Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 6.djvu/454

 300 PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS OF in the field of Archaeology, and especially in connection with Wiltshire, namely, Mr. Britton, the medal Ijcaring the portrait of Stukeley, with Stonehenge on the reverse. Ml'. Britton, having been accordingly invested with this decoration, Avarmly expressed thanks, and congratulated the Institute on the extension of Archaeological labours, and the rapid increase of young and ardent antiquaries. Thursday, July 26. A Meeting of the Section of Architecture was held at the Council Chamber, when a memoii- was read by Kichard Westmacott, Esq., A.E.A., in illustration of the striking series of monumental sculptures in Salisbury Cathedi'al, including one of the finest tombs in the kingdom, that of William Longespee. He traced the decline of monumental sculpture to the debased works of the sixteenth century, and the incongruous tombs of a later period, and pointed out the high value of the earlier examples in our country. Professor Cockerell, K.A., then gave a dissertation on the decorative sculpture of the Cathedral, with the view of appropriating the statues stiU seen on the west front, and retaining, although greatly mutilated, much beauty in design. He called attention to the perfection of art displayed by various works of sculptiu'e of this nature in England, and spoke of the curious symbolism shown in their design, of which a striking example is supplied by the representation of Virtues and Vices which decorates the doorway of the Cliapter House. A beautiful series of drawings, chiefly by Mr. Alfred Stevens, were produced by the Professor, in illustration of this interesting subject. Professor Willis then gave his dissertation on the architectural history of the cathedral, and in the afternoon he completed his inquiry in regard to that noble structure by a detailed examination of the various parts of the fabric, in which he was accompanied by a large assembly after the cathedral service. In this admirable dissertation, which was not inferior in interest to any of the "Architectural Histories " of other cathedrals, undertaken by the Professor at previous meetings of the Institute, he specially adverted to the fact which rend(!red the church of SaUsbury peculiarly valuable to the student, — namely, that it had been erected on a site on which no religious foundation had pre- viously existed. There was, therefore, every reason to suppose that the plan of this fabric possesses an unity of design, rarely, if ever, to be found in our ancient churches, which were almost invariably the work of successive ages, extending from Saxon or early Norman times, to the age of the Judors. Professor Willis explained the causes which led the Bishop and Canons to request permission from Pope Honorius to remove the church to its present site, and detailing the expedients resorted to for raising the necessary funds for the undertaking, as set forth in the history by WiUiam de Wanda, which strikingly exemplifies the manner and customs of our forefathers, he pro- ceeded to state, that, in 1225, the building being so far advanced that they were enabled to ]icrform servicer in it, the bishop convened an assemblage of noble persons, and consecrated three altars. At this time, also, they trans- lated from the old cathedral the bodies of three bishops, — Osmund, Koger, and .Tocelyn, — which shows that the edifice must then have been in an