Welsh Journals

18 BYE-GK)NES. Feb., 1882. THE SHROPSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. (From the Oswestry Advertiser, Feb. 15, 1882.) [We have received the following letters in reference to the communication by our correspondent Jarco last week.—Ed.] " A Member " writes :— So far there has been a lack of interest manifested when we compare the gatherings of the Shropshire with those of kindred societies. For instance, at the annual meeting of Feb. 3rd, there was not a single vice-president present. Out of a Council of twenty-six only ten attended ; to say nothing of the absence of members generally. lb is not so at the meetings of the Powys-land Club, and this, I take it, is due to the personal exertions of its indefatigable editor and secretary (Mr. Morris Jones) and the lively in¬ terest the noble president (the Earl of Powis) takes in the affairs of the institution. With a president who presides and an enthusiastic secretary, the Montgomeryshire Society has become wonderfully successful. In Shrop¬ shire the field is far wider and richer,and there is no reason why our Society should not be equally popular. SlB,—The Rev. D. R. Thomas, speaking at the annual meeting of the Powysland Club on Oct. 2, 1879, said, " He would suggest, with regard to Parochial Histories, which were of very great value and interest to the people of the several parishes, that a certain number of copies of them might be printed in a separate form. He did not think it would interfere with the value of the annual volume. They would prize it none the less, and the inhabitants of the different parishes would be exceedingly glad to have an account of those parishes, in an inexpensive and handy form." Mr. Thomas's idea was that the profits arising on the sale of such separate issues should be devoted towards purchas¬ ing books for a reference library ; and perhaps, in the case of a society where large sums are not voted for the pur¬ chase of "stuffed birds" and other unconsidered trifles, he was right; but I would respectfully suggest to the Council of the Shropshire Society, that the funds should go towards the remuneration of the expert who copied the parish books and monuments, where such a work could not be accomplished as a labour of love. There are surely men competent in most parishes for such an employment, aad who would for a small sum assist in this good work. It would be unreasonable to expect to find in many towns gentlemen with the means and the ability com¬ bined who could follow the example of Mr. Stanley Leighton in reference to the Oswestry Corporation documents ; but if some active member of the Shropshire Archaeological Society in each town set himself resolutely to work, he might easily obtain subscriptions t > pay for copying the borough records. In all cases—boroughs and raral parishes—every subscriber of a certain amount should be entitled to a copy of the Reprint of the local history in which he is interested. A. Powxsian. Shropshire Archaeological Society.—We are glad to learn that the Rev W. A. Leighton will still act as editor of the Transactions of the " Shropshire Archaeological and Natural History Society." From the report of the recent annual meeting our readers would gather that he had retired, and the editorship was put in Commission. Mr Shields has just completed a series of stained windows for the chapel at Eaton Hall. _ They illustrate the Te Deum. The groups of martyrs include Bishop Patteson audRasalana, a Malagasy woman. Mr Robert Jasper More of Linley, High Sheriff of Shropshire, was admitted and sworn a burgess of Shrews¬ bury recently. Mr More claims from his grandfather, Robert More, Esq., of Linley, who was sworn in 1795 ; his father, the Rev. Thomas Frederick, having omitted to take up his freedom. Mr. Paxton Hood has made a discovery which many more experienced archaeological authorities have sought after, and failed in the search. In a life of the Rev. Christmas Evans, he has recently written, he tells us that there still exists in Caermarthenshire "the Sin Eater," a personage once universal in Wales. We thought that belief was finally scotched in the Academy discussion a few years ago. Such an accommodating official does not and never did exist in Wales, and the only authority (?) for supposing that one ever existed on the borders was old Aubrey, who tells of a " leane, hungry raskel " in Here¬ fordshire. The Late Sir William Henry Clerke.—Sir William Henry Clerke of Mertyn Hall, Flintshire, died on Wed¬ nesday, at his residence in South Eaton-place, London, in the sixtieth year of his age. The deceased was the eldest son of the late Sir William Henry Clerke, formerly high sheriff of the county of Flint, by his marriage with Mary Elizabeth, only daughter of Mr. George Watkin Kenrick, of Mertyn Hall, and was born at Clonmel in the year 1822. He succeeded as tenth baronet on the death of his father in 1861, and was a principal clerk in the Treasury. The late baronet, who was a deputy-lieufcenant for Flintshire, married in 1849 Georgina. daughter of Mr. Robert Gosling of Botleys, Surrey, by whom he has left a family. He is succeeded in the baronetcy by his son, William Francis, who was born in 1856. Sir William once resided near Oswestry, and took some interest in local affairs. The baronetcy dates from 1660, and is, we believe, the oldest existing. FEBRUARY 22, 1882. NOTES. SHREWSBURY AND LONDON COACHES.- The Old London and Salop Machine.—In Two days, twice a week, for the remainder of the winter season. Sets out from the Red Lion, Shrewsbury, every Sunday and Thurs¬ day nights, at eight o'clock, and from London the same nights, will arrive at London and Shrewsbury on Tuesday and Saturday evenings. In going up breakfast at Wolver¬ hampton, dine at Coventry, and lie at Dunchurch, where the coaches meet and Return. Prices, to Shifnal 4s., , Wolverhampton 7s., Walsall 9s., Coventry, 16s., London £1 10s, London and Shrewsbury, Modern Machine on Steel Springs.— Through Shifnal, Wolverhampton, Bilston, Wednesbury, Westbromwich, Birmingham, Stratford, and Oxford. _ Starts at 8 in the evening, arrives in London on the following evenings. London ani Shrewsbury Flying Waggon.—In Four Days and a Half. The Slow Waggon goes as usual. The Worcester and Shrewsbury Flying Machine.—On Steel Springs, and quite in Modern Taste. In one Day. Twice a week. The above appear as advertisements in Wood's British Gazetteer and Shretosbury Chronicle for January 8, 1774. T.W.H.