THIRD SUMMER MEETING. XXXV. 



THIRD SUMMER MEETING 



AT PORTESHAM. 



16th September, 1920. 



The last of the summer meetings, which was held at 

 Portesham on Thursday, September 16th, proved most 

 interesting, and was attended by about 80 members. By the 

 kindness of Mr. and Mrs. W. Hardy Manfield, who now 

 occupy 



. PORTESHAM HOUSE, 



the ancient home of Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy 

 was thrown open for the inspection of the members, who 

 were thus enabled to see the remarkable collection of relics 

 of Nelson's trusty and favourite flag captain. 



In the garden is a picturesque sundial, dated 1767 and 

 bearing the name of Joseph Hardy. A considerable amount 

 of interest, too, was shown in the collection of fossils. With 

 respect to these the PRESIDENT said that the fossil tree stumps 

 came from beds corresponding to the Portland beds, nearly 

 all being portions of fossilised coniferous trees. Up in the 

 quarry at Portesham was what the men called a "fossil 

 elephant." In reality it was only a large tree coated with a 

 deposit. The so called " fossil bird's nest " was a cicad such 

 as could be seen at Portland growing out of dirt beds. 



The attendance was so large that the members of the Club 

 had to be conducted in parties over the house, which for 

 many years was the home of the great seaman who was flag 

 captain to Nelson on board the Victory at the crowning 

 battle of Trafalgar. It was immediately after the battle of 

 the Nile that Hardy was invited by Nelson temporarily to fill 

 the place, on the flagship Vanguard, of his flag captain who 

 had been sent home with despatches. It was then that the 

 long and intimate association of these two bosom friends 

 began. Hardy served his idolised chief on no fewer than six 



