features, dating from the early part of the last century 

 were also acquired, as well as a small water-colour 

 drawing of Bristol from the S.E., by J. M. W. Turner, 

 R.A. This drawing belongs to the early period of the 

 artist's work, and as it was engraved in the Pocket 

 Magazine of January, 1796, he must have been about 21 

 years of age at the time it was painted. A copy of the 

 engraving accompanies the drawing. 



There was also purchased an object of considerable 

 local interest in the form of an official mace (see plate), 

 apparently intended to be carried in procession, and 

 probably by the deputy sword bearer. It is 37^ inches 

 in length, is dated 1761, and has upon it the initials 

 J- w - — John Wraxall 1 being sword bearer at that time. 

 It has the Royal Arms at one end and the City Arms at 

 the other, and as George the III. was crowned in Septem- 

 ber, 1 76 1 , it may possibly have been made to be carried in 

 procession on that occasion. Mr. John E. Pritchard was 

 most kind in endeavouring to find out the history of this 

 unique object. 



Other purchases were, portions of Cromwellian 

 armour, including a very fine spur ; a beautiful group of 

 three Bee Eaters, obtained locally in 1 866 ; a type series of 

 shells specially prepared to illustrate the structure of the 

 Molluscan Shell; a series of local birds; a specimen of 

 West Indian coral; and the fine head of an African 

 Rhinoceros. 



The Committee were also able to obtain a complete 

 set in seven volumes, of the valuable archaeological 

 works of the late General Pitt Rivers. These works 

 were privately printed at immense cost, and several of 

 them could not now be readily obtained. 



1 John Wraxall's name appears in the list of members of the Mercers' and 

 Linen Drapers' Company about this time. 



