Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 2.djvu/437

Rh account of two stone celts rudely sculptured with representations of the human face, an inscribed Roman glass vase, and a large antique cameo with three heads supposed to be portraits of the sons of Constantine; M. Dinaux spoke of thirty thousand coins of a period before the time of Constantine, found at Famars in some vases, with some moulds illustrating the Roman mode of coining, but which, it is worthy of remark, are not the matrices of the coins found. M. Guillemin enumerated the finding of four thousand two hundred coins in some extensive Roman buildings overwhelmed with sand at Etaples, a sea-port of Normandy supposed to have been called Quantovicus; and M. Bouthors referred to several bronze hatchets and in- struments of unknown use lately discovered at Amiens.

At the afternoon meeting, on a paper read by M. Rigolot of Amiens relative to ancient representations of the Virgin and other holy personages, M. Didron remarked, that we generally attribute too great an influence to pagan art over the art of Christian times; and instanced the frequent misapplication of the name of Orpheus to the figure playing on a lyre meant for King David. He also said, that ancient figures of the Virgin are not so uncommon as supposed, they being found on several Christian sarcophagi at Aries and at Marseilles; and terminated his interesting discourse by an account of Christian art and symbolism at different epochs of the middle ages.

On the sixth day, the Director drew attention to the hitherto neglected study of sacerdotal vestments, and of stuffs and tissues brought by crusaders from the East, and exhibited a chasuble from the church of St. Rambert near Lyon, and a long-sleeved jacket of Charles de Blois, the pattern of which is embroidered with octagonal compartments, alternately of lions and of eagles.

Dr. Bromet then, in the name of the Archæological Institute, proposed a series of questions as to the representations of armour on the medieval monuments of France, and especially as to any peculiar decorations on such as are attributed to Knights Templars and Crusaders, accompanying these questions by casts from English effigies in chain and in ring mail. To Which M. de Caumont, as Director of the French Society, politely acknowledging the honour thus done to it by their English brethren, regretted that for want of documentary evidence he could not then reply to their communication, but observed that in the Bayeux tapestry some of the figures were in ring mail, and others in a kind of armour composed apparently of metallic discs sewn to a leathern jacque.

The committee appointed on a previous day to consider on the falsification of ancient coins, reported that, in their opinion, the vendors of false coins for true were equally with vendors of other spurious matters, fully amenable to the 423rd article of the French Penal Code.

The congrès then repaired to the Concert Hall at the invitation of the Musical Society of Lille, to hear a symphony in honour of their visit, and of which the composer was subsequently rewarded with their medal.

On the seventh day, the President of the "Commission Historique" of the "Department du Nord," gave an account, with drawings, of a shrine