¥tirfts5u'c

ANNUAL REPORT

\

FOE

MDCCCLXXV.

f

V

1

ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE COUNCIL

OF THE

YOEKSHIEE

PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

FOE

MDCCCLXXV.

PEESENTED TO THE ANNUAL MEETING,

FEBRUARY 1st, 1876.

J. SOTHERAN, BOOKSELLER, CONEY-STREET.

1 8 7 6.

PATEONESSES

TO THE

¥(ii‘fes|)ive f>f)ilos(ip1)ical Siocietg.

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN.

H. R. H. THE PRINCESS OP WALES.

PATEONS.

H. E. H. THE PRINCE OF WALES.

H. R. H. THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT.
THE ARCHBISHOP OF YORK.

OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY, 1876.

PRESIDENT :

His Gtrace the Archbishop of York, F. E. S.

VICE-PEESIDENTS :

The Eight Hon. Lord Londesborough.

The Hon. and Yery Eev. the Dean of York, D. D.
William Henry Eudston Eead, M. A., F. L. S.

Egerton Yernon Harcourt, M. A.

The Yen. Archdeacon Hey, M. A.

The Eev. Canon Eaine, M. A.

The Eev. John Kenrick, M. A., F. S. A.

William Eeed, F. Gr. S.

J OHN Francis Walker, M. A., F. L. S., F. Gr. S., F. 0. S.,

Member op the Committee op the British Association, &c.

William Walker, F. Gr. S.

TEEASUEEE :

William Gtray, F. E. A. S., F. Gr. S.

COUNCIL :

Elected 1874. .William Whytehead.

Eev. M. E. Bresher, M. A.

Elected 1875. ^Joshua Oldfield.

John March.

Edward Allen, F. Gr. S.

Frederick L. Mawdesley.

Elected 1876. .William Matterson, M. D.

The Eev. Gteorge Eowe, M. A.

Tempest Anderson, M.D., B. Sc.,

Fellow op University College, London.

Joseph Wilkinson, F. E. Gr. S.

J. P. Wood (for One Year.)

Eichard Pearson (do.)

HON. SECEETAEY:

T. S. Noble, F. E. A. S., F. Gr. S.

6

OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY.

CUEATOES :

Geology . W. Eeed, F. G. S.

Comparative Anatomy . . T. Anderson, M. D.

British Ornithology . . W. H. Eudston Eead, F.L.S.

Insects and Crustacea . . Yen. Archdeacon Hey, MA.

Ethnographical Collection S. W. North, F. G. S.

IEev. John Kenrick, M. A.
Eev. W. Greenwell, M. a.
Eev. J. Eaine, M. a.

Library . Eev. G. Eowe, M. A.

Botany . William Matterson, M. D.

CONCHOLOGY . S. W. NoRTH, F. G. S.

Observatory&Meteorology [ W. Gray, F. E. A. S., F. G. S.
under the care of a Committee \ Yen. Archdeacon Hey, M.A.
consisting of . (t. S. Noble, F.E.A.S., F.G.S.

REPORT OF THE COUNCIL

OF THE

YOEKSHIEE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY,

February 1st, 1876.

The Council cannot remember any previous occasion on
which there has been better ground for congratulation to the
Members of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, than on the
presentation of the Fifty-second Annual Eeport, for although
considerable expense has been incurred in the purchase of
specimens, and in providing cases for their display in two of
the principal departments of the Museum, the Treasurer’s
Accounts for the year disclose a larger balance to the credit
of the Society than has appeared for many years past.

The Council propose to follow the usual order in dealing
with the various departments of the Museum. Attention will
be first drawn to the finances of the Society, and the scientific
departments will then be treated of separately. The gross
income of the Society for the past year has amounted to the
sum of £1,522 Os. lOd., the expenditure to £1,364 6s. 7d.,
leaving a balance in the treasurer’s hands on the income of
the year of £157 14s. 3d. The income of the Society is larger
than that of the previous year by the sum of £186 14s. Id.
The special items of expenditure consist of the following
sums : — £50 12s. lOd. has been paid for new cases, chiefiy for
the Yorkshire Greological Eoom. The Honorary Curator of
Geology having represented to the Council that this important
department of the Museum was much cramped for want of
space, and that many series of specimens of the utmost value

8

REPORT OF THE

in illustrating the geology of Yorkshire could not he displayed,
the Council felt hound at once to remove this defect. A fuidher
sum of £54 Os. 2d. has been paid for specimens of Eoman and
mediaeval antiquity, chiefly found in the course of the excava¬
tions for the new railway station. A still larger sum has been
paid for the Monkman collection of antiquities. In the early
part of the year the Council were informed that the representa¬
tives of the late Mr. Monkman, of Malton, were about to offer
these specimens for sale. This collection consisted principally of
large numbers of Eoman and British objects of antiquity
derived from York and the neighbouring Wolds. The Coimcil
resolved, if possible, to prevent the dispersion of this valuable
collection and to secure it for the Museum, if this could he
done on reasonable terms. Ultimately the representatives
of Mr. Monkman agreed to accept £150, a not excessive sum
considering the large number and rarity of the specimens, and
their importance to the student of local archaeology. The
increase of income over the previous year arises chiefly from a
sum of £79 Is., being the increase in subscriptions over those
paid in 1874, and a further sum of £30 received for duplicate
objects of antiquity sold to other local museums. The amount
for admissions received at the lodge for the past year was
£286 6s. 6d., being £9 Is. less than the sum received for 1874.

The Members will probably be aware that for some time
past negotiations have been carried on between the Committee
appointed to promote a Fine Ail and Industrial Exhibition in
York and the Council of this Society, with a \iew to secure, on
behalf of the Committee, a site for a permanent exhibition
building. The Council obtained some time ago from the
Crown a lease of the ground long known as Bearpark’s Garden,
with the object of preserving it as an open space to be added to
the grounds of the Museum whenever the income of the Society
justified such a com’se. The Committee have represented to
the Council that this space afPords the best site near the City of
York available for their puiqDose, and that the York Corporation
have agreed to co-operate with them, provided theii’ scheme
can be carried out, in effecting a great improvement in the
approach to their building by the removal of the Bii-d-in-Hand

COUNCIL FOR 1875.

9

public-house at the corner of St. Leonard’s-place. The Council
were desirous not to part with the control of the ground for
the reasons stated ; but after ascertaining that the Crown was
prepared to sell the fee simple of the land on reasonable terms,
that the object of the Committee was to promote and develope
art and industry in the City of York, and that the York
Corporation were prepared to effect a great public improvement,
your Council felt bound to entertain the proposal with favour.
Your Council have offered to the Committee a lease of such
portion of the ground as they require on terms which they
trust will not be found disadvantageous to the interests of the
Yorkshire Philosophical Society. These terms, your Council
understand, have been accepted by the Committee, but at
present no official sanction on the part of the Committee has
been received. Before closing this part of the Report, the
Council congratulate the Members on the completion of the
new lodge and entrance to the grounds of the Museum. The
total cost of the lodge has not yet been ascertained, but the
Council anticipate that there will be a balance of upwards of
£500 to be provided (in addition to the £650 already sub¬
scribed), which they hope will be subscribed, and that the
ordinary income of the Society will not be drawn upon for any
portion of the amount required for this improvement.

The additions made to the Antiquarian Departments of the
Museum during the past year have been large and important.
The chief accession has been the collection of British and
Roman antiquities formed by the late Mr. Charles Monkman,
of Malton, which has been purchased from his widow. The
British portion of it consists of a very large number of flint
and stone instruments and weapons, discovered on the Yorkshire
"Wolds. They exhibit an almost endless variety of shape and
manufacturing skill, and are peculiarly valuable to this Museum,
inasmuch as this branch of archaeology was almost entirely
unrepresented in it. Mr. Monkman’s Roman antiquities were
procured from York during the recent excavations. They
consist chiefly of pottery, with the exception of two gold pins
and a few more trifling objects from the station at Malton, and

10

UEPOET OF THE

are a valuable addition to tbe treasures that the Museum
already possesses. The Society is much indebted to Mr.
Walker, of Malton, a member of a family to which it is
already under great obligations, for depositing under its charge
an inscribed stone discovered at Malton about the beginning
of the present century. It is well known to antiquarians, and
records the existence in that place of a goldsmith’s shop, over
whose door it was probably placed originally. The excavations
for the new railway station at York have been going on during
the greater part of the past year, and have yielded to the
Museum some very remarkable curiosities. Among these are two
inscriptions, one a small altar dedicated to the Grenius of the
Place, the other a monumental headstone or cippus to a young
person of the name of Hyllus. These are noticed in another
part of this Eeport, together with a most curious ossuarium of
lead with an inscription upon it. Another discovery of the
first importance has been that of the hair of a young Eoman
lady, in a very excellent state of preservation. In addition to
these curiosities, there have been brought to the Museum from
the same source, a small stone coffin of a child, a large brick
tomb, which will be re- erected in the Hospitium, and four lead
coffins of different dimensions. The Curators propose to exhibit
side by side in the Hospitium a number of Eoman tombs to
illustrate the different modes "of sepulture which prevailed in
Eburacum. Mr. Greenwell, the Ciu’ator of British and Saxon
Antiquities, has arranged, in the com’se of the past year, a
number of the curiosities from Mr. Monkman’s collection. The
space, however, that has been provided for them is inadequate,
and it will be necessary to ask the Council to proHde cases in
which the whole of these valuable evidences of early life and
manners can be properly shown.

The Curator of Greology reports that considerable progress
has been made in the arrangement of the geological collection
in the Yorkshire Eooms ; that a large number of specimens
have been added to the Speeton Clay and Kirkdale Cave
series. The magnificent collection of Samian teeth, &c.,
which were piu’chased from Mr. Bainbridge many years ago.

COUNCIL FOR 1875.

11

at considerable cost, have been placed in the cases; also tbe
interesting Cook series of fossils obtained from tbe gravel pits
in tbe neighbourhood of York, and some important mammaban
bones from tbe gravel of Overton. Tbe fossils from the ossiferous
marl deposit of Bielbecks, near Market Weigbton, presented by
W. Fox, Esq., of Hotbam Hall, have been added to tbe former
unique collection from this locality. Additional cases have
been added to tbe gallery, and tbe specimens belonging to tbe
Cook collection and tbe others found in tbe Museum have been
placed in them as far as tbe Oxford Clay ; and the remaining
cases required to complete this important addition to tbe
Yorkshire series of fossils have been ordered. In these will be
placed tbe Kelloway Hock and Cornbrasb specimens, and tbe
remainder of tbe Yorkshire fossils will be re-arranged in tbe
lower room. Tbe Curator wishes to inform tbe Members that
although v/e possess a magnificent collection of Yorkshire
fossils, several deposits are not well represented, as tbe Oobte
series, Crambe Beck, tbe Oxford clay near Welbam, tbe
Eosedale ironstone, &c., and asks tbe Members kindly to assist
in adding to and making tbe collection in tbe Museum of tbe
capital of this great county as complete as possible. Before
closing their notice of this department, tbe Council desire to
express their great obligation to Mr. Feed, tbe Curator of tbe
department. At a considerable sacrifice of time, Mr Eeed has
not only re-arranged tbe collection referred to, but has carefully
examined large numbers of fossils in tbe Society’s possession,
which have never before been exhibited. Many of these have
been found to be of great rarity and value, and are now in
progress of being arranged in tbe Society’s collection. Diu’ing
tbe autumn of tbe year several members of tbe Geological
Association, under tbe presidency of William Carrutbers, Esq.,
F. E. S., of tbe British Museum, made a special visit to York
to view tbe Yorkshire geological specimens, and expressed
themselves highly gratified with the collection and its arrange¬
ment.

Tbe Curator of Ornithology has only to notice tbe gift of a
fine old silver pheasant, gallophasis nycthemenis from Mr. Bower,

12

REPORT OF THE

of Welham, and a few eggs from Mr. F. Herring. By tlie
death of Mr. Grraham, and on the sale of his specimens, the
>Society was enabled to obtain a few desiderata in then* collec¬
tion of oology. The collection is in perfect order, under the
supervision of Mr. Wakefield.

The Curators of Insects and Crustacea and of Botany repoid
that no specimens have been added to the Society’s collections
during the past year, and that the collections are in good order.

In consequence of the death of our respected Yice-President,
John Ford, Esq., the report on Meteorology has been fiumished
by the deputy Curator of the Museum, who some time ago, by
the leave of the Council, was permitted to make arrangements
with E>. H. Scott, Esq., F. B. S., of the Board of Trade, to
forward to that Department daily a report of the weather, and
the barometrical and thermometrical readings.

The mean height of the mercurial column for the year was
29*9653 inches, being rather more than one-tenth of an inch
higher than the mean for the last ten years. The amount of
rain has been a little more than a mean, viz., 24*38 inches
against 23*98 inches the mean of the forty years ending
December 31st, 1871. The deficiency in the rainfall of 1874
was nearly three inches below a mean of the above period, so
that a quantity of two inches and a half upon the past two years
has still to be made up, January, July, September, October, and
November being respectively 1*26, *81, *02, 1*39, and 1*64
inches above a mean of 40 years ; while February, March,
April, May, June, August, and December were *51, *91, 1*18,
*22, *09, *78, and one inch were below the mean of that period.
The greatest fiood in the river Ouse during the past year was
on January 5th, on the breaking up of the frost of 1874, reach¬
ing a maximum height of 13 feet above the summer level ;
one nearly approaching this occurred on the 15th of November,
when the river rose to the height of 12ft. 4in. after a heavy rain¬
fall of 1*07 inches on the 13th, with the wind blowing west
south-west. The rainfall at Malton for 1875 was 28*49 inches,
whereas that of 1874 amounted only to 23*19 inches. The mean

COUNCIL FOR 1875.

13

temperature of the year has been remarkably near the average,
being only one-tenth of a degree below a mean of 40 years.
January registered 4 degrees above a mean, and February 3*4
below. March, April, May, June, July, October, and Novem¬
ber were below, and August, September, and December above
a mean of 40 years. The range of the thermometer was 70
degrees, from 13 degrees on January 1st to 83 degrees on
August 17.

The fluctuations of the mercurial column have been great
in the past year, varying from 30*639 in March to 28*796
in November, making a range of 1*84 inches.

EAIN FALL, 1875.

Museum.

Cherry Hill.

Malton.

Langton.

Flaxton.

Mouth.

Total

Depth.

Greatest Fall
in 24 Hours.

Number
of Days on
which -01 or
more fell.

Inches.

Depth.

Date.

Inches.

Inches.

Inches.

Inches.

Jan.

2*96

•40

2

21

2-70

2-72

2-40

2-63

Feb.

•96

•21

11

12

1-03

•82

•82

•63

Mar.

•68

•27

6

9

•59

•58

•62

•55

April

•32

•12

6

8

•60

•40

•60

•65

May

1-47

•24

8

12

1-22

1-59

1-20

M4

June

2*25

*75

29

15

3-73

2-78

3-46

1-27

July

3-23

•57

17

18

2-84

3-94

4-22

4-44

Aug.

1-93

•47

9

11

1-88

3*45

2-91

2-62

Sept.

2-23

•76

2

9

2-33

1-89

2-13

2-34

Oct.

3-81

1-20

20

15

3-91

3-90

4-68

2-48

Nov.

3-71

1-07

13

23

3-52

5-23

5-37

4-27

Dec.

•83

•14

21

17

•70

1-19

1-98

1-85

24-38

1-20

170

25-05

28-49

29-49

24-87

14

REPORT OE THE

METEOEOLOaiCAL EEaiSTEE, YOEK, 1875.

BAROMETER.

RAIN.

THERMOIMETER.

Highest.

Lowest.

Mean.

Inches.

Days.

Average

Maximum.

Average

Minimum.

Mean Temp.

j Highest.

Lowest.

Jan.

30-564

28-974

29-8107

2-96

21

45-83

36-25

40-38

55

13

Feb.

30-466

29-496

30-0913

•96

12

41-78

31-17

34-39

52

22

Mar.

30-639

29-494

30-1451

•68

9

45-77

35-06

39-71

57

26

April

30-569

29-105

30-0494

•32

8

55-66

38-43

45-03

73

29

May

30-301

29-455

29-9651

1-47

12

63-41

43-54

52-22

73

35

June

30-323

29-308

29-8711

2-25

15

66-83

48-13

57-46

75

43

July

30-402

29=335

29-9672

3-23

18

68-00

50-55

58-45

75

42

Aug.

30-276

29-731

30-0164

1-93

11

69-55

52-55

60-93

83

41

Sept.

30-437

29-401

30-0318

2-23

9

66-90

49-70

56-36

74

39

Oct.

30-206

29-154

29-7755

3-81

15

54-81

42-87

46-35

67

31

Nov.

30-335

28-796

29-7939

3-71

23

46-93

35-63

39-90

57

29

Dec.

30-475

29-471

30-0663

•83

1

43-39

35-16

38-97

55

21

30-639

28-796

29-9653

24-38

170

55-74

41-59

47-51

83

13

The following observations made at Langton, Malton, have
been kindly supplied by the Eev. A. Shadwell, M. A.

WINDS.

Direction.

Number of Days.

S. to W.

158

W. to N.

69

N. to E.

92

E. to S.

46

365

Days on which the Wind force was estimated to amount to a

Gale, or to

6 and

over 6 on the sea scale, maximum

being 12

Jan.

Feb.

March April

May June

July

Sept.

1

• •

5

• • • •

• •

• •

5

• •

6 8

• • • •

• •

• •

24

20

9 9

20 15

18

24

26

• •

• » c •

• • • •

• •

26

t •

• t

• • • •

t • • •

• •

27

couj^cjL I'OR 1875.

15

Sept. 26, the greatest storm estimated from 9 to 10.

Days on which less than half the sky area was obscured 124

Days on which more than half . 241

365

J aniiary and November were distinguished by high floods.

Jan. 5 and 6 the river gauge at Ouse Bridge showed 12 feet
above summer level.

Jan. 20 — the same height.

Nov. 15 — 13 feet.

The Derwent river guage at Malton showed on

Jan. 6 . . . . . lift. 6in.

Jan. 20 . lift. 4in.

Nov. 15 . 12ft. Oin.

The extraordinary inequality of Winter temperature repre¬
sented by December, 1874, being 6°.45 below average ;

January, 1875, 2°. 86 above ;

February, 2^72 below;

was followed by abnormal summer reading of the Thermometer,
July being especially cold, lower than any year except 1862,
when the average monthly temperature was 1° lower than in
1875. In Kent the average in those two years respectively
was 58° and 59°. The result of the broken winter in being
followed by a broken summer is in accordance with Greenwich
observation for 105 years.

The Society has to mourn the loss by death of more than an
average number of valued and honom-ed members, who will not
only be greatly missed by our own Society, but by the citizens
of York generally.

John Ford, Esq., Eobert Davies, Esq., F. S. A., Thomas
Allis, Esq., F.L.S., three of the vice-presidents of the Society,
and Joseph Munby, Esq., one of the Members of Council, have
died dining the past year.

Mr. Ford came to reside in York in 1828, and from that date
took a deep interest in the various objects and in the welfare
of the Society, having been elected a member so far back as the
year 1834. For many years he was an active member of the

16

REPORT OF THE

Council, and one of the vice-presidents. The Society is more
especially indebted to him for his services as curator of meteor¬
ology. His records of daily observations in connection with
this department extend over more than forty years. We are
glad to add that since Mr. Ford’s decease these records have
been presented to the Society, and are now deposited in the
library. Mr. Ford was also much interested in the study of
astronomy, and as long as his health permitted he was in the
habit of using the instruments in the Society’s observatory. He
died on the 16th of August last, in his 75th year.

Whilst the department of meteorology has thus suffered loss
in the removal of the gentleman above-named, that of natural
history has lost one who for a long series of years has taken a
great interest in it, and who has left behind him enduring
memorials of his zeal and industry. Our late vice-president,
Thomas Allis, Esq., who also held the office of Curator of Com¬
parative Anatomy, connected himself with the Society very soon
after he came to York to occupy the position of superintendent
of the Friends’ Eetreat. Naturally fond of scientific pursuits,
he selected ornithology, and especially the comparative anatomy
of birds, as an object for study, and one that might serve
as a mental relief from the cares and anxieties of his official
position. The result of these labours, which were carried on
either before the ordinary duties of the day were begun, or after
they were ended, is seen in the unique and magnificent collection
of skeletons that enriches our Museum. In the course of his
labours his attention was often called to peculiarities of structure
in the different species of birds, and these he placed on record in
papers read at meetings of the Society, many of which papers
are published in our transactions. One of the most striking
of these was that in which he noted the peculiarities of the bony
plates that form the sclerotic ring in the eyes of birds ; on this
subject he read an exhaustive paper before the members of the
Biitish Association, at their meeting in York, in 1844, and it
afforded him peculiar pleasure to be able to point out that in
this respect the extinct Dodo and the genus Columbidoe are
alike ; thus strengthening the position assumed by his Mend
Hugh Strickland, in his beautiful work The Dodo and its

COUNCIL FOR 1875.

17

Kindred/’ that the dodo was a gigantic pigeon. Mr. Allis was
one of the very early members of the British Association, his
name standing 69 in the Register of the Society ; he was elected
a fellow of the Linnean Society in 1864, when he introduced to
their notice the noble skeleton of the Moa (Dinornis Eobustus)
that now enriches our Museum. This skeleton and that of the
little Apteryx were his last eiiorts in that direction, the latter
being articulated by him after he had reached the age of 83
years. A firm believer in the truths of revelation, Mr. Allis was
much opposed to some of the opinions of the present day, and
as a reverent and careful observer of nature, the testimony of
such a man is valuable. The taste for the study of natural
history, which was so strong in him, descended to his son, who
was a most industrious collector and arranger of insects. At
the time of his death, in 1870, he was the possessor of a collec¬
tion of British Lepidoptera, comprising 1,873 species, and illus¬
trated by upwards of 20,000 sj)ecimens. This collection was
presented by Mr. Allis to the Society. It is preserved in the
Council-room, and can be inspected by application to the Sub-
Curator. Mr. Allis’s connection with the Society existed for
upwards of 40 years, during several of which he acted as one
of its secretaries. Tie died at the ripe age of 87 years, retaining
to the last an amount of intellectual vigour very unusual at
such an advanced age.

Mr. Davies, F.S. A., who died in August last at the advanced
age of 82, was a native of York. He was educated in the pro¬
fession of the law, and was admitted a solicitor in the year 1814.
Mr. Davies rapidly attained eminence in his profession, and in
the year 1827 was elected to the important and honourable office
of Town Clerk of York, which he held conjointly with the office
of Clerk of the Peace for upwards of 21 years. Mr Davies’s
tastes were literary rather than scientific, and he embraced the
opportunity as the keeper of the City Archives to investigate
the ancient records of the York Corporation with a view to
historic research. In these investigations he was eminently
successful, and as the result of his labours several volumes illus¬
trative of the social and literary life of his native city in times
gone by proceeded from his pen. Mr. Davies became a member

B

18

REPORT OE THE

of this Society at an early period of its history, and ever took a
deep interest in all that concerned its welfare. For many
years he discharged the duties of honorary treasurer of the
Society. On his retirement from the profession of the law the
name of Mr. Davies, on the request of the Municipal Corpora¬
tion, was placed on the Commission of the Peace for the city of
York, and the duties attached to this important office he con¬
tinued to discharge until within a few months of his death.

Mr. Munby was also a member of the legal profession, to
which he devoted himself with success during a long life in his
native city of York, attaining a high and honourable posi¬
tion. He was elected as the successor of Mr. Davies to the
important office of Clerk of the City Justices, shortly after the
passing of the Municipal Corporations Act. Mr. Munby became
a member of this Society in the year 1836. In the negotiations
which took place some years ago with the authorities of the
Blind School, to efPect an exchange of land in order to include the
site of Abbey Choir (then part of the Blind School garden) within
the grounds of the Museum, Mr. Munby rendered great aid to
the Society. It is not, however, so much his connection with
this Society, and the aid he rendered to it, which constitute the
chief claim which Mr. Munby has to the gratitude of his fellow-
citizens. For the greater part of his professional life he was the
adviser and chief executive officer of two of the most important
charities in the city of York — the York County Hospital and
the Wilberforce School for the Blind. These institutions have
deservedly attained a fame for the relief of human suffering far
beyond the limits of our ancient city, and we may fairly attri¬
bute this result in no small degree to the administrative skill
and long-continued labours of our departed friend. Mr. Munby
died, after a short illness, at his residence at York, in December
last, at the age of 71.

These notices of departed friends remind the Council that
they are still permitted to have upon their list of members and
vice-presidents the name of the Pev. John Kenrick, the only
survivor of those who more than 50 years ago met together to
establish this Society. The Council are sui’e that Mr. Kenrick
will regard with the highest satisfaction the successful progress

COUNCIL FOR 1875.

19

of the Society which he has assisted so materially by his labours
and his learning, and they cannot but feel thankful that Mr.
Kenrick still survives to aid them with his counsels and honour
them by his kindly support.

The following Lectures have been delivered in the Theatre of
the Museum during the past year.

Subject. Name of Lectueer.

On the Aqueducts of Eome .... Eev. A. Shadwell, M. A.

On the Walls and Grates of Eome Eev. A. Shadwell, M. A.

On Ai’ctic Expeditions, with \
special reference to the one / Oapt. J. E. Davis, E. N.,
now making its way to the i E. E. O. S.

North Pole . . . . . . /

On the Excavation of the Eoman \

Fort, at Castle Dykes, near > Eev. W. C. Lukis, M. A.

Eipon . . . /

On the Yorkshire OoHtes . W. H. Hudleston, Esq., M. A.,

F. G. S.

The Society have, altogether, lost by death or resignation 17
members, 3 lady subscribers, and 4 associates, while 35 new
members, 10 lady subscribers, and 8 associates have been added
to the Society’s list. The Council propose for election as new
vice-presidents: — Egerton Vernon Harcourt, Esq., M. A. ; the
Eev. Canon Eaine, M. A., curator of antiquities ; William Eeed,
Esq., E. G. S., curator of geology ; and J. E. Walker, Esq.,
M. A., E. G. S., E. L. S., &c. ; and as new members of Council :
— William Matterson, M. D., the Eev. George Eowe, M. A.,
Tempest Anderson, M. D,, Fellow of University College,
London; and Joseph Wilkinson, E. E. G. S., in the room of
Egerton Vernon Harcourt, the Eev. Canon Eaine, J. F. Walker,
and John Kitching, who retire by rotation; and J. P. Wood
and Eichard Pearson in the room of William Eeed, E. G. S.,
nominated a vice-president, and Joseph Munby, lately deceased.

The Council propose the following gentlemen for election as
honorary members of the Society : — -T. McKenny Hughes,
Esq., M. A., F. S. A., F. G. S., Woodwardian professor of
geology, Cambridge; Joseph Prestwich, Esq., M. A., F. E. S ,
F. C. S., professor of geology in the University of Oxford ;

20

EEPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR 1875.

Tliomas Davidson, Esq., F. E. S., F. Gr. S., Eobert Etheridge,
Esq., F.E.S., vice-president of the Greological Society ; W. H.
Ilndleston, Esq., M.A., F. G. S., F, 0. S., hon. secretary of the
Geologists’ Association ; the Eev. J. 0. Eruce, L.L.D., secretary
of the Antiquarian Society, Newcastle-on-Tyne ; A. W. Franks,
Esq., curator of antiquities in the British Museum ; Dr.
McCaull, principal of the Eniversity of Toronto ; Professor
George Stephens, Copenhagen; John Stuart, Esq., L. L. D.,
secretary of the Antiquarian Society, Scotland.

THE

TEEASURER OF THE YORKSHIRE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

IN ACCOUNT FOE THE YEAR 1875.

INCOME.

£. a. d. £. s. d.

Annual Subscriptions, ^c.:

Members . 648 0 0

Lady Subscribers . 74 3 0

Associates . 22 0 0

Ari-ears . 22 0 0

- 766 3 0

Admission Fees of New Members:

Paid in Full . 24 0 0

Paid by Instalments. .. . 32 0 0

- 56 0 0

Compositions in lieu of Subscriptions 46 0 0

Keys of the Gates . 46 0 0

Temporary Subscriber . 1 0 0

Rents :

New Manor Shore Pro¬
perty . 100 13 2

St. Mary’s Lodge . 54 10 10

Cottages in Marygate . . 24 3 4

EoatYard . 5 0 0

- 184 7 4

Gate Money . 286 6 6

Swimming Bath (2 years) . 80 0 0

Sale of Guide to Antiquities . 6 4 0

Use of Tent . 20 0 0

Sale of Duplicate Antiquarian Speci¬
mens . 30 0 0

Yorkshire Insurance

Company . 1900 0 0

Due to Two Members,

£50 each . 100 0 0

- 2000 0 0

Balance in Treasurer’s
hands.. . . . 317 7 6

Total Debt of the Society, Jan. 1,

1876, exclusive of the Debt on

the Lodge . £1682 12 6

EXPENDITUEE.

£.

s.

d.

Crown Eents .

119

19

10

Corporation Eents .

19

16

8

Eates and Taxes .

16

11

9

Water Eent .

7

11

0

Insurance .

5

4

0

Salaries and Wages :

C. Wakefield .

140

0

0

H. Baines (Pension). . . .

100

0

0

J. Davison (Do.) .

26

0

0

J. Fielden .

70

4

0

Lodge Keeper .

46

16

0

Attendant, Museum....

43

4

0

Do, Hospitium..

10

8

0

Gardeners .

129

6

6

Interest to Insurance Company .... 75 7 4

Commission to Bankers . 2 15 0

General Expenses and Repairs :

Museum . 45 12 4

Estate . 13 3 6

- 58 15 10

Gardens, Greenhouses, Sfc.:

General Expenses and

Eepairs . . . 37 5 6

Seeds, &c . 6 18 6

Coals and Coke . 9 0 5

- 53 4 5

Purchase& Preparation of Specimens 5 14

Library: Books and Binding . 18 9 9

Swimming Bath . . . 21 19 6

Miscellaneous Expenses :

Printing of Eeport and

Miscellaneous Expenses :
Printing of Eeport and

Communications ....

11

0

0

Printing, Stationery, &c.

6

5

8

Coals and Gas .

37

0

10

Expenses of Lectures..

19

16

10

Do. Bands ....

17

7

10

Do. Eoman

Antiquities ....

54

0

2

Do. Monkman’s

Collection .

150

0

0

Do. New Cases

50

12

10

Do. Observatory

10

18

6

Printing Guide to Anti-

quities .

34

8

4

Postages and Petty Ex-

penses . . .

2

0

8

393 11

8

1364

6

7

Excess of Income for the Year 1875

157 14

3

£1522

0 10

Permanent Debt :

Yorkshire Insurance

Company . 1900

0

0

Due to Two Members,

£50 each .

100

0

0

—2000

0

0

Balance due from Trea-

surer, Jan. 1st, 1875 ....

159 13

3

Surplus of Income for the

Year 1875 .

157 14

3

— 317

7

6

£1682 12 6

W. GEAY, Audited and found correct, 31st January, 1876,— F. L. MAWDESLEY.

Treasurer.

22

MEMBERS ELECTED IN 1875.

Anderson, T., M. D., Stonegate.

Atkinson, W., The Mount.

Baker, E., M. D., The Retreat.

Beall, Mrs., Rarnlorough Street.

Bellerby, H., Heworth Green.

Britton, G-., Peter gate.

Brown, J. G., St. PauVs Sguare.

Cureton, Col., Clifton.

Dyson, J., High Ousegate.

Harkness, T. B., Clifton.

Hewison, Eev. G. H., St. Dennis' Rectory.
Holden, R. J., The Pavement.

Hlingwortli, Rev. 0., Penley Grove Street.
Jalland, W. H., Bootham.

Kleiser, J., 39, Stonegate.

McKenzie, Capt., R. A., Be Grey Street.
Melrose, W., St. Sampson's Sguare.

Mills, R. W. R., Lendal.

Oldfield, Joseph, Clifton.

Richardson, R. B., Bootham Terrace.

Rose, R. D., Lendal.

Rongier, J. W., Tanner Row.

Seager, Col., The Mount.

Smith, T., St. Helen's Square.

Stone, F., East Mount Road.

Thompson, R., St. Paul's Square.
Thompson, S., St. Mary's.

Thorold, Rev. Canon, London.

Walker, W., Clifton.

Walton, J. S., M. D., Monh Bar.

Wharton, J. L., Bramham.

Whitwell, G. R., Blahe Street.
Williamson, Lieut.-CoL, Gillygate.

Woods, G., St. Mary's.

Worthington, T. S., Blah Street.

23

LADY SUBSCRIBERS ADMITTED IN 1875.

Calvert, Mrs., Mary gate.

Dodgson, Miss, St. Manfs.

Garten, Miss, Marygate.

Hopper, Miss Jane, Blahe Street.

Howlden, Mrs., Coney Street.

Johnson, Miss, The Mount.

Pinder, Miss, Stonegate.

Ward, Mrs., East Mount Road.

Wilson, Mrs. Gilchrist, St. Marges.

Worthington, Mrs., Peter gate.

ASSOCIATES.

Baker, E. L., Mew Street.

Bellerby, H. T., Ileivorth Green.
Bellerby, W. P., Meworth Green.
Comber, Pev. H. G. W., Museum Street.
Parnhill, S., i)(? Grey Street.

Taylor, Pev. T. H., Minster Yard.
Walker, E. H., Malton.

RESOLUTIONS

PASSED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, FEBRUARY 1st, 1876.

- o -

1. That the Peport of the Conncil now read be adopted and
printed for circulation amongst the Members, Lady Subscribers,
and Associates of the Society.

2. That the thanks of the Society be given to the Members of
Council retiring from office, also to the Treasurer, Secretary, and
Curators for their valuable services ; and that authority be given
to the Council to give admission to the Public to the Museum, on
AVhit-Monday and Tuesday, under the same regulations as last
year.

3. That the thanks of the Meeting be given to the Chairman.

24

DONATIONS TO THE MUSEUM.

GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY.

Cobb, W. Preston, Esq., Auriferous Quartz from Wood’s Point,

Acomh . ) Australia.

Glen, Mr. D. Corse . Magnetic Iron Sand, from Eotbesay

Bay, Bute.

Herries, Mr. W. H . Three Species of Ammonites from the

Oxford Clay of Gristborpe.

McKenzie, Capt . Tree Pern from Gatherley Moor

Quarry, Gilling, Picbmond.

Pead, W. H. Pudston, Esq. Specimen of Lead Ore from tbe Isle

of Man.

- 0 -

ZOOLOGY.

Cobb, W. Preston, Esq. . .

Herring, Mr. E., Peter gate
Nanbivell, Lieut., P.N. . .

Pead, W. H. Pudston, Esq.

Pigbt Leg and Foot of Emu, from
Wood’s Point, Austraba.

Twelve Sea Gull’s Eggs.

Three Bugs from tbe Island of J^le-
pbanta, Bombay.

Pair of Young Wabus’ Tusks.

Legs of tbe Gyr Falcon.

Six Species of British Marine Shells.

0

ANTIQUITIES.

Andrews, Mr . Cast of a Saxon Charm found at

Welton.

Bird, W., Esq., M. D . A Poman Silver Coin.

Brown, Mr . A Pilgrim’s Token of lead.

Cobb, W. Preston, Esq. . . Stone Adze head from Melbourne,

Australia.

25

Edson, Mr. Geo., Malton, .
Ford, J., Esq .

A Eoman Spoon of bone.

Fragment of a Skull found wrapped
in Lead in a Stone Cofidn about

1840, on the Mount.

Lane, Eev. E. A., and | A Transitional Window, from tlie
Cliurcliwardens . ) Cliurcli of S. Maurice, York.

Leak, Mr. F., Walmgate . .

Silver Gilt Spur found at Gilling

Castle.

Norcliffe, Mrs . .

A collection of Marbles, Wall-plaster,

&c., from Italy.

N. E. Eailway, Directors of

A Moniunent to Hyllus.

An Altar to the Genius Loci.

An inscribed Ossuarium.

A Bronze Lamp.

Four Lead Coffins.

A Stone and Lead Coffin with the

Hair of a Eoman Lady.

A Brick Tomb.

Eaine, Eev. Canon ......

Seventy Tradesmen’s Tokens of the

17th century, used in Yorkshire.

A collection of Flint and Stone Imple- •
ments from Sweden.

Eead, W. H. Eudston, Esq.

An Ancient Embroidered Purse, bear¬
ing the Arms of Wyvill and
Stapleton.

A Silver Gilt Scent Bottle, with

Medal of William and Mary let
into it.

A beautiful enamelled Watch of the

17th century.

A £2 piece of Charles I.

A double Sovereign of George II.

A Silver Gilt Coronation Medal, of

George lY.

Three Saxon Silver Coins found near

Lobster House, in 1806.

A Deed on Parchment of the 13th

Eeed, W., Esq .

Eowe, Eev. Geo . .

Smallwood, Mrs .

century.

Aztec Knives.

Handle of Amphora.

Ornamented Clay Pipe.

c

26

Society of Antiquaries, ) Cast of a Skeleton of a Eoinan, from a

London . . ) Stone Coffin found at Arents-

burgli, in Holland.

Deposited ly Wm. Walker, A Boman inscribed Stone, found at

' Esq., Malton . . ) Norton, near Malton, in 1814, and

placed originally above tbe door
of a goldsmith’s shop.

Dur chased ............... A Crown of Oliver Cromwell, 1658,

and other Silver Coins.

A large collection of Stone, Elint, and
Bronze Implements, collected by
Mr. C. Monkman, of Malton, on
the Yorkshire Wolds ; Boman
Pottery, &c., from York.

0

MISCELLANEOUS.

Ellis, Thos., Esq. . . .

Fielden, Mr. J .

Nankivell, Lieut., B. N.,

Thompson, Mr. S.

Engraving of Sir Isaac Newton
(framed).

Pir Cone of Zamia horridus.

Shackles, as removed from the legs of
a Slave, at Lindy.

Two War Hatchets from Lindy.

Three Spears.

A Bow.

A Paddle.

Three Clubs.

One Cloth-beater.

A Pish Hook and Line.

Two pieces of Native Cloth.

Pour SxDecimens of Plaited Straw,

A Comb and Ornamental Pendant.

A Lance.

A Pan.

f From the South Sea Islands.)

27

LIBRARY.

Association, British, for the |

Advancement of Science )

Association, Greologists’ . . Proceedings, vol. iv.. Nos. 1 — 4.

Author, The . . . . The Coinage of the Ancient Britons,

and Natural Selection, by J.
Evans, E. P. S.

Author, The . . Guide to the Chambered Barrows and

other Pre-historic Monuments of
South Brittany, by Eev. W. 0.
Lukis.

Author, The . . . Memoir of M. de Caumont, by C.

Poach Smith.

Club, Tyneside Naturalists’ \ Natural History Transactions of

Field . . . ; Northumberland and Durham,

vol vi.

Club, Warwickshire Natur¬
alists’ Field .

Ferguson, Mr. D .

India, Geological Survey of

Institution, Smithsonian . .

I Proceedings for 1874.

J

History of Harrogate and the Forest
of Knaresborough, by W. Grainge.
Palceontologia Indica, Series x., pt. 1
Memoirs, vol. x., pt. 2, & vol. xi., pt. 1.
Pecords, vol. vii., pts. 1 — 4.

Peport for 1873.

Peport of the IT. S. Geological and
Geographical Survey of Colorado,

1873.

Peport of the IT. S. Geological
Survey of Missouri, with Atlas,
1873-74.

Peport of the U. S. Geological
Survey of the Territories, vol.
vi., Cretaceous Flora.

Publishers, The ........ Nature (Journal) for 1875.

Purchased . Illustrations of the Geology of York¬

shire, by J. Phillips, M. A., F. P. S.

Paine, Pev. Canon Drawings and Engravings of Poman

Pavements and Bath found at
York, Aldborough, and Hoving-
ham.

28

Eaine, Eev. Canon

Eead, W. H. Eudston, Esq.

Society, Cliemical .

Society, Greological .

Society, Hull literary and

PMlosopliical .

Society, Leeds Literary and

PMlosopliical .

Society, Leicester Literary
and PMlosopMcal . . . , «
Society, Liverpool Literary

and PL-ilosopMcal .

Society, Meteorological . .
Society, Eoyal, Edinburgh

Society, Warwickshire
Natural History and

Archaeological .

Society, Zoological .

Thompson, Mr. S. ......

Walker, J. P., Esq .

Lithograph of Norman Tiles from the
floor of St. Nicholas’ Chapel,
York Minster, &c.

Transactions of the Linnean Society,
vol. xxviii., pt. 4, vol. xxix., pt. 2,
and vol. xxx., pts. 1 — 3.

Journal of the Linnean Society : —
Zoology, Nos. 58, 59.

Botany, Nos. 78 — 81.

Journal for 1875.

Journal, Nos. 121 — 124.

I Eeport for 1874-75.

j Eeport for 1874-75.

j Eeport for 1874.

I Proceedings, Nos. 28, 29.

Eex3ort for 1874.

Transactions, vol. xxvii., pt. 2.

Proceedings, Session 1873-74.

I Eeport for 1874.

Transactions, vol. ix., pts. 1 — 4.

The Meteorological M.S.S. of the late
J. Ford, Esq.

Britanno-Eomano Inscriptions, by
Eev. J. Me. Caul, L.L.D.

Coinage of the Heptarchy, by J.
Lindsay.

Coinage of Scotland, with Supple¬
ment, by J. Lindsay, 2 vols. 4to.

Stoppanis (A) Corso di Greologia, vols.
1—3.

29

SERIAL WORKS SUBSCRIBED FOR.

Corpus Inscriptioniim Latiuarum (4 vols. with Atlas of Plates and
Supplement published).

Birds of Asia, by John Grould, F. P. S. (27 parts published).
Natural History of the Tineina, by H. T. Stainton, F.P.S. (13 vols.

published).

Nautical Almanack.

Proceedings of the Zoological Society, with Illustrations.
Publications of the Palieontographical Society (28 vols. published).
Publications of the Pay Society.

Sowerby’s Thesaurus Conchyliorum, col. plates (32 parts published).
The Zoological Pecord (Annual).

London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine.

Annals and Magazine of Natural History.

Q-eological Magazine.

Journal of the British Arclneological Association.

Numismatic Chronicle.

COMMUNICATIONS

TO THE

MONTHLY MEETINGS

OF THE

YOEKSIIIRE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY,

1875.

October 6th. — The Rev. Canon Raine gave An account
of several Roman inscriptions discovered during the Railway
Excavations/’ as follows : —

I think it best to confine my remarks to-day to some of the
very few and mutilated inscriptions which the recent excava¬
tions on the site of the new railway have yielded. The larger
and more general subject must be reserved for some future time.
I shall begin by directing your attention to the small and rude
altar. It is unfortunately fractured, but with the exception of
one letter the inscription is complete. It runs as follows : — •

DEO
G E N I 0
LOCI
V. S. L M

“ To the God, the genius of the place, the dedicator pays his
vow, willingly, deservedly.” Inscriptions to the genius of the
place are common enough. We have already one in oin*
musemn, GENIO LOCI FELICITER^ which, if we may draw an
inference from a similar stone preserved at Malton,* was pro¬
bably placed originally over the door of some shop in Eburaciun.
In considering this inscription, we are struck first by the com¬
bination of LEG and GENIO, but of this Orelli gives several
examples. We have, for instance, Beo invido Genio lod (the
unconquered God) ; also Beo Sanctissimo genio, 8^c. (the most

* Since deposited in the Museum by Mr. Walker, of Malton, its o^vner.

E

2

holy Grod), and Deo tiitelari genio loci (the protecting Grod).
The most remarkable feature, however, connected with this
altar is the omission of the names of the dedicator. If the four
last letters, the common formula in such offerings, had been
left out, the inscription would have been complete, but the
words so/nY, lihens^ merito, seem to reqiure a nominative

case expressed rather than understood. This, however, is not
a solitary instance of the omission. At Aldborough, in par¬
ticular, there is an altar with only D. M. — Y. S. L. M. upon it.
The letters, however, may be intei’preted wtum solvitur lihens
merito, which removes the dithculty at once. It is cuiious to
observe how the sculptor has spread out his inscription by
putting stops between letters where they are not due. The
altar was fomid standing on some cobbles, not far from the
head of a skeleton. It is not probable, I think, that it was
placed there by design.

I shall now direct your attention to a portion of a tablet of
limestone, which has been fastened to a wall or pillar. The
upper edging, you vill observe, is chamfered off in what we may
call a kind of vandyked pattern. About the inscription, which,
even as far as the stone goes, is slightly mutilated, there can be
little or no doubt. It runs thus, supplying two or three letters.

]\ I E M 0 E I A E
BASSAEI. IV LI
ET FELICIS FILI. SVI
DYLCISSIMI.

‘ To the memory of Bassaeus Julius, and of Felix, his sweetest
son.’ Two or tlmee lines, at least, are probably missing, and I
think they would have contained the names of a Avidow and a
mother, from whom the tender epithet of dulcissimiis would most
appropriately come. Mr. Kenrick, in his book on Homan
Sepulcliial Inscriptions, has spoken of the affection displayed
on tombs. Y^e shall have another instance of it directly.
We have aniinae innocentisshnae, and conjiigi carissiuw in oui’ ovm
musemn. In the Dean and Chapter’s library at Diuham,
there is an inscription, brought from the Homan Wall, set up
by a father and a mother for a daughter; — fliae chi icissimae they
call her.

3

The next inscription, which is upon a stone too large to
bring into this room, is on a cippiis or monumental pillar.
It is some four feet in height, of a circular form, the upper
part in front having been cut away in two places to give a
smooth face for inscriptions, of which we have only one, or
rather a part of one. Three lines only are legible, and more,
perhaps, could have been made out if the labourers had not
thro^vn a pail of water over the stone, and then scrubbed it, to
satisfy their curiosity, with a wisp of straw. The legible part
of this inscription is as follows : —

HYLLO

ALUMNO

CARISSIMO

The words alumnus or alumna have several meanings in epigra¬
phy. Tiberius who was horn and brought up in camp is
called by Tacitus legionum alumnus^ ^. c., the nimsling of the
legions. The word is also applicable to a free-born child who was
exposed and afterwards brought up in servitude. It is also used,
and probably in this case, of an adopted or foster child, who had
wound itself into the deepest affections of its master. The age
of the child and the names of his patron and adopted father are
lost. The latter, however, may, I think, be recovered by a
remarkable, and, to us, most interesting stone, which is pre¬
served in Lord Lonsdale’s important museum at Lowther. It
was foimd at the neighbouring station of Plumpton, or Old
Penrith. The stone is so similar to tliis at York that it is either
made by the same mason, or executed from the same design.
But the similarity in the stone is not all. It bears almost the
same inscription — D. M. Hylae alumni karissimi, etc. — and we
learn from the rest of the inscription that the child was 13
years old, and that he was a foster son of a person called
Claudius Severus. These names, I doubt not, might have been
read on the York stone, had it not been for the wisp of straw.
Hyllus and Hylas are two mythological names. The former
was a person, according to Pausanias, famous for his gigantic
stature ; the other a beautiful youth who, if we are to believe
a romantic legend, was carried away by the nymphs of the foun¬
tain. If a conjecture is admissible as to the history of these

4

two sepulcliral memorials, I should say that Claudius Severiis
was a soldier in one of the York legions, and that one of his
foster children died at head-quarters, the other in a country
camp in which his father was serving. We are not to suppose
that the legionary troops were always at head-quarters. They
were drafted out into the camps throughout the North to inter¬
mix with or control the auxiliary forces, to whose charge the
care of these places was given. Inscriptions set up hy soldiers
of our Sixth Legion Yictorious are not uncommon in the
northern stations, and it is a ciuious circumstance that at Old
Carlisle, wliich is not very far from the place wLere the monu¬
ment to Hylas v/as found, there was a stone set up hy Aurelius
Martinianus (?), a native of Ehiuacum.

The ossuarium^ or leaden sepulchral urn, which you see
upon the table, is an object of peculiar interest, even with its
fractm’es, which, thanks to the care of Dr. Gribson, have been
most scientifically reduced. The vessel was half filled with
burnt bones when it was found. You will observe a sort of
cupola crowning the lid — -this shews us that wEat we have
hitherto considered to be two leaden urns in our museum, are
really parts of one and the same vessel. But this is the only
ossuarium hitherto discovered in Britain that bears an inscrip¬
tion, and this in itself is one of much interest. I read what
remains of it as follows. You will observe that there is
but little missing of any great importance. — D. M. ULPIAE
FELICISSIMAE QEAE YIXIT ANNIS . . MENSES XI, DIES . . ,
POSUERENT DLPIUS FELIX ET ANDEONICA PAEENTES. The
letters, you Avill remark, are ahnost of a cursive character,
and you will observe also the peculiarity of the Latinity. The
d.erivation of the cognomen of the child from that of the
father, representing it in the tenderest diminutive, is striking.
How the fate of the child seems to belie her name ! Her sue
might well have put upon her mn infelicis patris infelix
proles.” In the great work of Grruter it is recorded that one
M. IJlpius Felix was a master or conservator of the Lolhan
fountain at Borne in the consulship of Bradua and Yarns,
which s}mchronises with the year 160 of our era. lYe learn
also from the so.me authority that IJlpia Felicissima, the

5

daughter of Marcus, set up a monument to her husband Titus
Basidius Amarantus. It is possible enough that all these
persons were more or less connected. I need not tell you that
the worthiest bearer of the name of Ulpius was the great
emperor Trajan.

December 7th, — The Eev. Canon Baine gowe an account
of the recent discovery of the hair of a Boman lady at York, in
the course of which he said : —

The chief approach to the great Boman cemetery which has
been recently explored in part, seems to have been by a care¬
fully made road running to the north. The best description of
it as to position is to call it a sort of prolongation of Barker or
Trinity Lane, running straight through the present railway
station, and striking the city wall some 20 or 30 yards above
the upper corner of the cholera cemetery. At this point, across
the deep moat, in the space between Mr. Close’s late house and
the cholera cemetery, a Boman road was found, about twelve feet
in breadth, and five or six in depth, made of strong concrete,
v/hich could only be removed with difhculty. As the ground
dips rapidly on the other side of the old lane, and as a great
quantity of earth had been removed at some earlier period from
this place, the road could not be traced for more than 20 or 30
yards. It is very possible that it extended no farther in this
direction originally. On either side of the road were discovered
several blocks of wrought stone, which may have served for coffin
rests, as we still see them in some of our old country lanes.
Contiguous to this ancient way, especially on yoiu left hand as
you go into the country, interments have been discovered in
great abundance, but chiefly those of women and children.
The site has been at all times somewhat elevated, and on that
account it has been sought out. It is on the northern slope of
this ridge that the coffin which I am about to describe was
found. At the end of the month of May in the present year
the workmen who were digging out the foundations for the wall
of the booldng office of the nev/ station, came, at the depth of
some foiu feet, to a stone coffin lying north and south. It was
some six feet and a half in length, and nearly a foot and a half

6

wide at the top. It need not be stated that the head was facing
the south. When the lid was removed, we found that the chest
which was of coarse sandstone, was lined with lead, which had
a covering of its own. This lid is curiously ornamented in a
corded pattern, and is the only specimen I believe of this kind
of ornamentation that has been discovered in York. It varies
considerably from the examples of the same kind of work that
have been found at London and Colchester. The lid adhered
very closely to the leaden shell below it, having been probably
fastened down with cement. When it was removed a remark¬
able sight presented itself. To the height of three or four
inches from the top the shell was filled with gypsum. The body
had been laid in a shallow bed of this substance, which had
then been poured in until it had covered the breast to a depth
of a couple of inches. This gypsum had become gradually
hardened, and took and retained, above and below, the impres¬
sion of the body which had mouldered away within it. The
head of the body, however, was exposed, and had in all proba¬
bility been raised originally upon a pillow, which had removed
it from contact with the gypsmn. The facial part of the head,
eyes, cheeks, and nose, had given way, and in consequence the
back part of the head seemed to be lying in the position in
which you would expect to find the forehead. In this place was
found a long folded tress, the back hair, in fact, of a young
Homan lady. It might ahnost have been combed wdien it was
first discovered, it was so limp. Fixed in it are two beautifully
wrought pins of jet. By the side of what had once been the
cheeks, and on the fragments of the skull, were other small
portions of hair which have been preserved. The bones of the
skull and body were all in pieces ; very little remained of the
body or its garniture, save this beautiful curl. It is that of a
young girl whose hair had never reached its full growth, and
who was probably 15 or 16 years of age when she died. We owe
its preservation probably to the careful way in which the coffins
were seemed, and it is possible that the gypsmn itself may have
exercised some preservative influence over the tress wliich was
raised above it. There is a singular fact to be recorded in
connection with this interment. The lid of the stone coffin was

7

broken. Below the crack, in the lid of the leaden shell, was a
jagged hole. A similar hole ran tlirongh the gypsmn, showing
it had been made after the gypsum had become hard, and below
all, in a line with the other fissiu’es, the great stone chest which
enclosed all, was cracked as well. I leave it to the ingennity of
111}^ audience to suggest what had caused this mischief. If it is
attributable to lightning the coffin must have been originally
close to the sm’face. I may mention also that under the coffin
were found a piece of wrought bronze and a second brass coin
of Domitian. It is to be conjectiu’ed, therefore, that this was a
late interment, probably of the fom*th centmy. In the posses¬
sion of this tress of hair, the York Museum has a curiosity of
which no other English collection can show the like. I believe
that some fragments of hair, with a leaf or two of a withered
crown of bay leaves, were discovered many years ago at Chester-
ford, near Cambridge, but they were nothing to this. But this
is not the only discovery of the same kind that has been made
in York. Through the kindness of Messrs. Hargrove, a series
of notes taken by their father dining the excavations for the
present Railway Station and its approaches, some 35 years ago,
have been placed in my hands, and to them I am indebted
for the record of a somewhat similar discovery. I feel boimd to
remark that it would have been well for the cause of science if
all other persons interested in antiquities while those excavations
were being made, had described what they saw and obtained,
ivith Mr. Hargrove’s precision and accuracy. It is compara¬
tively useless to possess objects, however choice they may be,
unless we know under what cncumstances, and in what combina¬
tions, they were found. Tliis, Mr. Hargrove has told us, and
we are greatly indebted to him for his care. He shall tell his
own tale pretty much in his own words.— -On the 31st of
August, 1840, the railway laboimers whilst excavating outside
the City Walls, not far, in all probability, from the interment
which we have just been describing, came upon a large tomb in
a bed of sand, some six feet from the simface. It was made of
brick, 8 1 feet in length on the outside, and 4J feet in vidth.
The walls were formed of bricks about eleven inches square,
joined together with cement ; on the top was an arched roof

8

made of tiles, some seven inclies square, placed edgewise, fringed
at the ends with a course of larger tiles, which overhung the
walls, and formed a kind of projecting roof.^ On breaking
through the brickwork the remains of a wood coffin were seen,
which had been filled with gypsmn. The gypsum was perfect,
and retained the form of the coffin. It was difficult, of course,
to raise it uninjured, as it was laid in this vault, and it was
broken in the attempt. When it was removed, the decayed
bones of a lady were discovered, whose head was covered with
aiibium ringlets. The brick tomb was taken up by Mr. Har¬
grove, and was set up in the garden of his house in Blossom
Street, but since his decease it has been unfortunately removed
and destroyed by some subsequent owner of the house. It is
much to be regretted that there are now no traces of the hair.
Whilst speaking of brick graves I may mention that a tomb of
this kind was discovered under the station buildings in the
month of August in the present year. It was six feet one inch
in length, and about two feet in height. Within it a wooden
coffin had been laid containing the remains of an aged person,
but there was no roof of brick in this case. The coffin had
been simply covered by some fiange tiles, which were laid over
it. I am glad to say that the bricks and tiles have been
removed to the Museum, and that the tomb will be re-erected in
the lower room of oim Hospitiiim. Other specimens of brick
sepulchres have also been discovered in York, the most curious
of which is that very interesting chamber, eight feet by five,
and six feet in height, which is imder the house of Mr. Flower
on the Mount. It is very similar to the tombs which still exist
in such profusion by the sides of the great roads into Borne,
and it is much to be regretted that no attempt has been made
in this instance to reach the front face of the dome, as it will
probably have appended to it, or at all events near it, the
monumental tablet recording the names and age of the lady
who sleeps in her coffin mthin. There is no similar tomb to
be found in Britain.

* Through, the kindness of Messrs. Hargrove I possess a drawing of the
outside of the tomh.

13 MAR

R h

EFFIOY OF AN UNKNOWN GOD,

Found in York, 1^75*

.. -:

’‘'■''‘"4^>. .•

^3 t -f*! . / ' • ^'-*^- - .-

•y-

.».*»••«• .. -v'-i

Kw-

. . >>>*-•' •

v;;

••-' • > --V .

1 .

. V t

.r;- „,•.•? ^

‘ ’w-V ■*-■■’*.

• • >

.-r' '■•’•

-

•• .. 't -jJr

V -i'.

i-W •. ,

fV^K. '■■

r.' :

, 'cr*.-

;r

pi

fi-

V •■; V •; .

V - - 'ji '

\

K

\

-n

A •

V

V

:--; i

A-JT,,!'

* I

*

I

I

■■9

I

: .\-

i-

I-

t

'f,

. ' : ,1 ,

■‘Sr7

-

’ ^ .i, ■ -.-

■ , %vyr"!

; "S'

'I’Nv

'■

’I'if. -li*

■ ,-. ; ■ }'>

P^;^: ■■ 'v

fo ^
rt'*' '

--

■‘ -. .•, -v,

. «t“:,

..y ->

K.

■

4. . - ’

V >v ^

. '(

•e i. '

• .•-• \* ,; ? .

iV.'

■ -

tM.:'

&■»-•■■ - • '

.ii v-.t ^

.*«.■<

■V

’J ..

■ ■

r-.-i

ilf^ . ‘4.