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Left: In November
1787, Powell’s intriguing over opposition to the improvement of the
harbour led to increasing frustration at Common Hall meetings. On one
occasion, Powell attempted to enter a resolution opposing the Harbour
Bill into the minute book without reading it out to the assembled
burgesses. Charles Collins insisted on reading the motion, taking it
from Gabriel’s hand. Whilst trying to read the motion, Collins’ wig
was torn off by Gabriel’s son Reverend Thomas Powell. A brawl then
followed. Upon hearing the story, Moses Harries drew a cartoon entitled
‘ A Welsh Corporation Meeting’ |
| Right: In
1787, Powell attended Parliament to oppose a bill intended to improve
the town by paving the streets and other improvements. Acceptance of the
bill would ultimately mean a loss of control of certain aspects of the
town’s administration to a committee of some kind, with strangers and
meddlers; a situation totally unacceptable to Powell.
In support of his opposition, Powell made a speech to the
Parliamentary Committee. His intent was to describe Swansea as a small
town of no importance or ambition. His remarks were so scathing that
they inspired the artist Moses Harries to draw this cartoon and caption
it with an extract from his speech: ‘Swansea is a poor town mostly
inhabited by Copper Men and Colliers; But as well paved as most country
towns are: I know of no theatre there. I may have heard of one. I was
never at it’.
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