EXPEDITIONS. 29 
sat EXPEDITIONS. 
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WwW \ \i N May 24th the Society planned an outing to the 
Ai Forest of Dean. The expedition started at 12.40 
ONIN to go via Berkeley Road and the Severn Bridge to 
Speech House Station. The journey was slow but 
eR this was compensated for by the beauty of the 
, Vig scenery. Arriving at the Station the party broke 
up into little detachments, one going with Mr. 
Wethered to learn about a neighbouring coal- 
mine (though as it was Saturday they could not go down), and collect 
the fossils of the Sigillaria and Lepidodendroids which are the 
origins of coal-formations. Others penetrated the Forest to get 
botanical notices, or obtain rare entomological specimens. At 5.30 
the whole party collected in the large hall of Speech House for 
tea. A train at 6.15 brought the members back by half-past eight. 
The second expedition took place on July 3rd, when the Society 
went to Berkeley Castle. Passing through the town we first went 
through the Church, where the party, too numerous to be taken all 
together, was divided, one half going inside the Castle gates, while 
the others returned to the Church. The exact date when it was 
built is uncertain, but Robert Fitz-Hardinge is supposed to have 
erected a church during the twelfth century, which has been re- 
built, altered and added to since, so that now only the slightest 
traces of the original structure remain. In a wall near the Lectern 
there is a tile or brick bearing a Roman inscription said to refer to 
the Sixth Legion. 
The Church tower is built about 50 yards away from the rest 
of the edifice, as owing to the proposed height it would have 
afforded a good opportunity for an attacking party to shoot the 
defenders of the Castle in time of war, if situated within range. 
Some curious epitaphs are to be found in the Churchyard. The 
following one is the work of Dean Swift :— 
Here lies the Earl of Suffolk’s Fool, 
Men called him Dicky Pearce ; 
His folly served to make Folks laugh 
When wit and mirth were scarce. 
