88 
to matters connected with the Burnley district. Christopher 
Towneley was himself a Burnley man. He was familiar with all 
the gentry of his period around these parts, and many of them 
lent him their deeds and papers to copy. I draw the attention 
of the Burnley Literary and Scientific Club, thus especially to 
the manuscript treasures of Towneley Hall, because it seems to 
me that the likeliest chance for the utilisation of these excellent 
materials, or a portion of them, would be for an application to be 
made on behalf of this Club, by a deputation from its Committee, 
to Lord Norreys, the present master of Towneley, for permission 
to copy, for historical and literary purposes, such portions of 
certain volumes of the Towneley M.S.S. as more directly concern 
the district. Lord Norreys has taken such an active interest 
in the town of Burnley since he came to reside at Towneley, 
that I presume to feel confident his lordship would, if suitably 
approached, not hesitate to give permission for a freer access to 
these Manuscripts by trustworthy persons nominated by an influ- 
ential Club like this to make extracts for eventual use in a new 
History of Burnley, than any strangers would be warranted in 
soliciting. I cannot imagine it possible that such a singular 
collection of ancient evidences lying within a couple of miles 
from where we are assembled, should continue closed against the 
associated literary men of Burnley, if they should deem it ne- 
cessary to apply to the noble possessor for liberty of access to 
them. 
Mr. Abram concluded with some remarks upon the Topo- 
graphy and Architectural Antiquities of Burnley, and upon the 
modern history, commercial, social, &c., suggesting ways in which 
the Club collectively or by interested individual members might 
accumulate and preserve materials which would be ready for use 
by the future historian of the district. 
