Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 2.djvu/207



Mr. John Parkinson communicated for exhibition, by Dr. Bromet, a rubbing taken on black paper from a sepulchral brass in memory of a goldsmith of York, who died A.D. 1614; it illustrated the ancient practice of quartering family arms with those of municipal guilds or companies.

A letter was read addressed by the Rev. Dr. Lyon, of Sherborne, to Dr. Bromet, expressing his willingness to furnish the Committee with an exact representation of the mosaic pavement, now preserved in Lord Digby's dairy at Sherborne castle. Dr. Bromet also communicated a letter from Mr. Alfred S. Taylor, Professor of Chemistry at St. Thomas's Hospital, pointing out the injury done to brasses, which have become detached from sepulchral slabs, by re-fixing them in the matrices with iron nails. "It has been found experimentally," Mr. Taylor observed, "that the contact of two metals, such as brass and iron, or copper and iron, or even zinc and iron, (brass being formed of copper and zinc.) leads to the rapid oxidation of one, and to the slow oxidation and corrosion of the other metal, owing to a galvanic circuit being formed under the influence of air and moisture. The iron is oxidized, the oxides and carbonates of copper and zinc are slowly formed, and a blueish white crust spreads over the brass." Mr. Taylor suggested that in re-fixing brasses, brass-headed flush nails should be used, or that the iron should be soldered to the back of the brass, in case it were objectionable to drill a hole through the latter. Mr. Taylor added that he had found some brasses of the fifteenth century laid down with hard pitch only, which on examination had apparently all the properties of common pitch, and was as fit for being re-employed as when first used.

Mr. Frederick Ouvry exhibited a small perfumed ball composed of earthy or metallic matter, enclosed in a highly-wrought silver filigree case, mounted on a tripod-stand, which he conceived to have been an appendage to a toilette table of the sixteenth century. The character of the ornament appeared to shew that it was of oriental workmanship.

Mr. John Wright, of the Temple, exhibited an impression from the seal of John Pecham, found at St. Augustine's monastery, Canterbury; the subject of the device was the Holy Lamb, carrying a bannerol ensigned with the cross.

Mr. Albert Way communicated a letter from Mr. W. H. Clarke, of York, enclosing impressions of Roman coins, found in the gardens within the ancient walls of York, extending from Skeldergate to Micklcgate Bar, in 1811 and 1845. Mr. Clarke stated that coins were frequently found in