ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRIT. ARCHITECTS.

May 7. The anniversary meeting was held at the rooms of the society, in Grosvenor-street; the Right Hon. Earl de Grey, President, in the chair.

Mr. Donaldson, the secretary, read the report of the council, which announced that since the last anniversary the society had acquired stability and importance from the charter of incorporation granted by his late Majesty William IV. and that the Queen, with that love for art and science which has distinguished the first year of Her Majesty's reign, has been pleased to become the patroness of the Institute. During the last year the society had not to deplore the loss of any of its members, whilst they had an accession of seven fellows, fourteen associates, eight honorary fellows, and ten honorary and corresponding members. A considerable increase had necessarily taken place in the expenditure, from the removal of the apartments, but the council were fully impressed with the necessity of keeping the current expenditure within the income.

May 21. H. E. Kendall, Esq. V.P. in the chair. An interesting letter from Athens was read, giving a lively account of the operations now going on for the restoration of the metropolis of Greece, accompanied with a periodical journal of the discoveries on the excavations made in the city, published by the Government. Among the donations was a further collection of drawings by Bibiana and other Italian architects, presented by Sir John Drummond Steward through Mr. Barry. A donation of 301. from Mr. Rhodes was announced in aid of a contemplated fund for travelling students. Signors Canina and Valledier of Rome, and Herr Hessler of Frankfort, were elected honorary foreign corresponding members, and Mr. I. G. Wilkinson, the author of the popular work on Egypt, was recommended by the council for election as an honorary member. An objection was raised to this gentleman by Mr. Scoles, a member of the Institute, on the grounds of a want of conformity with the laws of the Institute, and also on the superior claims of Mr. Hay and Mr. Burton to the same honour. The former gentleman had expended a fortune in prosecuting his researches, and had employed above one hundred workmen in making excavations on the ruins of the ancient cities of Egypt. Mr. Burton had succeeded in discovering the base of the great obelisk at Carnac, and had established a lithographic press in Egypt at his own expense, from whence was issued the valuable work entitled Excerpta Hieroglyphica. Mr. Scoles spoke highly

of the works of Mr. Wilkinson, but thought the former gentlemen had paramount claim to the honour of election.

Mr. Donaldson defended the recommendation of the council, contending that the claims of the candidates should not be judged by the excavations they had effected or the researches they had made, unless they made the results of their labours public. He instanced the choice of Mr. Willis and Mr. Whewell, who had been elected honorary members on account of their excellent works on gothic architecture. Mr. Burton's work, the Excerpta, was a mere transcript of the Hieroglyphics, without explanation; he contended that the author was most entitled to the honour who had published his researches with explanations, in which the mind of the writer was shown, and which conveyed information to others. He instanced as a specimen of Mr. Wilkinson's research the stupendous plan of Thebes, published by him. Eventually Mr. Wilkinson was elected.

Mr. Renton continued his lectures on the properties of iron.

June 11. P. Hardwick, esq. V.P. in the chair. The Earl of Aberdeen was elected an Honorary Fellow. A letter was read from the Rajah of Tanjore, accompanying drawings of temples and other buildings in his dominions, made under his Highness's directions for the Institute. Mr. Behnes presented a bust of the late Mr. Nash; and Mr. Owen Jones a cast of a portion of the ornamental pannelling of the Alhambra, coloured in exact conformity with the original. A further donation of original Italian Drawings was received from Sir J. D. Stewart, and the Secretary announced the recent death of the donor at Paris. Signor Campanari exhibited several tripods and a vase, a portion of his collections. Mr. Goldecutt read a paper illustrative of several frescoes attributed to Paolo Veronese, which had been recently removed from the walls of an Italian villa: he took a summary view of this branch of art, so little practised in the present day, and proceeded to describe the process pursued by Count Valdi to remove the subjects from the walls. This was effected by means of a canvas covered with a composition of beer and flour, which was spread over the paintings, and made to adhere closely by using a kind of hammer composed of bristles. It was left to dry and then fell from the walls with the paintings adhering to it. The Count's next operation was to transfer the paintings to a fresh canvas; after which, he saturated the former canvas with warm water, which brought it off and left the subjects firmly fixed on the canvas prepared to re

ceive them, to which they had been fixed by a strong cement of size. The paintings exhibited consisted of two large and three small subjects, representing allegorical and mythological designs; they are well preserved, and are still in the same state as when first taken from the walls; no varnish having been applied. Mr. Griffith commenced a series of lectures on Chemistry as applied to Architecture. Various specimens of paper for rooms, of French manufacture, were exhibited; one of which was copied from Mr. Shaw's work on Ornament. Several ornaments and small statues in papier machée from France stood on the table; in this composition the Parisian manufacturers successfully imitate the precious and other metals, producing suits of armour bearing an exact resemblance to the original.

ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE, SANDHurst.

At the recent examination, the boardroom exhibited a fair display of the works of the officers in fortification and military surveying. Among which was a plan of the country on the line of the Roman road to Bath, in continuation of the parts previously determined (see our vol. v. p. 535, vol. Ix. p. 192); and a survey, both military and geological, of that portion of the Mendip range which lies between Wells and the Bristol Channel. It may be observed that on a former occasion Capt. E. H. D. E. Napier, 46th regt. and Lieut. G. Grey, 83rd regt. had surveyed a tract of ground exhibiting nearly all the varieties presented by the tertiary strata in the county of Surrey; and the object now proposed, in addition to the usual exercise in military topography, was that of affording a practical lesson respecting the secondary formations in the south of England. For this purpose Lieut.Capt. D. S. Cooper, Royal regt. and Lieut. C. Ready, 71st regt. voluntarily undertook to execute the task. The extent of the survey is about seventeen miles in length and six in breadth, its direction coinciding with that of the central ridge of old red sandstone which forms the antidinal axis of the chain. This district is an elevated plateau, from which the sandstone rises about 300 feet above the general level of 1000 feet above that of the sea. The mountain limestone through which that ridge of rock protrudes covers the flanks of the latter on the northern and southern sides; three places of junction at the upper surface being marked by deep combes 'or ravines, rich in veins of lead and lapis caliminaris. and from the exterior sides of the covering masses long buttresses of the same material project

from the central chain. The bases of these are covered by the new sandstone formation, and this, on a lower level, is overlaid by the alluvial deposits which constitute the soil in the valleys of the Axe and Yeo. The portions surveyed by Capt. Cooper commenced on the western side of the Cheddar cliffs, and extended northward to Burrington Combe; from whence that officer pursued his researches to the west as far as Bream Down, on the Bristol Channel. From Wookey Cavern Lieut. Ready surveyed the southern ridge as far as Cheddar, and afterwards followed the northern limestone chain to its termination at Bearn Hill. The plan is accompanied by a section crossing the chain of the Mendips from Draycot to Burrington, and showing the geological positions of the strata; the heights of the ground having been obtained for this purpose from a series of barometrical observations made by Lieuts. Symonds and Ready. Both the vertical and horizontal dimensions in the section are set out from the same scale as the plan, which, being of four inches to a mile, is sufficiently great to allow the various strata to be distinctly expressed.

The remains of antiquity within this district are no less interesting than its geological circumstances. The Roman road from Old Sarum to the Port which once existed at Uphill on the Bristol Channel, pursued its course along the central axis of the chain, and was protected by numerous intrenchments, whose remains still crown the principal summits of the hills. The portion included within the limits of the present survey commenced at a point where it crosses the existing road from Wells to Bristol, and from thence proceeds in a rectilinear direction to the foot of the hill, near Charter House, Hinton, where the vestiges of a Roman town have been discovered. The neighbouring country abounds with sepulchral tumuli and the remains of ancient mines. At this spot the road makes a bend and skirts the southern side of the long ridge called Black Down; near the western extremity of which is an intrenchment commanding an extensive view of the country. Subsequently passing by Shipham and Banwell Hill Camp, it ascends Bleadon Hill, from whence the line may be distinctly traced in a rectilinear direction tending towards Uphill Church. Arriving near this spot, however, the road makes an abrupt bend, and is carried through an excavation in the rock down to the place where the ancient harbour is known to have been situated.

Another highly creditable example of

military topography was also exhibited; viz.-a plan of sixteen square miles of country surrounding Hook in Hampshire, and showing the present state of the cuttings for the London and Southampton Railroad, which enters the plan at Shapley Heath, and crossing the London and Exeter Road near Hook, proceeds by Newnham towards Basingstoke. The cuts are principally made through the plastic and London clay immediately bordered to the eastward by the mass of

the upper marine sand, and reposing to the south on the chalk formation at Odiham and its neighbourhood, from which several interesting buried sea remains have been extracted, especially near Newnham, where a splendid specimen of the nautilus was found. This plan reflects great credit on the officers employed, viz. Capt. S. Y. Martin, 67th regt.; Capt. J. R. Brunker, 15th regt.; Capt. B. E. Layard, Ceylon Rifle Corps; and Lieutenant R. Petley, 50th regt.

SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES.

May 31. Hudson Gurney, esq. V.P. in the chair.

Signor Campanari exhibited an Etruscan helmet, very perfect, having the rest for fixing a crest, and the dependant earpieces; also a very beautiful bronze vessel, in the form of a large bason, but made for suspension: it had been gilt within, and a portion is still by the gilding entirely preserved from corrosion.

J. B. Nichols, esq. F.S.A. exhibited a remarkable little bronze figure of an elephant, resting on its haunches, found in 1836 at Toddington, Bedfordshire, and now in the possession of W. C. Cooper, esq. It is apparently of Roman workmanship, and was perhaps intended to be used as the weight to a steelyard. Other Roman antiquities found at Toddington are noticed by Mr. Brandreth in the Archæologia, vol. xxvii. p. 103.

Francis Sharp, esq. of Leeds, communicated an account of the discovery of a very extensive hoard of coins made in February 1836 at Wyke, in the parish of Harewood, Yorkshire. This hoard so closely resembled that found at Tutbury in 1831, and described by Mr. Hawkins in the 24th volume of the Archæologia, that a description of the coins was in a great measure anticipated, and Mr. Sharp therefore very judiciously proceeded on the plan of arrangement there laid down, noticing the new varieties, in which task he has been assisted by his friend Mr. Haigh, also of Leeds. From the period of the coins, and particularly some foreign sterlings, the date of the deposit is ascertained to have been early in the reign of Edward the Third.

The reading was then pursued of Mr. Stapleton's introductory observations on the Great Rolls of the Exchequer of Normandy. This portion related to the history of the city of Caen, and its early buildings, among which is still remaining

the hall in which, from several ancient charters, &c. it is ascertained that the Norman exchequer was held.

The Society adjourned over Whitsuntide to June 14.

June 14. Hudson Gurney, esq. V.P.

The Rev. Thomas Rackett, F.S.A. exhibited a seal of the Honour of Richmond, bearing the arms of Sir Thomas Stanley, Earl of Derby, impaling those of his wife, Margaret Countess of Richmond, and inscribed, Sigillum d'ni et d'ne libertatis honoris de Richemoundi. The matrix was found among the muniments of the Earl of Wicklow in Ireland.

W. Jerdan, esq. F.S.A. exhibited two very large and beautiful Roman armlets, or armillæ, found last year near Drummond Castle, Perthshire, the seat of Lord and Lady Willoughby d'Eresby. They were discovered in a field, about a foot under the surface, where the soil rests upon a shaly rock, and is so thin as to forbid any idea of sepulture, or careful deposit. They are of bronze, in triple rings, and the clasps contain four mosaic medallions, on which two different forms of crosses are wrought, in red and yellow colours. Their weight is nearly four pounds each, and, between the rings, curious wires, encircled by finer wire, add much to the grace and beauty of their pattern. Mr. Jerdan referred to many authorities to shew that such ornaments were common to all nations, and were bestowed as marks of honour by sovereigns in every age and clime. The Amalekite who slew Saul despoiled him of one. Colonel Leake had found them in Greek tombs, and in Magna Græcia. Among the Romans many instances were adduced of their being conferred as military honours; and they were worn by the Draconarii, or standard-bearers of the legions. The famous Dentatus had above a hundred and fifty presented to him for deeds of valour. The Arab caliphs, in like manner, gave them, and it was worthy

of notice that their name for collars was Toks, not far from the northern Torques. They were also Danish and Saxon forms of honour and devotion. The Scalds often mentioned them. A Saxon monarch was styled the bestower of armlets: and when Alfred granted peace to the Danes, they swore to observe it on the Holy Bracelet. These and many particular cases, proved the universality of their wear-that they were frequently votive offerings that they were inscribed in epitaphs and bequeathed in wills, &c. &c., among all the races of mankind. The locality where the present armilla were obtained added much to their interest; for it was only a few miles from Agricola's famous camp at Ardoch (Lindum); and not more distant from the camps of Hierna and Victoria, near which the memorable night-attack was made on the ninth Roman legion, which led to the great final battle in which Galgacus and his brave Caledonians were obliged to yield to the discipline and valour of the invaders. From the situation and other circumstances, Mr. Jerdan supposed it probable that these were the last relics of a Roman warrior who had perished in the wild forest which then covered the land, and made the Ochils and Grampians even more defensible by the natives than they would be in our day. The armlets were much admired by members of the Society, and, through the liberality of their noble owners, presented to the British Museum. Mr. Jerdan also exhibited a specimen of fresco painting from Pompeii. It consisted of three figures-a male and female, one of them with wings, and a Cupid riding on a leopard. The composition is very elegant, and, as a sample of the early arts of the buried city, it excited great

attention.

John Gage, esq. Director, communicated an account of the opening, in April last, of another barrow at the Bartlow Hills, Essex. It was the southern tuinulus; which is more than 100 feet in diameter, and was found to be formed, like the largest barrow, of earth and chalk in horizontal strata. In the centre, a wooden chest of about 3 feet square, and

2 ft. deep, had been laid nearly on the natural soil, in an artificial bed, the sides of which were washed with chalk that formed something of a cement. The objects found were very similar to those discovered before, near the same place, and described and engraved in the Archæologia, vols. xxv and xxvi; and were as follow: 1. a square glass urn, with a reeded handle, one foot high, filled with burnt human bones; 2. a bronze præfericulum, with an elevated handle, the lower end of GENT. MAG. VOL. X.

which terminates in the claw, and the upper in the head of a lion; 3. a bronze pa tera, with a strait handle, at the junction of which with the vessel is the head of a ram, and it is otherwise ornamented with masks, &c. showing the remains of silver and enamel; 4. an iron lamp, with a chain attached, by which it was evidently suspended to the top of the chest; 5. an oblong glass vessel, with reeded handles; 6. a glass vessel, of the jar form; 7. fragments of a glass lacrymatory, or cup; 8. a yellow spherical earthenware urn; 9 and 10. two vessels of red earthenware, of the form of a cup and saucer; 11 and 12. two small earthenware urns, one red, the other brown. Some bones found in the saucer proved to be those of a cock, a bird which was sacrificed to various divinities, and which have also been found among Roman remains at Christchurch and at Canterbury. Fragments of cloth or linen adhered to the sides of the præfericulum; and scattered in the tomb were the remains of leaves, which are pronounced by Professor Henslow to be those of box, buxus sempervirens. The same gentleman also informed Mr. Gage that a skeleton was lately found in or near Chesterford churchyard, together with a Roman urn, about which box leaves lay loose in the soil. By this investigation further (though scarcely requisite) proof is afforded, that the Bartlow tumuli are of Roman origin.

June 21. Mr. Gurney in the chair. The following gentlemen were elected Fellows Samuel Cartwright, esq. of Old Burlington-street; Thomas Bacon, esq.

of Lincoln's Inn Fields; the Rev. John Regnet Wreford, of Birmingham; William Bromet, M.D. of the 1st Life Guards; John Robert Daniel Tyssen, esq. of Upper Clapton; Charles Lane, esq. of St. Thomas's-street, Southwark; Benj. Coffin Thomas, esq. of Malmesbury; Thomas Baylis, esq. of Prior's Bank, Fulham; Lechmere William Whitmore, esq. of the same place; and Thomas Smith, esq. of Stony-gate, near Leicester.

Charles Roach Smith, esq. F.S.A. exhibited two brass or copper basins, found together last year in Lothbury, and apparently of the same age. They were beaten into shape from a sheet of metal, and the inner surface engraved with outline figures; which in one represent an animal appa.. rently a rude representation of a lamb, four times repeated; and the other a Queen in the Anglo-Saxon tunic and crown, bearing in each hand an orb. This figure is also four times repeated, and from its costume cannot be later than the reign of Henry I.

An essay on the cuneatic inscriptions of Babylon, by Isaac Cullimore, esq. was M

then read; it had particular reference to an inscription presented to Sir Hugh Inglis by Mr. Harford Jones, and considered by Mr. Cullimore to contain a ritual of the Chaldeans. The Society adjourned to November.

GREEK AND ETRUSCAN VASES.

June 13. A sale of these gems of ancient art took place at the auction rooms of Mr. Leigh Sotheby, in Wellington Street, Strand. The following is an enumeration of a few of the principal lots.

30. A round vase of purple glass, covered with flowers of different colours. The lower part of the vase is composed of blue and yellow glass, and the rim of the upper part ornamented with white opaque lines; an exceedingly rare object; 44 inches in diameter and 44 inches high51. 7s. 6d.

33. The head of a female, the upper part forming the vase and handle, 74 inches high-4l. 18s. Of a shape that

has not been published.

34. A wine cup, the side ornamented with the cock, two symbolic eyes, and two birds, which are of black colour on a yellow ground, 3 inches high-21. 108.

43. A Tazza, elegantly formed. On either side are three figures, intended to represent a running match, and underneath each is an inscription in Greek, 8 inches in diameter, 54 inches high-47. 48.

46. A vase with two handles. On one side is represented the combat of Achilles and Memnon, the one being urged by Thetis and the other by Aurora, their mothers, who are accompanied by the attendant. On the other side is another combat between two warriors, whose names are unknown; they are each attended by a female. These figures are painted in yellow, dark green, black, red, and white, on a yellow ground. On the shield of one of the warriors is a swan with extended wings, and to all of the figures on either side is an inscription in Greek ; 13 inches high-147. 148.

51. A vase, yellow ground. On either side in front the combat of Hercules with the Nemean lion, and on either side, under the handles, a figure on horseback, with other figures. In the upper part of the vase, the frieze, are Centaurs and Lipthæ. The numerous figures well painted in black, white, red, and various other colours; 14 inches high-157. 158,

52. A vase with two handles and cover. On the upper part of one side Bacchus and Ariadne reclining on couches; on the other side two figures, also reclining on couches, each holding a tazza; and over one of the tazzas a Greek inscrip

tion. These figures, all in yellow, upon a dark green ground; 21 inches high157.

57. A vase, yellow ground. On one side Hector and Paris consulting with Priam, and behind the two former, Helen apparently in grief. On the other side, Hector, supporting over his left shoulder the dead body of a warrior. Helen is preceding them, walking backwards, and holding her arms over her head in the greatest grief, while Paris is following behind, also in grief. These figures are all finely painted in various colours; 15 inches high-217.

61. A vase with three handles, black ground. In front of this vase is represented Peleus clasping his hands round the waist of Thetis, whose countenance, on observing the devoted action of her lover, betokens great admiration. The head of Peleus ornamented with a wreath, and a diadem incloses the hair of Thetis, who holds in her left hand a fish. These figures are most elegantly designed, and most beautifully executed in yellow; 19 inches high-30l. 19s. 6d.

67. A vase, with three handles, dark green ground. In front are six figures, the two centre ones representing a female seated, before whom is a young man offering in his right hand some ornament, taken from a cassolette which he holds in his left. The others are female attendants, each holding an ornament of dress. These figures are all delicately executed in yellow; 17 inches--197. 158. 76. A Panathenaic vase. On one side is represented the battle with the cestus; on the other is Minerva with uplifted shield and spear, standing between two columns, the top of each surmounted with a cock. These subjects are finely painted in various colours, on a yellow ground; 23 inches high-281.

77. Another Panathenaic vase, of the same form and height. The one side representing the combat of the cestus; and the other Minerva standing between two columns, as before. In her shield is the Pegasus, and down the side of the left column is anin scription in large Greek characters-241.

78. A vase with three handles, dark ground. In the front is represented the combat between Hercules and Triton, with a figure on either side; on the frieze are eight horses, with the figure of a man in the centre of them represented as running. These subjects are painted in a dark colour, on a yellow ground, and among the figures of the principal subject are several inscriptions in Greek; 20 inches high-217.