rings in form; and some pieces of a thin bronze armlet, and a small bronze hinge.

The blade or bowl of a bronze spoon, elegantly shaped, rather more than one inch and a half in length, by a little over half an inch in breadth.

An amulet of amber, richly streaked with orange-coloured veins, and pierced so as to be suspended alone, and not so as to form a portion of a continuous string of beads. This, perhaps the most interesting relic in the "find," is heart-shaped, and measures less than an inch in its longest diameter.

There have been several treasures of a similar character found in Lancashire, in recent times, besides others at earlier periods. Amongst the former may be mentioned one not very far from the site of the present hoard, which was discovered in 1856, in the neighbourhood of Hooley-wood, near Heyworth, on the estate of John Fenton Esq.; one at Whittle, near Chorley, in an old stone quarry; one, containing a hundred denarii, of the higher empire," at the foot of the old "Wery Wall," at Lancaster, in 1856; one on Leyland Moss, in 1820; and another at Worden, near Leyland, in 1850.

6.

It has been customary to regard these buried treasures as archæological evidence of the truth of the following extracts from Saxon authorities:

66

A.D. 418.-" In the ninth year also, after the sacking of Rome by the Goths, those of Roman race who were left in Britain, not bearing the "manifold insults of the people, bury their treasures in pits, thinking that hereafter they might have better fortune, which never was the case; and, taking a portion, assemble on the coasts, spread their canvass to the winds, and seek an exile on the shores of Gaul.”— Ethelwerd's Chronicle.

A.D. 418.—“This year the Romans collected all the treasures that “were in Britain, and some they hid in the earth, so that no one has since been able to find them; and some they carried with them into Gaul."-Saxon Chronicle.

I am inclined, however, to think that the treasure recently discovered at Walmersley may have been deposited in the earth during the troubles attendant upon the usurpation of

Carausius, the admiral of the Roman fleet stationed to protect the coasts of Britain from the ravages of Saxon pirates. The coins I have enumerated do not extend over a period of fifty years; and the most numerous and most recent are those of Carausius and Maximianus. The former was slain, after usurping the imperial authority in Britain for six years, by his lieutenant Allectus, who continued the usurpation about three years longer, when he succumbed to the emperors Diocletian and Maximianus. During this period, many parties would become obnoxious to the imperial authority, and, like their successors about the year 418, would seek safety by flight.

A few of the coins of the reigns of Tacitus, Probus, Maximianus and Carausius are base, being formed of bronze and afterwards silver plated-a practice sometimes adopted, even by the imperial government, during troubled periods like the one referred to.

PROCEEDINGS,

EIGHTEENTH SESSION, 1865-66.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING,

Free Public Library, Liverpool, 18th October, 1865,
REV. A. HUME, D.C.L., V.P., IN THE CHAIR.

The SECRETARY read the following

REPORT.

Owing to exceptional circumstances, the labours of the Society during the past Session have occupied a longer period than usual, but the business transacted has been of the average character. Eighteen meetings were held, between November 1864 and July 1865, at which twenty Papers were read; seventeen of these will be printed among the Transactions in the forthcoming volume; a condensed report of two others will be found in the Proceedings, and, for special reasons, the remaining Paper will be printed in the Transactions for the approaching Session.

Volume V, New Series, is in course of printing. As there is no reason to anticipate unusual delay in the work, it is expected to be ready for delivery before the close of the current year; and steps have already been taken with regard to the ensuing volume which will probably enable the new Council to issue it within the next sessional year.

The Library continues to increase, principally by means of exchange with other Societies; but the accessions to the Museum during the past year have been few and inconsiderable. The routine business has been transacted as usual, the only extra expense incurred being for the services of a special reporter. Numerically the Society remains at about the same strength as for some time past.

On three special occasions the members have enjoyed the pleasure of social as well as intellectual intercourse with their friends. In the first instance, by invitation of Mr. Mayer, a large gathering was held in April last at his Museum of British and Foreign Antiquities; a similar meeting, in the large lecture-room of the Free Public Library, was held in July, on which occasion a service of plate, accompanied with an illuminated address, was presented as a testimonial to the Rev. Dr.

Hume on his retirement from the office of Honorary Secretary; and the Annual Excursion, made this year to Hawarden Castle, also in July, was numerously attended.

Agreeably to the Laws, the Council submit the names of gentlemen to fill the offices of a Vice-President and of Sectional Members of the new Council.

It was moved by WILLIAM BURKE Esq., seconded by THOMAS SANSOM Esq., F.B.S.E., and resolved unanimously :-

That the Report now read be adopted, and printed and circulated with the Proceedings of the Society.

It was moved by WILLIAM H. GRIMMER Esq., seconded by THOMAS BRAKELI. Esq., and resolved unanimously :

That the thanks of the Society be given to the Officers and Sectional Members of the Council for their services during the past Session.

It was moved by NICHOLAS WATERHOUSE Esq., seconded by E. F. EVANS Esq., and resolved unanimously:

That the thanks of the Society be given to Joseph Mayer Esq., for his reception of the members and their friends at his Museum of British and Foreign Antiquities on the 6th of April; and to Sir Stephen R. Glynne, Bart., for his kindness in throwing open the grounds and ancient Castle of Hawarden on the summer excursion of the members and their friends on the 28th of July last.

A ballot having been taken for the Officers and Sectional Members of the Council, the result was announced from the Chair. (See page iv.) Thanks were voted by acclamation to the Chairman for his services during the evening, and the proceedings terminated.

At the Annual General Meeting held on the 18th of October, 1866, THOMAS DAWSON Esq., in the Chair, the Treasurer's Statement of Accounts for Session XVII was read as follows:

Dr.

THE HISTORIC SOCIETY OF LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE in Account with
WILLIAM BURKE, Treasurer.

Cr.

It was moved by NICHOLAS WATERHOUSE Esq., seconded by DAVID BUXTON Esq., F.R.S.L., and resolved unanimously:

:

That the Treasurer's Statement of Accounts for Session XVII, 1864-65, now presented, be passed and printed and circulated with the Proceedings of the Society.

2nd November, 1865.

ARCHEOLOGICAL SECTION.

THOMAS SANSOM Esq., F.B.S.E., in the Chair.

Mr. Francis James Bailey, M.R.C.S., Grove Street, was duly elected an ordinary member of the Society.