OF The Society of Antiquaries OF NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE. ANNUAL MEETING, M.DCCCC. Our last annual report contained the announcement that the society had held its meetings for fifty years within the walls of the tower of the castle of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and suggested a suitable commemoration of the event. This was fittingly celebrated on the first of August last, and the occasion was not only memorable in itself, but was made especially interesting by the presence, for the first time as our president, of his Grace the Duke of Northumberland, K.G. The pleasure manifested throughout, and the successful character of the gathering were largely due to the interesting presidential address and to the cordiality which characterized the conduct of the proceedings following it. These included a technical description of the structure by our vice-president, Mr. Bates. In addition to the regular monthly meetings of the society, a successful series of out-door meetings has been held. They have included visits to (1) Croft, Hurworth, Sockburn, Dinsdale, and Middleton; (2) Rothbury, Alnham, and Whittingham; (3) Stamfordham, Belsay, Whalton, and Ponteland; besides afternoon meetings at (1) Jarrow and South Shields; (2) Hirst, Woodhorn, and Newbiggin; and (3) the armoury at Southdene Tower. Members present were further indebted to the excellent leadership and instructive papers contributed by Dr. Eastwood, Mr. D. D. Dixon, the Rev. John Walker, Mr. W. W. Tomlinson, and Mr. R. C. Clephan. The issue of Archaeologia Aeliana during the year comprises an entire volume of 354* pages of text. Its contents embrace (1) an illustrated catalogue of the recent exhibition of Newcastle plate, enhanced by an explanatory introduction from the pen of Mr. Thomas Taylor * xxxiv. and 320 (including index). VOL. XXII. b and Mr. L. W. Adamson; (2) Mr. Hodgkin's striking reading of the Caervoran inscription; (3) the Rev. H. E. Savage's elucidation of the early history of Northumbria; (4) a description of Doddington bastlehouse by Mr. W. H. Knowles; (5) a biography of the Rev. E. H. Adamson by our vice-president, Mr. Richard Welford; and (6) the three important papers bearing upon local history in the period of the Civil War by Mr. C. S. Terry. The publication carries the new series of the Archaeologia Aeliana to its twenty-first volume. The society's publications include 186 pages of Proceedings, with a further issue of such sheets of Elsdon parish register as were already in type at the beginning of the year. The visitors' Guide to the Castle and Black Gate has also been issued, and has met with a gratifying success, about one-half of the edition having already been sold. The publications by individual members possess a noteworthy interest in the past year. They include the second and concluding volume of the Records of the Merchant Adventurers of Newcastle-uponTyne, edited by Mr. F. W. Dendy for the Surtees Society; the extracted records and the scholarly introduction appeal to the local historian and genealogist, and not to them only, for the student of our merchant guilds and trading systems will find these volumes indispensable to his pursuit. Mr. J. Crawford Hodgson has completed the fifth volume of the Northumberland County History. The fact that Warkworth is the centre of the district dealt with in this section of the work is of itself sufficient to arouse the keenest interest. Such high anticipation has been more than realized in the indefatigable and excellent work of its editor, who is to be congratulated upon the progress made in this great undertaking. In the description of Warkworth castle, Mr. Bates has been able to supplement the account which he had already given to us in Border Holds by interesting details from the Percy archives. Mr. Hodgkin, too, has completed his Italy and Her Invaders. The eight volumes of this work represent the arduous labour of its author extended over a period of nearly a quarter of a century, and, notwithstanding this protracted strain, the effort has been sustained to the end with unflagging vigour and vivid interest. The acclamation with which Mr. Hodgkin has been welcomed to a place in the front rank of living historians is a tribute to which the members of your council join their hearty congratulations. It is with deep regret that your council has received an intimation from the treasurer of the society that it is his intention to resign his post in consequence of ill health. Of Mr. Sheriton Holmes's services it is impossible to speak too highly. They have extended over ten years, during which he has devoted unceasing attention to the administration of the finances of the society. On his accession to the office, the method of account-keeping was of a primitive character, and he not only reorganized this, but made his annual statements models of lucidity and accuracy. It is our earnest hope that the well-earned rest may bring alleviation by which the presence and prompting of our honoured vice-president may long be spared to us. In this connexion the council has received a letter from Mr. Holmes containing some valuable suggestions for the future working of the treasurer's office. The letter itself will appear, in the usual course, in the Proceedings, but it may be mentioned that Mr. Holmes has introduced the following improvements in the society's book-keeping :—(1) A book containing the list of the members complete to date, with the payments columned and dated so that it may be seen at a glance what members have paid, for what year and at what date; (2) a register of the deliveries by Mr. Gibson of the parts of the Archaeologia Aeliana; (3) a record of our stock of publications; and (4) the issue to the members of printed slips soliciting payment of the subscriptions through their bankers. The following is the TREASURER'S REPORT, WITH BALANCE SHEET to 31st December, 1899, presented to us : "The number of members is now 350, the losses during the year having been 18 and the gains 14. The number of life members is four, including Mr. Bertram Savile Ogle, who has paid his composition of twelve guineas for the same. This sum has been paid into the Post Office Savings Bank to the credit of the capital account, in accordance with the council's order of the year 1890 to that effect. The total revenue for the year has been £538 15s. 9d., and the expenditure £552 7s. 4d., showing an expenditure over the receipts of £13 11s. 7d. This condition of accounts seems to have become of a normal character, for with one exception the expenses have overrun the receipts every year since 1893, and the total sum so over expended in that time is £219 18s. 4d. X The book balance at the present time shows on the debtor side £550 2s. Od. and on the creditor £552 7s. 4d., so that instead of being, as in former years, in possession of good balances at the year's end, we now stand indebted to the bank for £2 5s. 4d. The Castle receipts have been £120 3s. 1d., about £10 more than last year, but the expenses show an increase of about the same sum. The Black Gate receipts have been £25 5s. 11d., about 20s. more than last year, but there has been considerably less expended upon it, so that taking the two places together there is a balance to the good of £26 16s. 5d. The printing of the Archaeologia Aeliana has cost £141 14s. 6d. This is £41 14s. 6d. over the amount allotted for it by the council, and there is also an over expenditure on the Proceedings of £20. The item for illustrations is, however, considerably less. The item of sundries, £116 12s. 10d., includes the cost of the conversazione held in the Castle on the first of August last, viz., £20 6s. 5d., on account of which there was received only £8 4s. 6d. from the sale of tickets. Also there is an item of £14 11s. 9d., the cost of the overprints of the Plate Catalogue for distribution to exhibitors. The printing of the Castle and Black Gate Guide cost £11 15s. Od. These have had a ready sale, 500 of the 1,000 printed having been sold during the past nine months. Another edition of this work will probably become necessary, in which case the charge for it should be raised to 6d., as the 4d. now charged does not quite meet the cost. The price was kept small so as to induce a ready sale, and by that means bring the Black Gate more into public notice. As yet, however, the receipts for entrance do not appear to have responded to it." Sheriton Holmes, treasurer, in account with the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR ENDING |