it will find universal acceptance. Accordingly I have performed this operation; and I now give the Reformed Prayer Book to the world.' But I have never obtained, and have never seen, a second edition of any one of these productions. I greatly doubt whether they have usually paid their printers' bills.

'Book-collecting may have its quirks and eccentricities. But on the whole it is a vitalising element in a society honeycombed by several sources of corruption. My apology for the poor part I have played in it is that it could only have the odds and ends, the dregs and leavings, of my time, and accordingly I am aware that the report which I send you is a very meagre one. To mend it a little, I give to this pursuit in all its walks, from the highest (with which you are of all men the most conversant) downwards, my heartiest good wishes. And, that I may not be ungrateful, I will apprise you that I still preserve among my most select possessions the beautiful copy on vellum of the Lyttelton-Gladstone translations, which you were so good as to present to me."

The Late Thomas Brettell Barrett, Esq., of Welshpool.

We much regret to record the death of Mr T. B. Barrett, retired surgeon, which took place at his residence, Victoria Terrace, Welshpool, on Christmas Day. When the news of his very swift and almost sudden demise became known, it came with a great shock to those who heard it, and evoked from one and all a sincere and unfeigned expression of sorrow at the loss of a gentleman, whose character had won for him the highest respect and esteem of his fellow-townsmen, and sentiment of regard from those who were privileg ed to know him more intimately.

a warmer

Mr Barrett had for some considerable time past been in a very feeble state of health, arising rather from natural decay than from any specific infirmity, but early in the week he unfortunately contracted a cold, which on Wednesday developed into broncho-pneumonia. On Christmas eve it became evident he was gradually sinking, and shortly after eleven o'clock the following morning he peacefully passed away in the 81st year of his age. Mr Thomas Brettell Barrett was born in Shrewsbury in 1816, and after studying at Guy's Hospital, he came to Welshpool, and set up in practice on the death of Mr Edward Jones, surgeon, father of the present Town Clerk of Welshpool, and grandfather of Mr Charles Howell. That was so long ago as 1839, after hav. ing been made the previous year a member of the Royal College of Surgeons and a Licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries. From that time to 1882, when he retired, he enjoyed a most extensive practice, having been during that period consulted by most of the families in the neighbourhood. He was for some years an alderman of the borough, and in November, 1849, he succeeded the late Mr Abraham Howell in the mayoralty, the only members of the Council at that time now remaining being Dr E. T. D. Harrison of Clifton, and Mr Edward Johnes of Welshpool. In November, 1853, he resigned his position as alderman,

and was succeeded by the late Mr Thomas Bowen. He was afterwards appointed medical officer of health for the borough of Welshpool, which office he held up to about 1891, when Dr Marston took his place. He was one of the first to be placed on the commission of the peace for the borough in 1874, and for many years he took his seat on the Bench. He became a member of the Powysland Club in 1875, when the Museum was built and opened, and though his name does not appear among those present at the opening ceremony, we find that in the report of the Club for that year he is entered as the author of contributions and also as the donor of various gifts. And from that time to the present very few months have passed without some donation from him in He the way of works of art or books. member of the council of the Club, and his death has caused a vacancy which cannot easily be filled. For some years he was on the ordinary medical staff of the Welshpool Dispensary, and on his retirement from practice he took up the position honorary consulting physician, which he held at the time of his death. He had been a member of the Public Library Com

of

was a

mittee since its formation in 1888, when he pre

sented forty-six volumes to the library, and ever since then hardly a monthly meeting was held but the table a valuable there had been found on contribution of many or few books. From time to time he lent articles and pictures to the Museum and Art Gallery, all of which he finally presented last year. And in this way he exhibited his deep interest in all subjects connected with art, literature, and archaeology.

He was a mem

ber of the London Numismatic Society, he being an enthusiastic collector and well-known

con

noisseur of valuable coins, cameos, and medals, while he ever displayed exquisite judgment in all art matters. He was also a director of the Welshpool Gas Company, and his demise will create a vacancy on the directorate. Dr Barrett always gave liberally of his wealth, without letting the world know of it. In simple but effective ways he did many a good turn for poor people, who will probably talk more about it now that he is gone. The social, literary, and municipal interests of the town, as we have already pointed out, had in him an able promoter. And last but not least, there are many who have received from him personal advice and assistance, which have been invaluable, and who, by his death, have lost a friend and helper so able, so ready, so unfailing, that they feel his place can never be taken by another.

His first gift to the Museum was of peculiar interest, and was lately exhibited at the Church Congress, Shrewsbury. It was an ecclesiastical decade and signet ring, with the impression of a cross, which was found on the site of Abbey Farm, near the site of the Abbey of Strata Marcella. His other gifts included the following:-An electrotype of models by Henning, after cartoons by Raffaele, electrotyped by the Rev P. Purvis of Deytheur; piece of tessalated pavement (about a yard square); original portrait sketch in India ink of Richard Jones, father of the late Henry Jones, surgeon, Welshpool; four sheets of im

of ten pounds made towards the Restoration Fund. It is a source of satisfaction to be able to announce now that this conspicuous and historic monument has been rendered sound and weatherproof for many years to come. An account of this work, together with a list of subscribers and a statement of accounts, is given in the volume. A fragment of the old lightning conductor has been deposited in the Museum as a relic of its past condition. With this volume is issued a first instalment of the "Montgomeryshire Records," which the late Mr Ed. Rowley Morris, F.S.A., had calendared and transcribed during many years in the Public Record Office, the British Museum, and other depositories. His MSS. were purchased from his widow, and are now issued in such a form as to be bound separately, under the editorship of Mr Richard Williams. Of their value and importance for the history of Montgomeryshire, it is needless to add a single word. Two works of far more than local interest have been published by members in the course of the year.

1.-"Alawon fy Ngwlad" (The Lays of My Land), by Mr Nicholas Bennett of Glanyrafon; a very valuable collection of 500 old Welsh airs, the great majority of which have never before been published," and they have been arranged for the pianoforte or harp under the skilled eye of Mr David Emlyn Evans. Mr Bennett tells us that collect some of these treasures and rescue them from inevitable oblivion has been to him a labour of love for more than half a century. We heartily congratulate him on the completion of his labours and the excellent fruits of his patriotic enthusiasm.

to

2.-The other work is the volume of "Welsh Folk Lore," by the Rev Elias Owen, M.A., F.S. A., one of our editors. This "Collection of the Folk Tales and Legends of North Wales," which won the first prize at the Welsh National Eisteddfod in London in 1887, is the by-work of many years of busy activity, collected from all kinds of sources in many districts on official visits during the seventeen years he was Diocesan Inspector for St. Asaph, and on many other occasions. The interest of the subject, the reliableness of the information, and the gossipy style' constitute a volume that will not only afford many a pleas. ant half hour's reading, but will be a contribution to the ever-growing science of ethnology.

With regard to the next volume, the editors are able to announce that they have in hand a full and valuable "History of the parish of Tregynon," by Mr Scott Owen; and a Series of Letters of the 17th and 18th centuries relating to the chequered history of the Pryces of Newtown Hall. For these they are indebted to the courtesy of Miss Brisco and the kindness of Mr Edward Powell. Beyond these they have nothing in hand, and it will therefore depend on members themselves how long they may have to wait for its issue.

The Ven. Archdeacon THOMAS, in moving the adoption of the report, said it opened with a most sad remark as to the large number of their members-especially the members of the Council--who had been carried away by death. They had tried in the last volume, which the members would receive in the course of a week or so, to give rather more of a biographical account of some of their members. The present volume contained an obituary notice of their last editor, the late Rev Valentine Lloyd, which was accompanied by an admirable portrait, and this, he believed, enhanced the value of the volume very much indeed. Mr Lloyd had been one of the most important contributors to the Montgomeryshire Collections,' and he knew more about the family history of Montgomeryshire than anyone else. His death was a very serious loss to the Club. It was only last Friday-Christmas Day-that Dr Barrett passed away. They missed his familiar face on those occasions, when he rarely failed to attend to manifest his very great interest in the work of VOL. IV. New Series [be ing Vol. 13th from the beginning]

66

They

the Society. It was also mentioned in the report that Mr Lloyd Verney just before his death presented to the museum the blocks of the arms that had been engraved and used for his uncle's 1X volumes on the history of Powys Fadog. would prove a very useful contribution, because they would come in again and again for the illustration of the proposed county family history. As to the twenty-ninth volume of the Club's pubbecome lication, he was afraid members had rather impatient. They might very well be impatient in waiting for the second part of what really was the 1895 volume. But they could not make bricks without straw or mortar-the proper substitute for which in their case was money, and they had had to do the best they could in the circumstances. The part was now completed, and would very soon be in hand, and he thought it would be found to be a very useful and interesting number. (Hear, hear.) It would be very helpful to those who desired to know what part the Borough of Welshpool had taken in the history of the surrounding country. He trusted that it would prove useful in the effort now being made to get the Welsh University Offices located in the town. The contents of the present volume showed that it ought to have considerable weight with the educational body having to decide this matter. There was also an article in the volume by Principal Rhys, which was his address at the recent Powis Provincial Eisteddfod at Oswestry. He (the archdeacon) was so taken up with it when he heard Principal Rhys read it, that he wrote and asked whether he would allow it to be reprinted in their publication, which he very kindly did. (Applause.) There was also a notice in the present volume about the rood loft at Newtown. There was an intention of some day replacing it in the church. It was one of the most beautiful pieces of medieval artistic work in the county. Its orig. inal position was in the old church, but when that ceased to be used it was taken down and put up in the new church to form a reredos. When the chancel was added it was removed for preservation to the Rectory. It was much mutilated in consequence of having been shortened and damaged considerably: but what remained was admirable, and it was hoped that before long they would be able to undertake the work of replacing it. There was also an account in the volume of the restoration of Rodney's Pillar. The Club last year, on the motion of Capt. Mytton, voted the sum of £10 towards the work, and though it was not a piece of artistic work, it was, nevertheless, restored with good workman. ship, and would last for many years, with fair play. He was afraid it had had anything but fair play. He was informed that the ball on the top was made a shooting target for Volunteers, and it certainly bore the marks of bullets. Injury was also caused to it by people accompanying schools to the place on the first of May, when much sport was found in attempting to climb the lower part of the lightning conductor, and swing over on to the tablet. This kind of work did no end of mischief to the conductor, and the last of it he then held in his hand, which they might well deHe posit in the museum as a relic of the past. would like to refer to the great service Mr 64

Nicholas Bennett had done, not only to the county, but to the whole of Wales, in preserving a very large number of Welsh airs which e ha to pick up from all kinds of blind fiddlers and minstrels. It was a labour of love, which must have taken him years and years, and the work would improve in value as time went on. (Hear, hear.) As a Montgomeryshire Club, they desired to congratulate him most heartily on the completion of his work. Another important book on Welsh folk-lore had been published, and as the author (the Rev Elias Owen) was himself present, they took that opportunity of congratulating him in person on the result of his efforts. (Hear, hear.) In conclusion, he hoped the Club would see well to allow a hundred reprints of the second article on Rodney's Pillar to be sent to the subscribers to the restoration fund. Of course, those subscribers who were members of the Society would get it in the book, but there were other subscribers to the fund who would not otherwise see it, and who would doubtless be glad of an account of the pillar. The cost would be about £2, and he only hoped such a course would seem good to the members. (Applause.) He had great pleasure in moving the adoption of the report. (Hear, hear, and applause.)

The CHAIRMAN said he had great pleasure in seconding the resolution. He thought they might congratulate themselves on the presence on that occasion of the Mayor of Welshpool, as representing the town of Welshpool, to whom the Society handed over all its books and all other materials and goods, in the shape of the museum and its contents. He had that day looked over the building-a portion of which was handed over by the Society, and the remaining portion erected by the Corporation, and he thought nothing could be better than the way in which the art class and room was conducted, as also the way in which the reading room was carried on. But he would say something with regard to the museum. When he came there that morning he found no less than six pools of water about the floor. He was afraid that the roof of the museum required a little attention. Now a corporation was not an archæological society, and he knew how difficult it was to request the ratepayers to spend the rates on matters which were not exactly within the sphere of the duties which the Corporation generally performed. That was. undoubtedly, a reason why archæologists should preserve to themselves the keeping up of archæological museums. He knew how expensive it was to bind books and to catalogue objects of art, which were not done without a considerable outlay: but going around the museum he found that a great many of the labels and papers indicating their objects, had already suffered from damp. He found that the catalogue was such that it would be difficult to find any particular object in the museum that might be desired. Well, he commended these.. atters to the Corporation of Welshpool. He remembered the time, some thirty years ago, when his friend, Mr Morris Jones, came to talk to him about the establishment of the Society. He remembered how keen and eager he was in his hopes of founding in

Welshpool a museum of local archaeology, which would last long after his time, and which would be of interest to the many visitors who came there. And it seemed to him (Mr Stanley Leighton) that Mr Morris Jones's successors should endeavour to keep up the idea. (Hear, hear.) The difficulty no doubt of keeping up a high standard of arche ological work in small local areas was great, but at the same time he did not see why they should not try to get over those difficulties. Then there was a tendency in all local museums-and he had been to many; it was the same there, at Shrewsbury, and everywhere else to take in everything which people did not know what to do with in their own houses. The consequence was that local museums became filled with stuffed birds—(laughter)— which were of no special value; animals which sporting contributors had either killed at home or in Africa, and implements from India, which might be personally interesting to those who had collected them, and of interest in the Indian Museum in London, but which had not that local interest which was the essence of local museums, It seemed to him that they had some things in their museum which might better be placed elsewhere. Now he wanted to say a word with reference to the library. He believed it was in 1887 when all their books-the books Mr Morris Jones had so carefully collected-were handed over to the Corporation of Welshpool. Since then it would seem that the publication of the Archeologia Cambrensis" had ceased. Again, on looking over the archæological library, he found that hardly a book had been bound. He, therefore, thought they as an archæological society ought, in connection with the Corporation, to provide the means of binding the books which they should keep as works of reference. But of all things what seemed to him the most strange was, that there in Welshpool, the home of the Powys-land Club, there should not be a set of the Powys-land publications. These were matters which seemed to him well worthy the consideration of the Corporation, working in conjunction with them as an archæological society in endeavouring to get there a special local museum and Ebrary, which should be properly catalogued, indexed and bound. He believed that when they handed over all their worldly goods to the Corporation of Wel-hpool they also handed over all their little cap', which, he believed, was £200. That, he supposed, still remained in the hands of the Corporation. What he would suggest was that they should set apart one small room for works of reference, and none others, so that they might be kept separate from the others. At all events, he ventured to suggest that they call the attention of the Cor poration of Welshpool, through those members who were present that day to the condition of the museum at the present time, and request the oat committee of the Corporation and the Society to report at the next meeting of the latter on the matter. He thought they had there in Welshpool. through the energy of Mr Morris Jones, the nucleus of a most interesting museum, and it would be a great failure on their part if they dd not keep it up to the high standard to which he had brought it, and which he bequzetied to

Welshpool and to the county of Montgomery. (Applause.)

The motion was then put to the meeting, and

carried.

Mr CHARLES HOWELL, alluding to the remarks of the Chairman with reference to the condition of the museum, said when he was mayor the same question arose, and they were ultimately enabled to repair that part of the building which had become rotted by damp. As to the funds which were handed over to the Corporation, that would possibly be very soon spent if they had to go in for keeping the building up to what was required. There was not the slightest doubt that the ratepayers having taken upon themselves the responsibility, would do what they were really bound to do. The speaker concluded with a reference to the great use the library and museum was during the attack on the borough boundaries. Mr SIMPSON JONES mentioned that the Cambrian Archæological Collections were already in the library, as they had been in the habit of exchanging punications.

The CHAIRMAN-But we have had none since 1887.

Captain MYTTON said the delay that had been caused in issuing the last number of the "Collections" relating to the Powys-land Club, had come to the notice of the Council, and the latter were considering whether it would not be advisable to go further in the matter. Ho did not say the material for continuing the "Collections was exhausted, but he was afraid the members of literary attainments had sadly diminished, and therefore he thought it advisable, and indeed he proposed that the Chairman of the Council (Archdeacon Thomas) and the Hon. Secretary be requested to communicate with the Chairman of the Shropshire Archæological Society with a view to the union of the Club with the Shropshire Archæological Society, and to report to the next meeting of the Council.

The CHAIRMAN seconded the motion, and after a brief discussion, it was agreed to.

Mr SIMPSON JONES said their finances were in a respectable condition. They had in the bank a balance of £138, which included several subscriptions for that year. On the other hand they had about sixty guineas in arrears, about two thirds of which would be paid. The membership of the Club at the present time was 114. Mr Jones afterwards referred to the loss the Society

had sustained in the death of Dr Barrett.

The MAYOR. in moving a vote of thanks to the Chairman, thanked Mr Leighton for his kind hints, and said he hoped the complaints would be remedied before the next annual meeting, As to the library not having the "Collections of the Society, he could only say that the Corporation would be pleased to accept them from the Society, and to get them bound. He was glad to hear Archdeacon Thomas's remarks upon the question of the Welsh University offices. He believed that the library and museum would form a considerable attraction to the University Governors to locate their offices in the town. He might remark, without breach of confidence, that they were making a point of these things, and therefore he, as

Mayor, felt grateful to the archdeacon for his reference to the matter. A matter which would be considered by the Governors, would be that of temporary premises during the erection of the permanent offices, and it would be a great help, so far as Welshpool was concerned, if the museum buildings could be offered as temporary offices. The Corporation would be greatly assisted by a resolution from that Society, or a deputation, if possible, going to the Governors in favour of the Welshpool claim.

The CHAIRMAN first moved that the "Montgomeryshire Collections" be placed in the reference library, as suggested by the Mayor.

The Rev ELIAS OWEN seconded the motion, and it was agreed to. Mr Owen also seconded the vote of thanks to the Chairman, and referred to the artistic abilities of the Chairman's late uncle, Mr Parker, evidence of which he (Mr Owen) saw when he first entered on the living of Lianyblodwel.

The motion was unanimously agreed to, and the CHAIRMAN suitably replied.

It was also decided before terminating the meeting, to support the Welshpool Town Council in their claim for the location of the University offices in the town, and, if necessary, to sanction the use of the museum as temporary offices.

ECCLESIASTICAL APPOINTMENTS. The following ecclesiastical appointments were announced between July 1 and December 30, 1896, inclusive, the dates on which they appeared being appended to each weekly list :

The Rev. T. J. Evans of Hargreave has accepted the living of Tarvin.

The Rev R. H. Cholmondeley has resigned the rectory of Hodnet, which he has held since 1873, and he will be suceeded by the Rev H. O. Heber Percy, rector of Moreton Say.-July 15.

The following appointments were made last week:-The Rev William Jellicorse, M. A., vicar of Clunbury, rector of Hope Bowdler, Saloppatron, the Earl of Powis; the Rev Ernest D. Poole, curate of Swanton Morley, Norfolk, vicar of Preston Gubbalds, Salop.-July 22.

The Bishop of St, Asaph has promoted the Rev William Jones, curate of Northop, to the living of Llanfair Caereinion.-July 29.

of Sir Gresley Puleston, has been offered to, and The living of Worthenbury, vacant by the death accepted by, the Rev Frank Tibbits, curate of Lapworth, near Birmingham, a nephew of Mr Arthur Bird, the patron.-August 5.

Colonel Lloyd of Aston, the patron of the living, has offered the Rectory of Whittington, vacant by the resignation of the Rev. Hugh Holbech, to the Rev. E. Edmonds, and Mr Edmonds has accepted the offer. Mr Edmonds, who has for fifteen months past held a curacy in Johannesburg, only arrived in England from South Africa on Friday. Before leaving England he held a curacy at Reading. -August 12.