nished no good stone, and for want of funds it could not be procured from a distance, they were always ready to avail themselves of the means at hand: wanting stone in the eastern counties, they built of flint; and in the southern chalk counties, flint and stone are commonly used together; in much of the flat country of Germany they build with brick, and one of the four most glorious cities for archæology, old Lubeck, is built of brick alone. The tracery of the east window I assign to the seventeenth century; and the door beneath, in so extraordinary a position for a door (viz. at the east end), was removed from a porch formerly existing near the west end of the south aisle. Before the alterations, the roof, which dated about the time of Henry VII., was decorated with many coats of arms, and the east window contained a prayer for his soul.

"Two fragments of sculptured stone forming a ring appear to have been part of an early font, although the small diameter tells against the supposition. We next notice the monuments. The oldest is the high tomb in the south chantry; it dates from about the middle of the fif teenth century, and formerly stood on the opposite side of the same chantry, and has been despoiled of the inscription, which was engraved on brass let into the upper edge, and also of the coats of arms.

"Next is a brass to the memory of one Thomas Purvdebe and Johanna his wife; he died September 17, 1509. Their costume is the ordinary costume of civilians of that period. The slab formerly lay in the middle of the south chantry.

"Another commemorates John Barker, who died August 13, 1595. It gives a long account of his pedigree, derived from the family at Sunning, in Berks., where there is a brass to the memory of his father, William Barker, Steward of Sunning, who died in 1549; and also formerly a brass to his brother William, who died in 1575, and another to his sister Ann, who died in 1589. His name appears in the register thus:

"1595, August. The xx day was buried John Barker, Gentleman.'

"There is also a brass inscription to Mary, wife of Lawrence Eliot, and the register contains these two entries:

"Ao. Dni 1600, November,

"The x day was buried a child of Lawrence Eliot, Gent., and Mary his wife, unbaptised.'

The xvi day was buried, Mary the wife of Lawrence Eliot, Gent.'

"I need but refer to one other tomb, which is the mural monument against the chancel wall, representing a lady kneeling. She was Judeth Eliott, wife of William Eliott, of Burbridge, Esq., and died A.D. 1615, aged 21.

"It remains to notice the parish registers, which commence in 1582, and are very well written and well preserved.

"Several of the oldest names which occur are families whose descendants still inhabit the neighbourhood: for example, Eliot from whom is descended the present Rector of the adjoining parish of Pepperharrow-Billinghurst, Costen, Mellersh, Peto, Chitty, and many others.

"In the few latter years of the sixteenth century, we find entries of burial of persons unbaptized; their number increased and became quite common in the next century. We may assume that this arose from a powerful Puritan feeling in the parish, the existence of which may safely be inferred from the number of persons named from the Old Testament in preference to the saints of the new dispensation: one of the earliest is Abigaiell, daughter of William Melysh, and Amy his wife, bapt. January 11, 1595-6: others are Zachous, Benjamin, Judith, Abraham, Debora, and Bezaliel. One female, who was married in 1606, was named Adrian. In 1730 and 1731 are entries of burial of three Anabaptists.

"The parish appears to have been a very moral one, as it is quite rare to meet with any entry of baptism other than the child of so-and-so and his wife, but examples occur, such as,—

"1638, May the xvi, buried a child of Jane Manwayring, and of the people, unbaptised.'

"1645, Nov. the 2nd, William, Sonne of the widow Schocke, was baptised.' "1713, June, 14 day, James, son of Mary Bowller and ye people.'

"1710, November, 12th day, Abell, son of Joane Flotte. But Abell Diggins is ye reputed father.'

"And in an earlier case the paternity is very delicately hinted at:

had in the meantime proceeded to Petworth-house, where between two and three hours were spent in examining and admiring the splendid collection of pictures, statues, and other works of art, for which it is so famous. The Hon. P. Wyndham accompanied a section of the visitors to the chapel, the details of which were highly interesting. As to the house itself, the painted staircase and (entrance-hall are worthy of the Percies, and are alone worth a visit. In addition to this, every room in the grand suite is in itself a perfect museum of art and objects of vertu. The galleries of Petworth-house have been often described, but never adequately; they must be visited to be appreciated. The place is particularly rich in portraits, especially of royal personages and those connected with the Percy family. But the portraits are by no means confined to the noble or even the great. There is Henry VIII. and Catherine Parr; but there is also the "mountain belly and rocky face" of Ben Jonson, and the lovely countenance of Peg Woffington, painted by Hogarth, and worth half his more famous productions. In point of richness no room of the suite exceeds that adorned with the wood-carvings of Grinling Gibbons. In the same room are four panels filled with productions of Turner's pencil, when that artist was in the zenith of his power. Elsewhere the student of Turner will find specimens of his early style—before he had cast off the brown tone, and painted, as it were, with the pencil of light. The original of Turner's "Jessica" appears over one

of the doorways; and there is here the famous original of Leslie's "Sancho Panza before the Duchess;" and as a companionpicture, the same artist's "Gulliver among the Brobdignagians." The productions of Flaxman, including "The Archangel and Satan," and the statue of the "British Boxer," attracted great attention. And the curiosities are as rare as the works of art; among them are Hotspur's sword, and a piece of embroidery, the handiwork of Lady Jane Grey.

Adjoining the house is Petworth Church, on the restoration of which the late Earl of Egremont spent some £15,000. It is a fine church; but the restorations were not conceived in the true ecclesiological spirit, and enormous galleries mar the feeling and beauty of the edifice.

The dinner took place in the Park, in a large tent belonging to the Society. The Hon. Mr. Wyndham presided, supported by the Bishop of Chichester, Mr. Mitford, Mr. Tite, and other M.P.s, Mr. Peter Burrell, &c., &c. The Chairman stated that the Society had 820 members, beside those that day elected.

It was announced by Mr. Blencowe that the annual volume was not in a forward state, only 100 pages of it being as yet printed; and the Rev. Mr. Powell stated that many subscriptions were in arrear, in consequence of which an alteration of the rules was resolved on, which it is trusted will have a beneficial effect on the finances of this, one of the earliest and most hard-working of our Archæological Societies.

Aug. 21, 22, 23. This Society held a three-day meeting at Shaftesbury, which was well attended, under the presidency of T. H. SOTHERON-ESTCOURT, Esq., M.P. The meeting had been postponed a fortnight in consequence of the death of Lord Herbert, and it was now held out of the county, with the view to promote the formation of an Archæological Society for Dorsetshire. The assembly took place at the Market-house, in Shaftesbury, when

the Rev. A. C. Smith, of Yatesbury, read the report, which stated the Society to be increasing in number, and its financial position satisfactory.

"With regard to the Magazine (of which Number 20 is now in the press), the members of the Society have no doubt observed that a longer period than usual has elapsed since the issue of the last number and they will perhaps have begun to entertain some suspicion that either the resources of the writers are on the de

cline, or that the diligence of its conductor is relaxed. It is therefore proper to explain that neither the one nor the other is the case; but that the reason why it has been necessary to postpone for a little while the publication of any fresh number is, that both the press of our printer, and the time and attention of our editor, the Rev. Canon Jackson, have been entirely absorbed in preparing another work connected with the county, which the Society has undertaken to publish. Aubrey, the Wiltshire antiquary, made 200 years ago considerable collections for the Topography of Wiltshire, especially the northern part, of which we have as yet no regular history. The manuscript which contains his collections was printed many years ago, but so few copies were made of it, that the book is seldom to be met with. Canon Jackson has been for some time occupied in preparing a new edition of it, to be enlarged by notes and additions of his own, and to be illustrated with plates, chiefly of the family heraldry, then in the windows of the churches and gentlemen's houses, the greater part of which have long since perished. It has been a very laborious task, but the volume is now passing through the press, and is considerably advanced towards completion. It will be a thick quarto, of about 400 pages, and between 40 and 50 plates; and though it is of too large and expensive a character to allow your committee to present it to members of the Society, it is contemplated to offer it to them at a reduction of one-third of the price at which it will be sold to the public, an offer of which your committee has little doubt members generally will hasten to avail themselves.

"Nor is that the only fruit of our labours since the last annual meeting; a very considerable advance having taken place in furthering the scheme long since proposed for collecting accurate details towards the Parochial Histories of Wilts. It will be in the recollection of the Society that at our general meeting, held in September, 1855, a scheme was proposed by the Rev. John Wilkinson for obtaining a general Parochial History throughout the county of Wilts. This was followed by the issue of a pamphlet containing Heads of Information suggested for Parochial Histories; but the scheme, although here and there carried out with the greatest success, did not meet with that support which was anticipated; partly, perhaps, from an unwillingness in some of the clergy to make too minute an inquiry into private affairs, and partly from a feeling of inability in others to work up a some

what intricate subject. The plan, however, has received fresh encouragement from the Bishop of the Diocese, who, on the retirement of the late able Secretary, has placed it under the more immediate patronage of the Society by appointing one of our general secretaries, the Rev. W. C. Lukis, to be Honorary Secretary; and his Lordship is most anxious that its success may be ensured, by the clergy and laity according to it that assistance and support which they are able to give. The 'Heads of Information' have been rearranged, and put into the form of questions, framed as simply as possible, which are being issued, and will soon be in the hands of all the clergy.

"With regard to the Museum and Library, they have been augmented by sundry gifts, through the liberality of Mr. Poulett Scrope, Mr. Tugwell, Mr. Musselwhite, Mr. Spenser, Mr. Neate, Colonel Olivier, Captain Gladstone, Mr. A. Stratton, Rev. H. Bartlett, Mr. Chant, Rev. W. C. Lukis, and others, to whom our best thanks are due: but your committee would once more repeat its conviction that the possession of a permanent and suitable building, appropriated to those several departments, will alone attract valuable collections, whether by way of loan, deposit, or gift; indeed, such has been plainly intimated by several would-be donors and depositors."

The Rev. E. Hill then read a paper, by the Rev. J. J. Reynolds, on the Early History of Shaftesbury, after which the excavations now being carried on on the site of the abbey were visited.

After dinner at an hotel, a conversazione was held in the Town-hall, when Mr. Alfred Seymour read a paper on Wardour Castle, and the Rev. W. H. Jones one on the Wiltshire Possessions of the Abbess of Shaftesbury, which gave a good account of many places that were to be visited by the Society on the following day. The rooms of the Shaftesbury Literary Institution were placed at the disposal of the Society for a museum, and many rare and valuable objects were contributed, particularly by the High Sheriff, Alfred Seymour, Esq.

Aug. 22. An excursion was made to Wardour and Tisbury, returning by Hatch to Shaftesbury. The first object that attracted attention was the well

known conical hill, about a mile from the town, called Kingsettle. This hill commands extensive views, and is remarkable as being a place where Alfred is supposed to have collected and addressed his followers; and hence its name. Great difficulty was experienced in tracing its form, from the exuberant foliage by which it is at the present time covered. The party then ex mined some ancient fortifications at Wyncombe, and passed on to Donhead St. Mary Church, and from thence to the church of Donhead St. Andrew. This church contains an Anglo-Norman font, and a curiously sculptured capital of a column. It represents a shield bearing the emblems of the Crucifixion and supported by angels; this rests on a head of the Saviour, which terminates the shaft. On arriving at Old Wardour, so replete with historical associations, and the beauty of which is so well known, the castle attracted much attention, a full description having been given by Mr. A. Seymour on the previous evening. After luncheon a visit was paid to Tisbury Church. In the churchyard the great yew-tree, of course, did not pass unnoticed: this tree is nearly forty feet in circumference, and quite hollow. Place-farm, in the neighbourhood, was an occasional residence of the abbess of Shaftesbury, and still retains its gateway and barn, the latter of which is 200 feet long, and is probably one of the largest and most curiously-constructed in the kingdom; it is evidently of great antiquity.

In the evening a most interesting paper was read by the Rev. W. C. Lukis, of Collingbourne Ducis, on Cromlechs, which was illustrated by large drawings, beautifully executed by Mr. Lukis, sen., who has devoted the greater part of his life to this particular branch of archæological pursuit. A paper was also read by W. Cunnington, Esq., F.G.S., on Pen Pits, which concluded the proceedings of the day.

Aug. 23. A visit was made to Stourhead, passing by Motcombe-house, the seat of Lord Westminster; then to Woodlands, a manorial seat of the Doddingtons, but now occupied by Mr. Jupe, who kindly

shewed the party over it; thence to Mere, and, having seen the church, the party went on to Zeals-house, a manor-house formerly of the Chafyns, where the excursionists were personally invited by Mrs. Grove to see the interior of that ancient and historical residence. Some of the party only could avail themselves of this privilege, as many had gone on towards Stourhead, the seat of the late Sir R. C. Hoare, the well-known historian of Wilts. The present owner, Sir H. Hoare, met the party in the hall, and gave them a cordial welcome, throwing open the house and grounds for their inspection. On the way back, after refreshment at Stourton, a cursory glance was given to Pen Pits. These consist of several thousand roughly circular holes in a marshy tract of country, which have given rise to much speculation, but nothing certain is known of them. Dr. Buckland favours the opinion that they were nothing more than the places where the Britons dug their mill-stones; others regard them as the foundations of the thatched huts of the early inhabitants. Of their antiquity it appears there is no doubt, as they were overgrown with large oaks in the time of the Saxons. These and other opinions were pretty freely discussed on the top of the hill. The party then returned by Gillingham to Shaftes bury; and the evening was agreeably spent by the members of the Society in the museum.

On the following morning many of the members paid another visit to the excava tions which had been made under the superintendence of W. Batten, Esq., the curator of the Shaftesbury Literary Institution, in a garden on the supposed site of the Abbey, where foundations have been met with which are probably those of the Abbey Church. Parts of the tessellated pavement still remain. A vault was opened within the walls of the building, and a skeleton in good preservation was discovered, which appeared on examination to have been that of a man of about 40 years of age, about 5 ft. 7 in. high, and of a strong build; the teeth were sound and good.