believed to have been exclusively confined to France.

Many donations of coins and books were laid on the table, and several new members proposed.

The next meeting of the Society will be held on the 28th of December.

HISTORICAL SECTION OF THE FRENCH SCIENTIFIC CONGRESS.

(Continued from p. 532.)

Dr. Bromet has this month favoured us with his promised account of the archæological questions submitted to the Scientific Congress lately held at Angers, in continuation of the Historical Questions we published in our last number. But his proposed observations on the "zeal and activity" of the French antiquaries he begs to defer to some future occasion; when, at the same time, he may possibly give us a general statement of the method and pre-arrangement (adopted by the general secretaries) of the "Congrès Scientifique de France."

1. In what localities of Anjou are there any Druidical, Roman, or Gallo-Roman monuments, and especially what Roman theatres or amphitheatres?

2. What is the best mode of drawing up a map of the several architectural monuments that have succeeded one another in this country?

In the formation of such historical maps it was proposed that there should be a separate one for each architectural æra.

3. At what epoch was the style of art now called Byzantine introduced into Anjou ?

4. To what period can we attribute the formation of certain enormous masses of iron scoriæ met with near Chambellay and Plessis-Macé in Anjou-there being neither traces nor tradition of any iron works having ever existed in their vicinity?

The conversation on this question elicited the information that pit-coal, although so plentiful in Anjou, was not used, nor probably known, as a combustible previously to A.D. 1321.

5. How is it that we occasionally find on one isolated spot such quantities of broken Roman pottery? and what are the inscriptions and the subjects in relief usually represented on the pottery so found?

6. What were the destination and the use of certain earthen vessels occasionally found embedded in the vaulting and walls of ecclesiastical buildings?.

This question referred to certain long grey earthen vases inserted in the vaulting and walls of the choir of the church of St. Martin at Angers, and supposed to have been there placed with the intent of in

creasing the resonant properties of its domical vaulting.

7. What are the essential points of difference between Roman fortifications and those of the middle ages?

8. What Roman monumental sculpture is there in Anjou that may be considered as symbolical?

9. How shall we explain the figure called a mermaid when holding in each hand a fish?

10. And how the representation of a personage sitting upon a cruciform nimbus, having another person kneeling at his feet?

11. At what epoch did the Gauls in Anjou cease to burn their dead? and what were the most ancient modes of inhumation?

This custom, it appeared, was rapidly declining at the close of the third century, although it still continued during the fourth century in those Gaulish provinces where Christianity had not become dominant. But some gentlemen thought that the chief priests of the Celtic tribes were always buried, so many Celtic monuments having been proved to have skeletons under them.

12. What date may we attribute to those tombs on which are represented plough-shares, spindles, distaffs, &c. and what do they designate?

These figures M. Godard said he had never met with on tombs older than the 14th century, and supposed them to be nothing more than memorials of the occupations of the persons therein buried.

13. Whence arose the practice, continued in some districts even to the 17th century, of placing, in the interior of certain tombs, vessels filled with charcoal?

This, it was stated, was not common previously to the 11th century, and probably meant to typify, by the natural indestructibility of charcoal, that the good works of good persons live after them. M. Godard, alluding to the usual contents of ancient coffins, stated that he had once found a skeleton with a crown of laurel leaves around the skull, and a bunch of flowers on the breast; the coffin which contained it being of better workmanship than those around it. He also stated that, although he had opened not less than 50 Gaulish coffins, he had never found any coins therein.

14. Has the respect for our dead always followed the progress of civilization?

15. What were the costumes of men and women in the three several classes of peasants, citizens, and nobles, from the 12th to the 15th centuries inclusive? and what, especially, was the military costume of that period?

16. What is the reason that in those situations formerly occupied by the Romans we so often find their medals and coins enclosed in vessels ?

17. What are the historical facts relating to the money of Anjou from the time of Count Ingelger to the death of King René ?

18. What is the history of the mint of Angers?

19. What means have been adopted in Anjou during the last twelve years for the preservation of the several architectural fragments that belonged to its ancient edifices? Into what depositories have they been collected, and what monuments still existing are most worthy of being so repaired and upheld as to prevent any dilapidation or ruin that now threaten their downfall?

20. Which, in the department of the Maine and Loire, are the most interesting museums of antiquities, and by what objects are they severally distinguished, with regard to their inscriptions, painted glass, tapestry, &c. &c?

CITY EXCAVATIONS.

MR. URBAN.-In my notices under the above head (Oct. p. 416) I briefly mentioned the discovery of Roman remains in Bishopsgate Street Without. The extensive operations then recently commenced in this street for sewerage, and which have since branched through a portion of the neighbourhood on the east side, have furnished us with some additional evidence of the same character. It has been before observed that the various discoveries from time to time in Goodman's Fields, Whitechapel, and Spitalfields, have afforded striking testimony of the appropriation, to some extent, of the east and north-east side of the boundary of ancient Londinium as a place of sepulture. In the present instance the excavation in Widegate Street and Artillery Lane, which are in the immediate vicinity of the lastnamed district, have presented some additional illustration in the numerous fragments of the black cinerary urns. I believe only one perfect one has been saved; this is of small size, and of the usual form and character. Numerous fragmentary specimens of Samian ware have been also disinterred, those of the embossed description exhibiting that same never-ending variety of pattern which seems to so characterise this beautiful ware. Some of them are remarkable for their elegance of design. The fragments bearing the pot ter's stamps which have fallen under my notice are so unusually numerous that I must not venture to occupy your space by a list. Perhaps the most remarkable are

AETERNI. M. (reversed) AISTIVI ,, and "IVL NVMIDI," the last presenting the not frequent accompaniment of the prænomen. Among the few coins are those of Antoninus, (2nd brass,) Faustina, and Probus (3rd). Also a fragment of a terracotta lamp, exhibiting a rudely executed human head in relief: the name stamped upon the bottom is unfortunately rendered illegible by that far more "ruthless destroyer" than countless years-the labourer's pickaxe. The discovery of Roman antiquities not precisely falling within the objects of the contractors for the city sewerage, we can scarcely wonder in this or other cases at the preservation of so few objects illustrative of the history and customs of past ages. Among the objects of minor interest discovered in Bishopsgate Street may be mentioned a rosary of 58 beads, to which is affixed a small crucifix (plated on copper,) of beautiful workmanship; near it lay a leaden medal representing a half-length figure holding a crucifix upon which he is intently gazing. It is inscribed B ALOYS GONZAGA'S'I'*

Shoe Lane.-At the south end (near its junction with Fleet Street) some fragments of Roman pottery were discovered in the recent excavation. Among them were several fragments of Samian ware. On the remains of two pateræ occur the stamps "" OF PATRICI and "PECV LARIS," the first two letters of the latter in monogram.

66

covered in the excavation in Fetter Lane in July last opposite Neville's Court.

E. B. P.

I

P.S. I beg to apologise for a misquotation of Shakspere in my last paper. have there inadvertently charged Falstaff (who has already quite enough to answer for) with boasting that he had bought his horse "at Paul's." The words "I bought him at Paul's," refer to Bardolph. It seems that trusty servant of the fat knight" was sent to Smithfield for the horse. (Henry IV. Pt. II. Act I.) The degradation of the place is not lessened by the supposed purchase being a man instead of a horse. But we have good historical evidence of its having been a market-place for both. Nearly a century later than the period before named we find (according to Dugdale) that during the civil wars the west part of the cathedral was converted into a stable, and the portico fitted up for milliners' shops, &c. Vide Maitland, p. 1165.

ANCIENT DOCUMENT.

Sir Thomas Phillipps has discovered among the records of Worcester Cathedral a curious roll of the household expenses of Godfrey Giffard, Bishop of Worcester, when his brother Walter, Archbishop of York, it is presumed, came to visit him at Hartlebury, in the reign of Edward I. Like the Elfric Saxon Grammar (which Sir T. Phillipps found among the same records, and which with the kind permission of the dean and chapter he has partly printed) it formed the cover of a book bound about 300 or 400 years since.

ANTIQUITIES OF ROME.

Great pains are taken at Rome to preserve from further decay the architectural relics of the ages anterior to Christianity. The tottering portion of the Colosseum has been propped up, and the Temple of Nerva is about to be repaired. The public roads are likewise undergoing great improvements. The heretofore incommodious road on the Monte Cavo (Mons latialis) has been levelled, and they are building a viaduct at Genzano. The great road across the Pontine Marshes will be improved; the gloomy desert which formerly surrounded the traveller has been planted with rows of elm-trees, whilst on either side the eye is gratified by the pleasing aspect of corn-fields and pasturelands. The malaria of that district, nevertheless, continues to exercise a baneful influence on health.

On the 1st Sept. a countryman named Fondarfive, of Rohne near Wisby, while ploughing on the side of a hill, found an oval copper vessel, containing above 3,350 silver coins, and fragments of different sizes. About 380 of these coins are Anglo-Saxon, Danish, and Norwegian, of Kings Ethelred, Canute, Harold, Hardicanute, Edward, and Swen Erickson. The others are German, chiefly of the cities of Cologne, Magdeburg, Mainz, Strasburg, Augsburg, &c. They are all of the 10th and 11th centuries, and the whole appear to have been buried in the ground towards the end of the 11th century. There are only two cafes (Arabian coins) among them. Two other peasants have found a coin and a clasp.

DISCOVERY OF SAXON COINS.

A short time since one of the workmen of Mr. Charles Ade, of Milton Court Farm, near Alfriston, Sussex, brought him a small piece of silver, which the former dug up in his garden. It proved to be a penny of Edward the Confessor. It occurred to Mr. Ade that he had two similar coins brought to him some years ago, which were also found very nearly on the same spot. The coincidence induced him to have the site carefully searched, the result of which has been the discovery of a considerable number of Saxon silver pennies, scattered about singly in the soil of the garden. They are of a date just prior to the Norman Conquest, and include specimens of the reigns of Cnut (or Canute), Harold I. Harthacnut, and Edward the Confessor; most of them are in the finest preservation.

Some men digging for gravel in a field in Factory-lane, Driffield, Yorkshire, in the occupation of Mr. Sawden Davison, lately discovered nine human skeletons, of unusully large size. On putting to. gether the bones of one of them it was found to measure seven feet in height. The skeleton of a horse was found at the same time. The bones were again committed to their native clay. In a plain commencing near Wetwang, about six miles distant, and some part of it running in a line almost parallel with the Driffield becks, and ending near Bell Mills, human bones and warlike implements are often ploughed out and dug up, and it is reasonable to suppose that the tract in question has at some time formed the site of an encampment, and probably of some deadly engagement.

FRANCE.

An attempt was made at Madrid on the 6th November to assassinate General Narvaez. He was on the way to the opera, with his aides-de-camp Maceti and Bermudez de Castro. At the corner of the street De la Luna, two persons fired simultaneously from behind the pillars of St. Martin's Church. One of the shots killed Maceti. On turning into the street Descagono, several more shots were fired at the carriage, one of which grazed Bermudez de Castro's forehead. Narvaez then left the carriage, and, proceeding to the barracks of the Princesa Regiment, called out the troops. He afterwards returned to the opera, and entered the Queen's box with his hands covered with the blood of his aide-decamp! The assassins have not been arrested. On the 8th the two legislative bodies, assembled in the Hall of the Senate, declared the Queen of age. Number of voters, 209: for it, 193; against it, 16. This vote was enthusias tically received. General Narvaez on leaving the hall was the object of a sort of triumph. Queen Isabella II. took her oath on the 10th, before the two chambers. Her Majesty was everywhere received with the utmost enthusiasm. Insurrectionary movements exist at Cadiz, Seville, Cordova, Granada, Malaga, Vigo, and Carthagena.

INDIA.

Further hostilities have taken place in Scinde, which have resulted in the entire annihilation of the force of Ameer Shere Mahomed. The Ameer finding himself surrounded by Col. Roberts in the north, and by Capt. Jacob on the desert, turned GENT. MAG. VOL. XX.

upon the latter with about 8000 men, but his army quickly broke and dispersed. An army of 15,000 men is assembling on the Sikh frontier, under the command of Sir Robert Dick. Shere Sing, the Maharajah of Lahore, has been murdered, together with his two sons and his own wives and those of Purtaub Sing. This massacre was brought about by a band of conspirators, of which Dhyan Sing, the late minister, and Ajeet Sing, a brother of the widow of Kurruck Sing (Shere Sing's predecessor), were the heads. The assassination of the monarch was committed by Ajeet Sing; and he shortly afterwards slew his accomplice, Dhyan Sing, whose son (Heera Sing) soon avenged the murder of his sire by the slaughter of Ajeet! Dhuleep Sing, an alleged son of Kurruck Sing, is on the throne, and Heera Sing has been appointed prime minister. The greatest possible anarchy prevails; but it is expected that Lahore, inhabited by four millions of people, and having a revenue of 2,000,000l. will eventually be annexed to the British dominions.

CHINA.

to

A proclamation, issued by the High Commissioner Keying, announces that the treaty had been ratified, and regulations and tariffs agreed to, which tariffs are take effect with reference to the commerce with China of all countries as well as England." Sir Henry Pottinger formally assumed the government of Hong Kong on the 26th June; the city on the northern side of the island being named, after her Majesty, "Victoria." A Legislative Council was appointed, magistrates and other civil officers installed, and the whole possession seems to show signs of rapid growth. The place will be strongly fortified.

ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.

This important expedition has arrived at home, about four years of brave and unwearied exertion. The Erebus, Capt. James Ross, and Terror, Capt. Crozier, left England on the 29th Sept. 1839. A magnetic observatory was established at St. Helena, and the important point of minimum magnetic intensity which exists in the portion of the Atlantic traversed by the expedition was determined. On Jan. 11, 1840, after passing in safety through vast fields of ice, they gained a perfectly clear sea, and in lat. 70.47 S. and long. 172.36 E. land was found at the distance of nearly 100 miles directly in their course and between them and the pole-the southernmost land ever discovered. On nearing it, mountain peaks appeared from 9,000 to 12,000 feet in height. A landing was effected, and formal possession taken. On Jan. 23, the expedition, after sailing along this magnificent land for a long way, reached 74.15 S. the highest southern latitude that had ever been previously attained. Here strong southerly gales, thick fogs, and perpetual snow storms, impeded them. On the 28th a mountain 12,400 feet above the level of the sea was seen emitting intense flame and smoke in grand profusion. No appearance of lava streams could be detected on the surface of the snow. This splendid volcano was named Mount Erebus. The expedition pursued its course amidst great difficulties, until only within 157 miles of the pole; but were compelled to return owing to the lateness of the season. Many other discoveries were made. They departed for Van Diemen's Land, April 4, where Ross was warmly welcomed by his old Arctic companion, Sir John Franklin.

Second year. In this expedition the voyagers were often in a position of appalling jeopardy. During one violent gale amidst icebergs on Jan. 19, 1842, the rudder of the Erebus was shattered and that of the Terror utterly destroyed.

The shocks sustained by the ships for 26 hours were terrific. They fought, however, against every obstacle, and traced the barrier of ice which had impeded them the previous year about 130 miles further eastward, but all beyond was fruitless. A new course was shaped for Cape Horn, and the ships refitted at Rio Janeiro. One man fell overboard in a heavy gale-the only casualty during 136 days of arduous duty;-but there was not a man on the sick list.

Third year. On Dec. 17th, 1842, the expedition sailed from the Falkland Islands. The details of the voyage are deeply interesting. A large continent was discovered and taken possession of; and at the extremity of a vast gulf, magnificent table-topped mountains 7,000 feet high, were seen. There is no doubt now that a continent exists to the northward of the great barrier discovered in 1841 to the east of Mount Erebus. The ships were much beset by ice and storms. The observations appear to prove that the supposition of there being two magnetic poles of verticity in the south (as is well known to be the case in the north) is erroneous, and that there is in reality but one magnetic pole in the southern hemis phere. Great perils were encountered from ice during the latter part of the voyage, and the expedition was compelled to sail for the Cape of Good Hope, which it reached on the 4th of April. The researches of this voyage extended 12 degrees of latitude beyond those of the previous voyagers in this meridian (15 W.) viz. Cook, Bellinghaufen, and Biscoe. The tracts of the enterprising Waddell were frequently crossed. A considerable extent of unknown coast was discovered. The ships arrived off England on the 4th Sept. The acquisitions to natural history, geology, geography, but above all towards the elucidation of the grand mystery of terrestrial magnetism, raise this voyage to a pre-eminent rank among the greatest atchievements of British courage, intelligence, and enterprise.

the cheers of the students, where a collation was prepared for her; after which she entered the hall, and with Prince Albert took her station on the top of the steps leading to a throne which had there been erected, the chair being that of the celebrated Dr. Bentley. The various members of the university then entered according to precedency; Lord Lyndhurst, the High Steward, was present, but not the Chancellor. The Vice-Chancellor, the Rev. W. Whewell, then read