Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 6.djvu/332

 200 PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS. person of low origin, his grandfather having been under-rauger of Shotover Forest, Oxfordshire. Milton was born in the parish of Allhallows, Bread- street, his father being a scrivener in London, resident at the sign of the Spread Eagle, in that street, doubtless in allusion to the arms attributed to his family, or taken by him. It is, however, singular that the charge in question is given as the bearing appropriate to the name of Milton, and borne with certain differences by the families of that name settled in Shropshire and Staffordshire.^ It has been reported that a grant by Segar is in existence, giving to the poet or his family an assignment of these arms. Mr. Hunter observed that he believed he had succeeded in tracing the poet's grandsire as resident at Staunton St. John's, Oxfordshire ; the history of the family was involved in obscurity, and he proposed shortly to publish the results of his researches relative to Milton. Mr. Disney stated also, that, by desire of his father, shortly before his decease, in 1816, he had deposited at Christ's College, Cambridge, an original model, in clay, of the head of Milton, which had been in the possession of Vertue, and was sold by him to Mr. Thomas Ilollis. Vertue stated that he had preserved it many years, and believed it to be the work of Pierce, a sculptor of some note, who carved the bust of Wren, in the Bodleian. Mr. Hollis, however, believed it to have been modelled by Abraham Simon. From this model the engravings by Vertue, for Milton's prose works (edit. 1738 and 1753), were taken, as also an etching by Richardson, and the medal struck by Tanner ; Rysbrack's bust of the poet, in Westminster Abbey (1737); and Scheemaker's bust, executed for Dr. Mead, and purchased at his sale for Mr. Duncombe. Mr. Disney had visited Christ's College, in 1848, on his way to the meeting of the Institute at Norwich, to inquire for this invaluable portraiture, and it was shown to him " by one of the gyps, on the floor of a closet, in what appeared to be a sort of butler's pantry." It is earnestly to be desired that this interesting relic should be securely placed in the Fitzwilliam Museum, or some place where its value were appreciated. The Annual General London Meeting was held at the Theatre of the Institute of Civil Engineers, Great George Street, Westminster, on Thursday the 10th May, at which the General Report of the Central Committee on the affairs and progress of the Institute during the year 1848 was read and received. The Report of the Auditors was also read and received, and ordered to be printed, (see next page). It was then announced from the chair that the Institute had entered into possession of their new apartments, No. 26, Suffolk Street, Pall Mall East, which would afford ample accommodation for the monthly meetings, and where they would accordingly take place on the commencement of tbe ensuing session in November next. It was also announced that the Annual Local Meeting, to be held this year at Salisbury, would commence Tuesday, the 24th, and conclude Tuesday, the 31st July. The members afterwards dined together at Blackwall, the Earl of Enniskillen presiding. ■■ IJiirke, in his " f!fnci;il Armory," gives belonpting to tiic name of " Mitton or Mylton, tliis coat aiul frcst (above (Jesci-il)e(l) as Oxfordsliire."