182 Society of Antiquaries. 
vice-president, in the ¢hair.—After the usual business of the 
society in reading the minutes of last meeting was performed, 
a short but well-merited eulogium was pronounced from 
the chair on the late secretary, the Rev. John Brand, A. M., 
the loss of whose talents, integrity and industry was sen- 
sibly felt by all the members. As a singular coincidence, a 
reverend gentleman of the same name was elected a fellow 
on that evening. 
Noy. 13. Sir H. C. Englefield, bart. vice-president, in 
the chair.—A letter was read from Boydell, Esq., 
on the antient use of the word burgh or borough, and the 
modern signification of this term, which has been applied 
to a castle or fortified town. The real meaning of this ap- 
pellation was illustrated by a reference to, and local de- 
scriptions of, several places now bearing this particular ter- 
mination, as Peterborough, Harborough, Loughborough, &c. 
It was alleged that the word burgh, signifying borough, 
eastle, or declivity of a rock, was derived from the Saxon ; 
but when applied, as-it often was, to designate low marshy 
tracts with slight elevations, it had its origin from a Gaelic 
word, signifying a flat country on the banks of rivers or 
estuaries. Instead, however, of having recourse to the Gaelic 
for the significations of names used in countries where that 
Janguage was certainly never known, it is much more ra- 
tional to conclude that the term signifying the banks of 
rivers, &c., is from the Anglo-Saxon durn or bourn, whence, 
probably, the names Eastbourn, Woburn, Sherbourne, Red- 
burn, &c. The term wry is evidently of the same origin 
as burg, although not. noticed by this writer, whose letter 
was so controversial, declamatory, and dogmatical, that it 
was sometimes very difficult to comprehend his real 
meaning. 
Noy. 20. Craven Orde, Esq., vice-president, in the chair. 
—Several letters were read from J. H. Thornton, esq. and 
others, relative to some barrows or tumuli which were opened 
last October in Gloucestershire. Drawings of these barrows 
were exhibited ; they occupied an extent of land from 40 
to 55 yards long, and from 19 to 30 yards broad each, and 
contained several kistraens which presented nothing singular, 
except 
Ul 
