1 86 ON CABINETS OF NATURAL HISTORY SPECIMENS 



" Thus have I rudely rigcle this paper saile, 



Soone maye hee waufted bee with happie gaile ; 

 Nor needs it piratts feare, for, though it <lie, 

 Loves endles trafique in this breast doth lie." 



This Hatton-Fanshawe alliance is mentioned, though incorrectly, and with 

 altered surroundings, in the Ingoldsby Legend of " Bleeding Heart Yard " : — 



" One Alice Hatton, ne^ Fanshawe — a name 

 Which you'll recognise, reader, at once as the same. 

 With that borne by Sir Christopher's erudite dame." 



Here he built a chapel, which was consecrated in 1616, but is now used as a 

 stable. One of the large carved oak cantilevers of the chapel roof, a stone tablet 

 in the granary, with shield of arms, and inscription of a later owner, Sir 

 Thomas Cambell, 1664 (who married Mar}', daughter of Viscount Fanshawe), and 

 the chapel with its niches and oval windows were seen by the kind permission of 

 Mr. James Lamb. 



We may gain some idea of the grandeur and size of Clay Hall, which was 

 one of the most important estates in this end of Essex, from the MSS. of Smart 

 Lethieullier of Aldersbrook, recording the principal houses near Barking, about 

 1750. He calls it " A noble seat finely situated, and commanding a pleasant 

 prospect. No less than thirty rooms were standing within a few years past, and 

 it is now entirely pulled down, and a small farmhouse built in its stead." It is 

 probable, however, from the inscription on the tablet mentioned above, that the 

 mansion had been added to, or rebuilt, by Sir Thomas Cambell about a century 

 before. 



The return drive was made by St. Swithin's Farm and Redbridge, through 

 Wanstead to Snaresbrook Station, thus ending a most interesting and successful 

 meeting. 



ON CABINETS OF NATURAL HISTORY SPECI- 

 MENS FOR CIRCULATION AMONG THE 

 VILLAGE SCHOOLS OF ESSEX. 



By F. W. RUDLER, F.G.S., M.A.I. 



Ci<rator 0/ the Museum of Practical Geology ; formerly Professor of Xatural ScieJice in the 

 University College of IVales. 



T ^ /"HEN the Essex Field Club's scheme for founding a Central 

 Museum and Scientific Institution at Chelmsford shall be 

 accomplished, there is one simple way in which it may readily extend 

 its influence throughout the county, and thus lay claim to wide 

 sympathy and support. This is by establishing a system of lending 

 small collections to schools and rural institutions. A number of 

 small cabinets, cheaply but strongly made, and filled with attractive 

 specimens, well-arranged and clearly-labelled, should be issued from 



