those obtained late in the season have passed the period when they would be useful as cod-bait, while Cheltenham fishmongers assert that " a prejudice against them exists in the town, because one of our kings died from eating lampreys." As to the cost of these fishesat Worcester, in January, 1882, they were about a penny each; at Tewkesbury, in January, 1884, they were selling at fifty shillings per thousand for bait, or six shillings a hundred for potting. For this last purpose they have to be very carefully cleaned, and the spinal column removed. Local fishermen assert that these fish only cross weirs when the water is so high as to quite conceal it, and such may be, and probably is, the case where no fish-pass exists. But this form of fish often swims just or a little below the surface of the water, and as it possesses a sucker whereby it can attach itself, should such a course be desirable, I am inclined to think that they may use the fish-passes for the purpose of ascent; but am unaware whether any experiments have been made to decide this question, while surely some inquiries into the nature of these fish is desirable. They ascend high up the Severn, but their periods of migration are not noted, as they are merely employed as bait for eels during the months of June, July, and most of August. They are obtained by shovelling out the mud of the river in certain suitable spots, when along with it the fish are thrown up. Although some centuries ago Dame Juliana Berners recommended the same baits to be used in April for capturing junebas, or seven-eyes, as are employed for trout, I have not heard of fishermen of the present day attempting to angle for these fishes, which are merely taken in wicker baskets, or wheels, although a few may occasionally and accidentally be entangled in a net.

P. 428.-Among the catadromous fishes of the Severn, or forms which pass their lives in fresh waters, descending seawards to breed, we have merely the common eel-a fish held in very different degrees of estimation as to its value for food, or as occasioning injuries to fisheries when ruthlessly employing its voracious appetite. Eels are numerous in the Severn, and although the fishermen around Shrewsbury assert that their numbers have not perceptibly diminished of late years, still their size has decreased, and smaller hooks are employed on the night-lines set to catch them. At the Aquarium at the "Healtheries," in 1884, it was observed that they were partial to concealing themselves under the sand, and in December merely the heads and tails of some were visible, while others in clusters took refuge under the broad expanse of Homelyn Rays. In June silver eels descend with the first freshes, among which the largest breeding ones pass downwards from the end of September to about Christmas. These are the best for eating, and are occasionally captured up to six pounds in weight. The gluteels are a large-headed, coarse form, probably sterile females, which travel about and attain to about six pounds in weight, but are not observed migrating seawards. During March and April they are in

holes, and are groped for by fishermen in the river banks. Green eels are small ones of eight or ten to the pound. Irrespective of the foregoing we have stick-eels, which are small forms descending with the first freshes in August, and averaging about four to the pound. They are also sometimes observed in June, should heavy rains occur. The minute eels, which ascend from the sea or estuary, mainly during April, May, and June, are termed elvers, and are gathered in vast quantities for making elver-cakes. Three tons weight were dispatched from Gloucester on one day in May, 1886. . . . When they have attained to about six inches in length they are called elver-bouts. Consequently there are two migrations-those of old ones descending seawards to breed, which they do about November, and an up-stream migration of young, that takes place more or less in May and June. But, as already observed, glut-eels do not join in either of those acts, but rove about by themselves in the fresh waters. Likewise, in the tideway, breeding eels are not constantly descending, for the eel-traps are set to capture both ways, on the ebb and flow, as they are found to descend with the fresh or land water; but as soon as they meet the flood they turn back and re-ascend. This plan of capturing, both on an ebbing and a flowing tide, is why the baited eel-traps below Gloucester take so much more than those higher up the Severn, for in the non-tidal portions the traps are said never to be faced down stream. Eels are likewise taken in the autumn, mostly between Stourport and Gloucester, in large fixed nets that are used when the water is discoloured by rain or floods. There are about twenty of these nets in the district mentioned, and each is probably employed about ten nights yearly, with, it is said, an average take of one cwt. a-night. Eels are largely consumed locally by the population residing along the banks of the Severn, and may be said to be essentially the poor man's food, while its flesh is exceedingly nourishing. It has been asserted that eels, at the time they are migrating, abstain from food, and always are found with their stomachs empty. This, however, cannot be invariably the case. A fishmonger in Cheltenham has observed that the first consignment he receives from the Severn in October are usually gorged with worms, and that if they vomit many they invariably die. Their mode of breeding I shall not now refer to, but I may mention that it is not merely in Ireland (where eels have been deemed the remains of the snakes which St. Patrick ordered out of the Emerald Isle into the rivers) that myths respecting these fish have taken root, for in Norway certain rivers swarm with them to such an extent that the water-wheels of the saw-mills are occasionally clogged up and brought to a stand. The country people as a rule, however, neglect to catch these fishes either for home consumption or even for exportation. A superstitious notion still prevails that eels are too intimate with the Trolls, and their fat is said to be employed by witches and sorcerers in the preparation of magic salves. GLOUCESTRENSIS.

1549.-GREAT WITCOMBE CHURCH: MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS. -In 1877 accurate copies were taken of the seven inscriptions* in the parish church of St. Mary, Great Witcombe :

1.

(Chancel.)

:

Near this place lies interr'd ye body of Sr Michael Hickes, K*, younger son of Sr William Hickes, Baronet, of Beverstone Castle, in this County, who departed this life May 4th, in the year of our Lord 1710, and the 65th of his age. Near whom is reposited the body of Michael Hickes, his 3d son, who dyed an infant.

See! ag'd experience submits to death,
And infant innocence resigns its breath.
Happy y soul whose first essay of praise

Is joyn'd in consort with the heavenly layes;
Much happyer those whose virtuous acts engage
A weight of glory for a load of age.

Near this place lyeth Dame Susanna, relict of Sir Michael Hicks, Kt, and daughter of Sir Richard Howe, of the County of Surry, K*. She died Novem3, 1724. Here also lyeth Michael, ye son of Howe Hicks, Esq, & Mary, his wife. He died 6 March, 1721, aged

9 months.

2.

Near this place resteth what was mortal of Howe Hicks, Esq', son of Sir Michael Hicks. He died Feb 12th, 1727-8, aged 38.

Here also lies the remains of Mary, relict of Howe Hicks, Esq, & daughter of Jeffry Watts, Esq', of the County of Essex. She died Augst 6, 1728, aged 36.

Here also lieth Howe Hicks, son of Howe Hicks, Esqr, & Martha, his wife, & grandson of the above Howe Hicks, Esqre. He died Jan1y 7th, 1744-5, in the 5th year of his age.

In memory of Susanna Elizabeth Hicks, daughter of Howe Hicks, Esq, & Martha, his wife. She died June 17th, 1747, aged one year & 23 days.

Here also lieth Mary Hicks, daughter of Howe Hicks, Esq', & Martha, his wife. She died July 30th, 1758, in the 15th year of her age.

3.

Sacred to the memory of Sir Howe Hicks, Baronet, son of Howe Hicks, Esq, of this place, who departed this life April the ninth, A.D. 1801, aged seventy-eight years. Also of [Martha] Lady Hicks, daughter of the Revd John Browne, Rector of Coberley, relict of Sir Howe Hicks, Baronet, who departed this life May the fourth, A.D. 1802, aged eighty-six years.

An index to them has been given in vol. i., p. 33.

4.

Sacred to the memory of Sir William Hicks, Bart, of this place, son of the late Sir Howe Hicks, Bart, who departed this life on the twenty-third day of October, 1834, aged 80 years. Also to the memory of Ann Rachel, relict of the above-named Sir William Hicks, Bart, and eldest daughter of Thomas Lobb Chute, of The Vine, in the County of Southampton, Esquire, who died on the thirteenth day of April, 1839, aged 84 years.

5.

Sacred to the memory of William Hicks Hicks Beach, Esquire, who died on the 7th of August, 1844, aged 33. He was the only brother of Sir Michael Hicks Hicks Beach, Baronet, of Williamstrip Park, in this County, and great-nephew of Sir William Hicks, Baronet, of Witcombe Park*

6.

Sacred to the memory of Sir Michael Hicks Hicks Beach, Baronet, M.P., of Williamstrip Park, in this County. He died on the 22nd of November, 1854, aged 45.

7.

(Tower.)

In memory of John Hornidge Green, Surgeon, of Manchester Street, Manch Square, London. Eminent in his profession, upright, generous, & sincere in his social relations, and fondly endeared as a husband and relative, the respect and affection of the great and good ever awaited him; and exemplifying the higher qualities of a true Christian, he died in the blissful hope of salvation, at Cheltenham, July 18th, 1830, in the 40th year of his age. His mortal remains are interred in the adjoining churchyard. ABHBA.

1550.-THE REDESDALE MEMORIAL HALL.-On Friday, December 2, 1887, the Right Hon. Sir Michael E. Hicks-Beach, Bart., M.P., opened a new public hall at Moreton-in-the-Marsh, which had been erected in memory of the late Earl of Redesdale by Mr. FreemanMitford. The building, it was then stated, is intended for the free use of the inhabitants irrespective of creed or politics, provided only that it be not disgraced by words of treason or blasphemy. It stands in the centre of the broad street which forms the chief thoroughfare and market-place of the town, and its architectural aspect, in the Tudor style, at once attracts attention The architects were Messrs. Ernest George and Peto, and the builders, Peto Brothers, of Pimlico. The main hall is a handsome room floored with oak, having a fine stone chimney piece, and windows on each side, with the arms of Lady Clementina Mitford (daughter of the late, and

In the churchyard there is a stone with this inscription :-In memory of William Hicks Hicks Beach, Esqr., who died Augst. 7th, 1844, aged 33. Also of his mother, Caroline Jane Hicks Beach, who died May 4th, 1860, aged 73 years.

sister of the present Earl of Airlie), and of Mr. Freeman-Mitford. By Lord Redesdale's death without issue May 2, 1886, the titles became extinct, and his cousin, Mr. Freeman-Mitford, succeeded to the properties. The building is of Cotswold stone from the Batsford estate, a tower in the centre carrying a handsome clock, with dials illuminated at night; and the cost is said to have been £10,000. An engraving is given in the Illustrated London News, December 10, 1887.

The Right Hon. John Thomas Freeman-Mitford, Earl of Redesdale, only son of John Mitford, first Baron Redesdale (who assumed, in 1809, the additional surname and arms of Freeman), by Lady Frances Perceval, sixth daughter of John Perceval, second Earl of Egmont, was born in Ireland, September 9, 1805. His father, who was a distinguished lawyer, having filled the offices of solicitor and attorney-general in England, and of speaker of the House of Commons, was appointed, February 15, 1802, lord chancellor of Ireland, and at the same time was raised to the peerage of the United Kingdom by the title of Baron Redesdale, of Redesdale, co. Northumberland. He was younger brother of William Mitford, Esq., of Exbury, Hampshire, M.P. for Beeralston and New Romney, the historian of Greece. The late earl was educated at Eton, and at New College, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. 1825, M.A. 1828, and hon. D.C.L. 1853. On the death of his father, January 16, 1830, he became Lord Redesdale. For five or six years, however, he took no part in parliamentary debates; but in 1837 he began to manifest an interest in practical matters of legislation, and soon acquired considerable authority by his capacity for mastering the details of complicated measures. During the next succeeding years he was of great service in the transaction of the private business of the House of Lords. In 1851, at the commencement of the session, he was unanimously elected chairman of committees and deputy-speaker of the House, in the room of the Earl of Shaftesbury, who had a short time before resigned; and from that period he exercised great influence over the private bill legislation. In January, 1877, he was advanced to an earldom. Religious questions at all times engaged much of his attention. As a member of the royal commission on the Law of Divorce, he found himself unable to sign the report, having come to the conclusion that divorces a vinculo matrimonii are not allowed by the divine law under any circumstances; and this view of the snbject he vindicated in a pamphlet, entitled The Law of Scripture against Divorce, 1856. Previously he had published Reflections on the Doctrine of Regeneration, and its Connexion with both Sacraments, 2nd ed., 1849; and Observations on the Judgment in the Gorham Case, and the Way to Unity, 1850. He was also a good classical scholar, and was author of Thoughts on English Prosody, Translations from Horace, and Further Thoughts on English Prosody, 1859. He strenuously opposed the disestablishment and disendowment of the