32 Transactions of the 



MEETING, May 26, 1871. 

 The President in the Chair. 



The second meeting for the term was held on 26th May. 

 There were sixty-two members and visitors present. 



The following donations to the Museum and Garden were 

 announced by the President : a Tree Wasp's Nest ( Vespa Brit- 

 annica), by Miss Richardson ; a Rough-Legged Falcon {Archi- 

 butio lagopus), by J. Heath ; a collection of Beetles, by J. F. M. 

 H. Stone ; some Plants by D. H. Walsh ; a number of Scientific 

 Books for the Library, by F. F. Tuckett, Esq., Hon. Mem. 



The Rev. J. Greene exhibited a fine (bred) specimen of the 

 rare Deilepliila Galii (the scarce spotted Hawkmoth), and also its 

 pupa case. The larva was found last September on Durdham 

 Down, by J. Chamberlaine, Esq., O.C., and the perfect insect 

 emerged in April 1871. 



J. C. Prinsep then gave a lecture on ' Heealdey,' and Mr 

 Greene and the President added some remarks at the close. 



R. W. Wilson read the following paper on 



THE CHURCH OF ST MARY REDCLIFFE, BRISTOL. 



St Mary Redcliffe Church is a subject which ought to have 

 some interest not only for the antiquarian part of our Society, 

 but also for the whole of us. It has long been classed as one of 

 the marvels of Bristol. Chatterton, ' Bristowe's wondrous boy's ' 

 connection with it, is one of the most prominent features in the 

 unfortunate poet's short life, and this lends it additional interest. 

 It was in St Mary's that Chatterton professed to have discovered 

 his forged MSS, It was in St Mary's that he used to loiter 

 during his play hours, and dream of Bristol in her early days and 

 greatest prosperity, when the city of Bristol actually had a small 

 fleet on the high seas to protect her commerce, and when mer- 

 chants grew so wealthy that they could easily afford to live in 

 Bristol like small princes, each with his little court of dependants 

 round him. The ' boy-poet ' himself says of the Church: — 



' Stay curyous. traveller and pass not bye. 

 Until this festive pile astound thine eye — 

 Thou seest this maystrie of a human hande, 

 The pride of Bristowe and the Westerue lande ; 

 Well maiest thou be astounde, but view it well, 

 Go not frona hence before thou see thy fill, 

 And learn the buylder's vertues and his name.' 



