but a very insignificant position in the costume, are invested with an unsuspected interest; and the reader is surprised to find himself amused, interested, and instructed.

The finger and ear-rings scarcely contain an exception to the mediaval character of the collection; but two of the former do resemble Saxon types. The interment at Envermeu referred to under the head of "Ear-rings," may be considered to indicate a Frankish lady; and not, as the Abbé Cochet suggests, a warrior; and this we see, on looking into the Archæologia, seems to be the opinion of Mr. Wylie: the presence of a spear-head will hardly outweigh the ear-rings, the hair-pin (not stylus), and the beads. The shears or scissors from

Hoylake are decidedly of the medieval type, and probably of a somewhat late date; the type is very distinct from those found in Frankish and Saxon graves.

In the division assigned to Seals and Pilgrims' Signs is a fragment of a leaden sign of "Our Lady of RocAmadour," brought, no doubt, by some inhabitant of Meols who had visited Roc-Amadour, in Aquitaine, which from remote times was celebrated for its chapel dedicated to the Virgin; there were preserved the relics of St. Amadour, some of which, it would seem, are yet extant. The three principal seals are thus described :

:

"1. Matrix, lead; shape, oval; inscription, s' AMABELIE D'LATHVN, i.e. the seal of Amabel de Lathun (now Lathom). Nothing whatever seems to be known concerning this lady, whose name does not appear in its genealogy", although she must have been a scion of the great Lathom family, of Lathom in Lancashire, and Lathom Astbury, near Congleton, Cheshire, from which have sprung three noble families, viz. Derby of Knowsley and Stanley of Alderley of the present day, and Monteagle in abeyance. The family pedigree represents Sir Robert Fitzhenry, the founder of Burscough Priory, as first Lord of Lathom, through marriage with a daugh

ter of Orme Fitz-Ailward, possessor of Ormeskirk previously to 1199. It is therefore probable that although absent from this register, the Lady Amabel was daughter or grand-daughter to Sir Robert, the seal being of thirteenthcentury workmanship, and from the fact of one of the family estates abutting upon the locality where it was found.

"2. Matrix, pewter; shape, circular. Around a central flower-shaped ornament is inscribed s' WILLI. DE MELES. This personage was in all probability lord of the manor of Great Meols, but as the fabrication of the seal evidently appertains to the thirteenth century, a period anterior to the commencement of the authentic pedigree of the family, documentary evidence fails to enlighten us as to his true history and position. We possess, however, in Domesday a yet earlier notice of the manor of Meles, by which it appears to have been held by a follower of the Conqueror, Robert de Rodelent, or Rothelant, Baron of Rhuddlan. This nobleman, who had been brought up at the court of Edward the Confessor, and knighted by that monarch, was slain by some of his disaffected villeins in Wales, and died without legitimate issue. We are told that shortly subsequent to this a family settled here as capital lords under the Earls (of Chester). In proof of this the 'Calendar of the Cheshire Enrolments'

supplies our first documentary evidence, viz. Temp. William de Vernon, a.D. 1229-1232. Memorial of Recognition in Court that Walter de Meles, Walter his son, et eorum sequela, are freemen.' Probably the William de Meles of our seal was a son of the younger Walter here mentioned, supplying one of the numerous missing links between the latter and the John de Meles who com mences the pedigree of the family, &c. The name Meles is said to be synony mous with Sandhills, and certainly a more appropriate designation could not have been found for a place in constant annoyance, if not absolute danger, from the ever-shifting sandhills of the seaboard.

"3. Matrix, pewter; shape, circular. Around the central ornament, or 'Stafford Knot,' is inscribed s' JOHN DE OSECOTT,-it also belongs to the thirteenth or fourteenth century. The badge would appear to indicate the

. Vide Ormerod's Miscellanea Palatina.

Ormerod's Cheshire, ii. 272.

owner as a retainer of the noble house of Stafford."

The chapters on the Topography, the Geology, the Ethnology, and the Hydrography of the Meols district, are particularly useful; and, aided as they are by maps and diagrams, form an important feature in the volume, and testify to the perseverance and energy of the author, who, moreover, secured the co-operation of Mr. Ecroyd Smith, the owner of many of the antiquities. Mr. Smith contributes an article on Pottery, Glass, and Enamel, and observations on the Tobacco Pipe-bowls of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries: in short, the reader will find entertainment and information throughout the 400 pages of the book. At the same time we feel bound slightly to qualify our commendations, with a view to improvement in a second edition, which will probably be called for. The author has (injudiciously we think) illustrated these mediaval antiquities (and many of them are late mediæval) with representations of early Saron sepulchral remains. The Saxon objects do not explain the mediæval. From five hundred to full a thousand years intervene between them; and while the introduction of the earlier antiquities impairs the unity of the Hoylake collection, it will only serve to my stification in the eyes of the general reader, while in no way can the archæologist be instructed by the amalgamation. The author's descriptions of the objects themselves, and his pleasing mode of explaining them by contemporary writers, or with contemporary remains better preserved, can well afford to stand alone; and further, we may observe, some of the cuts of Saxon objects do not in the most remote way tend to elucidate: for example, the Gypcière is well explained, and an admirable example of the framework is introduced, to render the Hoylake fragment intelligible. The description reads easy and plain; but the moment a Saxon object is introduced, most of the readers will be puzzled; and they will be further perplexed if, as in this case, the ancient object has no connec GENT. MAG, 1864, VOL. I.

tion whatever with the mediæval. We repeat that, in a second edition, the work would be much improved by the omission of these woodcuts.

The Book of Common Prayer, according to the Use of the United Church of England and Ireland: together with the Psalter or Psalms of David pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches. Large 8vo. (Longmans).— This edition of the Book of Common Prayer is one of the most tasteful productions of the Chiswick Press, and it has a distinctive character with which we must confess we are much pleased. The pages are inclosed in borders of remarkable elegance, which are borrowed from one of the works of Geofroy Tory, a French bookseller and engraver of note in the early part of the sixteenth century, and, set off as they are by the employment of toned paper, and rubrics and head-lines in red ink, we can conceive few books more suitable for a Christmas or birthday gift, or a wedding present.

Industrial Biography: Iron Workers and Tool Makers. By SAMUEL SMILES, Author of "Lives of the Engineers." (Murray).—Mr. Smiles, whilst compiling his "Lives of the Engineers," met with much curious matter about men who have not all achieved the greatness that attaches to the names of Middleton, Smeaton, Watt, Rennie, or Brunel, but yet who deserve to be held in thankful remembrance for service to their country. The book may indeed be considered a kind of Supplement to "Self-Help," as almost every one recorded in it was the architect of his own fortune; and it is interesting to trace the steps by which Bramah, and Maudsl1y, and Fox, emerged from the humble conditions of a carpenter, a powder-boy at Woolwich Arsenal, and a butler. Many other clever men are recorded, who were not so fortunate as these, but there is a useful lesson to be drawn from their lives also. The book is a good one to put into the hand of an intelligent youth, as a great deal

of practical information on the things that lie before us in daily life, and are often far too lightly regarded, may be almost insensibly gained from it, whilst the reading itself is a pleasure, so skilfully has its author worked up his novel materials.

Foster's Essays on " Decision of Character," "The Evils of Popular Ignorance," &c., form two of the most recent additions to Mr. Bohn's Standard Library. The books are too well known to need comment, but we are glad to meet with them in their present cheap

and convenient form.

Ancient Egypt: its Antiquities, Religion, and History, to the Close of the Old Testament Period By the Rev. GEORGE TREVOR, M.A., Canon of York. (Religious Tract Society.)-This little volume is well deserving of attention, as a popular, but not superficial, view of what is really known of Egyptian antiquity; and its very commendable object is, to shew that such knowledge, far from being antagonistic to Scripture, most remarkably corroborates it. The Monuments of both Lower and Upper Egypt are well described, the history of the country from Patriarchal times to the days of Alexander is given, in disregard of the sceptical fancies of Bunsen and others; and a really intelligible account of the Hieroglyphics is illustrated by a large number of engravings. There are, beside a good map of Egypt, views of the Island of Philæ, Edfou, the Speaking Memnon, &c., &c., making altogether a very serviceable small volume, which we are glad to see is to be succeeded by another from the same author, in which the story will be carried down to modern times.

Lodge's Peerage and Baronetage (Hurst and Blackett), corrected, as usual, by the aristocracy, has just been issued

for the year 1864. We see that the most recent changes are duly recorded, and all the details carried out with the same painstaking diligence as ever, but we notice an improvement in the arrangement, by which all matters relating to the Peerage are brought into the early part of the book, which facilitates consultation-a matter of no trivial moment with a volume that is the standard to which all must refer, who desire the most correct, most ample, and most recent information concerning the titled classes. This is the position that "Lodge" has that fact renders it superfluous for us to now held for almost forty years, and say anything more on the subject.

Knowledge for the Time. By JOHN TIMBS, F.S.A. (Lockwood and Co.)— It has of late years become a custom with Mr. Timbs to issue a neat pocket volume about Christmas, containing some samples of the fruits of a long course of varied reading and close observation. His store appears inexhaustible, and as we doubt not that he finds his labours duly appreciated by the public, we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming many further instalments of knowledge from the same judicious pen.

The Christian Knowledge Society's Almanacs for 1864 are before us in even more than their usual variety, a Churchman's Remembrancer having been added, which appears to us particularly well done.

One or other of the series will meet the requirements of most persons, particularly of dwellers in towns; but all who have direct concern with country affairs will find it advantageous to have in addition such a small handbook as The Midland Counties Almanac (published by Newcomb, of Stamford), where they will find trustworthy information on all the points of daily interest to the farmer, gardener, or country gentleman.

and upon Peter Stafford Carey, esq., Bailiff of Guernsey.

Edward St. John Neale, esq., Acting Chargé d'Affaires in Japan during the absence of H.M.'s Minister, to be an Ordinary Member of the Civil Division of the Third Class, or Companions of the Most Hon. Order of the Bath.

Mr. Richard Williams approved of as ViceConsul at Waterford for H.R.H. the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

Dec. 1. Lieut.-Col. William Francis Drummond Jervois, R.E., Deputy Director of Works in the War Department, to be an Ordinary Member of the Civil Division of the Third Class, or Companions of the Most Hon. Order of the Bath.

Mr. Edward Redman approved of as Consul in London, and Mr. Thomas B. Job as Consul at Liverpool, for the United States of Colombia.

Mr. Alfred Bauer approved of as Vice-Consul at Singapore for H.M. the King of Hanover.

Dec. 4. The honour of knighthood conferred upon Gillery Pigott, esq., one of the Barons of H.M.'s Court of Exchequer.

John Somers Martin, esq., to be a Member of the Legislative Council of the Island of Antigua.

William Wilkin and Edward Bowman Dyett, esqrs., to be Members of the Executive Council of the Island of Montserrat.

Charles Garrow Blanc, esq., to be a Member of the Legislative Council of H.M.'s Settlements on the river Gambia.

Arthur Edward Kennedy, esq., C.B., to be Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Island of Vancouver and its dependencies. Algernon Bertram Mitford, esq., of the Foreign Office, to be an Acting Third Secretary in H.M.'s Diplomatic Service while employed abroad.

Dec. 8. The Right Hon. Sir John Laird Mair

Lawrence, bart., G.C.B., K.S.I., to be H.M.'s Viceroy and Governor-General of India.

Dec. 11. George Frederick Edmonstone, esq., late Lieutenant-Governor of the NorthWestern Provinces of Bengal, to be an Ordinary Member of the Civil Division of the Second Class, or Knights Commanders of the Most Hon. Order of the Bath.

Lieut. Col. Charles Robert West Hervey, of the Bombay Staff Corps, sometime General Superintendent for the suppression of Thuggee and Dacoity, to be an Ordinary Member of the Civil Division of the Third Class, or Companions of the said Most Honourable Order.

Philip Wodehouse Currie, esq., of the Foreign Office, to be an Acting Second Secretary, and Thomas Henry Sanderson, esq., of the Foreign Office, to be an Acting Third Secretary in H.M.'s Diplomatic Service while employed abroad.

Mr. F. S. Dutton approved of as Consul in Australia for H.M. the King of Wurtemburg. Thomas William Kinder, esq., to be Master of the Mint for the colony of Hongkong.

Dec. 18. Sir George Russell Clerk, K.C.B., K.S.I., to be a Member of the Council of India. George Geddes, esq., to be a Member of the Legislative Council of the Island of Jamaica.

Richard Reade, esq., now H.M.'s Vice-Consul at Bengazi, to be H.M.'s Consul for the province of Scutari.

George Dennis, esq., now British Vice-Consul at Syracuse, to be H.M.'s Vice-Consul at Bengazi.

Don Joaquin Gonzalez y Huet approved of as Consul at Malta for H.M. the Queen of Spain.

MEMBER RETURNED TO SERVE IN PARLIAMENT.

Nov. 24. Borough of Andover.- William Henry Humphery, esq., of Penton-lodge, near Andover, in the county of Southampton, in the room of William Cubitt, esq., deceased.