and M.A. 1820: he was called to the bar in November, 1824; married in 1838 Harriet Amelia, youngest daughter of Thomas Neill, Esq., of Turnham Green, Middlesex; and was knighted in 1870. He was solicitor and attorney-general to the Prince of Wales; vice-warden of the Stannaries of Devon and Cornwall; and a J.P. for the latter county.

In the parish church of Leckhampton, near Cheltenham, there are three brasses, with these inscriptions respectively :

In memory of Harriet Amelia, the wife of Edward Smirke, of St. Philip's Lodge, in this | Parish, Esq. She died on the 23 February, 1863, at the age of 64. Her afflicted husband placed this tablet in tes- | timony of his lasting love, and in grateful remembrance | of their long and happy | union.

In memory of Sir Edward Smirke, Knt., late of St. Philip's Lodge, in this Parish. He died on the 4 March, 1875, at the age of 79. He is buried in the Cemetery at Kensal Green, London.

In memory of Matilda Neill, | daughter of Thomas Neill, late of Turnham Green, Middx., | Esq., and sister of the beforenamed Harriet Amelia Smirke. After many years of sickness and suffering, borne with | pious resignation, and soothed by the tender and constant care of her loving sister, she | died on the 5 October, 1859, at the age of 63. CHELTONIENSIS.

1524.-A PLEA FOR PEWTER VESSELS.-The Rev. J. Charles Cox has written as follows in the Derbyshire Archaeological Society's Journal (1884), vol. vi., in an interesting article on Eucharistic Plate :

The great increase in the size of the crewets used at Holy Communion, necessitated at the Reformation by the restoration of the cup to the laity, gave a great impetus to the general use of pewter for these vessels, and hence the use of that metal in poor despoiled churches descended even to the chalice and paten. The pewter crewets, which in the 15th and 16th centuries sufficed for the ordinary parish churches (almost all the Derbyshire crewets of the inventories of 1552 were of this material), being enlarged to meet the needs of the age, became what we now term flagons. These were usually in pairs, and were intended to be used for the wine and the water respectively, for which the ancient crewets or phials had been formerly provided. The earliest flagons are of Elizabeth's time. They have a pear-shaped body, domed lid with thumb piece, a curved handle, and are mounted on a spreading circular foot. After the beginning of the 17th century the common tall tankard shape comes into use. In several of the old engravings of postReformation altars the two flagons are represented with some difference in the covers or handles, as if intended to assist the celebrant in readily distinguishing between the flagons for the wine and for the water. This is very prominent in the frontispiece of

The whole duty of receiving worthily the Blessed Sacrament, which was in a fifth edition in 1717.

The

By the canon of 1603-4, the churchwardens of each parish, against the time of every Communion, "shall provide. . . a sufficient quantity. . . of good wholesome wine for the number of communicants that shall from time to time receive there, which wine we require to be brought to the Communion table in a clean and sweet standing pot or stoup of pewter, if not of purer metal.” At Quarndon, from the terrier of 1751, we find that a flagon, chalice, paten, salver, and plate, all of pewter, were in use. Wirksworth church wardens' accounts have the following entries :"1662. Paid for a puter flagon for the Communion Table, 78 4d." "1667. Disbursed by Mr Archdeacon 68 9d for a puter flagon."* At All Saints', Derby, the following memorandum appears :— "That in y month of April, An. 1679, Mr Geerge Smith, of this Parish of All Saints', Pewterer, did give for ye use of ye Parishioners of this Parish of All Saints' two large pewter Flaggons and one Pewter Plate: to be used only at the Communion." Even now pewter vessels may often be found in the vestries of churches, though very rarely in use, except occasionally as alms plates.

Surely we ought to be careful-(and irrespective of the reverence due to sacred things, pewter has its own history, its own marks, its own occasional beauty of shape or of engraved design-) that such vessels as these, though of inferior metal, are not carelessly discarded, or suffered to be put to base uses where they will soon pass into oblivion. I am glad to say that I have been instrumental in one case in this county (Derbyshire) in recovering a large pewter church flagon from the village inn, and it is now used in supplying water for the font. Careful inquiry in our conntry parishes would, I believe, result in the recovery of many of these flagons or other pewter vessels that once were put to so sacred a use. Their careful preservation, however uninteresting they may seem to be, should surely commend itself to us, whether as archæologists or churchmen. The Bishop of Carlisle (Dr. Harvey Goodwin), in his Christmas pastoral for 1880, did not think it beneath his notice to formally address his clergy on this subject, thus :-" It is very desirable that pewter vessels which have been used for the purposes of the Holy Communion, should be carefully preserved, even when their place has been taken by silver utensils: there is a temptation to neglect them as of no value: but there is much of historical interest attaching to these pewter vessels, and they deserve a place in the treasury of the parish to which they belong."

J. M. H.

1525.-A GLOUCESTER WORTHY OF THE PRESENT CENTURY.— In the Annual Register (1810), vol. lii., chron., p. 410, amongst the deaths in December this notice appears:-"At Gloucester, Mr. John

See vol. iii., p. 250, where, in "Extracts from the Accounts of the Churchwardens of Eastington, 1616-1756," such curious entries as these appear:-"1713. paid for a pewter gun, 6. 0;" and, "1715. pd. for mending ye puter Gunn, 6d."-ED.

Russell, late keeper of the prison in that city; a man who was remarkable for his kindness and humanity to those unfortunate persons who were committed to his care. It is a fact not generally known, that no adequate provision is made for the support of these persons, who, were it not for the contributions of the charitable and humane, must often experience the most severe privations. To the credit of Mr. Russell it ought to be known, that he appropriated more than half his salary to this benevolent purpose: and to the humanity of the keeper, and liberal contributions of a benevolent lady, these poor creatures were often indebted for a comfortable meal." Such an example of practical benevolence should, I think, be more generally known and remembered. GLOUCESTRENSIS.

1526.-BERKELEY CORPORATION MACE: CURIOUS CUSTOM.(See vol. iii., p. 418; no. 1345.) Several of the old corporation maces have served as drinking cups. For example, the top of the handsome silver-gilt mace, which was given by George, first Earl of Berkeley, who commanded the royal fleet at the Restoration, to the corporation of Berkeley, was for many years used as a drinking cup at the conclusion of the feasts. When the mayor came to the last toast, the head of the mace was unscrewed from the stem, and the crown unscrewed from the top. The cup part of the mace was then filled with punch, and the crown placed upon it, in which condition it was presented to the mayor, who exclaimed, "Prosperity to the Corporation and Borough of Berkeley." His right hand neighbour took up the crown, saying, "God save the King," and the mayor drank the contents of the mace-head; and so it passed down the table, each person vis-à-vis performing the "God save the King to him. In connection with this ceremony, an amusing anecdote is related by a correspondent in Notes and Queries (2nd S. v. 520), to the effect that about eighty years ago a medical member of the corporation, not liking so much punch at so late an hour, refused the toast, and that he was at once decreed by the mayor to drink it forthwith in salt and water; which he drank, or rather pretended to drink, amidst the cheers and laughter of the company. The reader will probably remember one of the late Mr. Mathews's songs, "The Country Club," from which it appears that a rule of the club was, that " every member shall sing a song, or drink a glass of salt and water."

M. C. B.

1527.-SMYTH v. SMYTH:" AN IMPOSTOR DEFEATED. (See vol. iii., pp. 563, 634; nos. 1439, 1475.) I notice one or two mistakes in the account of "Smyth v. Smyth." It is correctly stated that Sir John Hugh Smyth, Bart., died in 1802, but incorrectly, I think, that he had been twice married. Burke, in his Peerage and Baronetage, mentions only one marriage. But there is certainly a

mistake in saying that the impostor, Tom Provis, claimed to be the son of this baronet; he claimed to be his great-nephew. Sir Hugh Smyth, who succeeded his uncle as third baronet, was married once, and died without issue; but Provis asserted that he had been twice married, and that he himself was his son by the first wife. While the trial was in progress, Dr. Monk, Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol, declared his conviction of the falsehood of the claim, inasmuch as the clergyman who was stated to have celebrated the marriage between Sir Hugh and some Irish lady, was made to style himself "D.D." The Bishop was acquainted with him, and knew that though he was for some years of his life a D.D., he had not taken that degree at the time alleged.

J. G.

1528.-THE REV. JOHN PARSONS' HOUSE AT REDLAND, BRISTOL. (See vol. iii., p. 672; no. 1506.) The house at Redland, where the Rev. John Parsons, late fellow of Oriel, took pupils, is on the hill towards the Down, on the left as you ascend. It is one of two large houses standing very prominent, of a barrack-like appearance; and it has a raised terrace, with cloisters underneath, on the garden front. I was one of his last pupils. On his retirement he was presented with a very handsome silver salver; and I remember, among many letters from old pupils, a very hearty one from Mr. De Morgan, which ended thus:-"As I am addressing a gentleman who, but for a slight difference in our respective times of coming into the world, would have been a school-fellow of mine, allow me to subscribe myself most cordially yours, Augustus De Morgan." EDWARD ELTON.

Sherington, Newport Pagnell.

The reader may be glad to be referred to vol. ii., p. 528, for an extract from Miss Whately's Life and Correspondence of Richard Whately, D.D., late Archbishop of Dublin, in which mention is made of Mr. Parsons, and of his future father-in-law, Mr. Philips, who had a flourishing school at Redland, much resorted to by West Indians. EDITOR.

1529.-RESTORATION OF LECHLADE CHURCH.-The church of St. Lawrence, Lechlade, having undergone partial restoration, was on Thursday, July 27, 1882, re-opened for divine service. This fine old church was reported by the architect, Mr. Waller, who was called in to advise regarding its restoration, as having come down from its builders in the fifteenth century in a singularly complete and unaltered condition, with the exception of the internal fittings, all of which, consisting no doubt of oak seats, stalls, screens, &c., had given place to modern high pews and galleries. The walls, roofs, arcades, doorways, and windows exist as they were originally designed, and are all excellent of their kind, though necessarily more or less dilapidated after the wear and tear of more than four

hundred years. "Thus," said Mr. Waller, "there could be no excuse for interfering in any way with the structure excepting for repair, and when repaired the people of Lechlade would still have their church exactly as it existed in the fifteenth century, a work of far higher interest than any new building could afford, and one alike valuable to the town of Lechlade and to all lovers of art and archæology." According to Bigland, the church was built in the reign of Edward IV., by Conrad Ney, then vicar, and by the benefactions of the priory and inhabitants; while Sir Robert Atkyns gives it as his opinion that the church was built in the reign of Henry VII. Mr. Waller believes it to have been begun about 1470, as stated by Bigland, and that subsequent additions and alterations led to the confusion in the dates. The style of architecture is Early Perpendicular, and its effect, both in the inside and on the exterior, is exceedingly striking. Guided by the principle of preserving intact as much as possible of the old work, without alteration or addition of any kind, Mr. Waller prepared plans for the preservation of the structure, and for removing the pews and other fittings and the western gallery, and entirely re-seating the church, first covering the surface of the interior with concrete, but carefully preserving the old monumental slabs. He also indicated the necessary repairs to the windows, &c., and the best method of arranging the seats for the choir, the new position for the organ, and other necessary improvements. The estimated cost was from £1,600 to £1,800. The portion of the work which has been carried out has been confined to the interior of the building. It includes the removal of the pews, galleries, and other fittings, and the stone and wood floors; and the laying a bed of concrete over the whole surface, and the re-seating of the church, the floors under the seats and passages being laid with tiles. The dressed stonework of the windows, piers, and arches has been cleansed from the coats of white and yellow wash with which they were thickly covered, and the plastering made good where it was defective. The seats are of pitch pine and moveable. The choir has been raised, and has been made to take in the two easternmost arches of the arcade; and the stalls are of carved oak. The organ has been removed from the west end to near the choir at the east end of the north aisle, and the pulpit, prayer-desk, and lectern placed in their right positions. A handsome stained glass window, representing Faith, Hope, and Charity, has been erected as a memorial of the Edwards family, the other windows being glazed with cathedral glass. The base of the old stone pulpit was found half-buried in the vicarage garden; it has been restored to its proper place, and has a suitable superstructure designed by Mr. Waller. Hot-water pipes are carried round the walls above the floor, and this arrangement has been found to answer remarkably well. The Rev. Alfred Clementson, M.A., who was presented to the benefice (which is in the patronage of Emmanuel College, Cambridge) in 1879, is the present vicar.