Mr. Hart also exhibited a curious Hat, said to have been worn by Queen Elizabeth. With reference to this, the following extract from a letter by Mr. Albert Way, the distinguished antiquary, to whom the Hat had been submitted, was read by Mr. Hart:—
"I believe I told you that Queen Elizabeth's Hat is made of ivory; the thin slips are cut and platted with marvellous ingenuity. Some who have seen it, imagined, as I did, that it was of some vegetable material, perhaps some Indian rush or cane brought by one of the numerous explorers of the period. But Mr. Quekett, of the College of Surgeons, who solves all these questions with the microscope, ascertained that it is certainly ivory. I see no cause to question the tradition which would assign this curious Hat to the times of Elizabeth."
The proceedings having terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the company spent some time in examining the Collection of Antiquities and Works of Art contributed for exhibition. Amongst these may be enumerated the following:—
A large number of Rubbings from the Monumental Brasses in the churches of Surrey. Exhibited by the Misses Belt, Henry Chester, Esq., C. Calvert Corner, Esq., and Edward Richardson, Esq.
Drawings of Four Mural Paintings, of a large size, discovered in Lingfield Church. Exhibited by Edward I'Anson, Esq., Architect.
Sketches of similar Paintings, discovered in Beddington Church, were exhibited by the Rev. James Hamilton; and one representing St. Thomas A'Beckett, found in Stoke D'Abernon Church, presented by the Rev. F. P. Phillips.
Facsimile Drawing of a large Panoramic View of London, Westminster, and Southwark, by Van den Wyngrerde, 1543. The original is in the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
Panoramic View of London in 1647, by Hollar. Exhibited by George Gwilt, Esq., F.S.A.
Water-colour Drawings of the Exterior and Interior of the Ancient Banqueting Hall of the Artillery Company in Southwark, erected in 1639; afterwards used as the workhouse of the parishes of St. Olave and St. John. Exhibited by Messrs. Snooke, Allen, and Stock.
Drawing by Mr. H. P. Ashby, of the Old Church at Tooting, no longer existing. Remarkable as being the only church in Surrey with a round tower. Presented to the Society by S. H. Elyard, Esq.
Drawings of Chessington Church, recently restored by Mr. Hesketh. Bronze Mortar found in Bermondsey. By Robert Hesketh, Esq.
Map of the Roman Road from Silchester to Staines, passing through Surrey. By Colonel Prosser, Lieut.-Governor of Sandhurst.
