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NOTICES OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL PUBLICATIONS. 99 of the friendly aid of antiquaries in general. We feel assured that his appeal will not pass unheeded.-' PROCEEDINGS AND PAPERS PUBLISHED BY THE HISTORIC SOCIETY OF LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE. First Session, 1848—9. Printed for the use of the Members. Liverpool, 1849. It is with much satisfaction that the progress of the Archaeological movement in the Provinces must he noticed. The agreeable duty now devolves upon us of calling the attention of our readers, and those espe- cially who may have any connexion with the Counties Palatine, to the appearance of the first instalment of Transactions, produced under the auspices of the " Historic Society," instituted in Liverpool by the energetic exertions of Dr. Hume, Mr. Mayer, and Mr. Henry Pidgeon. It is well observed that it must be nationally instructive to trace the rise of the great centres of manufactures and commerce comprised within the limits of these two counties. Their antiquities of every class, the invaluable store of records, preserved at Chester, — the peculiar and interesting remains of domestic architecture, — the traditions and dialects, now so rapidly falling into oblivion in the iron age of steam, will not be overlooked. We regard, also, with especial satisfaction, the department in the task which the Historic Society has prescribed to itself with such laudable earnestness of purpose, — namely, the archaeology of trade, commerce, and inventions. We anticipate much from their prosecution of this curious subject. It is disgraceful, for example, to the English antiquary that scarce anything is known of the early rise of our celebrity in one important branch of manufac- ture, save that the merits of a " Sheffield whittle " were appreciated in the days of Chaucer. Many other subjects of investigation might be mentioned, equally deserving of attention ; but we feel assured that they have not escaped the zealous intelligence of Mr. H. Pidgeon, who has most ably entered upon the functions of his ofhce as secretary, by practical sug- gestions on the best means of carrying out the objects of the Society, with an admirable list of queries, for the systematic collection of local infor- mation, which we would cordially commend to our readers, as a very useful guide, both distinct and comprehensive. The Inaugural Address, also, by Dr. Hume, whose highly curious researches on the coast of Cheshire, at Hoylake, formed a subject of much interest at the Meeting of the Institute at York, enounces very ably the purpose and destined plan of this Institution. In the present volume, a gratifying earnest is presented that his anticipations will be fully realised. Its composition is necessarily very miscellaneous, but an analytic arrangement is given, by which we perceive with satisfaction that history and antiquities generally, have, contrary to the more usual experience of such societies, a larger share of attention than " Ecclesiology." The current record of meetings of the Society shows a large number of antiquities and objects of 3 It may be observed that this work has cioiisly expended ; the bnilding is covered in, been produced, at a most moderate price, but tlie interior fittings, &.c. demand a further with a view of aiding, by its sale, the Museum outhiy of 100/. Any contribution would lie Fund. The sum of 5001., liberally sub- thankfully .acknowledged by J. E. Lee, Esq., scribed in the neighbourhood, has been judi- the Priory, Caerleon.