Mr. Howlett, chief draftsman to the Board of Ordnance, gave a description of the various mechanical means which had been devised for facilitating the accurate delineation of buildings, landscapes, &c., and explained the objections to which each is liable, he wished to invite the attention of antiquaries to a method which he had devised, and used with advantage, well suited, as he believed, to assist those who are not adepts in the arts of design, or who might desire some aid in correctly producing representations of ancient buildings and objects of smaller dimensions. Mr. Howlett's mode of proceeding is to draw with a crayon upon a glass placed in an erect frame, so that the eye being fixed by means of a stationary sight or point of view in front, the objects seen through the transparent plane may be delineated, and the crayon lines afterwards traced on paper.
Antiquities and Works of Art Exhibited
By Mr. W. J. Bernhard Smith.—A celt of cream-coloured flint or chert lately found at Sunning Hill, Berkshire, under the roots of a tree on the property of Mr. Forbes, by whom it was presented to Mr. Bernhard Smith. A bronze spear-head with side-loops, and the point slightly bulbous, a peculiarity of form, possibly intentional, in order to inflict a more dangerous wound: it was stated to have been found at Littlemore, near Oxford.—Two Oriental weapons, one being a Malay dagger in its sheath of wood coated with leather (compare Skelton's Goodrich Court Armory, vol. ii., pl. 147, fig. 11); the other is an Indian weapon known as the "Paiscush," of which Skelton gives examples, differing chiefly in being formed with a knuckle-guard (Ibid. pl. 139, 141).
By the Rev. Thomas Hugo.—A bronze armilla of Roman workmanship, described as found in Bucklersbury, in the present year.
By Mr. Forrest.—A tablet of alabaster, sculptured in high relief, and in perfect preservation. It represents the martyrdom of St. Thomas of Canterbury, who is represented kneeling on the steps of an altar; the four knights stand behind him ; one, most in front, is in the act of striking the head of Becket, whilst another, holding his sword with both hands, stirs the brains with savage cruelty; the other two knights are seen in the back-ground with their swords drawn. On the altar is placed a chalice, and in a small ambry at the side of the altar are seen the two cruets. Beyond, on the other side, stands Edward Grim, holding a cross-staff and a book. The date of this sculpture is about 1450. It was obtained from France, and is possibly a work of the artificers of Lagny.—Four enamelled plates, bearing the evangelistic symbols.—A covered tankard of pewter, from the collection of Robert Napier, Esq., of Glasgow; it is engraved with the signs of the zodiac and figures of heathen deities.—A round covered vessel of bell-metal, a beautiful specimen of casting, ornamented with arabesques in relief, and demi-figures of Faith and Hope. The name of the owner is introduced, and an escutcheon charged with a dimidiated fleur-de-lys.—HANS HEINRICH SCHALCH SECKEL MEIST'R. 1635. Seckelmeister signifies the "Treasurer." Several Moorish pavement tiles, from Spain.
By His Grace the Duke of Hamilton.—A cup or goblet of silver gilt of a very rare form, of which an accurate notion may be obtained from the accompanying representation by Mr. Shaw. The dimensions of the original are as follows—height, 5 inches; diameter at the top, 312 inches;
