The Church had three massive towers-a central one, and the others at the end of the two aisles. It had transepts, the eastern limb, as was usual down to the 12th century, being a short one.

Llanthony Church evidently was built during the transition from the round arch to the pointed, and the styles are intermingled throughout the whole building.

The great constructive arches are pointed, and the transept window has a round-headed light. The corbel shafts have the same capitals, and are grouped the same as St. David's. The great east window was put in in the 14th century, and this is the only change of importance in the main body of the Church.

Mr. Roberts appears to be wrong again in the historical details of the Abbey. He brings down the minute details of its history to 1178, and only adds that the establishment "fell into contempt and ruin in the time of Edward IV." Mr. Freeman shows that Llanthony Abbey continued to exist until the time of the dissolution, and was only annexed to the Gloucester Llanthony by that king. The house at Llanthony in Monmouthshire was undoubtedly re-built, and there is no historical evidence against the re-building, which architectural science makes perfectly certain.

The monks got tired at their home in Monmouthshire before they had been there thirty years; they wished to get their foundation removed to Gloucester.

The Monmouthshire house was Llanthony the first, and the Monastery built at Gloucester was Llanthony the second.

During the 12th century there was a single Prior and a single set of monks dwelling in one or other of the two Abbeys. The deed of Edward IV. set forth separate priors, separate monks, and separate properties. How this separation was made is uncertain. During the establishing of the Gloucester house, the old Church in the vale of the Honddu, would probably be neglected, and when the relations of the two foundations were finally settled, and the Monmouthshire Llanthony became a distinct establishment, the old Church at the latter place was re-built.

Mr. Freeman puts the re-building about the year 1200, the work being gradually done, so that some portions date from the 14th century.

Mr. Roberts, in his History of Llanthony, takes for granted that the Church, founded in 1108, is the existing Church. Also he takes for granted that the old Church was altogether abandoned when the second Llanthony was founded.

When the Woolhope Club visited Llanthony on July 28th, 1891, a sepulchral slab attracted the attention of the members of the Club after the president, the Rev. Sir G. H. Cornewall, Bart., described the ruins of the Abbey. This slab is fatal to Mr. Roberts' theory-namely, that the buildings "fell into ruin and contempt" before the end of the 12th century:- the ornamentations on this stone prove that the establishment existed at Llanthony the first in the 13th century. Here we have a real 13th century slab, of somewhat advanced character, and which would, to a certain extent, show that the monks at that period were settled in their Monmouthshire house.

CERTAIN USEFUL SUBJECTS OF SCIENTIFIC

INVESTIGATION.

By the Rev. J. O. BEVAN, M. A., F.G.S., F.R.M.S., Vicar of Vowchurch, Hereford.

LIFE, no doubt, is short; but after all, it is not intended to be measured by length of days alone, but by the feelings, thoughts, and events which conspire to make it memorable, and to fill it to fulness. Again, knowledge, doubtless, is inexhaustible, but in the multitude of investigators there is safety, and we indulge the hope that it may yield some facts, year by year, to the circle of the sciences, and respond to the cry uttered (with more or less of anguish) by each of us-"Let there be greater light, and may knowledge grow with time."

All of us have the main work of our life shaped out by circumstances which involve inexorable fate-that is the utile, and leads to many ways of obtaining bread, and perhaps butter. But there is also a divinity within, controlled by our own aspirations alone, which thirsts for the acquisition of knowledge-that knowledge which may be loved for its own sake, and with a freedom from all sordid thoughts (a). This divinity leads us to belong to the Woolhope Club.

It is the opinion of many a heathen man and publican that this Club exists but for the purpose of providing its members with a certain number of pic-nics in a year-flowering off with what is called "a Ladies' Day," but we who are in the secret know better, and claim that our right to exist is founded solely upon our devotion to science.

I take the liberty, then, on this occasion, of bringing under your notice certain useful subjects for scientific investigation. All those whom I have the honour of addressing are familiar with the progress of present-day investigation in different branches of science, but it may be allowed to a weakling like myself to bring all this before the Club in one view, if only by way of justification of one's own position. By your favour, during the past three years, I have been successively appointed a delegate to the meetings of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. This body has admitted our Club to the rank of a Corresponding Society, and the representatives of all similar societies, assembled in solemn conclave last year in Leeds, were invited to lay before their Clubs the various subjects touched upon by the different sections of the British Association and its associated Committees and affiliated societies, and to invite the cooperation of all Clubs such as ours, either in their corporate capacity, or through their individual members. The general work and aims of what I may call the central, or parent, Association are set forth, in a most interesting manner, in the annual reports, now regularly forwarded to our Secretary.

The advantage of engaging in a business-like and methodical manner in one or more of the departments of observation favoured by the British Association are very apparent.

(a.) As regards individuals. It leads a man out of himself, causes him to forget his daily worrying round of duties, prevents his preying too much on his fellow creatures, sets him on that most interesting of the equine tribe, a hobby horse, stimulates thought, gives a changed and useful direction to his energies, and tends to develop many a Gilbert White, a Waterton, a Phillips, and a Buckland. (b.) As regards the mass. It softens the manners, and renders them less fierce. The popularization of knowledge tends to culture, even in the case of men possessed of but few natural advantages, as witness the case of the Scotch naturalists, Dick and Edwards, as related by Smiles.

(c.) As regards our Club. An increase of its activity and usefulness will tend to enlarge its constituency. In addition, it will evoke a new spirit of affection and loyalty on the part of the members.

(d.) As regards science in general. Science is thoroughly democratic and generous to all. She suffers all worshippers to enter into the holy place, and displays her arcana to all, without distinction of age, or race, or rank, or sex. The humblest votary may be entrusted with some of her choicest secrets if only she be wooed with diligence and self-abandonment.

Each member of the Club, without exception, has various energies and capacities which can be regularly exercised in her service. The results will not fail to bring about not only the good of the individual, but the good of all,— further, they will ultimately lead ad majorem gloriam Dei.

In time to come the Club may see fit to undertake extended investigation on more than one line. (I am not, of course, forgetting what has already been done.) This, as I have said, will not only increase its usefulness, but also its popularity. It will bring about its affiliation with other Clubs (b), it will lead to an exchange of publications (c), the enlargement of its Museum and Library, and a system of exchanges also in respect of objects contained in these (d). It will tend to periodical visits to other provincial towns, such as York, Chester, Oxford, Cambridge, where there is a wealth of interest too little accounted of. It will forge a link in the chain of scientific evolution and progress. Now, many important observations are made only to be neglected. Many more are noted, but are of little value, inasmuch as they are not tabulated, systematized, compared, and correlated with others. From these comparisons of one fact with another, noted at the same time, and again at distant intervals, are to be learned the wisest and surest teachings of the Book of Nature, and of the changes wrought by the tooth of Time.

My subsequent remarks will form little more than a catalogue of subjects, to a greater or less degree worked upon at the fringe by Committees already in existence, and suggested for further observation and elucidation by the authorities of the British Association.

(a.) It may be allowed here to quote the practice of a Club at Cambridge, composed of students of a particular and exclusive branch of learning, whose toast at each assembly was"Here's to pure mathematics, and may they never be of use to anybody."

(b.) The Midland Union of Natural History Societies is a striking instance of the value of federation.

(c. and d.) A suggestion has been put forth that exchanges might advantageously be conducted through a central depôt in London.

SECTION A (e.)-MATHEMATICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE,

1. Meteorology. -The ordinary observations are satisfactorily carried out. There are about 14 stations in Herefordshire connected with the Royal Meteorological Society, viz., Wigmore, Pembridge, Lynhales, Hampton Court, Dilwyn, Stoke Bliss, Brinsop, Burghill, Hereford, Bryngwyn, Much Marcle, Putley Court, Ross, and Buckenhill. In addition some observers in the county send the results to Mr. Symons. The systematic investigation of the rainfall of the British Isles was commenced by Mr. Symons in the year 1860, and his first report on the rainfall, which was for the years 1860 and 1861, was communicated to the British Association at Cambridge in 1862, a Committee with a grant being subsequently appointed. From 1877 Mr. Symons has undertaken the collection, compilation, and annual publication in his British Rainfall of statistics of the rainfall of the British Isles, at his own expense, assisted by contributions from observers and others. His staff of observers now numbers nearly 3,000 (f.) The energy of such a man is admirable, and tends to contagion. He has 24 observers in Herefordshire. 2. There is much to be done in respect of determining the height and shape of clouds, the velocity of wind, the amount of bright sunshine, the occurrence of lightning with or without thunder, the observation of the causes which locally modify weather, the collection of weather proverbs, with notes as to their present inapplicability owing to changes of climate or to conditions brought about by deep draining, disafforestation, the construction of railway lines and cuttings, the heat and movement of railway trains, the extension of towns, &c., and the reduction of observations so as to obtain principles for the purpose of more accurately forecasting the weather.

3. The utilization of photography for the rendering permanent the lightning flash, and for other meteorological purposes. The notification of haloes, lunar, and solar bows, luminous meteors, what are popularly called thunderbolts, and the collection and identification of meteoric dust.

4. Observations with regard to terrestrial magnetism and earth tremors, perhaps as indicating lines or centres of past volcanic activity in this country. 5. Phenological observations.

"This subject may be said to have originated with Gilbert White, but it received little attention in England until 1874, when a Report was drawn up under the auspices of the Royal Meteorological Society in which 71 flowering plants were recommended for observation, 8 insects, and 17 birds as to their migration and return. From 1875 to 1888, both inclusive, the Rev. D. A. Preston prepared, and the Society printed, annual reports embodying the results obtained. Mr. Mawley prepared the Report for 1889. The list is now reduced to 13 plants,

5 insects, and 5 birds." The Council of the Royal Meteorological Society is desirous of enlisting as many observers as possible, all of whom should work according to a certain form, of which a specimen is appended (9).

(e.) The sections are numbered according to the plan of the British Association--(A.) Mathematical and Physical Science, (B.) Chemical Science, (c.) Geology, (n.) Biology, (E.) Geography, (F.) Economics and Statistics, (G.) Mechanical Science, (11.) Anthropology.

(f) Mr. Symons will supply, gratis, instructions to rainfall observers, and forms on which to enter the records to be sent to him.

(g.) Various forms relating to the different subjects touched upon are also appended to this paper. Possibly they may be suspended on a screen in the Club-room.

6. Lists of the fauna and flora of each particular county. These, in many cases, are already well advanced.

7. Another important series of subjects has reference to the circulation of the underground waters in the permeable formations of England, and the quality and quantity of the water supplied to various towns and districts from these formations.

8. Also to the varying height of the water in deep wells in different years and at different seasons in the same year. This is a most important subject, with a marked bearing on the future. Owing to deep draining and the systematic drainage of large tracts of marshy land, combined with other causes, the soil is desiccated to a greater extent than formerly. This, in time, must bring about a change of climate and greater variations of heat and cold. It is reported that the water in deep wells in the neighbourhood of London has considerably lowered during the past few years. "The Committee of the British Association has carried on this investigation by means of forms of inquiry as to the nature of the sections passed through in wells and borings for water, the effect of faults upon the water supply, the character and quality of the water obtained, and the varying heights at which the water was found to stand, when the works were first commenced, and then after long pumping. The securing of old records might doubtless be brought about by strict search and inquiry, and would throw considerable light upon the rate of change in the course of many years" (h.)

9. The seasonal-temperature-variation in lakes, rivers and estuaries."The Committee wishes to ascertain the relation between the climate and weather of different parts of the country and the temperature of the surfacewater. This can only be done by the co-operation of a large number of observers with instruments of the same kind and used in the same manner" (h.)

10. The seasonal rate of evaporation of water in reservoirs, open and under cover--a subject of striking importance to water companies, on which depends perhaps the provision of roofing for reservoirs in the future. This and many other subjects touched upon in this paper-such, e.g., as that relating to noxious insects-have a direct industrial application.

11. The position of springs, their temperature, and chemical constitutionwhether or not medicinal--and their seasonal variations.

12. The limits of afforestation.

13. The return of sewage to the land; the influence of the dressing of the land in this and other ways upon the water supply over large areas for use in towns.

14. The height of water in rivers at different points taken at the same time, determining the rate of flow between two distant points under different conditions of flood and low water, (i.) the estuarine condition being also taken into account.

(h.) When inverted commas are used, the words are taken either from the Reports of the Delegates of the Corresponding Societies, or from similar publications.

(i.) The Club for some little time past has paid an observer to register the daily level of the Wye, but has discontinued the practice since the self-registering water-gauge got out of order, which had been so well kept by Mr. J. B. Evans at his residence, the Saracen's Head, Wyc Bridge, Hereford.