Architecture And Archæology.

nevertheless , there was a strong muster of archaiologists to join the excursion to inspect the excavations at Wroxeter , which , being thc most interesting object in tho neighbourhood , the visit to them had been reserved for the last day . Fotimately , the sky cleared soon after thc party started . They proceeded in the first instance to Battlefield , the place where the celebrated battle of Shrewsbury was fought

in the reign of Henry IV . The place at present bears no indications of liaving been the field of a great battle . A few mounds arc shown , which arc supposed to be the tombs of the slain , and some curious eyes can distinguish the remains of trenches , but to ordinary observers there is nothing to bo seen hut rough fiefds enclosed with hedges . The church , which was Milt on the spot in commemoration of the battle , has been

divided into two by a modern wall , the east side of which is roofed and is used for divine service ; the other end is in a ruinous state . Haiighmond x \ bhcy was next visited . This abbey , or a portion of it , was built shortly after the Norman Conquest , hut it has suffered so deplorably from ravages and modern repairs and additionsthat few parts of the original building

, remain . It is now a complete piece of patchwork , and the most skilful archaeologist is at fault in endeavouring to make out even the original uses of the various portions that are at present seen . It had been arranged that Mr . T . Wright should meet the party at Wroxeter , and there explain the various parts of the excavations on the site of the Roman city of Uriconium The

party reached Wroxeter about two o ' clock , when Mr . Wright , now standing on the remains of an ancient forge , now mounted on the wall of a Roman residence , now elevated on a mound of excavated rubbish , pointed out where once a Roman

enamcller pursued his art , where the citizen took his bath , and where the meat market stood ; the latter spot being marked by a large pile of the bones of animals . The excavations were only commenced at the beginning of February last 3-ear , and the space already excavated is of large extent . The museum at Shrewsbury is enriched with numerous relics taken from various parts of the old city * . Uricoiiiuni , which was one of

the largest of the Roman cities in this part of the country , is supposed by Mr . Wright to have been captured and burnt , and its inhabitants massacred , by the Picts in thc middle of the fifth century . From thc excavations at Uriconium the party went to Wroxeter Church , ivhich had been described by Mr . Scarf on the previous evening ; and many of them afterwards rambled

about the neighbourhood , exploring the extent of tho ruined city still buried underground , as indicated by various mounds and projecting masonry . Iu the evening thc concluding meeting of the congress was held . A discussion of considerable interest arose relative to the cause of the remarkable deformity of several of the sculls found at Wroxeter . In a paper on the subject by Dr . Henry

Wright , which ivas read by Mr . Pcttigrciv , ho attributed the distortion to posthumous causes , and he considered that the exposure of thc sculls to moisture , and the subsequent effect of frost , might have expanded and distorted them . Thanks were then voted to the president , to the mayor , to the gentlemen who had hospitabl }* entertained the members , to Mr . Pcttigrciv , and to other gentlemen who had contribute- ! to further tho objects of the meeting . The congress passed over very satisfactorily , considering the unfavourable state of the weather .

SUSSEX ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY . This Society held its annual meeting on Wednesday , the Sth inst ., Pevcnsey and Hurstmoiiccux Castles being the points of interest proposed to be visited . A previous attempt , ten years ago , to inspect Pevenscy Castle , had been rendered abortive by the xery bad weather ; and now again

tho old spell seemed to rest upon the excursion , for tho rain descended in a hopeless ncver-to-bc-ended manner . Considering the weather , the Society must be congratulated on the enterprising spirit of its members , as evinced by the largo gathering which congregated within the roofless walls of the picturesque ruins , Pevenscy and Hurstmonceux . Umbrellas wore all but useless : many of them ivere turned inside out , and portions of others blown bodily

away ; while those that maintained their integrity of shape were altogether unable to afford protection from the pitiless deluge . Within the ruin " printed descriptions of it were distributed to the visitors , this method of imparting information being thought preferable to the old plan of " reading papers . " Thc folloiving is the description :

This building- was erected in the year 14-10 , hy Sir Roger de Fynes , at a cost of £ 3 , 800 . A manor-house had previously occupied the site , ancl been the seat , successively , of the fie Hersts , the De-Monceux , ancl the Fynescs , from the time ofthe Conquest . To the park whiclf had previously existed , Sir Roger added 600 acres of land . His son , Eichard Fynes , Sheriff of Surrey ancl Sussex in 1452 , married . loan , heiress of Thomas Lord Dacre , and was , in her rightsummoned to Parliamentand declared Baron Dacre of the

, , South in 1458 . Thomas , the second Lord Dacre , distinguished himself as a soldier , and was Constable of Calais . He died in 153-1 , ancl was buried under a magnificent altar tomb in Hurstmonceux Church . His grandson and successor , Tliomas Lord Dacre , associates this place with a very tragical event . Engaging in the foolish and unlawful frolic of hunting deer in the park of his neighbour , Sir "Nicholas Pelliam at Helliiigly , a fray took place between his companions ancl the knight ' s gamekeeperswhich resulted in the

, death of one of the latter . For this Lord Dacre was held responsible , and lie , together with three of his gentlemen , Mantel , Froivds , and Koidon , were executed at St . Thomas Waterings , 29 th June , 1541 . This event has been dramatized by Mrs . Gore , in her " Dacre of the South ; " and it is the sabject of a ballad in Mr . Lower ' s " Contribution to Literature . " Gregory , son of this unfortunate baron , succeeded to the title , but died unmarried . His sister Margaret espoused Samson Lennard Esq . and was recognized as

, Baroness Dacre . They resided much at the castle , and added greatly to its internal decorations . The castle and estate remained in the Lennard family until the time of Thomas Lord Dacre , created Earl of Sussex by Charles II . He improved the castle by the addition of sash windows on the east ; but , losing a great part of his estate

by extravagance and gambling , was obliged to sell Hurstmonceux , the seat of Ids ancestors from the Conquest . In 170 S the estate became the property of George Kaylor , Esq ., of Lincoln ' s-inn , who married a sister of Thomas Pelliam , Duke of Newcastle . His successor was his kinsman , Dr . Francis Hare , Bishop of Chichester , and the latter left the castle to his son , Francis Kaylor . In 1775 it devolved upon bis half-brother , tbe Bev . Robert Hare , but was then considered to he ' so dilapidated as to be past repair . The

interior was therefore demolished , and the materials were employed in adding to the mansion called Hurstmonceux Place . From . F . Hare Kaylor , Esq ., in 1807 , the estate passed by sale to Thomas Read Kemp , Esq . In 1819 , it was purchased by thc Gillon family . In 1846 , Jno . Gillon , Esq ., M . P ., sold it to H . B . Curteis , Esq . M . P ., father of Herbert Mascall Curteis , Esq ., the present owner . The castle is accounted one of the earliest brick buildings in England . It is also the latest specimens of a

among castle , properly so called ; possesing much of the grandeur , with little of the strength , of the feudal fortress of earlier times . When in full repair , it was considered the largest house in England belonging to a subject . Addison's comedy , "TheDrummer , or . the Haunted House , " is said to be based upon a tradition connected with this mansion . The room immediately over the Porter ' s Lodge was known as Drummer ' s Hall , from the loud " spirit-rapping " " formerl

y carried on there . On leaving Hurstmonceux and returnin g to Pevenscy , a handsome spacious booth , erected within thc ruins , gladdened the eyes of the voyagers ; and a capital dinner , well cooked , well served , and well eaten , brought to a more successful termination than could have been anticipated a day which had opened upon the Sussex Archa . ologists with

so little promise . Tho Lord Bishop of Chichester presided at the dinner ; and , after its conclusion , appropriate toasts wore given . Mr . Mark Anthony Lower read a versified descriptive account of Pevensey , and subsequentl y Mr . AV . Durrant Cooper read a very curious letter , hitherto unpublished , from Dr . Andrew Borde , —the original " Merry Andrew . "

THE BHOX-CE COIXAGE —Mr . Hopwood has asked in the House of Commons , when the bronze coinage would be issued . The Chancellor of the Exchequer said he was informed the Master of the Mint was prepared to proceed with the striking of the coin almost immediately ; but some time would necessarily elapse , after the striking of the coin , before the issue could be commenced . It was necessary that about two months should elapse to have a sufficient accumulation before they crmmoneed the issue ; and , therefore , the issue would probably take place about the end of September .