XXXIV. 



Christmas, 1839. The length of the chasm caused by this founder was 

 1,000 yards, breadth 300 yards, and depth from 130-210 feet, whilst 22 

 acres of land were sunk in the chasm. Landslips have occurred at 

 Portland in 1665, 1734, 1750, 1792, and also at St. Alban's Head." 



After luncheon the party separated ; some under the guidance of 

 Doctor Bangay were conducted over the private observatory of Sir Henry 

 Peek ; the fine collection of British birds was described by Mr. Arthur 

 Lister ; Mr. Grover, the curator, introduced a third party to the Museum 

 contained in the house ; whilst others visited^the church in company with 

 the Rector, the Rev. J. Curgenven. 



At four o'clock a party set out to walk by way of the landslip to 

 Axmouth, a distance of about three miles, by which they were able to 

 see some of the finest scenery on the southern coast. At Axmouth 

 carriages were waiting to carry them back to Lyme Regis. 



At 7.30 the members dined together at the Golden Lion Hotel by the 

 invitation of the Mayor of Lyme, Mr. T. E. D. Philpott, and at 8.30 an 

 evening meeting was held in the Town Hall, where several of the 

 municipal documents of this ancient borough were exposed to view, and 

 proved of great interest. Many other objects were exhibited in the 

 rooms ; for instance, drawings and engravings of the old Cobb, or 

 breakwater, the landslip, and of various buildings in the town, books, 

 and specimens of the local industry of cushion lace. For the care and 

 trouble taken in arranging this exhibition the party was greatly 

 indebted to Dr. Bangay, of Lyme Regis. Two papers were read at the 

 meeting, one by Mr. Z. Edwards, descriptive of the municipal documents 

 of Lyme Regis and the history of the town, the other by the Secretary, on 

 Captain Thomas Coram, born at Lyme in 1668, the founder of the 

 Foundling Hospital. This paper will be found at pp. 144 151 of this 

 volume. 



WEDNESDAY, JULY 22ND, proved bright and fine with the exception 

 of two heavy showers. The official programme commenced at ten o'clock, 

 when the members met outside the Red Lion, and, under the guidance of 

 Mr. Edwards, ex-Mayor, proceeded to visit various spots of interest in 

 the town Lord Chatham's house, Sherborne Lane, the old Town Mills, 

 the Church, the Lynch, and the Cobb. This tour of inspection, hindered 

 as it was by the weather, occupied the party until about 12.30, when 

 most of them assembled in Mr. Lister's garden at Highcliffto listen to an 

 exposition on the geology of Lyme Regis by the Rev. H. S. Solly. He 

 said Lyme Regis was classic ground for the geologists. It was associated 

 with the names of " Captain Carey," who 100 years ago sold Ammonites 

 as curiosities to passengers on the coaches, his real name being Lock j of 



