Written by an Anglesey man (probably the Thomas Owen, clerk, whose wife, sons and daughters are referred to at the foot of p. 63) about Anglesey men (e.g. Dr Edward Wynn of Bodewryd, Chancellor of the Diocese of Hereford is referred to on p.17)
On the inside of the front cover is written in bold letters : Richard Jones, Newborough, Anglesey, N. Wales teste Owen Francis
The following are the more important :
p. 3 "On David Foulkes Watch-maker - he had but one eye"
p.4-5 "To J.O. Penrhos from his friend T.O."
p.6-7 "On P..s Birthday, November ye 26th/06"
p.13 "To Miss Price on her drawing a Landskip"
p.14-15 "To T.O. after a debauch at Trerddol" with interesting marginal references to persons present, also Charles XII, and Pultawa, to Parson Hughes, Sir Robert Walpole etc. Explains "kettle" in the last line as "crochan"
p.p. 15-16 "To Miss O"
p.p. 16-17 "To H.O. of Penrhose Esq." On p.17 allusions to Dr Edward Wynn, Churchill (Marlborough) and Walpole ("Bobs, bribes and pensions") The opening lines seem to refer to Hugh Owen's mining adventures
p.23 (a) An anti-papal song
(b) "On ye King's Present to both ye Universities"
(c) "On 2 Ladies drowned in ye Thames"
p.26-27 "To Maur Wynn of Llwyn Esq, A.D. 1730" A highly interesting poem. Allusions to Wynn's possible diversons - "or studious read romantik takes or Feats of Ancient Sons of Wales". References to Lem Gulliver, Prelate Wilkins and his Machine, and especially to the Continental concerns of the day. Who was the publican Richard Hughes to whom "I oft repair For clearer drink and purer air, and why should the writer dub the publican Sinzindorff ?" [For a further version and some variants see Henblas Ms 16 f.f.20-25]
p.p. 36-42 A long poem with no dedication. Botton right hand corner of p.41 torn off
p. 44 "To Wm. Brynkir" (a rather scurrilous adaptation of the story of Pyrrhus' elephants)
p. 45-46 "Upon ye Revd. Mr W.....s manuscript Titled some few directions for a student from his coming to ye University to his taking his A.B. Degree"
p.p. 46-48 "An Elegy on ye death of Mr Thos. Wms. A.B.2 (a marginal note states the smallpox raged at Oxford the year before his death)
p.51 "To Lord B. on his turning Poet"
p. 52-56 "Upon the death of W...O...Esq of [Presaddfed] by T.O., old class fellow"
p. 62 (a) "On ye death of Arthyr Williams A.M."
(b) "On ye death of his father John Williams Esq"
p.63 (a) "In Richardum Green Pharma" by T.O.
(b) A list of Thomas Owen's children (with dates of birth)
p.p. 68-70 Latin ode "ad J.O. de Presaddfed" with a marginal reference to John Ellis of Tai-croesion
p.p. 70-71 Latin ode "ad Gulielm Lewis de Trusllwyn Armiger"
p.p. 71-74 Latin ode "ad Sylvanum Urban. Gen. Pervanos casos"
p.75 "The choice sent to J.O." [?Presaddfed] later "Answered"
p.76 (a) Title of song almost undecipherable...charming Kitty..
(b) "To Tom Bean"