Obituary.

RICHARD SAUL FERGUSON, F.S.A.

"CARLISLE'S most distinguished son, a man of many parts, and a past master in all his varied avocations"-so they spoke of my good friend, Chancellor Ferguson, in the council chamber of the grand old Border City, where he was born on July 28th, 1837. Educated at Shrewsbury and St. John's College, Cambridge, he graduated as twentyseventh Wrangler in 1860. He was called to the Bar, and became Chairman of the Quarter Sessions, Chancellor of the Diocese of Carlisle, an Alderman and twice Mayor of the City; and was the President of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian Society for a long series of years. He was elected F.S.A. on March 1st, 1877, and was a most enegetic local secretary for Cumberland. He was elected a life member of our Association on November 19th, 1879, and made several short contributions to our Journals, and contributed several interesting exhibits.

His chief work was done for the Cumberland Society: he edited their Journal, and the scholarly works on Carlisle Diocese Church Plate, on the Charters of Carlisle, and other learned works, appeared under their auspices. He wrote histories of Cumberland and Westmorland for Mr. Elliot Stock's County Histories.

His great work was on Corporate Insignia. He was an influential member of the Archæological Institute, and many of his best papers appear in their Journal.

At my request he read, on December 16th, 1893, a most interesting paper at the Manchester Town Hall on "The Dignity of a Mayor." The immediate result of this paper was the presentation of a very handsome Mace to the City of Manchester.

A courteous gentleman, a ripe scholar, a kindly friend, was our Chancellor. I well remember meeting him, and enjoying his antiquarian talk, at a pleasant little dinner at the Manchester Reform Club, when Mr. J. Holme Nicholson (our honorary member) entertained at dinner to meet him Professor Boyd Dawkins, the City Librarian (Mr. C. W. Sutton), Dr. Colley March, F.S.A., and myself.

His last act of kindness to me was only a few weeks ago, when he joined Lord Dillon, Sir Henry Howorth, the Bishop of Oxford, and other "good men and true," in nominating me for the Fellowship of the Society of Antiquaries.

He died somewhat suddenly, on March 3rd last, and was interred with every tribute of respect in the family vault at Stanwix, near Carlisle, after an impressive service at St. Cuthbert's, in that city.

T. CANN HUGHES.

Antiquarian Intelligence.

Nooks and Corners of Shropshire; an Artist's Sketching Rambles in the Country; very fully illustrated with original drawings. By H. THORNHILL TIMMINS, F.R.G.S., Author of Nooks and Corners of Herefordshire, and Nooks and Corners of Pembrokeshire (London: Elliot Stock, 21s.). This is a charming book, as those who are familiar with the author's previous works need not be told. The letterpress is racy and interesting, and the style easy and flowing, like the waters of the Teme or the Severn, down whose banks we wander in the writer's company. The illustrations, of which there are some 130, are for the most part beautifully done, and enhance the interest of the book with that artistic touch which enables the reader to see what he might not be able otherwise properly to imagine. It is delightful to have the gift of writing so as to compel the reader's attention; it is more delightful when combined with antiquarian knowledge and skill; it is most delightful of all when the writer who loves quiet country sights and sounds, and has himself come under the spell and glamour of the past, possesses also the power to pourtray these things to the eye; and such threefold excellence Mr. Timmins has in a high degree.

The book is called Nooks and Corners of Shropshire, but it is only with the country south of Shrewsbury that the author deals in this volume. The northern part of the country is, we hope, reserved for a future occasion.

The writer starts with a thorough exploration of Shrewsbury, the quaint and ancient city on the Severn, the capital of "proud Salopia.” Thence, by easy stages, and with many pauses for a chat, or for a visit to old churches, old houses, and the ruins of castles and monasteries, which abound in this pleasant and fertile district, he conducts the reader to the various places of interest: to Ludlow, with its far-famed Castle and Church; to Much Wenlock and its ruined priory; to Cleobury Mortimer; and to Bridgnorth, perched on its rocky eyrie by Severn side. Wroxeter, the Roman Uriconium, affords a theme for some pleasant antiquarian gossip; its time-honoured walls and ruined hypocausts being duly drawn and described. This is varied by a climb to the summit of the Wrekin, and a description of the views to be obtained from that well-known Salopian hill.

Clun Forest and Corve Dale are thoroughly explored, and described both in pen and pencil; and excursions are made to Tong (described

in Dickens's Old Curiosity Shop), to Lilleshall Abbey, Acton Burnell, and Stokesay Castle, and many another fascinating spot. Pitchford Hall, Condover, Plowden Hall, Marrington Hall and Kinlet Hall, are