and it is curious to observe the approach which some composers are now making to the free use of unconnected triads."

We will only add at present, that it is evidently not intended by the "accompanying harmonies" to the Psalter noted to foreclose the use of any other accompaniments, or to prescribe the key in which the Psalter shall be invariably sung; but rather to open the door to a style of harmonization more truly Ecclesiastical, and in keeping with the melodies themselves, than could be derived exclusively from the modern major and minor scales, and in subjection to the modern laws of affinity and progression.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL LATE CAMBRIDGE CAMDEN SOCIETY.

SINCE the last Report the following members have been elected :

HONORARY.

M. Alfred Gerente, 13, Quai d'Anjou, Paris.

M. Lassus, Architect, 69, Rue S. Germain L' Auxerrois, Paris.

M. Viollet Le Duc, Architect, Rue Verneuil, Paris.

ORDINARY.

E. L. Birkett, Esq., M.D., Caius College, Cambridge; 3, Cloak Lane, London. George Bodly, Esq., Architect, Brighton.

Rev. R. P. Cornish, B.A., Christ Church, Oxon; Lanreath, Looe, Cornwall. The Rev. T. Helmore, M.A., Priest in Ordinary to the Queen, has been added to the Committee.

The first Part of the New Series of the Instrumenta Ecclesiastica appears simultaneously with our present number. It is devoted to the question of the most pressing ecclesiological importance of the time, containing plans and drawings of a cemetery-chapel and lich-house. The subject is treated of at large in the present number.

The publisher has been authorized to bind up the three Parts of the Society's Transactions, and to sell the volume at a reduced price.

Mr. Place is anxious to publish his Views of Heckington, without any letter-press, if a sufficient number of subscribers will engage to take copies.

A letter from the Very Rev. the Dean of S. Patrick's, printed in the present number, will give interesting information as to the present state of the works in that church.

The Committee have to thank H. Clutton, Esq., architect, for the paper, (also appearing in the present number,) and the plans illustrating it, describing the lately discovered ruins of Merevale Abbey, and opening an interesting question as to the date of the existing parish-church of S. Mary, Merevale.

The assistance offered by MM. Lassus and Viollet Le Duc is more fully acknowledged in another place.

The Committee recommend the cause of Sydney Cathedral, of which they are this month enabled to offer a plan and elevation, to the liberality of their members.

They are in hopes of obtaining much information as to the requirements of Tropical Pointed, from the Rev. G. Pope, a missionary who is at present in this country.

The letter of a correspondent in the present number opens the question (already however entertained by the Committee,) of the possibility of this Society helping in the proposed Exposition for the year 1851. The Committee will be glad to receive suggestions on the subject.

It has been much pressed upon the attention of the Committee, that it would be very useful to have a kind of depôt for church ornaments, and the like, in London. No such scheme could be carried out, without a suitable and trustworthy person to superintend it; and those who wish for this arrangement to be made, would best further the object by recommending such a person to the Committee.

OXFORD ARCHITECTURAL SOCIETY.

A MEETING was held on Wednesday, the 28th November, 1849, the Rev. W. Sewell, B.D., President, in the Chair. The following gentlemen were elected members of the Society :

Mr. C. S. S. Dickens, Christ Church.

Mr. H. Fox Strangways, Wadham College.
Mr. J. Vincent, High Street.

The following presents were announced to have been received;— Cutts' Manual of Sepulchral Slabs, presented by Mr. J. H. Parker; Introduction to Gothic Architecture, by Mr. Parker; Ecclesiological Society's Report, 1847, 8, 9, by the Society; Bristol Architectural Society's Report, 1849, by the Society; Ruskin's Seven Lamps of Architecture, by Mr. Wilmot, Christ Church, Secretary; Durandus's Rationale, 1568, by Mr. A. C. Wilson, Christ Church.

The Report was then read by Mr. Portal, B.A., Christ Church, Secretary, which stated, that since the last meeting, an application had been made by Mr. Floke, P.P., of Plymstock, near Plymouth, for a design for stalls, which he proposed to place in his church, and from which the service was to be performed; a pen and ink sketch of a stall had been forwarded to him by Mr. Wilmot, Secretary, and also one of the Society's sheets of bench ends, by the aid of which it was hoped he would be able to carry out his plan. A very pretty drawing of an "Early English" piscina, lately discovered in the south aisle of the church of S. Ives, had been received from the Rev. Mr. Pearson, one of the Society's corresponding Secretaries. An interesting paper on the preservation and restoration of ancient edifices, read before the Northampton Architectural Society, by Mr. E. A. Freeman, M.A., had been forwarded by that gentleman. As regarded the church at Headington Quarry, which had been lately consecrated, while the general design was highly satisfactory, it was to be regretted that a rose window had been introduced between the top of the west windows and the roof,

same.

and while the roof was worthy of all praise, it would have been better had the height of the chancel and nave not been made exactly the The benches also would have looked better could they have been of oak, in place of painted deal. The plans for the restoration of Uffington church, Berks, had been submitted to the Committee, and generally approved, though some suggestions of alterations had been made. The officers of the past year had been re-elected to their respective offices. Rev. L. W. Wayte, M.A., Fellow of Trinity College, to be Treasurer; Mr. A. P. Whately, Student of Christ Church, to be Librarian; and Mr. Portal, B.A., and Mr. Wilmot, of Christ Church, to be Secretaries.

Mr. Portal then read a paper on the use of screens in churches.
The Society then adjourned.

The last meeting in the Michaelmas term was held on Wednesday, the 5th December, 1849, the Rev. W. Sewell, B.D., President, in the chair. The following presents were received;

Archæological Journal; Ecclesiastical Topography of Bucks and Bedfordshire, by Mr. Parker. Proceedings of Beds Architectural Society, by Mr. T. W. Brooks, Christ Church; five rubbings of brasses, by Mr. Aubrey, Exeter College; a rubbing of a brass, by Mr. Barton, Exeter College.

The following gentlemen were elected members :

Mr. A. Mitchell, Christ Church.

Mr. E. G. Breston, Architect, Oxford.

Mr. C. S. Palmer, Exeter College.

Mr. Portal, B.A., Secretary, then read the report, which stated that the plans of Minster Lovell, and Warrington churches had, since the last meeting, been submitted to the Committee, with a request that they might be published with the sanction of the Society, and this permission has been given.

The Committee have it in contemplation to establish a special fund, to be called the Church-building and Restoration Fund, the object of which will be to make small donations to such churches as submit their plans to the Society for its approval, by which means it is hoped, that much practical good may be done throughout the country; this plan cannot of course be carried into effect without the steady support of all those, whether members of the Society or not, who are interested in the revival of church architecture, and correct church arrangement, but it is confidently hoped that there are a sufficient number of such persons, either resident in Oxford or connected with it, and who will subscribe some annual sum, however small, as will enable the Committee to extend the influence of the Society to the remotest parts of the kingdom. The report concluded by congratulating the Society on the interesting papers read during the term, and the useful discussions which had arisen from them, and by hoping that individual members would promote the cause of architecture by their exertions in their own neighbourhood, and by inducing local bodies to refer their plans to the Society for advice and sanction.

Mr. Freeman then delivered a lecture on the constructive systems of the entablature and of the arch.

The President started a very interesting discussion upon some parts of the paper just read, in which Mr. Jones and Mr. Freeman took part. Some able remarks were then read by Mr. O. Jewitt, on the proposed restorations of the pinnacle of S. Mary's church. This paper, which was accompanied by beautifully executed drawings, was enthusiastically received, and the President stated that he entirely concurred in Mr. Jewitt's views, and would communicate them to the delegates. A very beautiful design by Mr. Jewitt, for a new seal for this Society, which the secretaries intended to present, was then exhibited, and the arrangement of the different parts, especially of the legend, "Nisi Dominus," called forth a unanimous expression of approbation. The Society then adjourned.

ARCHITECTURAL AND ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY FOR THE COUNTY OF BUCKINGHAM.

Ar the usual monthly meeting of the Committee of the above Society, held at the Vestry-room, Aylesbury, on the 6th of December, 1849.

The Rev. E. Elton read to the members a letter from the Rev. A. Baker, announcing his resignation of the office of honorary Secretary; in consequence of his removal into another county.

Mr. Elton was requested to inform Mr. Baker that the Committee received with very great regret his resignation of a post which he had filled with so much credit to himself and advantage to the members. They felt it due to Mr. Baker to put on record their belief that the existence, as well as present prosperity of the Society, is almost wholly attributable to his ability and untiring energy in the cause, and they trust the hope which he so kindly expresses of being enabled occasionally to attend the meetings of the Society may be realised.

SOMERSETSHIRE ARCHÆOLOGICAL AND NATURAL

HISTORY SOCIETY.

THE first quarterly general meeting of this Society was held at the Market House, in Taunton, on Wednesday, January 3rd, 1850.

In the absence of the President of the Society, the chair was taken by the Rev. F. B. Portman, who delivered an appropriate address. After several papers on subjects connected with Natural History, a paper on Norman architecture was read by C. E. Giles, Esq, architect, honorary secretary of the Society. We are glad to perceive that he maintained the opinion that all buildings of ante-Norman date have not been utterly destroyed in this country. At this meeting there were many members elected, and presents received, and everything seems to promise a successful and useful career to this new Society.