Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/557

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THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE.
427

perfectly flat. The use of these ancient relics is uncertain; they may have been used to fasten the dress, or as pieces for some game, like that of "tables," or drafts.

By Miss Ffarington, of Worden Hall, Lancashire.—Drawings representing two drinking vessels, the more ancient described as "a Sapling cup—an oaken tankard for drinking new ale." It is formed of wood, with staves hooped like a diminutive barrel, and has a wooden cover. The barillus, and tun, are mentioned in ancient inventories amongst the appliances of the table. A representation of the tun, preserved as a family relic at Worden, is here given, by the kindness of the present possessor. The other is a handsome silver-mounted black jack, a pint measure.

By Mr. Bernhard Smith.—Two matchlock guns, one of them elaborately inlaid with mother-o'-pearl and brass: it is either of Dutch or Flemish manufacture, sixteenth century. It has a common tubular sight. The other is a tricker-lock wall-musket, date about 1660,—francis dooms. a lovain. This piece is formed with a moveable smooth barrel within a rifled one; and there is a singular round projecting appendage on the lower side of the stock, to give a firmer hold in taking aim. Compare the French tricker match-lock of t. Charles II. in the Goodrich Court Armory, Skelton, vol. ii., pl. 116, showing another form of the projection above-mentioned.

By Mr. P. De la Motte—Six enamelled pavement tiles from Tunis, such as are used in baths. They were recently shown in the Great Exhibition, and are illustrative of the Moorish manufacture of decorations of this nature. These African examples are interesting for comparison with the azuleios of Spain, and the imitations produced in Flanders.


In Mr. Wynne's notices of excavations at Castell y Bere (ante, p. 315), the date of the capture of that fortress should be 1284. The passage, cited from Leland's Collectanea, was extracted "ex quodam Chronico Tinemutensis eœnobii, autore incerto. Incipit anno 43 Henr. III."

We regret that by an inadvertent omission in the summary report of the Bristol Meeting (p. 325), the remarkable collection of Irish relics of the "Stone Period," kindly contributed by Mr. Brackstone to the Museum, appears as having consisted of antiquities from Denmark. It was intended to allude to the interest of Mr. Brackstone's series from Ireland, as illustrative, by comparison, of the close analogy of Irish primeval remains with those of Scandinavia, exemplified in the collection from Denmark exhibited by Dr. Thurnam. Besides these objects of stone, the Museum was enriched, through Mr. Brackstone's kindness, with a remarkable series of Irish weapons of bronze, including some very rare types. The detailed account of the curious collections arranged in the Museum, will be given in the forthcoming Bristol Volume.

The publication of the Transactions at the Bristol Meeting has been undertaken by Mr. George Bell, who has recently completed the Salisbury Volume. Those members who feel interest in the continuation of the Annual Series, are requested to add their names without delay to the list of subscribers, either at the apartments of the Institute, or at the Publisher's, 186, Fleet Street. The work is in forward state of preparation.

The Central Committee have the satisfaction of acknowledging the donation of five pounds from Sir John Boileau, Bart., Vice President, in addition to the sums contributed in aid of the Bristol Meeting, previously announced.—(See p. 336.)