Controversial magazines
During the last decade of the 18th century 3 periodicals were published, which were notable for their controversial content. The burning issues of the day would feature prominently on their pages. In 1793 Y Cylchgrawn Cynmraeg [The Welsh magazine] appeared, edited by Morgan John Rhys, a Baptist minister. This was the first Welsh language periodical to deal with political matters such as:
- peace
- the slave trade
- the abolition of the class system
- the squandering of money on arms and warfare
The magazine was printed at Trefeca, Machynlleth and Carmarthen. This constant movement was probably due to the printers' fear of persecution because of the political ideas expressed in the publication. Finally the editor emigrated to America where he established a short-lived newspaper entitled The Western sky in Philadelphia in 1798.
Both The Miscellaneous repository, neu y drosorfa gymmysgedig (1795), and Y Geirgrawn [The magazine] (1796) were of the same nature. The former magazine was edited by Thomas Evans ('Tomos Glyn Cothi'), a Unitarian minister, and the latter by David Davies of Holywell. The principles of the French Revolution permeate both publications, but they were short-lived, chiefly because their editors feared harassment by the authorities.