PREFACE. 



QUIET and casual perusal of the 

 early minutes of the Company, snatched 

 during the intervals of business, re- 

 vealed so much that was interesting that the 

 writer was induced to extend his researches, 

 and to embody the result in a Paper, which, at 

 the suggestion of the late Master, Colonel 

 Laurie, C.B., M.P., was communicated to the 

 Master, Wardens and Court of Assistants on 

 Friday evening, March 23rd, 1888.^ A proposal 

 then made to amplify the Paper into something 

 like what is now submitted met with warm and 

 unanimous approval. It is possible that, generally 

 speaking, the chapters which follow may reveal 

 little that is new to the future compiler of history, 

 but it is believed that they will shed an interesting 

 light upon facts already ascertained. 



In attempting the task before him, a difficulty 

 encountered the writer at the outset. It hap- 

 pens unfortunately that, although there is every 



* A very similar suggestion had indeed been made in the 

 previous year by the then Master, Mr. C. O. Humphreys. 



