Officers, Members, and Associates of the British Association, at the close of their labours on the 27th ult. The Faussett Collection of Anglo Saxon Antiquities was lent for the occasion by Mr. Mayer; an interesting Lecture descriptive of them was delivered by Mr. Wright, now one of our Honorary Members; and several objects similar in character, and of great interest, were exhibited, chiefly by Mr. John Mather. The whole proceedings were of a unique and most interesting character, and we have evidence that they afforded the highest gratification to the Members of the British Association, as well as to the Members and friends of the Historic Society.

"The retiring Council recommend that the new list of Members be printed early in January next, as the period fixed for enrolling new and desirable Members without entrance fee will terminate shortly before. They also recommend, that those gentlemen whose arrears are equivalent to three sessional payments or upwards, be formally erased from the roll of the Society, if, after due notice, they fail to discharge those arrears before the 31st of December.

"In selecting and recommending persons to fill the various offices of the Society for the next year, and also to supply the vacancies on the Council, the retiring Council have acted to the best of their judgment. They have much pleasure in stating that they

tion were in the town, and thus to allow the largest possible number to participate in so rare an intellectual gratification. The whole of the Members and Associates of the British Association were therefore invited to be present; the Council in London were requested to name the evening most suitable to themselves; and to give the Meeting a more social character it was arranged that it should take the form of a Soirée.]

On Wednesday Evening, the 27th of September, the Soirée was held in the Philharmonic Hall, Hope-street, at Eight o'clock. The Faussett collection was laid out at the lower end of the Hall, in cases provided by Mr. Mayer, the objects being classed and labelled so as to exhibit their character at a glance. Beside them were the Hoylake Antiquities, exhibiting in many instances a similar character; from the collections of the Historic Society, Mr. Mayer, Mrs. Longueville late of Hoylake, and Dr. Hume. A rare and valuable series of miniatures of the Bonaparte family, was also lent for the occasion by Mr. John Mather. A pamphlet was prepared descriptive of this collection, and fifteen hundred copies of it were placed on the seats for the use of the visitors, by Mr. Mather. Fifty copies of the pamphlet descriptive of the Hoylake Antiquities were left in the room by Dr. Hume.

Around the room were suspended a series of silken banners, on which were emblazoned the armorial bearings of the various Presidents of the British Association from its establishment. Each also contained the name or title of the President, the place, and the date. At each end of the hall the royal arms were suspended. Each member of the Society was distinguished by a satin ribbon in his coat, on which was printed "M.H.S. LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE."

From eight o'clock, the company were occupied with the inspection of the objects, promenading, &c. During this interval, several interesting pieces of music were played upon the organ.

At half-past eight, the chair was taken by the WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR of Liverpool, (John Buck Lloyd, Esq.,) Vice-President ex officio of the Historic Society. The Platform and orchestra were occupied by the General Committee of the British Association, the Council and Officers of the Historic Society, and a few of their friends.

The Chairman read a letter from the Earl of Harrowby, President of the Association, regretting his inability to be present at the meeting, as the delicate state of his health made it necessary for him to reach home at the earliest opportunity.

The following paper was then read, the Chairman introducing the author to the audience.

ON ANGLO SAXON ANTIQUITIES, WITH A PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE
FAUSSETT COLLECTION.

By Thomas Wright, Esq., M.A., F.S.A., Hon. M.R.S.L.,

Corr. Mem. of the Institute of France.

At the close of the Paper, which occupied about an hour and a half, a vote of thanks to Mr. Wright was proposed by Lord Talbot de Malahide, seconded by Monckton Milnes, Esq., M.P., and carried unanimously. While these gentlemen were speaking, fifteen hundred copies of the paper, printed in pamphlet form, at the expense of Mr. Mayer, were distributed among the ladies and gentlemen present.

The Mayor then vacated the chair, and during an interval of half an hour, the company were occupied in promenading, inspecting the objects, and obtaining refreshments. The musical performances were also renewed by Mr. G. Hirst, who presided at the organ. The Mayor having resumed the chair, and the company having returned to their places, the remaining business of the programme was proceeded with.

have experienced the hearty co-operation of nearly all, and that the greatest harmony and unanimity have marked their entire proceedings.

"The Council hope to be able, in a few days, to announce to the Members the grant of convenient Rooms for holding their meetings; and due notice will be given of the time and place of holding them, in the first circular to the Members. The Treasurer reports that after the payment of every demand, and of some of a special character, he has still a considerable sum in hand, the details of which will be laid before the meeting. Under the superintendence of the Honorary Curator, a beautiful Diploma has been prepared, which will be ready for delivery to the Members at the various meetings of the Session. The Secretary has much pleasure in adding that upwards of forty Papers have been announced as either ready, or in preparation, to be laid before the Society, only part of which can be disposed of during the ensuing Session.

"The retiring Council have again to express their thanks to the Honorary Curator, for the continued use of a room at his house for the meetings of the Council."

The Secretary announced that by a resolution of the Society, adopted unanimously on the 30th of August, the Council were directed to select the names of a suitable number of gentlemen to be proposed as additional Honorary Members of the Society. The Council had done so; and the Society had confirmed their recommendation, by unanimously electing the twelve gentlemen named at a Special General Meeting held that day in the Committee-room of the Philharmonic Hall. They were the following:

Charles Cardale Babington, M.A., F.R.S., St. John's College, Cambridge.

Sir David Brewster, K.H., D.C.L., LL.D., F.R.SS.L.&E., Hon M.R.I.A., St. Andrew's, N.B., and Allerby, Roxburgshire.

John Edward Gray, Ph.D., F.R.S., F.G.S., &c., British Museum, London.

R. Gordon Latham, M.D., F.R.S., Upper Southwick Street, London.

Sir Roderick Impey Murchison, G.C.H., M.A., F.R.S., F.L.S., F.G.S., Hon. M.R.I.A., 16, Belgrave Square, London.

The Right Hon. the Earl of Rosse, K.P., D.C.L., Prest.R.S., Parsonstown Castle, Ireland. Richard Owen, M.D., LL.D., F.R.S., F.L.S., F.G.S., Royal College of Surgeons, London. John Philips, M.A., F.R.S., F.G.S., St. Mary's Lodge, York.

Colonel Edward Sabine, R.A,, V.P.R.S., Woolwich.

Rev. Adam Sedgwick, M.A., F.R.S., F.G.S., Trinity College, Cambridge.

Rev. William Whewell, D.D., F.R.S. F.G.S., F.R.A.S., Hon. M.R.I.A., Master of Trinity College, Cambridge.

Thomas Wright, M.A., F.S.A., Hon. M.R.S.L., 14, Sydney Street, Brompton, London.

Several copies of a DIPLOMA for the Society, designed by Mr. Mayer, and executed by Messrs. Maclure, Macdonald, and Magregor, were exhibited to the meeting. It will be forwarded to each of the Honorary Members; and will be ready for delivery to the ordinary Members at the various meetings of Session 1854-55. At the centre of the top is the medallion which formed the design on the cards issued for the Soirée; four figures-Truth and History, Justice and Fame, are in the act of withdrawing a curtain; and thus are exhibited, within a beautiful enriched border, the various styles of architecture, busts of Alfred and Victoria, the costumes of England from the earliest times, the changes in the Royal arms, and several illustrations of English mediæval

customs.

The Chairman announced that the Historic Society had gladly taken advantage of that public and special opportunity, to present an Address to the Honorary Curator, Mr. Joseph Mayer. After paying a becoming tribute to Mr Mayer's merits, he called upon the Rev. Dr. Hume to read the Address.

HISTORIC SOCIETY OF LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE.

TO JOSEPH MAYER, ESQ., F.S.A., HONORARY CURATOR.

"When it was officially made known to the Historic Society, that you intended to exhibit to the Members and their friends the whole of your recent purchase of AngloSaxon Antiquities, entitled the " Faussett Collection," they expressed unanimously their great gratification, and their cordial thanks for your kind offer. They think it right, however, to convey to you a more formal and permanent expression of their acknowledgments; and they believe that the present occasion is a suitable one, when an unusually large number of Members and friends are present, and when the objects are laid out before them.

"Since the period of this Society's inauguration, more than six years ago, you have laid the Members at large under numerous obligations, by the zealous and able discharge of the duties of Honorary Curator. Their property has accumulated rapidly, and its safety has been provided for, not only by your own hands, but beneath your own roof. Nor should it be forgotten, that for some of the most valuable donations they are indebted also to you,-especially for a large number of plates for the enrichment of their printed volumes.

It was moved by JOHN POOLE, Esq., seconded by Mr. STONEHOUSE, and resolved,— That the Report now read be received, and printed for distribution among the Members.

The Treasurer having read over his Balance Sheet to the meeting, as signed by the Auditors;-It was moved by Dr. HUME, seconded by Mr. BUXTON, and resolved,— That the Abstract of the Treasurer's Accounts now read be passed and printed with the Report.

It was moved by Mr. STONEHOUSE, seconded by Dr. MACINTYRE, and resolved,—

That the best thanks of this meeting be given to the retiring Council and Officers, for their services during the past year.

A Ballot having been taken for the officers and sectional members of Council by means of the slips forwarded to the Members, the result was announced by the Chairman.

On the motion of the Rev. THOMAS MOORE, M.A., a vote of thanks to the Chairman was passed by acclamation.

"On looking around, at a collection of great intrinsic value and of national interest, the Members of this Society rejoice that it has found a home in Liverpool, and that it is possessed by one of the three gentlemen to whom their large and still increasing Society owes its existence. They believe that in years to come, it will form the centre of a much larger collection, the whole of which will aid in securing a high class of antiquarian research and historical illustration.

"It is no small addition to the gratifications of this evening, that the Members of the Historic Society see around them as their guests and friends, the Officers and Members of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. For the first time those treasures of the tombs have been displayed, after nearly a century of collection and preservation; they have been explained in a lucid and interesting discourse; the subject is intimately related to the inquiries both of the British Association and the Historic Society; and it must henceforward take its position as an important branch of Science. The Faussett collection, however, is not the first subject, in connection with which the Members of this Society have had an opportunity of admiring your public spirit. In the general promotion of Science and Art your enthusiasm is well known; and you have added to the attractions of Liverpool a valuable collection of Egyptian, Etruscan, Roman, and other antiquities.

"May you be long spared in usefulness and honour, to witness the good effects of enlightened and generous conduct; and may your example incite others to similar acts, by which they will secure, in like manner, the esteem and gratitude of their fellow citizens."

The Address was beautifully engrossed on vellum, and surrounded by a border containing illustrations of Egyptian, Etruscan, Greek, Roman, British, Saxon, and Medieval objects in Mr. Mayer's own collection. The whole was enclosed in a handsome morocco case.

Mr. Mayer replied briefly, thanking the Society for the honour which they had done him, and the meeting in general for the cordial manner in which they had exhibited their sympathy.

The Chairman next exhibited a handsome bowl, made in the form of a "MAZER BOWL," or Saxon drinking cup, and stated that the Historic Society had prepared it for presentation to the Earl of Harrowby, President of the British Association, as an interesting memorial of the evening's proceedings. It was lined throughout with silver, and surrounded externally with two silver bands, the inscriptions on which he read to the meeting.

"Presented by the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, to the Earl of Harrowby, at a Soirée given by the Society to the British Association for the Advancement of Science. Liverpool, September 27th, 1854."

"This bowl is formed of wood taken from the house at Everton used by Prince Rupert as his head quarters during the Siege of Liverpool.

Lord Talbot de Malahide having been appointed to receive the bowl for Lord Harrowby, the Chairman filled it with wine and presented it to him.

His Lordship briefly expressed his best thanks on the part of Lord Harrowby, for such an appropriate souvenir; and his great personal gratification at the entire proceedings of the evening. He concluded by draining the bowl to a time-honoured toast,-"The good old town of Liverpool, and the trade thereof." This was done amid great applause.

The National Anthem was then played upon the organ, at the close of which the meeting broke up.