TO THE BINDER. This work, issued in three parts, may be bound either in one volume, or in two (A to L, inclusive, and M to Z), as may be preferred. Titles are provided accordingly. The introductory matter given in Part III., with the Index of Authors appended to it, should be placed after the "Advertisement," given in Part I. Page 439, in Part II. to be cancelled, and also the page of "Corrections." The Facsimiles should be placed in the Preface, as follows:— The leaf containing a facsimile from "MS. at King's College, The leaf headed "British Museum, Addit. MS. 22, 556, to face p. xl. REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CAMDEN SOCIETY, ELECTED 2nd OF MAY, 1864. THE Council have to announce-which they do with most sincere regret —that the vacancies occasioned by death during the past year, although comparatively few in number, comprise some of the oldest and most respected Members of the Society. They are as follows: THE MOST HON. THE MARQUIS OF BRISTOL, V.P.S.A. HUDSON GURNEY, ESQ., F.R.S., F.S.A. JAMES HEYWOOD MARKLAND, ESQ., F.R.S., F.S.A. Of the loss sustained by the Society in the death of the late President, the Council expressed their opinion at their first Meeting after the occurrence of that event. They recorded on the minutes, and communicated to the present Marquis of Bristol, as the head and representative of the family, how entirely the late Marquis had secured to himself the respect and attachment not only of the Council, but of every Member of the Society. His constant attendance at our Meetings, his readiness to promote the objects of the Society, and the courtesy which distinguished all his intercourse with the Members, were points dwelt upon by the Council in their resolution-points in strict unison with his Lordship's general character, and which will cause him to be always remembered in this Society with very peculiar admiration and respect. The Society have already recorded their concurrence in these sentiments at the General Meeting convened for the election of a new President, but they will not deem it superfluous that feelings so sincere should find one more expression in the series of those Reports of the Council, which commemorate the incidents of the Society from year to year. The name of Mr. HUDSON GURNEY is one very dear to those who remember for how many years he contributed to the promotion of archæological studies, and filled with distinction to himself and with advantage to the Society of Antiquaries the office of their Vice-President. Mr. Hudson Gurney was not only one of the first among our Members, but was also our first Compounder. Mr. MARKLAND also was one of our earliest Members, and had in similar manner done good service to the Society of Antiquaries in the office of Director. Mr. Markland was for one year on the Council of the Camden Society, and acted for a considerable time as Local Secretary for Bath. The Books issued since the last Annual Meeting have been : I. The Camden Miscellany, Volume V. containing : Five Letters of King Charles II., communicated by the Marquis of BRISTOL, President of the Camden Society. Letter of the Council to Sir Thomas Lake, relating to the proceedings of Sir Edward Coke at Oatlands; and, Documents relating to Sir Walter Raleigh's last Voyage. Communicated by S. R. GARDINER, Esq. A Catalogue of Early English Miscellanies formerly in the Harleian Library. Edited by W. CAREW HAZLITT, Esq. Letters selected from the Collection of Autographs in the possession of WILLIAM TITE, Esq. M.P., V.P.S.A. Sir Francis Drake's Memorable Service done against the Spaniards in 1587. Written by ROBERT LENG, Gentleman, one of his co-adventurers and fellowsoldiers. Edited by CLARENCE HOPPER, Esq. Inquiry into the Genuineness of a Letter dated February 3rd, 1613, and signed "Mary Magdaline Davers." This volume belongs to the subscription of the past year. The Council are pleased to find that it has been received with the same general satisfaction as all the preceding volumes of our Miscellanies. II. Letters of Sir Robert Cecil to Sir George Carew. From the originals at Lambeth Palace. Edited by JOHN MACLEAN, Esq. F.S.A. This is the first volume for the subscription of the year commencing 1st of May last. It will be found to contain much new and valuable illustration of the political character of Sir Robert Cecil, and of the then state of affairs in Ireland. The Council hoped to have issued as the Second Book of the Year A Register of the Priory of St. Mary, Worcester, containing an account of the Lands and Possessions of that Church in the early part of the Thirteenth Century. Edited by the Venerable ARCHDEACON HALE. but this work, which is analogous in character to The Domesday of St. Paul's, requires so much care in editorship, that, although nearly completed, it has not been found possible to bring it to a close. The learned Editor fully promises the work for the present year. It is with great satisfaction that the Council announce the completion of the third and concluding volume of The Promptorium Parvulorum, edited by ALBERT WAY, Esq., M.A. The concluding portion of this valuable work not only contains an elaborate Introduction to the work generally, but extensive Indices, calculated to give completeness and add usefulness to the Volume. The Council, desirous that a work of so much value to English Philologists should be made available to Scholars who are not Members of the Camden Society, propose to publish some separate copies of the entire work. The following Works have been added to the List of suggested Publications during the past Year: A further Collection of Letters of John Chamberlain, written between 1603 and 1612. To be edited by JOHN BRUCE, Esq. F.S.A. Sir Francis Drake's Last Voyage, with an Account of his Death, from a MS. in the Bodleian Library; and Drake's Voiage of Portugall, by John Evesham. To be edited by CLARENCE HOPPER, Esq. Brief Genealogical History of the Kings of England from a Roll in the Possession of WILLIAM TITE, Esq. M.P. Abstract from the Privy Council Books from the year 1603 to 1610 (for which period the original Council Books have been lost) from a MS. in the British Museum. To be edited by JOHN BRUCE, Esq. F.S.A. The Council regret that they cannot yet announce the success of the application to the Chief Judge of the Probate Court stated in their last Report, but the following further proceedings have taken place upon that subject. At the meeting of the Council on the 5th instant the following letter, proposed to be written by the Secretary of the Society of Antiquaries to Sir James Wilde, was laid before them, and their concurrence therein invited :: SIR, Somerset House, Tuesday, 21st March, 1865. AT a Council of the Society of Antiquaries held this day, the President Earl Stanhope in the Chair, it was resolved to solicit your attention to the present prohibition, except in very rare cases, of taking fac-similes from wills. That prohibition, as the Council understand, is continued by you in pursuance of the precedents of your predecessors in the charge of these important documents. It was no doubt perfectly just and reasonable at the time it was first made, when the art of taking fac-similes was still in its infancy, and could not be practised without greater or less risk of damage or defacement to the original. But the Council desire to submit to your inquiry and consideration, whether that prohibition does not now survive the grounds on which it was first made, and whether in point of fact, according to the new photographic process, the fac-simile may not be made with the most perfect safety to the paper or parchment of which resemblance is sought, without the chance of even touching it, and guarded from all other danger by the presence of an officer of the Court. The Council have now before them a letter, dated the 17th instant, from Mr. George S. Nottage, managing partner of the London Stereoscopic Company, at 54, Cheapside. That gentleman states: "We have within the last few days photographed a Will from Doctors' Commons in this place. It was brought to us by the Record Keeper of the Court, Mr. John Smith, and was photographed in his presence. We have also executed Shakspeare's Will here in the presence of the same gentleman. It is a rule of the Court that the Will should never be out of his custody. Our process does not in any way even touch the original document, that being merely placed upon an easel." The Council of the Society of Antiquaries, while rejoicing in the permission which has thus been granted to obtain a fac-simile of the Will of Shakespeare, desire to observe that a similar permission would be of great value in several other cases of historical and literary interest. They would submit to you that such a privilege might, as they conceive, be guarded from all risk to legal rights if it were applied only to documents of less recent date, as of twenty or twenty-five years' back, when the documents are no longer likely to give ground for litigation; and if the privilege were granted only to such firms as the London Stereoscopic Company, of whose skill and care the officers of the Court of Probate were well assured of their own personal experience. The Council of the Society of Antiquaries are by no means uumindful of your predecessor Sir Cresswell Cresswell's kind and ready compliance with the request which, in common with the Council of the Camden Society, they three years since addressed to him, for an increase of facilities in the consultation of Wills. They are persuaded that you, Sir, feel no less cordial an interest than he evinced in the cause of literature and historical inquiry. They therefore wish no more on this occasion than to refer the matter in question to your own inquiry and deliberation, being persuaded that, if you should find yourself at last unable to comply with their request, it will not be from any want of sympathy with their object, but only because the difficulties in the way of the privilege they desire are greater and more real than at present they believe them to be. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your faithful and obedient Servant, The Rt. Honble. Sir James P. Wilde, Knt. &c. &c. &c. C. KNIGHT WATSON, Secretary. |