give us reason to hope that we shall be able to effect the proposed restoration to the satisfaction of all parties.

"Individually I am pleased that interest has been taken in the matter. In commencing the restoration last year, I ventured to suggest the embellishment of the church (by stained-glass memorials of the historical personages connected with the church,) to the representatives of several noble and opulent families whose ancestors were buried in the church, but without any satisfactory results.

"Believe me, Rev. and dear Sir,

"Rev. B. Webb, M.A., &c. &c."

"Your obliged servant,

"GERARD WYNEN. "Treasurer of the Dutch Church, A. F.

Mr. Clarke informed the committee, that the Royal Institute of British Architects had appointed a committee "on the Conservation of Ancient Monuments and Remains." The members are the President, Messrs. Digby Wyatt, Ashpitel, Bell, Burges, Christian, Tite, Ferrey, Lewis, Nelson, Pearson, Penrose, Salvin, Slater, Scott, Street, White, and the two secretaries. Mr. Clarke also forwarded a photograph of a large monumental brass, lately down in Christ church, Oxford, in memory of Dr. Barnes, who is represented in modern costume. He sent also a drawing of the interior of the new chapel of the House of Charity in Soho Square; and sketches of the polychro. matic decorations now being carried out under his superintendence, at S. Alban's, Rochdale.

Mr. Gambier Parry described the recent improvements effected in the close and deanery of Gloucester.

The President reported the selection made of a subject for the society's colour prize, out of the prize designs for the Architectural Museum's wood-carving competition.

The committee examined some designs for a new church at Queenstown, Cork, by Mr. H. Hill; and also some designs, by a local architect, for a new church at Charlton, near Cheltenham, proposed to be built by Sir William Russell.

A present of various publications, in continuation of former donations, was received from the Royal University of Christiania. The secretary, Mr. Christopher Holst, announced the premature death of Professor Munch, (a name well known to English ecclesiologists,) in the following communication :

"Ce 24 Juin, 1863.

"L'Université Royale de Norvège a l'honneur de vous informer de la perte qu'elle vient de faire en la personne de Mr. P. A. Munch.

"Mr. Munch, que la voix du peuple a proclamé l'historien national de la Norvège, est né à Christiania le 15 Décembre 1810. Son père, Edouard Munch, Ministre protestant, lui fit faire ses premières études classiques à l'école de Skien et l'envoya plus tard étudier le droit à l'Université de Christiania. Le jeune Munch attira bientôt l'attention publique par une remarquable intelligence, une imagination vive et une mémoire prodigieuse. Il abandonna le droit pour les études historiques et fût nommé professeur d'histoire à l'âge de 31 ans, le 16 Octobre 1841. Il s'était voué dès lors exclusivement à l'histoire de son pays, dont les monuments se rétrouvent presque aussi nombreux hors de la Norvège que dans ses limites actuelles. Ses re

cherches le ménèrent successivement en Suède, en Angleterre, en Irlande et en Normandie, où il séjourna à différentes époques. Peu à peu son nom acquit une célébrité européenne et il fut élu membre de plusieures sociétés savantes étrangères. In 1857 le Storthing lui ayant accordé une subvention pour faire à Rome des recherches sur l'histoire ancienne des Scandinaves, il consacra plusieures années à remplir cette mission dans les archives du Vatican. Il se livra à ces études qui eussent effrayé une énergie moins persévérante, avec une sagacité, qui n'est égalée que par l'étrange hardiesse de ses conclusions. Les siècles ne réusissaient à lui cacher aucun de leurs secrets et ses vues profondes dans l'obscurité des tems passés le mettaient à même d'éclairer de la lumière d'hypothèses étincilantes le chaos de nos origines. N'estce pas l'hypothèse seule qui peut ouvrir à l'histoire les voies que la critique déblayera plus tard?

"Mr. Munch est auteur d'une foule d'écrits historiques, géographiques, philologiques et politiques. Mais sa grande œuvre, son tître spécial à la gloire en même tems qu'à l'éternelle reconnaissance de sa patrie, est son histoire de Norvège (Det norske Folks Historie), œuvre remarquable de science et de critique, par laquelle il a rendu aux Norvégiens leurs origines nationales. Malheureusement ce monument, élevé par un esprit d'élite à l'honneur d'un peuple autrefois puissant et dont les annales se confondent au moyen âge avec celles de la plupart des grandes Nations européennes, est resté inachevé. La mort a arrêté ce livre au moment de l'Union de Calmar (1397); Mr. Munch a été subitement frappé à Rome, le 25 Mai dernier, à l'âge de 52 ans: il laisse une veuve éplorée, un fils et quatre filles.

"CHR. HOLST."

A communication was received from Mr. E. A. Austin, the new secretary of the Surrey Archæological Society, announcing the removal of the offices of that body to No. 8, Dane's Inn, Strand, W. C. Letters were received from W. Bence Jones, Esq., H. Hill, Esq., Messrs. Lavers, J. P. Seddon, Esq., E. R. Robson, Esq., C. Buckeridge, Esq., Joseph Clarke, Esq., G. M. Hills, Esq., W. Slater, Esq., R. J. Withers, Esq., J. W. Hugall, Esq., F. E. Knightly, Esq., W. H. Weale, Esq., (of Bruges,) and Mr. Keith.

A very curious collection of bell emblems and inscriptions, made during the course of many years by Mr. John Mears, a workman in the employ of Messrs. Mears, of Whitechapel, was submitted. The committee much wished that so interesting a series could be published.

The Rev. T. Helmore sent a programme of the proposed performance of the Motett Choir during the ensuing season.

Mr. Seddon met the committee, and exhibited some very clever designs for Gothic furniture; and also a patented design for a folding church bench, by Mr. Holmes, which may be very useful in some places. He also showed the designs, prepared by himself, for the restoration of the magnificent church of S. Nicolas, Yarmouth. He promised an illustrated paper on this church for the February number of the Ecclesiologist. He also exhibited the drawings for the restoration of Oldcastle church, Monmouthshire, and Newchurch in the same county, also a parsonage for Holdgate, Shropshire, and some villas built at Wandsworth.

Mr. Robson met the committee, and exhibited his designs for a new parsonage at Kyloe, Northumberland; for a very satisfactory new church at Rainton, Durham; and for the rebuilding of the Gibson

almshouses at Sunderland. He also showed a watch with the face enamelled in a design, in which Sol and Luna were gracefully introduced.

The committee examined Mr. Slater's designs for a new cheap church at Belfast, and his revised designs for adding a low pyramidal capping to the tower of Sheen church, Staffordshire; also Mr. St. Aubyn's design for a new parsonage at Devonport, and for a lichgate to a churchyard at S. Michael's Mount, Cornwall; also some alternative designs in two styles, by Mr. Knightley, for the Master Bakers' Pension Society almshouses in the Lea Bridge Road: also designs, by Mr. Buckeridge, for the chapel, &c., of the hospital or priory of the Holy Trinity, Ascot, Berks; for a new church at Egutpoora, in the diocese of Bombay; for the restoration of Mursley church, Bucks, and Streatley church, Berks; and for a new probate registry lately built at Oxford.

Mr. Keith exhibited photographs of some of his more recent works, including a chalice for Baliol College, Oxford; a pastoral-staff, with ivory crook, jewelled, with ebony staff and silver and gold mountings, for Bishop Tozer; a full set of altar-plate, presented to All Saints' Home, by R. O. Barber, Esq.; a like set for S. Matthias, Stoke Newington; a jewelled chalice for Cowley, Oxfordshire; and a set of altarplate, presented to S. Mary's, Carlton-in-Snaith, Yorkshire, by Lord Beaumont.

Messrs. Lavers and Barraud forwarded for inspection some cartoons by Mr. Westlake, representing the Transfiguration, for a window of three lights in the north wall of the chancel of the church of Kingstonon-Thames; also cartoons and photographs of a series of windows for Walton-le-Dale church, Lancashire, designed by Mr. Westlake; also a cartoon, by Mr. Allen, for a window in the new Garrison church at Woolwich.

The committee then adjourned.

ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS.

Ar the Ordinary General Meeting held on Monday, November 30th, 1863, Ewan Christian, Esq., Vice-President, in the chair, Mr. F. C. Penrose, M.A., Fellow, read a short paper upon the Metrical system of Weights and Measures, in which (whilst approving generally of the decimal system as favourably reported upon by Mr. Ewart's committee,) he illustrated a system of his own, which he considered afforded greater facilities in working out measures of quantities, as applied to their own profession, and squaring and cubing the same. The arrangements for the evening not admitting of the discussion of this paper, it was stated that the subject would be resumed at an early period after the Christ

mas recess.

Mr. White, Fellow, then read a paper descriptive of Newland church, in the forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, with an account of its

restoration. The author, after some general observations, indicating very decided views on the subject of internal church arrangements, upon which he said he was aware difference of opinion existed amongst those before him, proceeded to give a highly interesting topographical, archæological and ecclesiastical history of this celebrated edifice, gathered from the resources at his command, as well as by personal observation, during the progress of its restoration. He then described the architectural features of the original building, which (he remarked) was evidently planned with the idea of subsequent additions being made to it, as the means and opportunity presented themselves. He traced the various grants that had been made towards the structure, from the grant of the crownland, for the site of the church, in the year 1213, to the subsequent munificent gifts of noble families of the locality, by whose assistance the additions to the edifice were made from time to time. The chancel formed no portion of the original structure, although it was very unusual to build any church, however small, without a chancel. As long a period as fifteen years elapsed between the grant of the land and the commencement of the building, but during that interval the oak timber was cut from the surrounding forest, and ample time was allowed for its seasoning; and there were evidences that the original structure was built by slow degrees. The dedication of the church was in honour of All Saints. Mr. White then proceeded to give details of the four noble aisles which formed so prominent a feature in this edifice. The eastern arcade was finished in the year 1245, the western in 1253, the northern in 1270, and the southern in 1280. The external and internal doorways were then described, as also the tower, which bore evidences of having been an addition to the original structure. The walls of the tower, six feet in thickness, were built of large square ashlar stones. Throughout the church there was an entire absence of buttresses in the older parts. The rebuilding of the north wall having been necessary, he had put up two buttresses at that part. The chancel arch had also been rebuilt. It was also necessary to rebuild two of the arches in the south aisle, and three in the north aisle, in consequence of the great settlement that had taken place. The other portions rebuilt, were the eastern gable and the side walls of the transept, as also was the eastern window, which was past restoration; but in doing that, the Perpendicular style was not reproduced. The same remark applied to the clerestory, believed to have been added towards the end of the sixteenth century, which had reached such a state of decay, as to be scarcely capable of sustaining the weight of its roof. In the first instance, there was reason to hope that the original roof might have been saved by introducing ties; but as the work progressed, the timber was found to be so decayed, that very little of the oak could be used, and that only in short lengths, and sufficient oak having been found in good condition for the construction of the present pulpit, the remainder of the original timber was only fit for firewood. The peculiarities of the original roof of the edifice were minutely described. Having thus reviewed the structural portion of the building, Mr. White proceeded to give the details of the work of restoration, and the internal fittings and decorations. The whole of

the sittings were open benches; those in the aisles folding down when not required, so as to preserve the noble proportions of those parts of the church. The baptismal font had been placed at the south entrance, in a good open space. The chancel had been filled with carved stalls and elbows. The altar-table, which he found had been used as a slab in the pavement, he had placed as a base to the altar, the dimensions being nine feet long by two feet three inches wide, which was found to be well suited for so large a church. The ancient effigies and fragments of brasses had been, so far as possible, preserved; in some cases restorations were effected; in others, portions which had not fallen into decay had been reset in fresh panels, of Caen stone, in a manner as far as possible to retain their original characteristics. Mr. White then entered at some length into a critical consideration of the general question of church architecture, more particularly with regard to the ritualism of the church, which, he remarked, had been too much disregarded. The question of church arrangement, he said, was too large a one to be included in the present paper, but he hoped on another occasion to lay his views on that subject before the Institute, and to meet with the same kind indulgence as had been accorded to him this evening.

After a brief discussion of some of the points referred to in the paper, in which Mr. J. W. Papworth, Fellow, Mr. J. P. Seddon, Hon. Sec., and the Chairman, took part, the meeting adjourned till Monday, December 14th, 1863.

At the Ordinary General Meeting of the Institute, held on Monday evening, December 14th, 1863, Mr. T. L. Donaldson, President, in the chair; Mr. W. Tite, M.P., late President, read a highly interesting paper on "Public Improvements in Paris and their cost.' A succinct history was given of the various great public works, dating from the extension of the Tuileries to the Louvre, down to the present time, which had rendered Paris so celebrated as a city. Details of the cost to the state and to the municipality for the construction of new lines of public thoroughfare, boulevards, streets, &c., collected from the most authentic sources, were given, showing that an actual loss of sixty per cent. had resulted in a commercial point of view from those works. The financial plan, on which these public improvements had been carried out, was explained; the state furnishing a subvention upon an average of one-half the outlay, whilst the other half was borne by the municipality; the interest and sinking fund on the part of the latter, being met by the octroi upon provisions, &c., brought into the city. Mr. Tite stated that it was not his intention to draw comparisons between London and Paris, on the question of street improvements, but to show what public spirit had done in the latter city, and the cost at which it had been effected. A lengthened discussion followed the reading of the paper, in which Mr. A. Ashpitel (who explained the system of assessing damages and compensations in cases of public works, adopted in France), the Rev. Mr. Burgess of Chelsea, Mr. Jennings, Mr. Marrable, and other members took part; in the course of which, it was recommended, that a Committee of the Institute should be appointed