5. A large pearl oyster shell, with the twelve apostles engraved round the margin, and the figure of the Saviour in the centre. The work is said to have been executed at Jerusalem. 6. A snuff-box of beautifully polished lava, having on the lid a fine bas relief, representing Laocoon and his sons tormented by serpents, from the marble group in the Uffizi Gallery at Florence. By W. T. Watkin, Esq. Two woodcuts of the fifteenth century, representing some passages of the passion of our Lord. By C. Potter, Esq., the following objects found on the Cheshire shore : 1. An iron battle axe, in very fine condition. 2. A dagger-knife, with an ivory handle. 3. An iron arrow head, of very early date. 4. A fragment of cloth, which appears to have been made of goat's hair. 5. Two glass beads and a bronze pinhead, of the Roman period. By J. A. Forrest, Esq. Some photocromes of various paintings and statues in the Louvre museum. The photocrome is a new photographic process, by which colours are faithfully re-produced. The following papers were read :— I. THE HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH WORD "SERJEANT," by the Rev. H. Gardner, B.A. II. THE TREES OF THE POST GLACIAL FOREST BEDS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF LIVERPOOL, by T. Mellard Reade, C.E., F.G.S. March 21st, 1878. W. H. RICHARDS, Esq., in the Chair. The following objects were exhibited : By Chas. Potter, Esq. 1. A spindle found on the Cheshire shore. It is of hard wood, and is supposed to be the first which has been obtained on that coast, although great numbers of whorls have been obtained. 2. Thirty whorls, made of lead, stone, and baked clay, some being considerably ornamented. By J. Harris Gibson, Esq. 1. The Patriot Pocket Companion, for the year 1797, containing in MS. the prayer composed by Mary Queen of Scots, on the birth of King James VI of Scotland and I of England. 2. A bronze Japanese tea-pot, engraved and ornamented with silver butterflies. 3. A collection of Chinese coins, all of the present reigning or Ta-Tsing dynasty, from the Emperor Shun-Che, 1644, to Tung-Che, 1861. The following paper was then read :— BRAMALL HALL; OR, THE STORY OF AN OLD CHESHIRE HOUSE, by the Rev. J. H. D. Cochrane, M.A. April 4th, 1878. The Rev. CANON HUME, D.C.L., Vice-President, in the Chair. The following objects were exhibited : By Charles Potter, Esq. A sample of tea seed. By J. Harris Gibson, Esq. 1. A curious Chinese box, enamelled on copper. 2. A valentine, about fifty years old. 3. The second edition of Gwyllym's Heraldry, dated 1660. 5. Tunnicliffe's survey of Stafford, Chester, and Lancaster, pub- 6. A tyg, or three-handled vessel of red clay, with black glaze, recently found at Rainford. 7. A very beautiful and costly box of gold, of an oval shape. The sides are of blue enamel, with landscapes in compartments. The lid contains a watch, surrounded by sixty large rose diamonds and many smaller, which are attached to wheels moving when the watch is in motion. The body contains a bell music box. The base opens, and may be used for snuff. The box is French work, of the period of Louis XV, and its intricate mechanism shows extraordinary skill and the greatest ingenuity. By the Rev. Canon Hume. A curious little bucket of sheet brass, with raised ecclesiastical scenes upon it and incised inscriptions. Of five arcades, the Virgin and child occupy the central one, and the other four are filled by the four Evangelists. Each of these is represented in the act of writing his gospel, with his peculiar symbol beside him. Articles of this kind are manufactured in Nuremburg. The bucket is the property of Miss Livesey. The following papers were then read : I. INVENTORY OF CHURCH FURNITURE AND GOODS IN ST. NICHOLAS' CHURCH, LIVERPOOL, by J Eglington Bailey, F.S A. II. DR. COSIN'S VISITATION AT WARRINGTON, WITH DIVERS PRESENTMENTS AND CENSURES THEREIN PASSED, TOGETHER WITH A TRUE STORY OF THE READER OF LIVERPOOL (JOHN WAINWRIGHT), by J. Eglington Bailey, F.S.A. April 18th, 1878. The Rev. CANON HUME, D.C.L., Vice-President, in the Chair. The following objects were exhibited :— By J. Harris Gibson, Esq., Hon. Curator. 1. Four specimens of school needlework called Samplers ; three dated:-Mary Burns, aged 12 years, 1793; 14 years, 1795; A. Denny, 1813. 2. A Staffordshire quart jug, Queen's ware, painted outside the glaze with implements of husbandry and “I. L. 1787.” 3. The New Liverpool Songster. Printed at Liverpool, 1789, by T. Schofield, corner of Tempest Hey. 4. A tyg, two vases, and pipe head, found at Rainford, October, 1877. By John Clare, Esq., Hoylake. 1. Lady's busk, of very peculiar construction and fine workmanship. 2. A leaden weight, found on the sea shore near Hoylake. 3. A stone, found at the same place, evidently used as a pound weight. It contains the engraved initials-Y and 16 oz By J. G. Jacob, Esq. W: E 66 1 P thunderbolt," 1. Part of a meteoric stone, popularly known as a 2. A fragment of lava, from Vesuvius, having an English penny 3. The Times newspaper, of October 3rd, 1798, |