Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/424

 320 PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS OF displaying all the objects in their valuable museum, presented in this, as in almost every period of Archaeological classification, a most interesting opportunity for the comparison of various types of ancient weapons, orna- ments and other remains. In the " Bronze Period,'' the collections from Somersetshire, composed of antiquities contributed from the Museum of the Bristol Institution, with the produce of the Turbaries, from that formed by Mr. Stradling ; ■* the unique massive tore or collar sent by Mr. Coathupe, antiquities from the Polden Hills, brought by Mr. H. Harford, and torques of more simple fashion, by Mrs. Phippen, presented a group of singular interest, as compared with numerous Irish remains of bronze, from the collections before mentioned. Romano-British relics in great variety, found in Somerset, and deposited, after the death of the late Rev. John Skinner, of Camertoti, in the Museum of the Institution, were here instructively placed in comparison with numerous remains lately disinterred at Corinium, and brought by Professor Buckman. Amongst antiquities of the Saxon age, the fibula, enriched with filagree, found near Abingdon, claimed especial notice : it was brought by the President of Trinity College. A very remarkable cruciform fibula, enriched with coarse enamels, found not many days before the meeting, near Warwick, with a large perforated crystal and other relics, was jn-oduced by the Rev. W. Staunton. The works of art, in ivory, chasings in metal, enamels, carvings in wood and stone, embroideries, specimens of plate, seals, intaglios and other curious objects of the medieval period, were numerous and varied. Mr. Loscombe, of Clifton, Mr. Tyson, Mr. Cookson, the Rev. H. Ellacombe, Mr. Jere Hill and Mr. Stradling were amongst the chief contributors. The Somerset Archaeological Society, and Messrs. Bindon and Clark, of Bristol, exhibited an extensive series of the sepulchral brasses of Bristol and Somerset. The Hon. Board of Ordnance, Sir John Boileau, Dr. Dalton, Mr. Paget, Mr. H. Harford, of Frenchay, and Mr. Hill, sent for exhibition, armour and weapons, from the age of mailed defences to the interesting Highland tacks used by the great Duke of Argyll, of which Sir John had recently made acquisition. The Great Western Railway Company sent an interesting contribution, the remains of the tesselated pavement found at Keynsham, during the formation of the line ; in this class, however, of ancient art, the fac-simile tracinn:s of the mosaics brouc:ht to lijcht at Cirencester, and exhibited by Professor Buckman, presented the most valuable examples, probably, hitherto found in England. A veiy large assemblage of drawings, chiefly representing architectural remains in Bristol and Somerset, were contributed by Mr. Britton, Mr. Tovey, Mr. Hansom, Mr. Norton, and Mr. Colbrook Stockdale. In the evening a meeting took place in the theatre of the Philosophical Institution, Lord Talbot de Malahide presiding. A memoir was read by Edward A, Freemax, Esq., M.A., on the preservation of ancient monu- ments ; in which he opposed the prevalent practice of " Restoration," or renovating architectural structures, unless for some essential purpose of practical utility. He strongly advocated, also, the principle of leaving ancient remains in their integral condition, in situ, and abstaining from those mutilations, and the dispersion of their most precious accessories, by which museums were enriched, and specimens accumulated, whilst the deep ' Sec his curious memoir on the Tui'baries near Bridgwater : Proceedings of Somerset Archaeological Society, p. 48.