enlarge on the work done by the Association during the sixty years of its existence, and referred to the fact that it was now celebrating, under most auspicious conditions, its diamond jubilee. NOTE. The following names were omitted in the previously published list of the local members of Congress, and are now added to make that list as complete as possible: A. H. Allen. E. T. Atkin. Miss Jackson. Miss E. Leader. Dr. Harold Leader. Gill Parker. Mrs. Ryland. G. Jackson Smith. T. H. Ward. Dr. G. W. Williamson. Proceedings of the Association. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20TH, 1904. MR. R. E. LEADER, PRESIDENT, IN THE CHAIR. The following Member was duly elected : Matthew Macnair, Esq., 1, Morris Place, Monteith Road, Thanks were ordered by the Council to be returned to the donors of the following presents for the Library: To the Smithsonian Institution, for "Index to the Literature of Thorium, 1817-1902," by Cavalier Jouet, Ph.D.; "Miscellaneous Collections," vol. i, Parts 1 and 2, 1904. Cambridge Antiquarian Society, for "Proceedings," No. XLIV, Royal Institute of British Architects, for vol. xi, Third Series, Rev. H J. D. Astley, M.A., for "Tree and Pillar Worship," M. Hippolyte Verly, for "Les Monuments Cryptiques du Mr. A. R. Goddard exhibited a curious Matabele knife, also an early seventeenth-century carving knife, which Mr. Parkin, of Sheffield, said corresponded in every respect to similar articles manufactured at Sheffield at the present day. Mr. Patrick, Hon. Secretary, exhibited a fine example of calligraphy in the shape of a copybook "by John Ayres, master of ye writingSchool near St. Pauls free School in London, sold by ye Author at ye hand and Pen in Paul's Church yard," dated August, 1683. Spare leaves at the end of the book had been filled at a later date with curious old woodcuts of animals, thought to be from early blocks by Bewick. The Rev. H. J. D. Astley read the following letter from Mr. Geo. W. Miller, of Chislehurst, with reference to the discoveries there; in which the extract from a letter of M. Hippolyte Verly shows that that distinguished savant is of opinion, from his own experience in similar explorations, that the opposite theories of Mr. Nichols and Mr. Forster with regard to the antiquity of the caves may both be correct. "White House, Chislehurst, "April 9th, "DEAR SIR,--M. Hippolyte Verly, President de la Commission Historique du Nord, has requested me to present in his name the enclosed inonograph on the cryptic remains in the North of France, to the library of the British Archæological Association. Seeing that the analogous cases at Chislehurst have been much under discussion during the past two Sessions, M. Verly's work, with its excellent illustrations, should be of interest to members. I recently sent M. Verly a series of photographs of our caves, together with the first paper read at a meeting of the Association by Mr. W. Nichols, and a plan which Mr. Nichols had made since then. In his letter of acknowledgement M. Verly writes: Ces cryptes de Chislehurst me paraissent exceptionellement majestueuses. Ce que vous me dites de leur structure, de la correction de leurs murs, et de l'élégance des voûtes, écarte absolument, ce me semble, l'hypothèse d'une exploitation industrielle. À l'évidence, de pareilles cryptes ont été des habitations humaines. Il se peut qu'à des epoques plus rapprocheés, et en raison de la nature du sol, on y ait pratiqué des extractions de calcaire. Mais assurément l'origine est autre. Les archéologues, à mon avis, doivent se défier d'une confusion que voici : c'est nécessairement dans les terrains calcaires que les hommes de la période lithique se sont creusés des abris, et c'est dans les mêmes terrains que les constructeurs de toute époque sont allés chercher la matière de leurs mortiers, superpositions de travail qui désociente les savants et les conduit souvent à des conclusions tout à fait fausses. Peutêtre vos magnifiques souterrains présentent-ils un de ces cas embarrassants et complexes'." "I am, Dear Sir, "Yours faithfully, "GEORGE W. MILLER. “Rev. H. J. D. Astley." "Sheffield Cutlery and the A Paper was read by Mr. Leader on Poll Tax of 1379," which will be published. Mr. Goddard, Mr. Gould, Mr. Rayson, Mr. Williams, the Rev. H. J. D. Astley, Mr. Kershaw, Dr. Birch, and others, joined in the discussion. A second Paper was read by Mr. Patrick in the absence of the author, Mr. A. Denton Cheney. This was entitled "Shepway Cross and the ancient Court of Shepway," and will be published. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. WEDNESDAY, MAY 4TH, 1904. Dr. W. DE GRAY BIRCH, F.S. A., TREASURER, IN THE CHAIR. The Ballot was declared open, and, after the usual interval, was taken, with the following result : : President. R. E. LEADER, ESQ., B. A. Vice-Presidents. Ex officio-THE DUKE OF NORFOLK, K.G., E. M.; THE DUKE OF SUTHERLAND; THE MARQUESS OF RIPON, K.G., G.C.S.I.; THE MARQUESS OF GRANBY; THE EARL OF MOUNT-EDGCUMBE; THE EARL NELSON; THE EARL OF NORTHBROOK, G. C.S.I.; THE LORD BISHOP OF ELY; SIR CHAS. H. ROUSE BOUGHTON, BART.; THE LORD MOSTYN; THOMAS HODGKIN, ESQ, D.C.L., F.S.A.; COL. SIR WALTER WILKIN, K.C.M.G. WALTER DE GRAY BIRCH, Esq., LL.D., F.S.A. THOMAS BLASHILL, Esq., F.Z.S. C. H. COMPTON, Esq. THE VERY REV. THE DEAN OF DUR- SIR JOHN EVANS, K.C.B., D.C.L., I. CHALKLEY GOULD, Esq. ROBERT HOVENDEN, ESQ., F.S.A. J. S. PHENÉ, Esq., F.S. A., LL.D. Honorary Treasurer. WALTER DE GRAY BIRCH, Esq., LL.D., F.S. A. Honorary Secretaries. GEORGE PATRICK, Esq., A.R.I.B.A. THE REV. H. J. DUKINFIELD ASTLEY, M.A., F.R.S.L., F.R. Hist. Soc. The Rev. H. J. Dukinfield Astley, Hon. Editorial Secretary, read the following: Secretaries' Report for the year ending December 31st, 1903. "The Honorary Secretaries have the honour of laying before the Association, at the Annual Meeting held this day, their customary Report on the state of the Association during the year 1903: "(1.) The number of Associates has very considerably increased as compared with several years past. This is partly due to the Congress held at Sheffield, which was a gratifying success, both financially and as adding strength to the Association; and to the individual efforts of our Vice-President, Mr. W. J. Nichols, who has set an example which all the members would do well to follow. The Associates now number over 300, after deducting all losses from death or resignation. "(2.) Obituary notices of Associates continue to be inserted as opportunity offers. "(3.) The Library, as announced in our issue for April, is now housed in University College, Gower Street, and is constantly receiving additions in the shape of valuable presents. The catalogue is published, and can be obtained for 1s. "(4.) Thirteen of the Papers read at the Westminster Congress, and during the winter in London, are printed in the Journal for 1903, which is illustrated with twenty-five plates and process blocks, many of which are contributed by the writers of the Papers, to whom the Council hereby accords hearty thanks. A considerable stock of Papers is in the hands of the Editor, of which those approved by the Council will be published as the space at his disposal permits. "(5.) The meetings of the Association are now held monthly, on the third Wednesday in the months from November to June. This has not diminished the amount of literary matter supplied, as two Papers have been read at each meeting, and both in Exhibits and Papers the Association is well up-to-date. "Local Members of Council and the Associates, as a body, are again earnestly invited to supply accounts and, if possible, photographs or illustrations of new discoveries or interesting events, at the earliest practicable opportunity. "H. J. DUKINfield Astley, | Hon. "GEORGE PATRICK, Dr. W. de Gray Birch, Treasurer, read the following : Treasurer's Report. Secs." "The Treasurer has the pleasure of reporting that the deficit of last year, December, 1902, has been turned into a substantial surplus at the end of 1903, as will be seen by the Balance Sheet. He would desire to impress on the Associates the necessity of paying their subscriptions early in the year. It is hoped that at an early moment the state of the funds will warrant the Treasurer in proposing that the quarterly Journal may be resumed, in place of only publishing three parts a year.” |