Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 7.djvu/310

 214. MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. Edinburgh, — aftordiiig additional evidence of Roman occupation at that city. Mr. Wilson, indefatigal)le in the prosecution of researches which enriched his "Memorials of Edinburgh in the Olden Time," ' has given a very curious report of recent excavations on the Castle Hill, and numerous vestiges of successive periods which have there presented themselves in chronological series as the work progressed. Here, however, the present influence of the Scottish law of treasure-trove appears to have defeated nearly all the aims of the archaeologist. After the discovery of numerous coins, fragments of sculpture, and relics of comparatively recent times, a very curious deposit was found under a thick stratum of moss, or decayed animal and vegetable matter, in which occurred a brass coin of the Lower Empire. Beneath this moss lay two oaken coffins, hewn out of the solid trunk of a tree, with a cavity shaped out for the head. No ornaments were found. Large antlers and other relics apparently of the chase were near the spot. Such wooden cists are of rare occurrence. One, found in a Pagan tumulus near Scarborough, is preserved in the Museum there. Those dis- covered on the Castle Hill lay E. and W., and are probably of a later age. Sussex ARcnAEOLOGiCAL Society. — The first meeting for the current year took place at Eastbourne, May 21, where considerable vestiges of a Roman villa had been disinterred ; and various remains found on the spot were laid before the Society by Lady Domville. The memoirs commu- nicated were : — On the traces of a Roman Road from Pevensey to Lewes, by Mr. C. Ade ; — On a Dispensation from Leo X. to the incumbent of Arundel, to hold a plurality of benefices: — this document had been found in the parchment binding of a register at Fittleworth, Sussex, by Mr. Blaauw. Mr. Hervey read a notice of Numismatic discoveries at Eastbourne and Pevensey ; Mr. Dudeney contributed a notice of the Wheateai", and the mode of capture by the Sussex sliejiherds, — a subject admissible in consequence of the singular illustration of the estimation of these birds, shown by the clause in leases of former times, that a portion of the rent should be paid in potted wheatears. Mr. Lower read a curious notice of some discoveries at Alfriston ; and Mr. Cooper gave an account of the remains of Wilmington Priory. The desire for the establishment of a county museum was generally expressed by the archaeologists of Sussex ; and announce- ment was made of a work on the Churches of Sussex, by Mr. R. Nibbs, nearly ready for publication. iWiscdlancous Notttrs. The Rev. J. J. Smith, late Fellow and Tutor of Cains College, Cambridge, whose researches and contributions to the " Publicati(ms of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society " are well known and esteemed by all who feel an interest in the ancient memorials connected with that University, has recently brought to completion his useful undertaking of the "Catalogue of Manuscripts in Gonville and Caius College," a very curious collection, imperfectly known through the enumeration given in the " Catalogus MSS. Anglie." He proposes to append by siibscrijytlon) a series of illustrations, comprising notices of the writers, and of their works ; specimens of the ' Tliis iiitci'csiiiig work w.is noticed in tlic Journal, vol. v., p. "201. It was piiblislicd at Eilinlinigli in 18-lfi, and abounds with curious and valuable details.