burgk in his expedition to Guiana in 1835-39, presented by Sir G. Grey, M.P. : a large and important collection of ancient Syriac manuscripts obtained from the monastery of St. Mary Deifara, in the desert of Scete, forming 140 or 150 volumes; amongst these are many fragments of Palimpsest manuscripts, the most remarkable of which is a small quarto volume, containing, by the first hands, nearly the whole of St. Luke's version of the gospel in Greek, and about 4,000 lines of the Iliad of Homer, written in a fine, square, uncial letter, apparently not later than the sixth century; three finely - illuminated Books of Hours, executed in France, Germany, and Flanders; a volume of Persian poems by different authors, superior for delicacy of ornament and calligraphy to any in the museum; a small but valuable collection of liturgical manuscripts on vellum, containing the ancient ecclesiastical services in Italy, France, and England, from the 11th to the 16th century, including a Book of Hours which contains the autographs of Henry VII., Elizabeth of York his consort, Henry VIII., Katharine of Arragon, and the Princess Mary; several valuable liturgical and theological manuscripts on vellum of the 10th, 11th, and 12th centuries; a selection from the Rezzi collection of manuscripts formerly at Rome; a fine copy of the Roman d'Athènes, by Alexander de Bernay, written 1330, on vellum; many classical manuscripts of the 14th and 15th centuries, comprising Cæsar, Horatius, Sallustius, Cicero, Aulus Gellius, Plinius Junior, and others; also a copy of the Latin Chronicle of Eusebius, Jerome, and Prosper, of the 9th century, and a valuable Latin Psalter of the 13th century; a selection from the manuscripts of the Count Ranuzzi of Bologna, in eleven volumes, illustrative of the history of Italy, France, and Spain, during the 16th, 17th, and part of the 18th centuries, especially in regard to the war of succession, which alone fills 30 volumes; the original, diplomatic, and private correspondence and papers of Lawrence Hyde, Earl of Rochester, and Henry Hyde, Earl of Clarendon, from 1677 to 1696, &c.

The report of the department of printed books also reports many valuable acquisitions, particularly the splendid library of the Right Hon. Thomas Grenville-the most valuable accession to the Museum, with the exception of the collection of George III. We have already given some account of it in our Magazine for Feb. 1847. "It is impossible," says the report, "to give an idea of its magnificence within the short space allowed; to appreciate it fully such a collection must be seen and examined at leisure, and the more it is examined the more it will be appreciated. Formed and preserved with the exquisite taste of an accomplished bibliographer, with the learning of a profound and elegant scholar, and the splendid liberality of a gentlemen in affluent circumstances, this addition to the national library places it in some respects above all libraries known; in others it leaves it inferior only to the Royal Library of Paris." Mr. Grenville's library consists of 20,240 volumes, forming about 16,000 works, which cost upwards of 54,0007. and would now realise a larger sum; but Mr. Grenville never aimed at the collection of mere bibliographical "rarities," invariably selecting such works as were positively and abstractedly valuable.

A great national work has been commenced at Naples, which will prove of the highest value and interest to historical literature. Not long since a suppressed monastery was devoted to the service of the "Grand' Archivio" of the kingdom; and on the occasion of the meeting of the Scienziati in 1845, it was thrown open for the first time to the public. From that time the Sopraintendente Spinelli has been engaged in completing a chronological arrangement of all the " Pergamene" contained therein, with a view to their publication; in which he has been assisted by the Cav. Santangelo, Minister for the Interior, without regard to expense or labour. The result at present is the publication of part of the 1st volume of "Regii Neapolitani Archivi Monumenta edita ac illustrata."

INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS.

Nov. 15. Charles Fowler, esq. V.P. Mr. C. H. Smith gave some description of the stone called Trappean or Porphyritic, which has been in very general use for building purposes in different parts of Devonshire.

Mr. T. L. Donaldson described the Cathedral of St. Maria del Fiore, at Florence, more particularly with reference to a design for a new façade to the west end of that building recently submitted by the Cardinal Niccolo Matas to the notic

of the Institute.

tervertica of Nenas alles, far the A wis the latesDog of the Gotha, Ind three

arse a Ita. 7. Mr. G#23 of sein. 1. i M. Mihelet. H&R de France." that when the power of the Charth in waned about the year 1990, ander Innocent Ill the ink, particularly arta "ecture, fell 1225 aat binds to a nonsiderable extent: that the petas gren changed its miracter: and that z the hands of the lodges of Freemasons which then arose Gothic arthitecture and all its devin piments were originated and tanz". By the aid of dagain. ings the gradzal growth of the ine forms of Gothic architecture were developed and Its princes explained the leang fact seeming to be that the number of et des in the pga apsides of the cathedrals was the governing number for at the parts of the plan and even the detals of the architecture. Many curious instances of these nights were given. Mr. Gwilt com batted the "Vesica Piscis” theory, as well as the vagaries, as he called them, of the symbolists.

A communication was read from E. l'anson, jun, esq. relative to some mural paintings discovered in the church of Lingfeld in Surrey. These paintings, facsimies of which were exhibited, represent draped figures about three feet in height, on a diaper groundwork, and appear to have been executed in distemper. They had been covered with whitewish; on which the Commandments and scriptural texts had been inscribe!.

Dec. 13. Samuel Angell, esq V.P. A paper was read "On the Principles and Practice of Building Sewers," by E. l'anson, jun. Fellow.

Mr. Poynter read a pacer · On Oras mental Leather Bags He stated that this materal vis vei a a similar way by the Emptians 300 years 3 t. ; but be principally matted his remarks to the use made of in since the Tita centiṬ— as. during that and me flowing way, It was extensively used by the richer classes—its man frame being pracipally at Vence and a Flanders. From the latter county i va atroduced into France but = is both f = wis ever manafactared in England Leather hangings never entirely superseded tapestry of wood panneline. The best leather vis made from goats or rives' skilas, ingeBlously connected together; and the sarface was six red over previously to being painted. The effect of guilt was produced by a variad of yellow courar laid on the sver. The embossing was done by the pressure from des: the minate orsaments being produced by tools—the methed scrresponding to that adopted by Bockhunders of the present day. Among the varies specimens of this rich style of decoration exhibited. and belonging to Mr. Pratt of Brod-street, was a large and valuable hanging of the 17th century, re presenting the meeting of Antony and Cleopatra, richly painted and elaborately finished m all the details of the dresses and other portions of the figures, which are the size of life. Mr. Poynter alluded to fine examples to be seen at Chatsworth, and other minstens in England; and particularly described a series of leather panneis at Rowen which are in a state of perfect preservation.

Jan. 24. C. Fowler,

Amongst the donations was a piece of Roman mosaic pavement, presented by Mr. J. Wallen, who discovered it nine feet below the surface of the earth, in making excavations for a building at the corner of Wood Street and Gresham Street.

Mr. Donaldson read a paper entitled, "Notes of a Short Visit to Caen, with Remarks on its Quarries, Stone, and Buildings, and a word or two on Arras."

Feb. 7. Samuel Angell, esq. V.P. Several valuable presents were received, namely, Canina's work on Ancient Etruria, sent in the name of the Queen of Sardinia; eleven volumes of Herr Förster's Bauzentung, or Architectural Journal, published at Vienna, with folios of plates; Mr. Sharpe's fine work of Architectural Parallels, representing the principal abbey churches erected in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries; several parts of the Antiquities of Scotland, by Messrs. Billings and Burn; and a series of drawings, illustrative of the ceiling at Carpenters' Hall, by Mr. Wright.

Mr. G. L. Taylor read "Some Observations on Gas Works, and the details of the manufacture of gas, with the view of shewing that it is capable of being rendered so pure as to be introduced beneficially throughout houses, manufactories, and public buildings." The new works of the Western Gas Company at Kensal Green were described by Mr. Palmer, their engineer. A building 166 feet in diameter incloses the whole of the works. Cannel coal is to be used; and if the gas be sold at 6s. per 1000 cubic feet, the cost to the public would not be more than if they paid 4s. for the gas they are now using, because of its superior purification. Feb. 21. Earl De Grey, President. The President announced that the Royal Gold Medal of the Institute was awarded to C. R. Cockerell, esq. R.A., Professor of Architecture in the Royal Academy, "in testimony of his distinguished merits as an architect." The election was made by ballot. The names of sixteen candidates, eight Englishmen and eight foreigners, were given in and considered. The Silver Medal of the Institute, for the best essay "On the application of sculpture and sculptured ornament to architecture, and the principles which should regulate their introduction into buildings generally, both with regard to beauty of embellishment and propriety of style," was given to the author of the essay headed "Junius,"-viz. Mr. Henry Bayly Garling, an Associate of the Institute. Soane Medallion was given to Mr. James Maclaren, 64, Broughton Street, Edinburgh, for the best design for a building

The

to contain public baths on a comprehensive scale with all suitable accessories, and combining the magnificence of the ancients with the usages and purposes of modern times. The Council observe in their Report that the Essay displays "considerable talent ;" and that " although the several designs are formed on a scale sufficiently comprehensive to embrace all imaginable as well as suitable accessories, in some no indication is given of provi. sion being made for the varieties of medicated and other baths so much in use in the present day."

A paper was read, by F. C. Penrose, on the subject of Certain Peculiarities in the Construction of the Temples at Athens, which appear to have for their object the correction of certain displeasing optical deceptions to which buildings of that nature are peculiarly liable if constructed without regard to them. He entered into some description of an examination of the Parthenon undertaken by him during part of the years 1846-47, at the request of the Society of Dilettanti, for the purpose of ascertaining the exact nature of these optical corrections. The most remarkable is the convexity of the stylobate or steps and other horizontal lines. These are slightly raised in the middle, above a straight line joining their extreme points, about part of their length in the fronts of the temple, and in the flanks; the soffit of the architrave, and other lines of the entablature in a similar direction being nearly parallel to the steps. The other principal correction is the inclination backwards of all the columns of the peristyle towards the middle parts of the temple; by which means the angle intercolumniation, or space between each angle column and the adjoining one on each front or flank, as the case may be, is diminished upwards. Mr. Penrose proceeded to show, by measurements taken by him, the remarkable accuracy of the curves made use of by the Greek architects as above mentioned, and also in the entasis of the columns and the most important of the mouldings; and, after mentioning some other minor peculiarities, and alluding to the similarity in those particulars between the Parthenon and certain other Greek temples, concluded with observations on the intention and value of these optical adjustments.

THE NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.

The following is a copy of the architect's report of the present state of the works at the New Palace at Westminster:"The carcass works of the building, as far as the site is available or free from temporary buildings, are completed, with

the following exceptions, viz. the upper portions of the Victoria-tower, the Clocktower, and the Central-tower, which are upon an average 100 feet above the ground, St. Stephen's-porch above the level of about 60 feet from the ground, two bays of the western portion of St. Stephen's hall, which are within eight feet of their intended height, and the central masses of the building abutting upon the Centraltower, and the towers of the river front, which, together with St. Stephen's-hall, are now being roofed in. The scaffolding, stages, and hoisting-tackle for the three towers are nearly completed, and con tracts have been made for proceeding with the upper portion of those towers. The stone groin over the Octagon-hall, under the Central-tower, is turned, the centring is struck, and the bosses are now being carved. The stone groining to the corridors in communication with the Central hall, and other groins in various parts of the building, including those over the public staircase, are for the most part completed. The fittings and finishings of the Peers' and Commons' libraries, the

Peers' refreshment rooms, and the offices attached thereto, and the offices for the Clerk of the Crown, are so far advanced as to allow of those portions of the building being occupied prior to the Easter recess. The fittings and finishings of the committee-rooms and corridors in the onepair story of the river front are far advanced, and might have been completed by next Easter if the rooms had not been required for use at the commencement of the present session. The finishings of the Lord Great Chamberlain's apartments, Her Majesty's robing-room, and the wood ceilings, wainscot framings, doors, &c., for numerous apartments, corridors, &C., in various portions of the building, are in hand, and in part fixed. There are at present 1,399 men engaged upon the works of the New Palace, of which number 776 are employed at the building; 120 at the quarries; 335 at the Government works at Thames-bank, upon the joiners' works and wood carvings, and 168 upon miscellaneous works both at the building and elsewhere.-(Signed) CHARLES BARRY, Feb. 1."

SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES.

Jan. 6. Viscount Mahon, President. Among the presents received was a plaster bust of John Gage Rokewode, esq. late Director of the Society, from Mr. R. C. Lucas, sculptor. From Dawson Turner, esq. F.S.A. a list of Norfolk Benefices, continued from Blomefield's Norfolk to the present time, 8vo. 1847; together with four lithographic plates1. of a Torques and Armilla, the one found at Foulsham, the other at Downham, in Norfolk; 2. of a figure from the Roodloft Screen in the church of Randworth, Norfolk; 3. of a processional cross found under the chancel floor at Beckenham St. Nicholas, Norfolk; 4. of a representation of the Martyrdom of St. Erasmus, found under the same chancel floor.

John Adey Repton, esq. F.S.A. exhibited drawings of two pieces of Ancient Tapestry in his possession. From the

costume of the figures, and more particularly from the style of the head-dresses, both appear to have been executed about the early part of the reign of Henry VIII. or in the latter end of that of Henry VII. In ancient tapestries, the chief attention in the design was bestowed on the splendid dresses of the figures; and, if there be any landscape, it is kept subdued; as we do not find any bright clouds, or water,

to disturb our attention from the general composition of the groups.

Robert Porrett, esq. F.S.A. exhibited an ancient pair of shoes, studded with steel rivets, so as to form a species of defensive armour for the feet; supposed to be Maltese, and recently purchased for the Armoury in the Tower. The rivets are ornamentally disposed, so as to represent a horse on each shoe, the name of the wearer Joseph Ptumpf, a coronet, and several Maltese crosses.

Thomas William King, esq. Rouge Dragon, F.S.A. communicated a memoir relating to the former co-jurisdiction of the Barons of the Cinque Ports with the magistrates of Great Yarmouth, during the free-fair connected with the herring fisheries. This concurrent jurisdiction was of as early date as the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The Barons of the Cinque Ports originally deputed one or two persons from each of those towns, and from the adjacent ones of Rye and Winchelsea, at a Brotherhood usually holden at Romney; but, in the reign of Elizabeth, two only, as a deputation from the whole, were authorised to administer "royal justice" with the bailiffs of Yarmouth during the free-fair, that is, from Michaelmas to Martinmas. The persons so nominated and deputed were called the