1743. Sept. 18.-For Cheam Church, Southwarth. Charge rebuilding £1,082., &c.

July 6, 1752.-Collected for the Propagation of the Gospel, at Twycross

April 29, 1781.-For Sutton Ambo and Morland fires

GOPSALL.

s. d.

16

.£1. 15 6

LEAVING Twycross, the party drove to Gopsall Hall, where they were most courteously received by the Earl and Countess Howe. The noble Earl conducted his numerous visitors through a beautiful suite of apartments into the picture gallery, where many fine specimens of the artist's skill delighted all present. On a sideboard were placed three magnificent salvers by the celebrated Benvenuto Cellini, and a chalice of great beauty and value now used in the private chapel of the Hall. In another part of the gallery the velvet cap in which Queen Adelaide was crowned attracted much notice; but the table around which the visitors mostly grouped themselves was that on which were placed copies of the first four folio editions of Shakspeare's Works, copies of thirteen of his plays printed in his lifetime, and one copy of the only three in existence of the first edition of the immortal poet's Hamlet. Near these were the gold chain and medal given by George the Third to Admiral Earl Howe, K.G., July, 1794; the boxes in which the freedom of the cities of London and Dublin were presented to the same distinguished naval commander; a Ghoorha knife, used in the India Mutiny of 1857; a scarce copy of Edward the Sixth's Prayer Book; King William the Third's pocket watch; the Chartulary of Whalley Abbey; and a book containing several letters written by Handel to Mr. Jennens, in 1744. It will be remembered that the great master composed his oratorio of The Messiah at Gopsall, the words being selected from Scripture by Mr. Jennens, the grandfather of the present Earl, and who built the mansion at Gopsall. Passing through the drawing into the dining room, a portion of the company were shown that part of the room in which Handel was accustomed to sit whilst engaged in his great work. In this apartment were portraits both of Handel and Mr. Jennens, and a more modern work of art, by Grant, namely, the portrait of the present Earl, presented to him by his Lordship's tenants. The noble lord led the way into the chapel, which is fitted up with cedar. The communion table is said to be composed of part of that very oak in which Charles the Second was concealed at Boscabel. A very fine painting of the Crucifixion of our Saviour, by Vandyke, is there preserved. In this chapel are shewn some of the Prayer Books in use during the time of the rebellion of

1745, in which the family then in possession of Gopsall, being Jacobins, had erased those portions of the prayers which related to the Hanoverian Royal Family-and to "King George." From this apartment, Earl Howe very courteously conducted his guests into the gardens, calling attention to the obelisk which Pope had erected to the memory of his mother, at Twickenham, whither at the sale of Pope's villa, Earl Howe having purchased the obelisk, had it conveyed to Gopsall, as he described it, in a coal barge. It bore an inscription which may be liberally translated thus: Oh! Edith, the best of mothers, and the most charming of women, farewell!" The company were led beneath the shade of some splendid cedars of Lebanon, and some richly laden mulberry trees, into the fruit gardens, of whose contents the noble lord kindly invited all who felt inclined to partake. On their return to the mansion, Countess Howe begged that the party would repair to the entrance hall, where iced wines and claret cups were prepared in abundance for the refreshment of the wearied, dusty, and thirsty travellers. This hospitality was extended to all in a manner truly characteristic of the noble possessors of Gopsall, who, previous to the departure of the excursionists, took leave of them at the principal entrance, where Archdeacon Fearon, in a short speech, expressed the delight which all felt at having been permitted to include Gopsall in their present tour. Having thanked his Lordship for this additional mark of his sympathy with and courtesy to Leicestershire men, the Archdeacon, in the name of the company, congratulated Lord and Lady Howe on the good news they had that morning received of Mr. William Curzon having obtained the rank of major in the army, which he joined during the Crimean campaign.

EARL HOWE briefly replied, thanking the Archdeacon for the eloquence and kind feeling with which he had alluded to himself and family. He was delighted to think that what little he had to show at Gopsall had afforded so much gratification to his Leicestershire friends, among whom he was born in that very house, and with whom he should always gladly wish to promote the welfare of every institution connected with this county. He was sorry that the Committee of the Architectural and Archæological Society had not allowed him, as he wished, to offer them the hospitality which one gentleman usually extended to others, but, at their particular desire, he had abstained from pressing that point, and could only say, in bidding them good-day, that should they ever again come into that neighbourhood, he would gladly welcome them once more to Gopsall.

The excursionists then resumed the seats in their carriages, and soon after passing through Market Bosworth, the party for Hinckley, and that for Leicester, exchanged civilities on parting, and journeyed homewards.

September 26th, 1864.

THE REV. J. H. HILL in the chair.

Letters were read from Earl Howe and Viscount Curzon, expressing the pleasure they derived from the Society's visit to Hinckley and the neighbourhood.

A letter was also read from the Lord Bishop of the Diocese, in which his Lordship stated his willingness to become a Patron of the Society.

After the transaction of some financial and general business, the following gentlemen were elected members of the Society: -The Rev. Charles Barrow, rector of Barwell; the Rev. George Packer, Birstall; and Mr. Robert H. Humberstone, Leicester. The following antiquities, &c., were exhibited :-

By the CHAIRMAN: Manuscript memorials of Gartree Hundred, Leicestershire, profusely illustrated by pen and ink sketches of churches, sepulchral monuments, antiquities, mansions, and pedigrees, drawn by the exhibitor.

By MR. HUNT (Thurnby): A fine collection of modern and ancient English and other coins, coronation medals of George I. and George IV., and several other medals.

By MR. H. GODDARD: Portion of a bridle-bit found at Smeeton Westerby, of peculiar construction; supposed, from its strength, and the control it would exercise over a powerful horse, to have belonged to the trappings of a war-horse. An ancient horse shoe, found on the site of Danett's Hall, Leicester, during the late excavations.

BY CAPTAIN WHITBY: A manuscript sermon found between the boards of a floor in the house in the Newarke, Leicester, formerly occupied by Mr. Pares, and recently taken down to make room for the new militia buildings. This sermon, which would occupy about fifteen minutes in its delivery, is very closely written in a most minute hand upon a half sheet of note paper of the ordinary size. It is dated at the end " Decr. 14, 1817. C. C. T. J."

By MR. NORTH: The following coins, found during some recent excavations on the site of Leicester Abbey :-A Roman bronze of the Emperor Magnentius (A.D. 350); obverse-DN. MAGNENTIVS. P.F. AVG.; reverse-VICTORIAE DD NN AVG CAES. In the field, two Victories standing supporting a buckler inscribed VOT. VII. Two small brasses of the Emperor Constans, A.D. 335. A groat of (presumed to be) Henry V., struck at Calais. An ancient jetton or counter; and a Melton Mowbray tradesman's token, issued in 1668 by John Brown, chandler, which is described in Mr. North's printed list of the tradesmen's tokens of Leicestershire.

Mr. NORTH also exhibited a photograph of one of a pair of very handsome brass gas standard lights, lately placed within the altar rails of St. Martin's Church, Leicester, the gift of George Shaw, Esq., M.D., from the works of Messrs. Skidmore, Coventry. The extreme elegance and beauty of these standards elicted much commendation.

STAINED GLASS WINDOWS.

THE REV. T. DRAKE contributed the following Paper on this subject:

How shall we treat our Church windows? A great deal has been said on this subject for some years past; something, too, has been done; but the result of all can hardly be deemed satisfactory. There seems to prevail pretty generally a reasonable conviction that there is room here for the exercise of art in one of its most pleasing forms, while advantage is not taken of it in any adequate degree. Some, at least, of the glass which has been recently placed in our churches deserves a very limited amount of admiration. Something must be done. The progress of ecclesiastical architecture constrains us to make some attempt. Let any one enter a church which has been restored, and the windows filled with the glass commonly used, and then describe for himself his own sensations. The architect may have gone, but the work is not finished. He certainly ought not to have left it in such a naked state. And the dissatisfaction that arises will be all the greater in proportion to the excellence of his work. He has raised expectation, and looking to the windows, we complain of disappointment. Now, this subject seems to me to admit of division into two parts, one of which belongs to the architect— rightly belongs to him, and justly claims his attention; the other includes a different, and in this respect higher, branch of art, which he will be justified in leaving to other hands. The few remarks which I am about to make will refer to these two points, in asking first how the architect can help us? and secondly, how the artist may complete the work? 1. Mr. Poole seems to consider that a pattern window may be "the most appropriate and refined application of the glass worker's handicraft." Effect, possibly, may be given to his views, although we venture to raise our hopes a little higher. But it does seem to me that pattern windows may fill a very important part, in showing us what we can do and what we should do. In themselves they may render good service, and may also help us forward to something of a higher character. And pattern windows may surely be considered to belong to architecture as much as the tiles of the floor, or any part of the ornamentation. May we not say more so? For what is there that has more

influence in determining the general appearance of the interior of a church than the tone of light with which it is filled? If we distinguish between the artistic merits of any particular window and the general effect of softening the light in a church, we may so far discover the use of pattern windows, and see why they deserve greater attention than they receive. But to guard with the utmost caution against being misunderstood, let it not for a moment be thought that the gaudy things which have been associated with the name of pattern windows are excusable. Many of them are intolerable-not only devoid of merit, or unmeaning, but actually offensive. Like the hideous heads that sometimes disfigure the bosses of old roofs, instead of prompting or helping devotion, they set it at defiance, and reverent souls turn away from them with shame. Let them pass with all speed into oblivion, never to be revived. What I am aiming at is to submit to all church builders and restorers the general question, whether the architect should be held to have completed his work till he has determined the general character of the glass and colouring that are to be used in the church; and whether this may not be done with pattern windows. And let the matter be brought, as far as possible, within the limits of trade, that the glass manufacturer may understand that something more is expected of him; for we cannot suppose that, if he knew what was wanted, he would not endeavour to supply it. When a church is built or restored, the key-note, so to say, should be struck, with which every subsequent addition should harmonize; and then due advantage might be taken of the praiseworthy custom of placing memorial windows in it. At present it is not always easy to see how this may be done with a pleasing effect. When we go into a church and see a solitary memorial window, placed, it may be, in one of the aisles, while in the rest of the windows there is nothing but plain glass, we can at once perceive the discordant result. The window may have many things in it which are really meritorious, and we may all unite in paying respect to those who take the lead in an endeavour to banish from our churches the blank barrenness that is too common in them, but the general effect of the whole building cannot be sacrificed to a single window. Under ordinary circumstances, if there be only one painted window, it should be either the east or the west-the east, as the central point to which our attention is directed, and admitting, therefore, of exceptional decoration; or the west, as the beginning of the work, for as it is not seen during actual worship, it does not disturb devotion. But if pattern windows were introduced at once, memorial windows might be added or substituted without any fear of causing distraction of thought. Another mischief, too, might be obviated. If, under present circumstances, a good window is placed in a church, it may be spoilt by having another set beside it of a totally different style. A quiet, thoughtful