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only the Duke the E. of Bath and another lord What was said I cannot hear, only the king gave him the Duke his breeches and told him there were papers that concerned him in his pocket and gave him the key of his closet. Some while before he mentioned his 2 sons that were unprovided for. I cannot hear that he mentioned the D. of Monmouth in all his sickness to the Duke or any that waited upon him. The king altered about 2 on Thursday and since that time there was little hopes. Blessed be God he kept his understanding all the while till 3 hours before death, and most of those 3 hours at intervals. The queen is in great perplexity and all her servants. A little before the k's death the queen sent to ask him pardon for all her faults the k. said he knew only his own for which he asked her pardon.

All things God be praised in a great calm the Duke proclaimed about 4 o'clock: there first went a troop of grenadiers, then all the heralds and the principall gave my Lord Mayor the reason of this attendance there was read the enclosed proclamation subscribed by the Council and lords after the heralds came the queen's coach, then the Archbps, Ld Kepers, Presidents Privy Seal, Dukes, Earls, &c. But I am much mistaken for after the troop of grenadiers came a full troop of the guards, abt 200, then before the heralds came the messengers [sic. in original] and so on as I said before. After the king's death the Duke came to the counsell and spoke to them after this sort. My lords now the crown is descended upon me. I do declare I will never alter the government as it is now established in Church and State and I will sacrifice the last drop of my blood to maintain the protestant religion and as far as in me lys I will follow my late brother's example.

I hear this is to be at large in a declaration which my Ld Keper and Privy Seal are to draw this up for the people. I have enclosed 2 proclamations, and I will send you the other as soon as I can get it. The words are sent by Harrison. I have nothing more as I remember, I am

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Your loving brother,

JOHN EDISBURY.

I forgot to tell you the king expressed a great deal of kindness toward the Duke. Addressed

Endorsed

These

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THE HILBRE CROSS.

By the Rev. A. Hume, D.C.L., Hon. Secretary.

THAT there was a cell of Monks at the little islet known as Hilbre, (or St. Hildeburgh's isle,) for several centuries, is well known, but the period of its origin is not stated. In all probability, however, it existed during the reigns of our Saxon monarchs, when Deva or Westchester was a place relatively much greater than it is at present. In 1120, a monk of this cell is said to have advised the adoption of the course by which the constable of Chester was enabled to pass the mouth of the Dee without ships; and when the pathway was round the coast, Hilbre was a place of some note. On Camden's map, a cross is represented as erected on the island; and, considering the veneration attached to this emblem from the earliest times, it is not unlikely that it had existed for several centuries. When the religious associations of the place were rudely dispersed, the cross no doubt disappeared. It could not easily have been removed, and no one would care to carry it away. About ten years ago the head of a cross, nearly perfect, was dug up in the island. Its type is Saxon; it is of the red sandstone of the district; and it measures 23 inches across. After lying for several years at the Dock office in the Custom House, it came into my possession, and has been engraved. It is morally certain that it is the identical cross which was hallowed by the

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The Hilbre Cross.

associations of centuries, which was visited by pilgrims, and which exhibited to landsmen and mariners the symbol of Christianity during the most barbarous and troubled periods. It has been thought that a local relic of so much interest should be figured and briefly described in one of the volumes of this society. It has been given in the volume entitled "Ancient "Meols," which describes the extinct settlement in the immediate neighbourhood of Hilbre, on the sea coast of Cheshire.

PROCEEDINGS.

FIFTEENTH SESSION, 1862-63.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.

Free Public Library, 18th October, 1862.

ALEXANDER CRAIG GIBSON, F.S.A., CURATOR, in the Chair.

The SECRETARY read the following

REPORT.

The Council, at the conclusion of their year of office, have to report that the regular course of the Society's proceedings has been pursued with the usual success; and they retire with the confident feeling that the position of the Society, during the period of their service, has, in some important respects, been materially improved.

The total number of members on the roll of the Society is 420; viz., 57 life, 183 resident, 152 non-resident, 2 lady associate, and 26 honorary members.

Eighteen Meetings were held, at which twenty Papers were read during the Session. Three of the Meetings, of a more popular character, were attended by ladies; the last partook of the nature of a Soirée and was numerously attended. On that occasion the Derby Museum was lighted up for the first time and some of the chief objects of interest were explained by Mr. Moore, the Curator. The arrangement by which ladies and other non-members are occasionally invited to the Society's Meetings has proved to be advantageous both as respects the general attendance of Members and the variety and interest of objects exhibited in illustration of the Society's three great subjects of enquiry; the Council also think it likely that it may be the means of adding to the number of lady-associates, and recommend its continuance.

In their last Report the Council had pleasure in acknowledging the kindness of the Town Council, through their Library Committee, in granting to the Society the use of a suitable room in the Free Public Library, for the purpose of holding its Meetings. That accommodation has been increased by additions since made to the comfort and elegance of the room. Hitherto the Library and Museum have been comparatively inaccessible to the Members generally, owing to the difficulty of approach and uncertainty of attendance at the room in Ranelagh Street where they were placed; but during the year just expired accommodation has been provided for these alsowithin the Free Public Library. The Museum and miscellaneous objects, in four large cases, occupy a separate apartment; and, to receive the books, a very elegant and commodious book case has been purchased, at a cost exceeding £100. Although this is a large sum, the Council felt justified in expending it, trusting that voluntary contributos would reimburse the Society, in a great part, if not all, of the amount. In this manner a portion of the outlay has already been repaid and the Council expect further contributions from other Members, before whom the subject has yet to be brought. They have great pleasue in acknowledging the kindness of some gentlemen, not Members of the Society, who have shewn their sympathy in its pursuits by assisting in this purchase.

Donations of their published Transactions and Proceedings have been received during the past Session from several Provincial learned Societies with which this Society had not previously been in union; and an effort to complete various imperfect series of such volumes has been partially successful. The fourteenth annual volume is expected to be ready for delivery about Christmas, when the plates necessary to complete the last will also be supplied.

As the new volume is not wholly printed off, the Council deem it prudent to recommend the postponement of the Treasurer's balance sheet for a short time; they are, however, in a position to state that a balance in their favour, not less in amount than that of last year, nay be expected when the accounts are formally produced.

The Delegates nominated by the Society to co-operate in the management of the Gallery of Inventions and Science are unable to report that satisfactory progress has been made towards the fulfilment of the duties imposed on them. The expressed inability of the Library and Museum Committee of the Town Council to contribute funds for defraying the cost of management appears to render hopeless, for the present at least, the accomplishment of the principal design. This impediment is the more to be regretted as the closing of the Exhibition at the end of the present month would, under more favourable circumstances, have afforded ample opportunity to establish the proposed collection on a promising basis.

The names of six new Sectional Members of Council, and of a VicePresident, in lieu of those who retire, are submitted, agreeably to the laws, in the printed balloting lists.

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