P. HONORARY MEMBERS. 6th Feb., 1851. Akerman, John Yonge, Hon. M.R.S.L.,; F.S.A 27th Sept., 1854. 6th Feb., 1851. 6th Feb., 1851. Boileau, Sir John P., Bart., F.R.S., F.S.A., 27th Sept., 1854. Brewster, Sir David, K.H., D.C.L., LL.D. F.R.SS.L. and E., Hon. M.R.I.A.; one of the Eight Foreign Associates of the Academy of Sciences, in the Imperial Institute of France; and Hon. or Corr. Member of the Academies of Berlin, St. Petersburg, Vienna, Munich, Göttingen, Turin, and Modena; and Principal of the University of Edinburgh; College, Edinburgh, and Allerly, Roxburghshire. Brown, James, New York, U.S.A. 1st Nov., 1860. 6th Feb., 1851. 1st Feb., 1855. 19th May, 1859. 27th Sept., 1854. Charlton, Edward, M.D., F.S.A. Newc., 7, Eldon Clarke, Joseph, F.S.A., Saffron Walden, Essex. Gray, John Edward, Ph.D., F.R.S., F.L.S., Latham, R. Gordon, M.D., F.R.S. Murchison, Sir Roderick Impey, G.C. St. S., Owen, Richard, M.D., LL.D., F.R.S., F.L.S., Phillips, John, M.A., LL.D., F.R.S., F.G.S., P. P. 27th Sept., 1854. Rosse, the Earl of, K.P., D.C.L., F.R.S., F.S.A., F.R.A.S., F.G.S., Birr Castle, Parsonstown, Ireland. 27th Sept., 1854. Sabine, Major-General Edward, R.A., D.C.L., LL.D., Pres. R.S., F.R.A.S., 13, Ashley place, London, S.W., and Woolwich. 27th Sept., 1854. Sedgwick, Rev. Adam, A.M., F.R.S., F.G.S., F.R.A.S., Hon. M.R.I.A., Woodwardian Professor, Trinity College, Cambridge. 6th Feb., 1851. Smith, Charles Roach, F.S.A., Member of the Roy. Soc. North. Antiq. Copenhagen, Hon. Mem. SS. Antiq., France, Normandy, Scotland, Spain, Newcastle, the Morinie, Abbeville, Picardy, Wiesbaden, Luxemburg, Treves, Touraine, &c., Temple place, Strood, Kent. 6th Feb., 1851. Willis, Rev. Robert, A.M., F.R.S., Jacksonian 27th Sept., 1854. Wright, Thomas, A.M., F.S.A., Hon. M.R.S.L., TRANSACTIONS. ADDRESS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE HISTORIC SOCIETY OF LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE. By Joseph Mayer, F.S.A., &c., &c., PRESIDENT. (READ 9TH MAY, 1867.) GENTLEMEN, In returning thanks, too long delayed, for the honour you lately conferred upon me in putting my name at the head of your society, I have thought to take the opportunity of making some remarks upon the noble studies you have in your charge. Most of those present are aware that my own collectionwhich has been the great object of life to me-has now passed to the care of Liverpool; and having thus retired in some measure from the more active pursuit of archæology, I feel less hesitation in offering advice to those of you who are entering upon such studies. The time is not yet far distant-I can recollect it wellwhen our noble science was held to require apology and justification; when those who did not account antiquaries to be fools beneath their notice, pitied them as madmen who owed no excuse for their innocent mania. In all ages there have been wise men who, looking beyond the present into the past and future, could see the wisdom of our study and comprehend its pleasant fascination; but not until this B day could we hold our heads high, and boldly claim a hearing for the truths we have discovered. I am happy to congratulate the younger members of this society, and of many similar associations, on this change of public opinion, a change that seemed hopeless to the sympathising companions of my youth. Archæology is indeed the noblest study that can be undertaken outside of those sciences which directly advance man's material good. To you it is unnecessary to point out what positive increase of knowledge has resulted from such investigations as those we are engaged in, but there is still a large class of society which regards our labours with a feeling of complacent contempt, not the less real because unexpressed-to this class I would suggest a few simple considerations. Practical archæology is the test of all historical truth. Some races have been-great in their day and most noteworthy for their influence upon humanity,-which can now alone be traced by the diggings of the antiquary. The giant walls of Postum and Fiesole may strike the traveller with amazement, but they tell no tale of that mysterious people which constructed them. The story of Etruria and its civilization is found, not in old manuscripts or authentic history, but in buried tombs and monuments-in gem and vase and dark inscription. It is not too much to say that the excavations at Herculaneum, Pompeii, and Ostia, have thrown more light upon the inner soul of Roman life than all the notices of satirists and historians. The legend of Assyria's might, her conquering zeal and profound religious feeling, has found sudden confirmation in our day by the examination of waste places in Nineveh and Khorsabad. Beyond a certain date human history is solely dependent upon our labours. It is a common boast that national taste is daily improving in architecture, in colour, and in forms of ordinary use. Without delaying to analyze the entire truth of the vaunt, I would claim for our science the principal credit of this progress. One would scarcely exaggerate in saying that ninetenths of the best shapes now used in earthenware, jewellery, and general ornamentation, have been recovered by antiquarian collectors from the ruins of former civilization, and restored to use by their taste and liberality. If a modern school of high sculpture, of graceful architecture, of pure design should ever rise as all must hope--the boon will be mostly owing to the dissemination, among all classes, of the unrivalled art of Greece and Etruria. We are well aware that many false models are extant, and that the bent of our age is towards servile copying both of good and ill; but we remember always that the perfect architecture of Greece sprang from the imitation of Egyptian building;-the lotus stalk slowly grew into the Ionic column-the bundle of Nile reeds was the earliest form of the Corinthian pillar. In that brilliant era, commonly called the cinque-cento, the tasteless works of the Byzantine school were the earliest models, until the old Etruscan spirit awakened, cast aside the tawdry style of its masters, and rejoiced in the strength of its own originality. If the world, ancient and mediæval, could thus develop beauty in slow copying of falsities, there may be hope for a new Renaissance in our time; and I contend that the glory of this triumph will principally belong to archæologists. It has been said that if the world be divided by Reason, it will leave a remainder,—which may be called Sentiment. And our science, gentlemen, calls forth the noblest sentiment of humanity—reverence for the dead and honest appreciation of our superiors. This is not, perhaps, the time to enlarge on those personal feelings which have never failed to give me comfort in the difficulties of life; but I look back now over many years, and I can truly declare that from this study my greatest happiness has ever been derived. It is an enthusiasm that never cools-the intelligent love of bygone days and |