the party reached considerably over 100, the largest gathering which had 

 ever taken place at a meeting of the club, the more remarkable in such a 

 remote district as Purbeck. The fine church of Kingston, recently 

 erected by Lord Eldon, by the designs of Street, was first visited. 

 Thence the route lay chiefly across the fields, partly by carriage and 

 partly on foot, to Swyre Head, the loftiest spot in the district, from which 

 a magnificent view lay extended in all directions. Those to whom the 

 district was new had every reason to* congratulate themselves on their 

 good fortune in having such clear weather to thoroughly enjoy it. 

 Eastwards the Isle of Wight was clearly visible, and the Hampshire 

 Coast, northwards the high chalk downs of Wiltshire, the hills of 

 Somerset, were visible, whilst closer at hand lay the fine coast scenery of 

 St. Alban's Head, Kimmeridge Bay, Lulworth, Weymouth Bay, and the 

 Isle of Portland ; on the opposite side lay the ramifications of Poole 

 Harbour and the ruins of Corfe Castle. After enjoying this extensive 

 prospect for a few minutes a steep descent into the valley below brought 

 the party to Smedmore House, where they were greeted with a warm 

 welcome by the owners, Colonel and Mrs. Hansel. Shortly after their 

 arrival the members of the Field Club and other friends were entertained 

 at luncheon in the dining room, after which they adjourned to the 

 garden, where, under the shade of the trees, they listened to a paper of 

 the President on the subject of " The Clavell Family and their connection 

 with Smedmore House," of which the following is a resume : 



"Hutchins says the family of Clavell can boast an antiquity not to be 

 equalled in the county, and very rarely in any other. Walter de 

 Clavell probably accompanied the Conqueror in his invasion of England, 

 for at the time of the compilation of the Domesday Book he was tenant- 

 in-chief of five lordships in Dorsetshire. Sir William Clavell held the 

 command in Ireland during the troubles towards the close of Queen 

 Elizabeth's reign ; then he was created a knight and a banneret. He was a 

 great but unfortunate proprietor. His projects, and the prosecutions re- 

 sulting from them, involved him in losses amounting to 20,000, owing to 

 which he was obliged to sell and mortgage a great part of his estate. His 

 nephew and heir apparent, the son of his last brother, having fallen very 

 early in life into evil ways, was apprehended for a robbery on the 

 highway about the commencement of the reign of Charles I. and, with 

 his associates, condemned and convicted ; but he experienced the Royal 

 clemency through the special intercession of the Queen. After he had 

 received his liberty he presented an address to his honourable friend, his 

 ever dear and well approved good uncle, Sir William Clavell, knight, 

 banneret, asking forgiveness. This address took the form of a poem of 



