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Excursion to Hiqhclerb. 

 Thirteen members made an early start on Wednesday, June Ist, 

 from the Great Western station for Newbury, whence they pro- 

 ceeded in carriages to Highclere, the seat of the Earl of Carnarvon. 

 The principal object of this, the second excursion of the season, 

 was to visit the park and grounds so renowned for their rhododen- 

 drons. After fording the stream of the Kennet, which runs by the 

 Priory of Sandleford, and divides the counties of Berkshire and 

 Hants, the pretty little village of Newtown was visited. The 

 church has lately been rebuilt on the site of an older one, and 

 consists of a nave with N. aisle and chancel ; it is dedicated to 

 St. John the Baptist and the Virgin Mary, The E. and W, 

 windows are by Hardman, and the rest by Clayton and Bell. On 

 the N. wall is a very good brass, by Hardman, erected in memory 

 of Lieut. Cockell. Under the guidance of the Rev. F. C. Gosling, 

 who joined the members at Newtown, and was of the greatest assist- 

 ance throughout the day, a short detour was made to Milford lake, 

 a sheet of water in the grounds of Highclere, embosomed in forest 

 trees with a fringe of rhododendrons and azaleas. Under the shelter 

 of umbrellas (for the rain now commenced and somewhat interfered 

 with the enjoyment of the day) the great beauty of the scenery 

 and the exquisite taste displayed in laying out this ornamental sheet 

 of water, were fully realized. Before entering the grounds imme- 

 diately surrounding the house, the new church of Highclere, now 

 nearly finished and soon to be consecrated, was inspected. The 

 information that Mr. Gilbert Scott was the architect alone saved it 

 from being rather severely criticized. The small rose window at 

 the E. end is quite insufficient to light the chancel and evidently 

 pushed up towards the roof to admit of an elaborate reredos 

 beneath ; the 17th and 18th century monuments which have been 

 taken down from the old church and inserted in the walls, after an 

 elaborate expenditure of paint and gilding — in one case the monu- 

 ment being divided into two parts, the figure leaning upon the 

 usual urn of the period being inserted in one place, and the remain- 

 ing portion carrying the inscription in another — were points which 

 provoked remarks by no means favourable to the good taste of 

 those in authority. Even the fact that Dr. Thomas Milles (some- 



