THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. 407 paveraont recently found in a field near St. Michael's Church, at St. Albans. Mr. Lee kindly presented these memorials of Roman vestiges, and they will be engraved for a future Number. By Mr. Hawkins. — Two specimens of early carving in ivory, one of them representing probably a group of the Apostles, part of a slirine or reliquary of the fourteenth or fifteenth century. By Mr. Franks. — Some interesting examples of pavement-tiles from Chertsey Abbey, supposed to be of the times of Henry III. By THE Worshipful tue Mayor of Lichfield. — A branks, or iron head-piece and gag, for the discipline of scolding w^omen. It has been long preserved in the Town Hall at Lichfield. By Mr. Forrest. — A fine ring of solid gold, found near Botford Church, Lincolnshire. The device, engraved on a crystal, is a kind of merchant's mark. Date, about 1500. Also a curious specimen of enamel on steel, from Verona, and an ivory comb, exquisitely sculptured, of French workman- ship, in the best style of the renamance period. It had probably been part of a nuptial trousseau ; and exhibits medallion heads of a gentleman and a lady, with devices, 8:c. By Mr. Webb. — An exquisite enamelled casket, from the Didier Petit Collection, formerly at Lyons (No. 95, Catal.), painted by Pierre Courtois, of Limoges, about 1560. The subjects are in colour, and comprise the Meeting of Abram and Melchisedech, the Sacrifice of Isaac, Joseph and Potiphar's Wife, Moses and the Burning Bush, Moses striking the Rock, the Army of Gideon, Elijah fed by the Ravens, and Belshazzar's Feast. This fine example bears the initials P. C. A portrait of Marguerite de Navarre, another valuable specimen of Limoges art. Her monogram appears frequently repeated upon the dress. — An oval charger, of the most choice description and perfect preservation, from the Royal Museum at IMadrid. It is decorated with enamelled paintings in ffrisai/le, the principal subject being a battle scene, in the manner of GiiUio Romano, inscribed, — BATAILLE CONTRE MALECH — 1561 ; and on the under side is seen a subject from the history of Moses, with fine scroll-decorations, in the style of Jean Courtois, to whom this fine specimen has been attributed. December 7, 1849. Edward Hawkins, Esq., Treasin-er, in the Chair. After the announcement of new members, and of numerous presents received during the previous month,^ Mr. Tucker read the Report com- municated by Mr. Blandford, the Engineer, under whose able direction the investigation of Silbury Hill had l)een conducted, at the time of the Meeting of the Institute at Salisbury. Ho now stated in detail the whole of the operations carried out in the examination of that remarkable Tumulus, and presented to the Institute a series of geometrical plans and diagrams illustra- tive of his Report, and of the results of the excavations. The charge of this interesting work had been, with spirited liberality, undertaken gratuitously by Mr. Blandford, and a cordial vote of thanks was passed for his kind ^ See the Lists of Members, and of Presents received during tlic current ye.ar, at the close of this volume.
