
good, nourishing and tasty meals, it has several illustrations, some of
which were drawn by Lady Llanofer herself.
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