communicated with the authorities of the Crystal Palace, who were delighted at the idea of preserving in their grounds this interesting relic. When the masonry was taken down every stone was numbered; and there could have been no difficulty in putting them again together. Unfortunately they were laid aside, and some of the workmen made use of these beautifully wrought stones for building an engine-house: and thus it was that carelessness combined with utilitarianism to sacrifice this very interesting monument of early art. The Crystal Palace Directors have made some attempts to imitate chapels and fragments of medieval buildings: but this genuine work would have far surpassed them all in value, and it certainly ought to have received very different treatment; as it is, the matter is most discreditable to the Directors of the Crystal Palace." (Cheers.)

Mr. CROSBY then said,-" One of the most pleasant duties of the day has devolved upon me; and in now carrying that duty into effect I feel assured that it is altogether unnecessary for me to address you at any length. You have all had full opportunity of judging of the merits of our excellent Chairman, and I am quite sure that you will concur with me in the opinion that the manner in which the business of this meeting has been conducted leaves nothing to be desired. To those who have the honour of being personally acquainted with Mr. Hugo it would be unnecessary for me to remark upon his high reputation as an antiquary; and as such his connexion with our new Society becomes a matter of congratulation to us all. I feel it to be needless for me to say any more than that I leave in your hands the proposition that we offer to Mr. Hugo our very earnest and sincere thanks for the part which he has taken in forwarding the business of the Society, and for the manner in which he has conducted the proceedings of this meeting."

Mr. DENNES" I have very great pleasure in seconding this Resolution. I hope the 14th of December, 1855, will be a day to be remembered with pleasure in the history of London and Middlesex."

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THE REV. CHARLES BOUTELL.-"Allow me to say a very words upon this Resolution. The Resolution is incomplete whilst

it acknowledges, in express terms, Mr. Hugo's services only as our Chairman to-day. Those gentlemen who are members of the Society, but who have not attended the meetings of the Provisional Committee charged with the duty of forming that Society, have not been able to estimate the value of the services of our present Chairman in his capacity of Chairman of the Provisional Committee. I think it right that all should understand that the success of the effort made by the Provisional Committee for establishing this Society is mainly due to the constant attention, the zealous co-operation, and great general ability evinced by the reverend gentleman who has so ably presided over this present meeting. Gentlemen, I felt that our vote of thanks would not have been complete without expressly acknowledging as well Mr. Hugo's earlier as his more recent services to us; I trust you will pardon my thus again intruding upon your attention." (Loud cheers).

The Resolution passed by acclamation.

THE CHAIRMAN.-" Believe me, Ladies and Gentlemen, when I tell you that I am quite overcome both by the manner in which my name has been brought before you, and also by the cordiality with which you have responded to so flattering an expression of approval. Instead of occupying this chair, I had hoped to see it filled by Lord Londesborough, a nobleman most honourably known for his intelligent zeal in archæological studies, and to whose rare qualifications for the office of our President I most gladly bear my testimony. It was only to-day, as I have previously stated, that I learned it would be impossible for Lord Londesborough to be present with us, in consequence of the severity of his indisposition: and so late as this afternoon I had indulged the hope of seeing our Presidential Chair occupied by the Lord Mayor in his stead. The Lord Mayor also has been unable to attend; and thus it is that the important duties of your Chairman on this occasion of our first meeting as a Society have devolved upon my unworthy self. You have been pleased, however, to approve of my humble endeavour to discharge those duties faithfully; and I thank you most profoundly for this highly-gratifying evidence of your kindness, and assure you that my best energies

shall be devoted to the furtherance and support of our young Institution.

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"Before we part I desire to express my entire concurrence with all that has been said in reference to other Archæological Societies. We feel no jealousy towards any. We neither desire nor intend to trench upon the province of any; nor do we consider that, in establishing such a Society as the present, we are justly amenable to any such imputation. The Society of Antiquaries, of which many of us have the honour to be Fellows, embraces the whole world within its circle of examination and learned study. If any object of archæological interest be discovered at the furthest extremity of the earth, we at the Antiquaries" are glad to have it exhibited to us; and, if considered worthy, the notice of it finds a place in the permanent record of our proceedings. In a kindred, though not co-extensive spirit, the Archæological Institute extends its investigations over the whole of the British islands; adding a new and interesting feature to the mode of operations which characterises the elder Society, by making periodical visits to the most celebrated localities in the provinces. In those efforts we warmly desire their success, and assist them, as far as possible, in the acquirement of it. Such, however, is neither the scope nor the object of this Society. And therefore, in entering upon our comparatively restricted field of operation, we are and can be actuated only by friendly feelings towards those institutions, and at the same time earnestly hope that they will entertain similar sentiments towards ourselves. We are, indeed, all of us fellow-workers: they in their widely-extended sphere of action; we―and permit me to add that ours is a most glorious, if not so spacious a provincewe in our grand old City of London, and in our noble metropolitan county. With what London and Middlesex have in store for us in the matter of archæology we are, and we well may be, content: we shall find ample occupation for our most earnest devotion, and for our most active energies. We have now only to address ourselves to our work-our own work-thoroughly and in earnest. Allow me to congratulate you on present ap

pearances, and to wish you a signal, enduring, and complete success." (Loud cheers.)

Those ladies and gentlemen who had signified such desire were, in conclusion, formally declared to be Members of the London and Middlesex Archæological Society.

INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS,

BY THE REV. THOMAS HUGO, M.A. F.S.A. F.L.S. ETC.

[Read at the Second General Meeting, held in Crosby Hall, Jan. 28, 1856; the Right Honourable the Lord Londesborough in the Chair.]

MY LORD, LADIES, AND GENTLEMEN,-WE meet this evening, not indeed to inaugurate our young Institution, but, our government and rules already agreed upon and our social machinery adjusted, to enter, for the first time as a Society, on the discussion of those peculiar topics which it is our aim and object to investigate. We are assembled in the heart of our ancient, renowned, and beloved metropolis; and in one of its most beautiful structures and most suggestive localities. We are congregated in a noble hall, which has reverberated to the voices of some of the greatest of our countrymen, whose inspiration yet hovers around and hallows the spot. And we are come for what I will not hesitate to call a sacred purpose,-to endeavour, namely, to rescue from oblivion, and to acquire information about things, which, as a nation and a community, it greatly behoves us to know and to remember, and to deliberate together accordingly as to the manner in which the same may most effectually and faithfully be done.

It cannot but be a matter of great astonishment that it should have remained till now to set on foot an association whose sole business should be to investigate the antiquities of the capital of England, and to record the discoveries which from day to day are being made within its pale. Surprising, however, as it is, the fact is notorious. Of all existing societies established for the cultivation of archæological knowledge, there is not one which regards our metropolis as its own peculiar field, or which looks upon the remains of its ancient grandeur with a partial and exclusive eye. The honoured parent of all our archæological bodies, the Society of Antiquaries, devotes equal attention to foreign and home antiquities; whilst the Archæological Institute, though for the most part confining its researches to our own country, extends them to the remotest limits of our shores. The more general attention