A. J. Kempe, esq. F.S.A. exhibited the thuribulum or censer of bronze, found at Kyn Gadel, in Carmarthenshire, of which some account, with a slight representation, was given in our number for November last, p. 473.

The meetings of the Society were then adjourned to the 16th of November.

CAMBRIDGE ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY.

The anniversary meeting of this society was held at St. John's Lodge, on Wednesday, May 24, the Rev. William Webb, D.D. F.L.S. Master of Clare Hall, the President, in the chair.

The Secretary laid before the Society the report of its operations during the past year, from which it appeared that it was in a prosperous condition. The following presents were received: a small urn, found in digging for a road in Cottenham fen, by A. W. Ivatt, esq. Sidney college; a small urn, found within a larger one, filled with fragments of bone in the Twin-Barrow, Bincombe Down, Dorset, by the Rev. J. J. Smith; a folio book of water-colour drawings, from Roman remains in the collection of Mr. Inskip, Shefford, Beds, by W. B. Grenside, esq. Trin. coll. ; and several number of copies of an engraving of Roman Antiquities, found at Bury Hill, near Ross, by Sir H. Dryden, Bart.

An interesting paper was then read by Professor Willis on an appropriate nomenclature for the mouldings of Gothic architecture, contained in a note book of William of Worcester, preserved in the Library of Corpus Christi; illustrated by reference to the door of St. Stephen's and the great western entrance of St. Mary Redcliffe, at Bristol.

Sir H. Dryden read a paper on the discovery of a large number of skeletons near Marston St. Lawrence, in Northamptonshire, in the years 1841-2. The paper was illustrated by elaborate drawings of the urns, arms, and personal decorations found with them, which, with other evidence, shew the place to have been a burial ground of Romanised Britons.

Professor Corrie communicated a valuable paper on the state of our universities during the middle ages, especially with regard to the studies there pursued; commencing with a brief sketch of their institution and early history, and illustrating the progress of theological and secular studies from the existing catalogues of the collegiate libraries, and the known requisites for university degrees at various periods.

The Rev. T. Clack read a list of the various Roman antiquities lately dis

covered at Litlington, of several of which he exhibited drawings.

OXFORD ASHMOLEAN SOCIETY.

At a Meeting of this Society held May 29, an ancient dagger with a brass handle, found at Thornhaugh, Hunts, was presented to the Museum by His Grace the Duke of Bedford.

The Secretary read a paper by Mr. Duncan, containing an account of various inventions for flying, which have been attempted from the earliest period down to Mr. Henson's patent, which was registered September the 29th, 1842. Dr. Buckland inferred the certainty of the failure of Mr. Henson's invention from the erroneous principles on which it is founded. He said, that there was no provision for counteracting the violent currents of air which would be met with, and the only point which seemed to have been attended to by the inventor was the buoyancy of the machine when once started, but no adequate means had been provided to counteract much greater difficulties.

Walter C. Trevelyan, esq. M.A. Univ. Coll. presented a crust of bread impressed with the stamp used in the administration of the holy communion in the Greek Church. It is affixed to the finer sort of wheaten bread, which is set before travellers, and was brought from the convent of Megaspelion in the Morea, June 1842. Mr. Trevelyan then exhibited several water-colour drawings of Celtic remains in Brittany and Normandy. They consisted of representations of Dolmen, Cromlechs, and Menhirs, from Dinan, Dôl, Sarthe, Columbières in Calvados, &c.

Mr. Trevelyan also read some letters written by John Willoughby, an undergraduate of Wadham College, to his father, John Willoughby, esq. of Peyhembury, Devon, of which the following is an abstract-After sundry dutiful expressions and remarks on his father's advice, that he should not associate with lewd company, and that he should abstain from taverns which cautions he appears to have considered as unnecessary-he says, in answer to a complaint that he was negligent in writing, that it was not his fault, as he had sent a letter a month since by a speedy messenger, who carried it as far as Tiverton, and promised that it should be delivered that same week; in which letter he had written for cloth to make a winter suit, and had acknowledged the receipt of eight pounds, sent by John Bartlet, the carrier. He also thanks his father and mother for their tokens of four shillings and five shillings; and says, that,

as for a token for his tutor, he knows nothing more convenient than a turkypie will be in Lent." Dated Wad. Coll. 15 Nov. 1630. In another letter, April 25, he writes for money, to make him a summer suit. In a letter dated Dec. 30, 1630, he mentions having received the cloth by John Bartlet, and mentions that his battels for the quarter will come to 4. 12s.; his chamber.rent to 10s. ; tutor, 20s.; decrements, 4s. 8d.; servitor, 58.; laundress, 4s.; two pair of shoes, 58. 4d.; wood, 11s.; coals, 2s. 6d. ; hat and band, 12d.; shoe-ties, 12d.; dressing a hat, 8d.; and says that 5s. he was 66 enjoined to bestow in apples and sugar for my admittance to the fires, which has always been a custom in the house; and begs that," as my money has been laid out as I have afore shewed you," he would be pleased to pay for the trimming of his suit, "having promised to pay the mercer (whose bill is inclosed for 11. 118. 5d.)" at the next return of the carrier." He concludes this, and most of his letters, with desiring that his duty might be remembered to his mother, his love to his sister and to Besse Taylor. In the last letter, dated June 21, he accepts a permission to come into the country, amongst other reasons, in that, were he to stay in Oxford, he must make him a gown; "besides, the bed that I have lain on ever since I have been in Oxford had been sent for by its owner last week," so he was obliged to borrow a bed out of the town, until the Act, and if he stayed longer would have to provide another-he asks for his quarter's allowance, because he intends to make another summer suit, having but one at that time that he can wear in the country; besides that, he wants other things, and thinks the tutor and bursar will expect to be paid for the quarter before he goes. A receipt from John Bartlet the carrier, for 87. received of John Willoughby of Peyhembury, in Devon, which he binds himself and his executors to repay within ten days next following unto Mr. John Willoughby, in Wadham College, in Oxford, Sept. 5, 1630. A letter, dated Oxford, Sept. 1, 1605, written by Christopher Trevelyan (of Exeter College) to his father, John Trevelyan, esq. of Nettlecomb, Somerset, gives an account of the visit paid to the University by James I., on the 27 August, and how he was entertained with speeches, presents, sermons, and disputations in divinity, civil law, physic, natural and moral philosophy. "His Majesty made a gratulatory speech to the University, persuading them to unity and true reli gion, in which there was shown great learning, as also in his disputing and mo

derating.' Among the questions proposed for disputation were, (as shown in another paper,) in theology-"An sancti et angeli cognoscunt cogitationes cordium?" in medicine-" An mores nutricum a puerulis cum lacte imbibantur?" and-" An creber suffitus Nicotianæ Exoticæ sit sanis salutaris?" in philosophia naturali-" An opera artis, possit aurum conflari?" (See Nichols's Progresses, &c. of King James I. vol. i. pp. 533, et seq.). In another letter, dated July 30, 1610, the same writer mentions " our new Waddam College, whose first foundation-stone will be layed on this next morning with as much solemnity as the time will permit, being as it is in the vacation, at what time the University is always barest and most stript of her company, yet stored with a sufficient number, who are encouraged with as great means for study as at other times."

[The originals of these letters are preserved, amongst many others, among the records of Sir John Trevelyan, Bart., at Nettlecombe in Somersetshire.]

NUMISMATIC SOCIETY.

June 15. The Annual Meeting was held, Professor H. H. Wilson, President, in the Chair.

The Report of Council on the state and prospects of the Society, was read.

The loss of members by death is four, namely, C. Brooker, Esq., Robert Fox, Esq. F.S.A., J. Gage Rokewode, Esq. Dir. S.A., and B. Smith, Esq., and one honorary member, Capt. Hely, of Rome. Mr. Fox has been long known as the enlightened promoter of literary and scientific pursuits in the towns of Godmanchester and Huntingdon; Mr. Gage Rokewode, for the amenity, liberality, and zeal which he displayed as Director of the Society of Antiquaries, and for the patient research and extensive learning displayed in his antiquarian and topographical researches.

The Society has also lost three of its foreign associates, all eminently distinguished for their labours in numismatic science, or in kindred branches of inquiry; they are Mons. Mionnet, Dr. Gesenius, and Chevalier P. O. Bröndsted.

The name of Mionnet has been associated with the numismata of classical antiquity for nearly half a century. He was born in 1770. His taste for numismatic investigations developed itself even in boyhood, and in early youth he became known to the chief collectors and amateurs of Paris as a numismatist of promise, full of industry, zeal, and acquirements. The reputation he soon

established gained him the notice of the Government of France, and he received an appointment in the Cabinet des Médailles. He commenced his public career on the 5th of May, 1795, and, by a singular coincidence of dates, terminated his duties and his existence on the anniversary of that day, in 1842. At the time of his death, M. Mionnet held the office of "Conservateur adjoint du Cabinet des Médailles et Antiques de la Bibliothèque du Roi." In his voluminous work, the "Description des Médailles Antiques," he has embodied the observations and information of a long and eminent numismatic life, and has collected from a variety of sources a vast mass of most important details.

Dr. Gesenius is chiefly known on account of his critical and philological researches, particularly those directed to the illustration of the Hebrew language. Yet he also directed his uncommon learning and unwearied perseverance to a collateral branch of inquiry, in which numismatic science was an indispensable auxiliary, the determination of the Phonician characters of language. Accordingly in his celebrated work published at Leipsic, in 1837, " Scripture Linguæque Phoeniciæ Monumenta," his third book treats De Numis Phoeniciis, and he has given representations of a number of Phoenician coins and interpretations of their legends in Phoenician characters. Dr. Gesenius died at Halle in October last, in the University of which city he had held the Professorship of Hebrew for thirty-two years.

Of the Chevalier Bröndsted an ample memoir has been already placed before our readers in our Magazine for Aug. 1842, p. 211.

A more considerable decrease in the numbers of the Society has arisen from the many retirements during the year, amounting to upwards of thirty. It would appear that these were of a class from whom the Society had never received any support whatever, not even pecuniary aid. They were, in fact, but nominally members, and, as their names added nothing to the resources of the Society, so no detriment is suffered from their disappearance from its list. Most of them seem to have been elected in the infancy of the Society, or had been included among original Members from a misapprehension of their intentions. The bad effects of having the list swelled by non-paying and non-effective Members, so fatal to the prosperity and existence of scientific societies, was fortunately seen by the Council of the Numismatic Society before the evil had become irremediable, and energetic measures were adopted which

have led to the best results; some few of the defaulters paid, and the rest, on being pressed for arrears, retired from the Society.

Several new Members and Associates have been elected.

The receipts of the year are 2957. 128. 3d. the disbursements 2407. 4s. 9d. leaving a balance in the hands of the Treasurer of 551. 78. 6d. ; but for the following year neither the one nor the other could be expected to be so considerable, yet the Treasurer's statement affords reasonable grounds for anticipating a much more healthy and prosperous condition of the funds than has existed since the institution of the Society.

The enumeration of the benefactors of the Society is a subject of the most satisfactory contemplation, not merely from their valuable donations to the cabinets and library of the Society, but also from their widely extended range, comprehending not only various distinguished individuals in this country, but, in a still greater proportion, the most eminent patrons and cultivators of numismatic science abroad. From Paris, Brussels, Madrid, Rome, Florence, Vienna, Athens, and Petersburgh, and many other places on the continent, the Society has received the most flattering proofs that its exertions, however humble and restricted, (unaided by the countenance and support of the Government, which in England is afforded to some other societies,) have been known and appreciated in the most favourable manner throughout the whole of Europe.

The result of the ballot being declared by the scrutineers, the Rev. G. C. Renouard and Mr. Pfister, the following were declared elected as Officers and Council for the year 1843-4: as President, the Lord Albert Denison Conyngham, F.S.A. ; as Vice-Presidents, Charles Frederick Barnwell, esq. F.R.S. F.S.A.; Horace Hayman Wilson, esq. F.R.S. M.R.A.S.; as Treasurer, John B. Bergne, esq.; as Secretaries, John Yonge Akerman, esq. F.S.A.; Charles Roach Smith, esq. F.S.A.; as Foreign Secretary, John Yonge Akerman, esq. F.S.A.; as Librarian, Hugh Welch Diamond, esq. F.S.A. as Members of the Council, Samuel Birch, esq.; John Brumell, esq.; the Hon. Theobald Fitzwalter Butler; the Rev. Henry Christmas, M.A. F.R.S. F.S.A.; George Richard Corner, esq. F.S.A.; James Dodsley Cuff, esq. F.S.A.; William Debonaire Haggard, esq. F.S.A. F.R.A.S.; Edward Hawkins, esq. F.R.S. F.S.A. F.L.S.; Thomas Horsfield, esq. M.D. M.R.A.S.; John Huxtable, esq.; John Lee, esq. LL.D. F.R.S. F.S.A. V.P.R.A.S.; Benjamin Nightingale, esq.