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Abstract of Paper on Church Plate of Devon and Cornwall, by the 
REV. P. WILLIAMS. 
(Read 28th February 1894). 
With the view of obtaining accurate returns of the Church Plate in 
the Diocese of Exeter (where I was then beneficed), so as to show 
what specimens might be found of pre-Reformation art, I consulted 
the Exeter Diocesan Architectural Society, of which I was a member 
of committee, there being no County Archzological Society then 
existing either in Devon or Cornwall. The Society took up the sub- 
ject very warmly, and assisted me by printing and circulating a 
descriptive paper prepared by me, containing questions to be answered 
by the Incumbents. But it was first decided that as it would cost 
very little more to take in the Diocese of Truro also (as forming part 
of the old Diocese of Exeter) our operations should extend to that 
Diocese as well—a great mistake, as I afterwards discovered. But I 
was given as a coadjutor Mr. F. T. Depree, the principal silversmith 
in Exeter, who undertook to receive and tabulate the returns for the 
Diocese of Exeter, I myself being responsible for Cornwall. During 
the course of the next year or two we had received replies to some- 
thing short of half the circulars—but some of them were very short 
and ofnot much use. Nevertheless, we had some very good drawings 
sent, and elicited some interesting particulars. But after I had been 
at work some time I found that my eyes would not stand the close and 
minute attention required, and I was prohibited from doing anything 
for a long time, and I have never been able to take it up again, my 
eyes having become much weaker. Meanwhile, a similar work had 
been begun in several different directions, and though the progress 
made is necessarily slow, yet the perseverance and energy of Miss 
Goodwin, the daughter of the late Bishop of Carlisle, enabled her to be 
the principal agent in bringing out the first volume on the subject, viz., 
“Church Plate in the Diocese of Carlisle.” This was followed by a 
similar volume for the county of Kent, by Canon Scott-Robertson ; 
and after an interval, by one on the “Church Plate of the Arch- 
_ deaconry of Worcester,” by the late Archdeacon Lea. I have not yet 
noticed the publication of any others. I also had occasion to corres- 
pond with the Secretary to the Somerset Archzeological Society, who 
_ was undertaking a similar work for this Diocese, or County ; and it is 
some consolation to my feelings to find that the difficulties in this case 
“appear to have been as great as in ours, inasmuch as no volume has 
