Reviews.

THE HAMPSHIRE ANTIQUARY AND NATURALIST.-We have received the first volume of this important publication, which we hope will form the commencement of a valuable and interesting series of works relating to the Antiquities of the neighbouring county of Hants. The volume before us contains the reports of the meetings of the Hampshire Field Club, which, under the direction of Mr. T. W. Shore, has done so much to elucidate the subjects of Archæological interest in the wide field covered by that Society. As far as we are aware, no permanent records of the meetings of the Field Club have hitherto been made; full accounts of these gatherings have appeared in the Hampshire Independent; but it is highly important that the transactions of all local societies should appear in some permanent form. This work has been accomplished in the volume before us, which will be welcomed by all who take an interest in the history of Hampshire. In addition to the records of the proceedings of the Field Club, there are many local Notes and Queries, and other Archæological and Natural History matters which have appeared in the columns of the Hampshire Independent. Among the contributors appear the names of the Rev. W. Benham, F.S.A.; Rev. J. Silvester Davies, F.S.A.; the late Charles Roach Smith, F.S.A., and Mr. Shore, whose valuable paper on "The Basis of Hampshire History," is worthy of all praise. The histories of the North Hants and Southern Berks are so closely blended that there are several articles which would interest the members of our Society, notably the "Yew Trees in Hants and Berks." The volume is published in an attractive manner, and we congratulate Mr. F. A. Edwards upon the production of the first volume of what will doubtless become a useful and valuable series. There is a very full index which adds greatly to the usefulness of the book.

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HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF CHILTERN IN OXFORDSHIRE, by Rev. M. T. Pearman, M. A., Vicar of Twade, Kent. The Oxfordshire Archæological Society has published Mr. Pearman's researches into the history of the Chiltern Hundreds of Oxfordshire. This pamphlet of twenty pages contains a large amount of hitherto unpublished

matter, and is the result of much laborious original investigation. The name of the "Chiltern Hundreds is familiar to political personages, especially in connection with any disagreement which an unfortunate member may have with his party; but we question whether many are acquainted with the history or even situation of the localities, the name of which is so well known. In the Harleian

MS. 34 districts bearing the name are mentioned as anciently existing in England, but most likely, says Mr. Patmore, the tract of country in Oxon and Bucks known as the Chiltern Hundreds is the district referred to in the MS. The author begins his history in the early times of the West Saxons 571 A.D. and continues it to the time of the Civil War. Many points of valuable information are brought out, e.g., the records of the Hundred Courts, the names of those who were fined, the evidences of the insurrectionary spirit that characterised the year 1549, the anti-reformation ideas which the rapid changes in religion produced, the hanging of certain vicars upon their own church steeple. We recommend all who are able to procure a copy of Mr. Pearman's paper which is of great historical value and interest.

PERFORATED STONE IMPLEMENT FOUND IN THE PARISH OF WITHYCOMBE RALEIGH, described by Dr. T. N. Brushfield, and reprinted from the Transactions of the Devonshire Association for the advancement of Science, Literature and Art. This stone has a singular history; a doctor found it propping open a cottage door, covered with a coating of bright green paint. A ploughman had found it in a field and used it for the purpose of a door prop. It is a fine specimen of the Paleolithic period, and Dr. Brushfield is fortunate in having found it.

WALTER OF HENLEY'S HUSBANDRY.-The Royal Historical Society has published an attractive and extremely valuable volume containing Walter of Henley's Husbandry, together with an anonymous Husbandry of the early part of the fourteenth century, Seneschancie, or Office of Seneschal (author unknown) and Robert Grosseteste's Rules. One of the MSS. of Henley's Husbandry belonged to the Monastery at Reading, and contains a collection of statistics and much interesting information about the relations of the Abbey and the town. Some of this has been printed, from other sources, by Coates in his History of Reading. The MS. is one of two

copies which were written at Reading, and is preserved in the University Library at Cambridge. The volume contains many quaint and curious items and advice to agriculturists which even at the present day is not out of date.

THE "CAMDEN LIBRARY," edited by G. Lawrence Gomme and J. Fairman Ordish. Under this title Mr. Elliot Stock announces the issue of yet a new series of antiquarian works, which will be written by several of the leading archæologists of the day. The antiquities and curiosities of the Exchequer, Old London Theatres, English Homes in the Past, Monastic Arrangements are some of the volumes which will be looked forward to with pleasant anticipations by all lovers of archæology.

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THE 66 ANTIQUARY" for April contains a brief account of the recent discoveries at Thebes, a description of a Romano British village at Bampton (Oxon), an illustrated review of Mr. William Andrews' new work an Old Time Punishments" (which states that the stocks were last used at Newbury in 1872), and an interesting article on the Augustinian Priory at Barnwell.

"THE RELIQUARY (April) contains some admirable illustrations of Yorkshire Chalice Brasses, Encaustic Tiles of Dale Abbey, and of the smaller Cathedral Churches of Ireland, some of which are architecturally very poor and insignificant when compared with our English minsters. The Editor has commenced a series of short notes entitled "Miscellanea," which will be eagerly welcomed by the readers of the Reliquary.

The Quarterly Journal

OF THE

Berks Archæological and Architectural Society.

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LL archeologists in Berkshire will be delighted to hear that the unique collection of Roman antiquities, which have been discovered during the recent excavations at Silchester, will be deposited at Reading, on the condition that suitable accommodation will be found for them. The Corporation of Reading has not failed to realise the magnitude and value of this noble gift of the Duke of Wellington, and has devoted a sum of money for the purpose of providing a room for the reception of the collection. The question arose as to whether the old Hospitium should be devoted to this purpose, or whether accommodation should be found in connection with the present Museum. The first scheme had many advantages; but it was finally decided to adopt the second alternative. will be well for the Corporation to consider that the present collection, which is the result of only one summer's work, will probably form but a small portion of the antiquities which will hereafter be brought together, when the Society of Antiquaries has accomplished the whole work. It will, therefore, be necessary to find plenty of space. Reading is to be congratulated upon being the inheritor of so large, interesting, and unique a collection of Roman antiquities, and our Museum will become one of the most valuable institutions of the kind in the kingdom.

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Excursions.

It is proposed to make an excursion to Coventry and Kenilworth on July 29th. Stonleigh Abbey will also be visited. This excursion will probably be one of the most interesting which the Society has arranged for some time, and the members have often expressed a desire to visit these historic places. It is necessary that all those who desire to accompany this excursion should signify their intention not later than Saturday, July 18th.

The Newbury Excursion was unavoidably postponed.

Reviews and Notices.

NOTES ON THE CHURCH PLATE OF North Wilts, by the Rev. E. H. GODDARD.—We have received a copy of this valuable article re-printed from the Wilts Archeological Magazine. It is the result of much diligent research, and Mr. Goddard and his coadjutors seem to have performed their work most thoroughly and systematically. They have been fortunate enough to have discovered two fine specimens of pre-Reformation chalices at Manningford Abbots and at Highworth, besides a paten at Melksham, and a pewter chalice and paten at North Bradley Church. Good illustrations of the chalices and flagons are given, and a chronological list of the Silver Church Plate of North Wilts to the end of the eighteenth century. The inventory of the Berks Church Plate is still in progress, and we are looking forward to the results of Mr. Dasent and Mr. Gardener's labours, which we hope will be as satisfactory as those of Mr. Goddard and his colleagues in Wilts.

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REPORT OF OXFORDSHIRE ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Society has also begun to catalogue the Church Plate of Oxfordshire, and a list of the Plate of the Deanery of Witney is given in this report. It contains also an account of the excursion to White Horse Hill which was made in conjunction with our Society, and to which we look back with much pleasant recollection.