By George Grazebrook, F.S.A.

The first edition of Camden's Britannia, published

by Radulph Newberry, London, 1586.

By Rev. Dr. Hume. A copy of a Latin inscription made by Captain Moxon, at Malacca. Beneath the floor of a ruined Church lies buried, Peter, second Bishop of Japan, who died in February, 1597.

The Honorary Secretary announced that the Annual Excursion of the Society would be to the Art Treasures Exhibition at Manchester.

The following paper was then read:

THE PEOPLE OF THE ENGLISH LAKE COUNTRY: * THEIR ORIGIN, HISTORY, AND CHARACTER, by A. Craig Gibson, Esq.

Also a portion of the following paper:

THE HOYLAKE ANTIQUITIES, by Rev. A. Hume, D.C.L. +

14th May, 1857.-LITERARY SECTION.

J. T. DANSON, Esq., V.P., in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

The following donations were laid upon the table :—

From the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries (Copenhagen.) Antiquariat
Tidscrift, &c., &c., 3 vols. 1846-48, 1849-51, 1852-54.

Memoires des Antiquaires du Nord, 3 vols. 1840-44, 1845-49.
Antiquitates Americanæ, 4to. in three languages.

From the Author.

History of the Parochial Church of Burnley, by T. T. Wilkin

son, F.R.A.S., 1856. From the Author. From the Author. From the Author. pool, 1852.

Preston in the Olden Time, by W. Dobson, 1857, two copies.
Table Talk in the Olden Time, by James Boardman, 1856.
Poems Sacred and Miscellaneous, by Henry Grazebrook, Liver-

Sir Geoffrey and other Poems, by Henry Grazebrook, 1857.

From the Translator. Literary Fables from the Spanish of Yriarte, by Robert Rockliff, Liverpool, 1854.

From Edward Heath, Esq. Several Financial Reform Tracts.

From the Committee of the Liverpool Library. Catalogue of the Liverpool Library, complete to 1857.

From Dr. Macintyre. The Laws and Regulations of the Liverpool Lyceum Institution, as printed in the years 1807, 1849, and 1856; also a medal used for many years by members of the Society, as a token of membership.

From Mr. Angus. A photograph of the small bronze figure of a youth, exhibited by Joseph Clarke, Esq., at the last meeting of this Society.

The following objects of interest were exhibited :

By Mr. A. Craig Gibson. An antique carving in wood, probably the lid of a chest

* Transactions, p. 181.

This paper will appear in an extended form, with illustrations, in the next volume of Transactions.

1

or trunk, representing, in the centre, the crucifixion, and round the border, in twenty-four compartments, scenes from the life of Christ.

By Mr. Joseph Mayer, F.S.A. A magnificent specimen of gold "ring money," found in Ireland. If money, it is the heaviest coin yet found, being 18 oz. 10 dwts. in weight, and worth £77 12s. of our present currency.

An indenture deed of the time of King Charles, having the name of "honest " Isaac Walton, attached as a witness.

A terrier, or account of all the lands, houses, and other property belonging to Christ Church College, Cambridge, and a MS. or vellum written about the end of the 15th century.

By Mr. D. Buxton. Two coins found at Palermo, supposed to be Saracenic.

By Mr. Blackmore. A medal of Dr. Priestley, date 1783, having his bust on one side, and a pneumatic trough and various pieces of chemical apparatus on the

reverse.

Mr. Mayer exhibited a set of illustrations of gold and silver ring money, personal ornaments, and "pre-Christian" torques, all of which are in the possession of Sir Thomas Tobin, F.S.A., of Ballincollig Castle. These comprised the following:

(1) Bronze. A finely patinated Brooch, from Ballitore, County Kildare.
A Bracelet, or ring-money, from the north of Ireland.

(2) Silver.

(3) Gold. A Bracelet, or " ring-money," from Ahinagh, County Cork.

A "halse-ring" or collar, supposed also to have been used as ring-money. It is beautifully ornamented in front.

Five specimens of ring-money; two of which were probably used as bracelets, and the others as ear-rings.

Two "fibula" with broad cusps at the extremities.

Flat collar, from Bailieborough, County Cavan: engraved round both inner and outer margins with simple patterns, parallel, checked, and indented.

Large and beautiful gold torque from Mangerton, County Kerry. It is engraved on the outer and inner margins at the centre, and across the whole surface at the horns. The latter patterns are tastefully grouped, consisting of radiating bands composed of bandlets shaded alternately, and with serrated edges. The former embrace indentations, checks, parallel waves, &c., in great variety.

[See the four plates subjoined.]

The following papers were then read.

AN HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE LIVERPOOL LIBRARY,* by P. Macintyre, Esq., M.D. THE GROWTH OF THE POPULATION OF LANCAShire during tHE FIFTY YEARS, 1801 TO 1851, + by J. T. Danson, V.P., and T. A. Welton, Esqrs.

21st May, 1857.-SCIENTIFIC SECTION.

T. SANSOM, Esq., A.L.S., in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

The following gentlemen were duly elected members of the Society :-
Edward Bean, Esq,, Revenue Buildings.

John Cheetham, Esq., M.P., Eastwood, Staleybridge.
F. A. Clint, Esq., 14, Dale Street, and 2, Beech Terrace.
Hon. Sir Cresswell Cresswell, 21, Prince's Gate, London.