received and been promised about £330, but two of the larger contributions (of £50 each) were conditional on the sum of £500 being obtained. He hoped, therefore, that members would assist in the carrying out of so desirable a work. Should any funds remain after the exploration of Housesteads the balance would be applied to the clearing out of another camp.

The Rev. C. E. Adamson mentioned that he had recently seen the book of the parish accounts of Monk Heselden, at the commencement of which were the names of the select vestry of "The Twelve of the Parish." There was no date, the nearest stating the amount of "the whole Book of Rates for the parish the Quakers sess deducted" for 1687. The present Vicar found this "Twelve of the Parish" in existence, but he had not thought it advisable to do what was necessary to prolong its existence, and consequently it has now ceased to exist. Mr. Adamson said that he mentioned this because some time ago some of the members had asked questions on the subject of select vestries. * * *

At the monthly meeting of the ROYAL ARCHEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE, on Wednesday, July 6, Mr. F. G. Hilton Price exhibited and described a fine example of a thirty-hour alarum clock-watch by Thomas Tompion, made about the year 1670. The silver case is beautiful and rich in design, and is considered by Mr. Charles Shapland as English, despite the six French marks that are on it and the lilies. One of the marks is a spider, being an ancient mark of Alençon. But the weight and feel of the case, and the leafy circles and roses, which are also on the brass-work under the dial, suggest its English origin. The movements are original in all parts, and are remarkably well preserved.

Professor Bunnell Lewis, F.S.A., read a paper on "Roman Antiquities in South Germany," in which he noticed the following remains :

1. A mosaic at Rottweil, in the kingdom of Würtemberg, where the principal figure is Orpheus. He is represented, as usual, seated, playing the lyre and wearing the Phrygian cap; but the expression of his countenance is remarkable; he looks upwards to heaven, as if inspired by the Deity.

2. An inscription at Constance, which was formerly at Winterthur in Switzerland. It belongs to the period of Diocletian, and, though only a fragment, is useful for deciphering inscriptions still more imperfect. The date is A.D. 294.

3. Badenweiler, in the Grand Duchy of Baden, is surrounded by the beautiful scenery of the Schwarzwald, a short distance north of Bâle. The Roman baths at this place are the best preserved in Germany. They consist of two equal parts, each containing two large and some smaller apartments, and separated by a thick middle wall. It was formerly supposed that the division was made between the military and the civilians; but as no objects have been found belonging to the former class, it is now generally agreed that this division had reference to the two sexes. No halls are to be seen here as at Pompeii; on the other hand, enough remains of the foundations and walls to enable us to trace the ground-plan distinctly.

4. The Roman boundary wall in Germany has

been the subject of important publications by English and foreign writers. It is now being explored with great care, under the auspices of the Reichs-Limes Commission, by various local savants: the results of their investigations appear in a series of monographs upon the forts (castella). Many important discoveries have been made. One of the most interesting is a Mithras-relief at Osterburken, which ranks first of its class for size, for Mithraic legends, mysterious deities, and the union of Persian, Greek, and Chaldæan elements.

The first of the outdoor meetings of the HAMPSTEAD ANTIQUARIAN AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY took place on Saturday afternoon, June 25, and included visits to Cannon Hall, Hampstead, and Wildwoods, North End. There was a good attendance of members and friends, including Mr. Talfourd Ely, F.S.A., one of the vice-presidents. Mr. Henry Clarke, a member of the society, in conducting the party over Cannon Hall, pointed out that the oldest part of his residence was the hall and staircase. An old well formerly existed in the courtyard, and the house took its name from the various pieces of old cannon placed at different parts of the lawn and on the walls by a former resident.-The old fireengine, the dungeon or lock-up, the court-room (now used as a billiard-room) were in turn visited, whilst from the drawing-room the beautiful view was much admired. A hearty vote of thanks having been passed to Mr. Clarke, on the motion of Mr. C. J. Munich (hon. sec.), seconded by Mr. Chandler, the party then proceeded, under the guidance of Mr. George W. Potter, to Wildwoods. On the way Mr. Potter pointed out various objects of interest, and at the Judges' Walk he read some extracts from an old manuscript in corroboration of the general idea that at this spot the courts were held at the time of the Plague. On arriving at Wildwoods, the party visited the small room occupied for nearly two years by William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, and also other parts of the house and the garden. On leaving, the hon. sec. conveyed the thanks of the Society to Mr. Figgis, junr. (in the absence of his father), for the latter's kindness in permitting them to visit Wildwoods.

Reviews and Motices
of New Books.

[Publishers are requested to be so good as always to mark clearly the prices of books sent for review, as these notices are intended to be a practical aid to book-buying readers.]

HEREFORD, THE CATHEDRAL AND SEE (Bell's Cathedral Series). By A. Hugh Fisher, with forty illustrations. Crown Svo., pp. 112. London: George Bell and Sons. Price Is. 6d. The cathedral church of Hereford, although one of the smallest of our English minsters, is at the same time one of the most interesting and picturesque. A little more than a hundred years ago it possessed a feature which was unique among the cathedral churches of this country, viz., a single

of the interior is now little better than a show place for the abominations of the ecclesiastical tailor of a quarter of a century ago. Prior to Sir Gilbert Scott's "restoration" the choir extended to the western piers of the tower arch, and was arranged with four returned stalls on either side at

"Gothic" pattern of the period. It is only fair to say that the "restored" building was re-opened in 1863, and that the work done in it was therefore effected at about the very worst period of the so-called "Gothic revival."

Mr. Fisher is, perhaps, scarcely as much alive to

the modern mischief as we might wish that he were, but he has compiled a very useful and appreciative handbook to the cathedral. The book is arranged in four chapters. The first of these deals with the history of the building, the second with its exterior, the third with the interior, and the fourth with the history of the see. Occasionally there is a little confusion, as, for instance, on pages 6 and 7, where the late Mr. Mackenzie Walcott's summary of the duties of the Treasurer of Hereford Cathedral Church are introduced immediately after an allusion to the foundation of the secular chapter in the beginning of the twelfth century. We have referred to Mr. Walcott's book, Cathedralia, which is cited by Mr. Fisher, but as usual no reference or authority is given by Mr. Walcott for his statements, so that it is impossible to assign a definite date to the document he drew his information from. It is, however, we think, quite clear that it must have been of a very much later date than Mr. Fisher's reference to it would lead the reader to suppose.

We are glad to welcome this addition to the series. As usual, it is freely illustrated, and forms a very convenient guide-book to the highly interesting building with which it deals. The books of the series would be none the worse if each contained, at least, a brief index. The table of contents at the beginning, though full, scarcely makes up for the want of an index. This is the only fault we have to find with this very useful series of handbooks.

+

THE HILL OF THE GRACES. A Record and Investigation among the Trilithons and Megalithic Sites of Tripoli. By H. S. Cowper, with ninety-eight illustrations and a map. Cloth, 8vo., pp. xvi., 312. London: Methuen and Co. Price 10s. 6d.

Our readers will remember the series of papers contributed by Mr. Cowper to the pages of the Antiquary at the beginning of 1897, dealing with the remarkable stone monuments, bearing so marked a resemblance to Stonehenge, which are to be found in considerable number near Tripoli. Unfortunately, the Turkish Government has refused since 1880 to allow any foreigner to travel inland, so that Mr. Cowper's investigations have had to be made by stealth, and under the guise of sporting expeditions. Considering this difficulty which thwarted his investigations, it is certainly remarkable that Mr. Cowper should have succeeded in gathering so much information as he has been able to do regarding the ancient · Senams' they are called. The word "Senam " is the Arabic for "idol," and it seems to convey a rude inkling of the object of these stone structures, of which a number of photographs are given by Mr. Cowper. For a detailed description of these objects themselves we must refer to Mr. Cowper's book, and to the articles in the Antiquary, which are really all that is at present to be learnt about them. Not until the Turkish Government can be prevailed upon to withdraw its edict forbidding travellers to enter the interior, can we hope to learn more about structures which seem to bear a very marked likeness to the rude stone structures of Stonehenge and elsewhere, and which, perhaps, may in time

as

be made to reveal to us the story of those structures. Mr. Cowper's patient investigation of the Tripoli Senams under very difficult circumstances is deserving of all possible praise, and he will some day have the satisfaction of being acknowledged as the first person to draw serious and intelligible attention to them.

It must not be supposed, however, from what we have said, that this book (which, by the way, ought to have been noticed in these columns before now) deals only with the Senams of Tripoli. Although, perhaps, the most curious and valuable information which the book contains is that which relates to them, this forms only a comparatively small portion of the whole. In the first section into which the book is divided we have an interesting and graphic account of the town of Tripoli at the present day. The second section treats of two journeys in the hill range the first, taken in 1895, being a ride in Tarhuna and Gharian; the second, a ride in the following year in Tarhuna, Jafara, and M'salata. In the third section of the book Mr. Cowper deals with the modern and ancient geography of the Hill Range, while in the fourth section we have brought more directly before us the Senams and their story. The fifth section deals with Khoms and Lebda, the sixth describes the sites visited, and the seventh deals with the future of Tripoli. In two appendixes are (1) a list of works relating to the Tripoli coast, and (2) aneroid and thermometer readings. The book is anything but a dry book of archæology; it abounds with information of various kinds, and is really a very valuable contribution to a part of the north of Africa which is little known to most persons, and which it is not unlikely may eventually help to unlock some of our own prehistoric problems. The book is fully illustrated, and contains several maps and plans. One of these that of the town of TripoliMr. Cowper paced and measured by stealth, and he is naturally not a little proud of the performance When will the stupid Turkish Government remove the restriction which now hampers an intelligent survey of the district and its remains?

We congratulate Mr. Cowper very heartily on his labours and on the production of this book. (Several Reviews are unavoidably held over for want of space.)

NOTE TO PUBLISHERS.-We shall be particularly obliged to publishers if they will always state the price of books sent for review.

TO INTENDING ContributoRS.-Unsolicited MSS. will always receive careful attention, but the Editor cannot return them if not accepted unless a fully stamped and directed envelope is enclosed. To this rule no exception will be made.

It would be well if those proposing to submit MSS. would first write to the Editor stating the subject and manner of treatment.

Letters containing queries can only be inserted in the "ANTIQUARY" if of general interest, or on some new subject. The Editor cannot undertake to reply privately, or through the "ANTIQUARY," to questions of the ordinary nature that sometimes reach him. No attention is paid to anonymous communications or would-be contributions.

The Antiquary.

SEPTEMBER, 1898.

Notes of the Month.

THE recent annual meeting of the Royal Archæological Institute, at Lancaster, appears to have been a very successful one, the fine weather which prevailed throughout adding in no small degree to the comfort and pleasure of the members who attended it. As a special account appears on another page, there is no need for us to say more about it here. The meeting of the British Archæological Association seems also to have been a satisfactory one. Peterborough was its centre, and the neighbourhood including Stamford, Burleigh House, Crowland, and other places, were visited. We learn with great regret that the members found that the ancient and very fine tithe barn near Peterborough, so well known to antiquaries, had recently been demolished. Stamford naturally afforded (with) Burleigh House) a number of points of interest. Perhaps, too, the fact that the main line of railway misses Stamford has helped it to preserve, more than most other towns of its size, the old-world character which it still possesses, and which, independently of its antiquities, strikes most visitors. At St. Mary's Church the members met with some amount of rebuff, but as we do not know all the particulars we forbear to comment on the occurrence. Altogether the meeting is pronounced to have been a very successful one.

counts in the newspapers, the Dean was reported to have described the opponents of the so-called "restoration" as "ignorant persons." This drew from the Athenæum a short but pithy paragraph, whereupon Mr. H. J. Dukinfield Astley, one of the secretaries, wrote in reply:

As one who was present, and heard the remarks made by the Dean of Peterborough before the members of the British Archæological Association I should like to point out that the Dean's reference to "ignorant persons was not in any way understood to be of general application, but only as implying that many of those who had criticised his action and that of the late Mr. Pearson, then architect of the cathedral, were ignorant of the special features which made the plan proposed by Mr. Pearson, and carried out as regards the north-west gable and arch by the Dean and Chapter, the only feasible one for dealing with the west front. As the Dean explained it, the west wall consisted of some 2 feet of solid stone facing, and some 14 inches of solid stone backing, the intermediate space, originally filled with rubble and concrete, having become mere dust. This he proved by ocular demonstration. The remaining stonework was totally unable to support the weight of the roof and walls, and was fast falling outwards.

What was to be done? The idea of driving a tunnel between the facing and backing stones and building up the interior could not possibly have been carried out. It only remained to do what had been done with the north gable, and what it is hoped to do, when funds permit, with the whole west front-viz., pull down and re-erect. Out of 2,006 stones taken down, only 116 were found unfit to be re-used, and only 7 stones in the face of the actual north arch are new. It is the same gable, but strong instead of weak, and this is what it is hoped the whole west front will be in time.

Without expressing any opinion as to the relative merits of the rival plans, several members of the Association, architects, and more than one an F.S.A., felt bound to say that Mr. Pearson's plan seemed "justified by results."

On the whole it seems to us that the Dean distinctly scored off the Association. As for ourselves, we entirely demur to the statement that the new gable "is the same gable." It is nothing of the kind. It is a modern building, although composed of most of the stones. of the old one.