cover the extent and nature of an immense subterranean building in the area of the station. Mr. Rolfe has ascertained the extent of the masonry, but has been unable as yet to discover any entrance to the chambers which he and others believe it encloses. After inspecting Richborough, a few of the members called at Sandwich, and examined the collection of antiquities at Mr. Rolfe's, one of the most extensive and interesting in the county, and arranged, as all collections should be, with reference to the localities in which the specimens have been discovered. The party then accepted an invitation to lunch at John Godfrey's, Esq., of Brook House, Ash, and then proceeded to Barfreston and inspected the church, so celebrated for its architectural peculiarities. Another party, under the guidance of Lord Albert Conyngham, visited the Castle, Pharos, and Churches, at Dover.
Friday, Sept. 13.
HISTORICAL SECTION, at eleven a.m.
Lord Albert Conyngham, who presided, introduced the business of the meeting by some observations on the importance of historical science, and on the attention shewn to it in the arrangement of this section.
Mr. Crofton Croker read a letter from Miss Caroline Halsted, relating to a commission issued by Richard III. in 1485 for collecting alms for the new roofing of the chapel of St. Peter, St. James, and St. Anthony, at our Lady of Reculver in Kent. Mr. J. G. Nichols stated that there formerly existed at Reculver a chapel independent of, and at a distance from the church, which was probably the one here alluded to.
Mr. Croker laid before the meeting a series of extracts from a book of accounts of expenses relating to the repairing and storing of the king's ships in the river Thames in the reign of Henry VIII., communicated by Mr. John Barrow. The original MS. is preserved at the Admiralty.
Mr. Croker then read a paper by himself on the character of Richard Boyle, first earl of Cork, in which he compared that nobleman's autobiography with other contemporary authorities, and shewed that he was by no means the honest and good man described by himself and his friends. Mr. Croker's evidences were partly taken from the parish registers of St. Paul's in Canterbury.
Mr. Halliwell made a few observations on some early MSS. preserved in the library of Canterbury cathedral. He mentioned, among others, a curious collection of satires in English verse, written about the year 1590, and therefore to be ranked among the earliest compositions of this class known, and an early chartulary of the monastery of St. Augustine.
Mr. Wright read a short communication from Mr. Halliwell, relating to the coronation of Henry VI. of England at Paris.
Mr. Wright afterwards read a paper on the condition and historical importance of the municipal archives of the city of Canterbury, illustrated by a considerable number of extracts from the documents themselves.
