semper Augustus. A duplicate of this ring has since been noticed in the metropolis, and numerous imitative antiques have been recently on sale, against which collectors should be on their guard.
Thomas Blayds, Esq., brought for examination several curious vessels, which he presented to the Museum of the Institute. They were of most singular forms, apparently of some plastic material, resembling, as it was observed, a Cornish ware, of which some kinds of crucibles are made. He stated that they had been in his possession about ten years, and were supposed to have been found at or near Durham. Similar vessels, found in excavations at York, are preserved in the Museum of the Philosophical Society of that city. They bear various ornaments, animals and unknown characters, in relief on the outside, and appear to have been exposed to fire, having been used, as conjectured, in some ancient processes of alchemy or assaying.
Seals and Impressions.—By the Hon. William Owen Stanley.—Circular leaden matrix of a personal seal, found in a field on the Pistill farm, in the parish of Tremeirchion, near St. Asaph, in October, 1848. The device is a Greek cross, with ornaments rudely designed between the limbs, and the legend—✠ S' IORVERTH FIL. MADOC. AB EMILVR.—Diameter, l14 inch. The Rev. W. H. Owen, Local Secretary in Flintshire, stated that Mr. Wynne, of Peniarth, had thus read this inscription, and suggested that this Jorwerth, son of Madoc, might have been brother of Dafydd ddu ap Madoc, of Hiraddug, who was buried in Tremeirchion church. Mr. Westwood, however, as he had been informed, was inclined to read the last letters thus—EMIL. VR.—possibly vicarius, and considered the seal to be of the 13th or not later than the 14th century, the characters not being Gothic, but a mixture of Norman and Welsh.
By Mr. Allies, F.S.A.—Impressions of the seal of St. Leonards Hospital, Leicester, found in the Barn-field, Saffron Walden, possibly brought thither by a trooper in Cromwell's army, which marched from the siege of Leicester to Saffron Walden. The matrix is deposited in the Museum at that place.—Seal of St. Nicholas', Worcester, found in a garden at Bennington, Herts, and now in the possession of W. Proctor, Esq., of that place. The device is an episcopal figure, surrounded by shrine-work—SIGILLU': COE': S'CI. NICHT: WIGORN'. Fifteenth century.—Seal received from High Wycombe: it represents the Annunciation: S. SIMONIS DE GVIBVILL CANCELLAR' PAR'. Fourteenth century.—A circular seal of the Statute Merchant of Worcester; device, an embattled gateway between two branches. Mr. Allies stated that it had been the seal of the company of cloth-workers of that city, now extinct, except in name.
Mr. Forrest sent for the inspection of the Society the following interesting works of art.—A Pax, composed of three pieces of niello, mounted in a frame of gilded, brass, with a handle at the back: the nielli described as being of the Venetian School of Art, and of the fifteenth century. On the principal piece is represented our Saviour bearing the Cross, the Magdalen worshipping him. Above is the name of the Artist, JACOBVS SER VANNIS COLE,—Giacomo di Ser (or Signor) Vannis da Colle. Over all, on a lunette, is a pietá with the cross and seven instruments of the Passion. Dimensions, 7 inches by 4. It was purchased by an English
