for the one deep gorge along the northern side, while the hillside on the south was divided into the semblance of terrraces. If his theory was correct these terraces, which at first were artifically formed, would become the gathering ground for the water which came from the land above. This water would find its own way to its level, and probably the wide hollow was formed by the effects of centuries of rain and thunder storms washing out in their passage to the river the earth, which at one time formed the intermediate terraces between the highest and lowest on the northern side of the hill. It might be askedWhat was the use of these terraces? He answered probably they were formed by the primeval Briton, and were specimens of the oldest agriculture in the world. These terraces were artificially made by means of such rude stone implements as were known to exist in the Neolithic period, and it was possible such implements might be found in the district of Whaley Bridge. One such implement was found near Luzley, in Ashton parish, a place which he would sometime show was cultivated after the same manner as Roos Ditch. It was proved that the system was pre-Aryan, though it survived in Derbyshire till the sixteenth century. These terraces, therefore carried us back to the earliest stages of civilisation in these isles—a time prior to the advent of the Celt or of the Christian era. When these terraces were made the land probably belonged to clans and tribes, and it was on these flats that the ancient Iberian.

Place

grew his cereals. Other examples of terrace cultivation are to be found in other parts of Derbyshire. names often indicate the former presence of these terraces, though the terraces themselves may have vanished under cultivation. In the four adjoining counties of Derbyshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Cheshire these terraces were

known by uncouth names, sometimes of Saxon, sometimes of British origin, as Banks, Bunks, or Bongs; Balks, Bowks, Bucs, or Backs; Lands or Londs, Akkers or Acres, or in a compound form, as Bank-Akker, Rains, Reeans, or Rands, Headlands or Had-loonts, or again compounded, as Had-loont-reean (in Tim Bobbin); Grins, Grounds, or Greens, from the British grwn, a ridge, compound Grinacres, Riggs or Ridges, Flats or Plats, Linches, Lenches, or Linchets, Slences, Slensides, or Clents, and sometimes as Doles, Dols, or Butts. The counties named teem with such place-names, showing the extensive use of the system, and confirming Professor Boyd Dawkins's opinion that the Neolithic population of Britain was probably large. The dimensions of these terraces vary very much, in some cases forming a bold feature in the landscape, in others being comparatively meagre. Professor Boyd Dawkins tells us it is to the Neolithic people that we owe the rudiments of culture we ourselves enjoy, the arts which they possessed having developed into the industries of spinning, weaving, pottery-making, mining, etc. Mr. Andrew went on to say

that in an economic sense the culture of corn on these terraces marks an important epoch in the progress of mankind. Man was no longer a wandering savage. His system of agriculture, though rude, shows design, perseverance, and industry, and the result of it was profit, sometimes in the shape of money, which was a great civiliser. A Roman coin was found at Slences, in Crompton, which place, in his opinion, was another example of terrace cultivation. The staple industry of Britain under the Romans was corn growing. This led to trade between them and the Britons, and, therefore, to some extent a connection or acquaintance with the Roman world, because every road in Britain at that time

either came from Rome or led to Rome. Roos Ditch was not far from a Roman road, and its surplus products would, no doubt, find their way along this trade route. The subject was intensely interesting, but, in his opinion, was greatly neglected, if not ignored, by archæologists.

In answer to a question, Mr. Andrew said Roos was not an uncommon place-name in England, but he did not know what it meant.

Mr. Samuel Andrew also exhibited several curiosities, and made the following remarks on them: The other day I came across a small hoard of relics, consisting of a pin-cushion, a pair of baby's mittens, a book-plate, and a small hand-painted portrait. These had been treasured by a local family and handed down from one to another since the time of the early Georges. Nobody knew exactly to whom they belonged originally, but they carried with them evidences of some historic worth, and that is why I make note of them.

(1) The pin-cushion had attached to it a suspender, by which it must have been hung to a lady's girdle, and so worn like a chatelaine. The suspender and pin-cushion were covered with a pattern and device woven-not worked-in silk, evidently on a striped-tape warp of double linen yarn, warp and weft being of five colours— red, yellow, green, blue, and grey; the pattern, in addition to the stripe, being a small plaid, reminding one of a Scotch plaid. The device reads as follows: "God bless P.C. and down with the rump." The style of the letters would indicate the period of the Scotch. Rebellion, 1745, and supposing "P.C." to mean Prince Charlie, we have here a treasonable relic of that important crisis, worn by some Manchester or Oldham

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lady who was a Jacobite. It is well known to this day how popular "the yellow-haired laddie" was with the Lancashire ladies; but this is the first specimen I have seen of the above sentiment being sported as an article of personal attire, and I should like to know something more of the origin and history of this pin-cushion. If the date be right (1745) the texture could not have been woven on a Jacquard loom. It must have been done on one of the old "draw-boy looms," so called because a boy was engaged by the side of the loom to draw the cords which worked the treddles; if so not only was the weaving done on a hand loom worked by two persons, but the whole of the material must have been spun by hand. It would be interesting to know where such an industry flourished at that time. I question whether it would have been in England. Such a production from English looms would surely have been looked on as evidence of rank treason; besides, the Jacobite organisation could hardly have been strong enough in England to have commanded commercial or industrial confidence sufficient to produce it as an article of commerce. Had it been worked with the needle the case would have been altogether different. My theory is that it was produced in France and found its way into Scotland, hence the plaid pattern, and thence was brought to Manchester as a present to some friendly lady Jacobite. A pin-cushion, of precisely the same pattern as that now shown, is in the possession of the Duchess of Albany. It was exhibited at the Stuart Exhibition in London some years ago, and of this there is a beautiful engraving in Gibb and Skelton's Royal House of Stuart, 1890, plate xxxiv.

(2) The baby's mittens, made of fine muslin with a leno thread and pattern worked by hand in the muslin, must have been hand spun and hand woven.

The count

of the muslin is twenty-one square, and both warp and weft are very level. The Swiss and also the Dutch are said to have been very clever at this kind of work, and possibly these mittens found their way here from some continental source.

(3) The book-plate is that of J. Alexander, of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge.

(4) The portrait of a gentleman in full-bottomed wig, and, judging from its style, of the period of George II., which is probably the period of the pin-cushion and mittens.

These relics are in possession of John Edward Lees, esquire, solicitor, Church Lane, Oldham, who has also, since these were exhibited, turned up a miniature likeness of the old Pretender, in a small silver locket, and painted on enamel. Possibly the pin-cushion and mittens may be the work of French weavers, a colony of whom settled in Scotland about the period named.*

Friday, January 8th, 1897.

The monthly meeting was held in Chetham's Hospital, Lieut.-Colonel Fishwick, F.S.A., presiding.

Mr. G. C. Yates called attention to the demolition of old buildings on the site of Roman Manchester at Alport Town, and thought that Roman remains might be discovered during the excavation for the new goods station.

Mr. Yates read a letter from Mr. Ben Ormerod in reference to the present dilapidated state of Hall-i'th'Wood, the old home of Samuel Crompton.

* Mr. Richard Lawson in Notes and Queries, 8th May, 1897, refers to Hibbert-Ware's Foundations in Manchester, ii. 126, for some further particulars as to these Jacobite pin-cushions.