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The Rev. H. J. Dukinfield Astley, Hon. Sec., read the following

Secretaries' Report for the year ending December 31st, 1897.

"The Honorary Secretaries have the honour of laying before the Associates of the British Archæological Association, at the Annual Meeting held this day, the customary Report of the Secretaries on the state of the Association during the year 1897.

"1. By a comparison of the number of the Associates in the current part of the Journal, for March 1898, with that of the corresponding part last year, a total of 266 names is shown, against 272 for 1897, and 269 for 1896. The Hon. Secretaries would urge upon all the Associates the great duty of doing their utmost to enlist more widespread interest and support, and thus to endeavour, at least, to secure a large influx of new members.

"2. Obituary notices of the Associates whom we have lost by death have, as far as possible, been prepared from materials submitted to the Editor for that purpose. These will be found in those parts of the Journal set apart with that object.

"3. During the year considerable additions have again been made to the number of books in the library of the Association. This is now a very valuable and important one, containing a vast repertory of archæological and scientific information, but unfortunately it is still practically useless. The Hon. Secretaries hope that something may

very shortly be done to render this storehouse of knowledge available to members.

"4. Twenty-nine of the more important papers which were read at the Congress held in London, and during the progress of the session held in London, have been printed in the Journal for 1897, which is illustrated with seventy-five plates and woodcuts; many of which have been wholly or in part contributed to the Association by the liberality of friends and Associates, to whom grateful recognition is due.

"The Honorary Secretaries are glad to announce that they have in hand, or have been promised, some further Papers which relate to the Conway Congress, and other Papers read in London, which have been accepted for publication in the Journal as circumstances permit. They desire, however, to request authors to transmit their papers and drawings to the Editor as soon as possible after being laid before the Association, for publication in due course.

"5. The Hon. Secretaries would also remind the Local Members of Council and Associates generally of the importance of laying before the meetings, from time to time, early accounts and notices of any fresh discoveries or interesting researches: thus helping to maintain the high position of the Journal as a record of archæology, and a book of reference to all matters which come within the scope of the Association.

"6. With regard to the "Antiquarian Intelligence", the Hon. Secretaries would be very glad if it could once more be made what it was in days past, i.e., not merely a vehicle for the review of new books on archæological subjects, but also a medium for communicating new and prominent matters through prompt correspondence with regard to local discoveries on the part of those who are interested in them. "H. J. DUKINfield Astley, Hon. "GEO. PATRICK, Secs."

Mr. S. Rayson, Sub-Treasurer, presented the Balance Sheet, which was accepted unanimously. Mr. Rayson said: "The nett receipts, as compared with the expenditure for the year, show that the income has. exceeded the expenditure by £3 148. 2d., thus enabling the Association just to pay its way. This result has no doubt been arrived at after a continuous and rigid economy with regard to printing and other outlay. It is true that the printing, illustrating, and editing the Journal cost £7 2s. more than in the previous year, but, on the other hand, the item for miscellaneous printing and advertising was about £9 less, and the rent and salaries £10 less.

British Archaeological Association.

BALANCE SHEET FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST DECEMBER 1897.

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Rent and salaries

Entrance fees

10 10 0

Illustrations to ditto

Miscellaneous printing and advertising 16 8 0 Delivery of Journals

Postage, stationery, and incidentals

27 7

0

11 10 9

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Sale of publications

Proceeds of the Conway Congress

27 8 6

267 16 0

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"In reverting to the receipts for the year, we unfortunately find a falling-off in three items: in subscriptions £5 158., entrance fees £8 88., and Congress profits £24 16s. 10d. It perhaps ought to be stated the latter diminution was to be expected, as the profits from the London Congress were more than an average amount.

"Now the conclusions to be arrived at from these figures are obvious, viz., (1) That if the efficiency of the Association is to be maintained the subscriptions must be increased; (2) That the Congress profits should be kept up to an average of £40 or £50; (3) That great care and economy must be exercised in producing the Journal, not only as to quantity but also as to quality. The desire to issue a full and largely illustrated Journal must always be subordinate to available balances."

WEDNESDAY, MAY 18TH, 1898.

I. CHALKLEY GOULD, ESQ., IN THE CHAIR.

The following Member was duly elected :

Wm. Alexander Lindsay, Esq., P.C., Windsor Herald, Goldsmith
Buildings, Temple, E.C.

Thanks were ordered by the Council to be returned to the respective donors of the following presents for the library :

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To the Society of Antiquaries, Scotland, for "Proceedings", 1896-7,

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99

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3rd Series, vol. vii.

Society of Antiquaries, Stockholm, for "Journal", 2 Parts.

Royal Archæological Institute for "Journal", 2nd Series, vol. v,
No. 1, March 1898.

Cambridge Antiquarian Society for "Proceedings", No. xxxix,
1898.

Brussels Archæological Society for "Journal", April 1898.

Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland for "Journal", vol. viii, pt. 1.

Warwickshire Naturalists' and Archeologists' Field Club for 'Proceedings", 42nd Annual Report, 1897.

A paper, with photographs, by Mr. C. Hughes, on the parish and church of Gressingham, Lancs., was read by the Vice-Treasurer. It is situated about seven miles from the old county town of Lancaster, in a neighbourhood rich in archæological remains. In the belfry of the church of Claughton, close to the ancient hall of the same name, not far from Gressingham, is preserved the oldest dated bell known in

England. No fewer than six forms of spelling the word Gressingham were noted, and in the Domesday Survey it appears as Gersistone. It formed part of the Saxon manor of Witetune, belonging to Earl Tosti. The church of Gressingham is frequently mentioned in the charters as set forth by Mr. Roper in his Materials for the History of the Church of Lancaster, which is the mother parish; and a curious local tradition exists that for many centuries the wax-candle ends from the church of Lancaster were the perquisites of the incumbent of the daughter church of Gressingham. The church is dedicated to St. John the Evangelist, consists of nave, chancel, north aisle, and west tower, and is mainly of the Perpendicular style of architecture, although there are portions of the ancient Norman church existing-in particular, a fine south doorway of three arches recessed in the thickness of the wall. Over the door on the south side is a portion of a quaint old organ of diminutive size, which once did duty in the service of the church. The earliest curate of Gressingham to be traced was one John Fawcett. His will was proved at Richmond in 1590, and is at Somerset House. The parish records mention several of the ministers during the Commonwealth period, one of whom is quaintly called the "painful minister”, meaning painstaking. There are many old houses and halls (most of which are now farmhouses) in the immediate neighbourhood; and in the village of Gressingham, near the vicarage, is a cell, once the residence of a hermit, and still retaining its ancient windows. In the discussion upon the Paper it was remarked that the right to the candle-ends of the church of Lancaster was no insignificant item in those days, considering that they were of wax, and that the manufacture was restricted to certain persons under heavy fine for infringement of their right.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1ST, 1898.

C. H. COMPTON, ESQ., V.-P., IN THE CHAIR.

Thanks were ordered by the Council to be returned for the following donation to the Library of the Association :

:

To the Society for "Mémoires de la Société des Antiquaires de la Morinée", tome xxiv (97-98). St. Omer.

Dr. Winstone exhibited a silver penny of Henry III, which was dug up at Chigwell, in Essex, in making a sewer deep down in the clay. He also exhibited a brass coin dated 1800.

Mr. W. J. Nicholls exhibited two letters-of-marque and general reprisals, issued in the years 1795 and 1796 against the United

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