was of sufficient capacity to hold a wild boar, and Pliny mentions such dishes weighing from 100 to 500 pounds.

It may deserve mention that on previous occasions two pieces of Roman plate, of smaller dimensions, had been found near that spot; one being a small bason ornamented with foliage, and the christian monogram composed of the initials Chi and Rho; the other was a little two-handled cup, which was sold for a guinea to a brother of Mr. Howard, at that time living at Corby Castle. The weight of the former, of which a rude sketch only has been preserved, was 20 ounces.

But to proceed to the subject represented in low relief upon the Lanx: the work being in part hammered up, and finished with the tool, the intervening spaces occasionally engraved with small strokes of the burin, or strippled ornaments (opus punctatum). The scene is composed of five figures. 1. Diana, with an altar before her; under her feet an urn, from which water flows, as if typifying the source of a river, and under the altar is a hound, looking upward at the goddess. 2. Minerva, wearing a helmet, the Gorgon's head upon her breast; she stands under a spreading tree, in the branches of which is an eagle, with other birds. 3. Juno, under whose feet is a dead stag; but this may possibly be referable to Diana, goddess of the chase. 4. A seated goddess, her head is veiled; this has been conjectured to be Vesta, on account of the altar flaming, seen under the figure, which may, however, pourtray Latona. 5. Apollo, standing under a canopy, or open temple, with Corinthian columns; under his feet is his usual attribute, the gryphon. Between Apollo and the seated goddess there is a peculiar pedestal or altar formed of eight steps pyramidally arranged, and behind this is a spiral column surmounted by a globe, reminding the numismatist of the pillar seen on coins with the reverse of Securitas, as Mr. Akerman has pointed out, observing also that this symbol may possibly suggest the interpretation of the subject, which may be referable to the security of the province of Britain in some period of peace; an explanation to which he thinks some colour of probability is given by the circumstance that the figure of Security is seated, whilst the deities around her are standing. It would doubtless greatly enhance the interest of this remarkable relic of Roman times in Britain, if we could satisfactorily establish its connection with any events in our own country this is, however, scarcely to be expected. According to another suggestion the subject represented may refer to a very different matter, and present a symbolical allusion to the period of the year when the sun passes the autumnal equinox. A learned archeologist in France, whom I have lately had occasion to consult on this subject, is disposed to consider the scene as allusive to Latona, with her two children, after the evil influences of the serpent Typhon were defeated; and that she here appears accompanied by Minerva and Juno, assisting at the triumph over the perils by which she had been threatened. Another, and, I think, not improbable, explanation has suggested, in this remarkable mythological group, the apotheosis of a Roman empress typified under the figure of one of the chief heathen goddesses.

COINS FOUND AT NEWCASTLE. THE TWENTIETH LEGION. 169

COINS FOUND AT NEWCASTLE.-Dr. Bruce, by permission of Mr. Young, silversmith, exhibited eight silver pennies, part of a large deposit which lately occurred in a stone in property at the Butcher Bank, Newcastle. They are of Edward I. and Edward II. Among those of the former is one struck at Waterford. The rest of the eight are struck at London, Canterbury, and Bristol.

THE TWENTIETH LEGION.-Dr. Bruce stated, that hearing there was at the Pitti Palace, Florence, a standard of the famous 20th legion of Roman soldiers, so much connected with Britain, he had taken means to procure a drawing, and was horrified by a question received from Florence, whether the legion in question was one of Napoleon the First's! The palace being a large one, and the objects of interest numerous, a more exact reference to the standard was required.

MUSEUM.-Some conversation on alterations of plan took place, and meetings with the Town Surveyor and the Directors of the Railway Company were arranged.

MONTHLY MEETING OF THE SOCIETY.

December 5, 1860.

The Right Hon. Lord Ravensworth, V.P., in the Chair.

COIN OF ATHENS.—Mrs. Graham, 35, Eldon Street, presented a silver coin brought from Egypt by a Newcastle captain. Obv., the head of Minerva. Rev., an owl with a branch of olive.

THE NEW CASTLE.-Mr. Dodd presented the original drawing by Jefferson of the Old Gate of the Castle, which he had purchased at the sale of the late Mr. Thomas Bell's effects. It is facsimiled at page 98 of vol. iv. of this series.

ROMAN COINS.-Dr. Bruce exhibited a number of enlarged drawings, by Mr. Mossman, of Roman coins of historical interest.

DONATIONS OF BOOKS.-From the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire. Its Transactions, Vol. xii.

BOOKS EXHIBITED.-The Chairman exhibited a medieval illuminated MS.; also a copy of Plautus, Witteberg, 1612; of Beaumont and

170 DAGGER FROM MUGGLESWICK.— CHALICE FROM HEXHAM.

Fletcher, 1646; and of Explanatio Notarum et Literarum, &c., Paris,

1723.

PRESIDENT.-Resolved, that Lord Ravensworth be requested to allow himself to be nominated at the Annual Meeting as President of the Society. Lord Ravensworth stated that he would consider his election to that office as a compliment.

ANNUAL MEETING.- Dr. Bruce gave notion of a motion for changing the time of holding the Anniversary Meeting.

DAGGER FROM MUGGLESWICK.-The Rev. John Cundill, of Muggleswick, presented the remains referred to in the following remarks by Dr. Charlton:

We exhibit this evening to the Society a portion of the hilt of a dagger or knife of the Edwardian period. It was found at the southeastern side of the moorland in Muggleswick parish, where the moor meets what is now at least enclosed land, and just about the line that a party of horsemen crossing from Durham towards Edmondbyers would be likely to take. No other traces of arms were discovered in its vicinity to warrant the idea of its having been lost in a skirmish. It may just as well have been dropped in the little hollow where it was found by some retainer of the chapter of Durham, as there was a park at Muggleswick belonging to that body. It was found by a workman preparing the ground for the foundation of a house, and when discovered had a considerable part of the blade and handle attached to it, but these had been nearly quite removed when it came into the hands of the donor. What remains is sufficient, however, to shew the shape of the blade; and we have also the ring of massive silver by which the blade was fitted to the haft. This ring is nearly half an inch in breadth, and upon it, in letters about a quarter of an inch long, is the inscription

JHESVS NAZARENVS. From the form of the letters we can with tolerable certainty assign the date of the weapon to the fourteenth century. Below the lettering, and next the hand, is a raised cable moulding, which would give greater security to the hand, preventing it from slipping over the weapon in the absence of cross guards when a blow was struck. The lettering is in niello work, the interspaces of the metal having been cut out and afterwards filled in with a black enamel. Such daggers were often worn by knights, and bore the name of "Misericorde daggers," as, from their peculiar shape and great strength, they were well fitted for piercing between the joints of the armour of a prostrate foe who refused the proffered mercy. The best workers in niello in the fourteenth century were the Italians, and especially the armourers of Milan.

CHALICE FROM HEXHAM.-Dr. Charlton made the following remarks upon another object which he exhibited :

We also exhibit a small copper gilt chalice, which was found recently in the transept of Hexham Abbey, while digging a deep trench there for a warming apparatus. Large quantities of bones were then thrown out, and no doubt this is one of the copper gilt chalices that it was customary to bury with dignified ecclesiastics. In shape it closely resembles those sculptured on the great slab at Blanchland, and on that of the thirteenth century at Gainford. A similar form of chalice on a stone at Bakewell, in Derbyshire is referred by antiquaries to the twelfth century. The height of this chalice is 2 in.; the diameter of the bowl, 2 in.; do. of the foot, 2 in. Between the knop and the bowl is a small toothed moulding. It was customary at the burial of an ecclesiastic to place upon the breast a chalice and paten, which generally were made of pewter or of tin, and sometimes of earthenware. Several such chalices have been found at Hereford and elsewhere. We think it probable that the present example was placed in the tomb of a dignified ecclesiastic, probably a prior of Hexham, and that its date is perhaps of the twelfth or thirteenth century. It is seldom that these mortuary chalices are so carefully and heavily gilt as in the present case. did not hear of any paten being found along with it.

We

MONTHLY MEETING OF THE SOCIETY.

January 2, 1861.

William Kell, Esq., in the Chair.

Gamle

DONATIONS OF BOOKS.-From the University of Christiania. Norske Folkeviser, Samlede og udgivne af Sophus Bugge, Kristiania, 1858. Strengleikar eda Liodabok, Christiania, 1850. Index Scholarum in Universitate Regia Fredericiana, nonagesimo quinto ejus semestri anno MDCCCLX ab Augusto mense ineunte habendarum, Christiania, 1860. The like, nonagesimo quarto ejus semestri anno MDCCCLX a XVII. kalendas Februarias habendarum. De vi logicæ rationis in describenda Philosophiae Historia, ad Eduardum Zellerum professorem Marburgensem celeberrimum epistola quam scripsit Marcus Jacobus Monrad, Professor Christianiensis, Christianiæ, 1860. Foreningen til Norske Fortidsmindesmerkers Bevaring: Aarsberetning for 1859, afgivet i Generalforsamling den 26 Juni, 1860, Christiania, 1860. Ceremoniel ved deres Majestæter Kong Carl den Femtendes og Dronning Wilhelmine Frederike Alexandra Anna Louises Kroning, i Trondhjem, Aar 1860. Cantate ved H. M. Kong Carl den Femtendes og H. M. Dronning Wilhelmine Fredrikke Alexandra Anna Louises Kroning, i Throndhjems Domkirke den 5 August, 1860. Sang ved HS. Maj. Kongens fest paa Kroningsdagen for Christiania Garnisons Under

officierer og Menige. Veiledning for Deeltagerne, i Kronings-processionen ved Indtagelsen af deres Pladser i Kirken. Norske Bygninger fra Fortiden (Norwegian Buildings from former times) i tegninger og med text udgivne af Foreningen til Norske Fortidsmindesmerkers Bevaring, Förste Hefte, pl. i.-iv., 1859.- From the Canadian Institute. The Canadian Journal, Nov. 1860.

NORWEGIAN MEDAL.-The University of Christiania presented a beautiful bronze medal. Obv. Portraits of the king and queen in profile. CAROLUS ET LOUISA NORV. SVEC. REX ET REGINA.-G. LOOS DIR. Rev. A graceful figure of Minerva accompanied by the owl.

VOVENS ET MEMOR. UNIVERSITAS REGIA FREDERICIANA.

ANNIVERSARY MEETINGS.-Dr. Bruce postponed his motion to change the date of these until the anniversary meeting in February.

OLD PIPE HEAD.-Mr. C. D. Barker presented an old pipe head of unusual form, found by him on the beach at Cullercoats. As is frequently the case, the pipe is balanced and the head flattened on the under side, so as to lie with the mouth upwards.

NORTHUMBRIAN CHURCHES.-Mr. F. R. Wilson, A. R. S. A., architect, Alnwick, exhibited two volumes of his surveys of the churches in the Archdeaconry of Lindisfarne. They comprised the rural deaneries of Norham West, and Bamborough. The present state of each church is illustrated by plans, drawings and sections, distinguishing ancient from modern work; and, considering the confusion that will arise from the restorations of these days, the value of such records must necessarily be very great. Mr. Wilson stated that he jots down other buildings of antiquity, especially peel-towers and castles; and that his series, when complete, will give very complete data for the architectural history of the North. He thought of reviewing the Norman remains on some early occasion; and at all times would be proud to give information about any particular building to any persons interested in it.

SWORD. Mr. Joseph Ogilvy, of South Shields, exhibited a baskethilted sword in its leathern sheath, marked with s H on an animal like a fox or dog, and a crown over some curved initial or figure.

CORRUPT ORTHOGRAPHY OF LOCAL NAMES.-Dr. Bruce read the following suggestions for amended local appellations in the Ordnance maps of Northumberland, by Mr. Ralph Carr of Hedgley: