Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/122

 94 PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS OP the hands and head, more so than in EugHsh work ; and at the same time that elongated style which it was dittieult to undei-stand. Tiie faulty proportions would perhaps be accounted for by such figures being fre- quently placed ver}' high above the eye of the beholder. Beautiful as CJothic aivliitecture was, it was deficient in art, and the accessories were bad ; the best style hi-stod but a sliort time, and in none of the styles wivs the sculpture good. The Easton figure was probably the work of a travelhng Italian artist of the I'isani school. The following translation of a letter that had been transmitted to the Institute from Yechi, an ancient town in the province of Murcia, was then submitted to the meeting ; — "YixLA, the 1st Sept., 1871. " Gentlemen of the Archieological Society, — About a year ago, in the neighbourhood of this town, I had the good fortune to find a great treasure for science, since the objects are fragments of statues of ordinary stone, and also various figures in metal and lead, various white anus (J weapons) in metal and in iron, as well as various medals or coins, very rare. I forward photographs of those that I have in my Collection. " I have repeatedly submitted them to the Archaeological Academy of Madrid, and the gentlemen composing it state that they are objects of gi-eat value, since they belong to the time of the riia-nicians ; and also, in addition to these circumstances, I am unable to state how fixv a small amount would go to cover the expenses of making excavations. Besides, there are many curious pei*sons who ]iresent themselves to i)urchase the said object.s, and my desire is to sell them all together. Besides these objects, I wish to offer you a variety of articles in glass and jiottery, of great rarity ; and, moreover, I have to offer to you a number of pictures, painted in oil vn linen, wood, and copper. " I should suggest that you should determine to take all that is in my ])ossossion for the same very reasonalile price that the antiquaries of this country would give, who do not know how to value any archieo- logical object, l-'urthcr, if you assent to take the whole that I jmssess, I give you my word of honour not to dispose of one article hereafter to the antiipiaries of this country, since all my wish is to make excavations, and search f<>r the trea-sures concealed mulcr the ground. " I hope tljat you will take the trouble to answer me, if it should be posuiblo to follow this up, and that I may determine how to proceed ; and if it is a proposition that suits your ptn-posc, you nuiy .send an intel- ligent jK-TKon capable of appreciating the valuable (tlijects that are to bo found in this house. Ainl iierewilh I oiler to j)lace myself at yniir com- manda, and bubscribc myself, itc, Ac, " VlCKNTK J CAN V AUNAT. " The direction is in Spain, — Yecla, Pri'vinc*- of .Muivia. "To the (Jentlemen of the Aaulemy of Archaology and History in lyjudon : Yngalaterra," The Rev. J. (Jiii.vM,!,!; ('iie.sti:u then read " Xotes on the Ancient ChriMtian ChnrcheH «>f MusV cl Ateyali, and its Ncighl)ourhood." This wjw illiiHtrated by the exhibition of rul)l>ings from Kdmc of the carved wood-work in these churches. TheCiiAiUMAN remarla'<l upon the singular