74 
Club had the pleasure of entertaining Mr. W. Whitaker at dinner 
at the South Western Hotel. 
Next morning betimes, after breakfast, the Past President of 
the Hampshire Field Club, Mr. Whitaker, gave the members a 
preliminary account of the origin and progress of the Southampton 
Docks, and at 10.30 the whole party proceeded to the Docks 
where they were met by the President of the same Club, W. E. 
Darwin, esq., F.G.S., &c., and the Superintendent of the Docks, 
who courteously, conducted the party over the whole of the 
present docks and those in process of formation. 
The fine ships of the Royal Mail and Union Companies were: 
being loaded in preparation for starting for the West Indies, 
South America and the Cape, and the largest of the International 
Line of the U.S.A. (formerly Inman Company) the New 
York, exceeding 10,000 tons burthen, was thoroughly inspected 
by the party, a ticket of admission having been granted at the 
office for a party of fourteen. 
Some 3,000 men are daily employed in these docks, and the 
South Western Railway, who are now the owners, are laying out 
a million sterling in graving docks and improvements. In fact 
Southampton is rising again in importance, and owing to its. 
enjoying a double tide, and easy access at all states thereof, is 
likely to make other seaports like Liverpool, Bristol and London 
anxious for their future superiority. 
Departing from Southampton by the 1.5 p.m. train the 
members of the Field Club arrested their homeward journey at 
Romsey, and visited the magnificent Abbey Church. This has. 
been lately restored, the galleries and loose boxes removed, and 
is now seen in its pristine glory. The greater part of the structure 
is of Norman architecture, probably dating from A.D. 1100 when 
Henry I. visited the town to fetch his bride, Maud the Good, 
daughter of Malcolm Canmore, King of Scots, who was under care- 
of the Abbess, Christina Atheling. The western bays of the 
Nave are of Early English style, the four eastern windows. 
