THE HAMPSHIRE ANTIQUARY & NATURALIST. 



INTERESTING ROMAN COINS. 



Sir, In the Hci'npshirc Independent lately it was re- 

 marked that a certain gold coin of Allectus possessed by a 

 certain doctor, and valued at ,50, was not a true coin. 

 Thereupon I took additional trouble over the Allectus I 

 lately secured at Brv^-istone, Dorset. The British 

 Museum authorities declare it a thoroughly genuine one 

 so also do Mr. Skelton (Harbour Board) and Mr. Shore. 

 Allectus reigned in Great Britain for three years, 233 to 

 296. Then he was slain in battle off the Isle of Wight. 

 He inhabited some parts of Dorset over by Swanage. 

 This November journey I have been exceedingly lucky, 

 and have obtained an excellent Vespasian coin found near 

 the Badbury Rings, or earth defence works, ploughed up. 

 The head is a masterpiece, and the words "Vespasian 

 Augustus" on the face and " Fides Publica" on the "tail," 

 with the letters " S.C." and a female ligure holding a laurel 

 wreath in one hand and a horn of plenty in the other is ex- 

 cellently preserved, although 1820 years old. 



Vespasian died A.D. 79, m 7Othyear of his age, having 

 reigned well for 10 years. 



Probably Badbury rings, Spettisbury rings, the other 

 side of the river Stour (four or five miles over), Bulbarrow 

 and other defence works in Dorset are of this period. 



In addition to this excellent Vespasian, I have secured 

 about 20 others of the Romano-English age, and perhaps 

 some of ancient British times. These, Mr. Skelton (Har- 

 bour Board) has kindly undertaken to read and label for 

 me. 



Next journey (February) I shall expect, and am promised, 

 at least 50. Many of the 20 I have came from near Corfe 

 Castle, Maiden Castle, Sherborne, and Dorchester. Dorset 

 is full of such relics. 



I am, sir, yours obliged, 



GEO. PARKER. 



St. Mark's House, Southampton, November isth, 1889. 



A "CURIOUS FISH" ON THE ITCHEN. 



Dear Sir, On Friday last I was fishing in the Itchen 



with a friend, Mr. M . I had on a worm trying for 



perch, and Mr. M was trying for pike with a pater- 

 noster. I was some way down stream, when I heard Mr, 



M shouting for me, as he had a large fish on. I threw 



down my rod, leaving the line in the water, seized a gaff, 

 and ran to the assistance of my friend. When I got there 

 I found him pla3'ing a very large fish. After about twenty 

 minutes sport, the fish bolting again and again, and, after 

 a very pretty exhibition of skill on the part of the angler, 

 he brought the fish up on his side, and I had the pleasure 

 oflanding a pike which turned the scale at exactly 81bs. 

 This fish the most sporting pike I ever saw hooked was 

 captured with a small bait on a single hook on gimp, 

 fastened on single gut, and a fine line. Had anyone but an 

 expert angler been at the other end of the rod, that pike 

 would have regained his liberty. And now comes the 

 " Curious fish." We walked down to where I had left my 

 rod, and when I picked it up I found something had taken 

 my worm. I struck, and pulled up a small dabchick. The 

 bird had swallowed my worm, and I am now having it 

 stuffed by Mr. Patstone, gunmaker, Southampton, with 

 the gut hanging out of its mouth. I have never heard of a 

 dabchick being caught like this before. 



I remain, sir, yours faithfully, 



W. H. CUNLIFFE. 



Marchwood, Hants, November 17, 1889. 



WEATHER REPORT FOR THE WEEK. 



From the meterological register made at the Ordnance 

 Survey Office, Southampton, under the direction of Col. Sir 

 Chas. Wilson, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., F.R.S., R.E. Lat. 50 

 54' 50" N. ; long. i24'o" W. ; height above sea, 84 feet. 

 Observers Sergt. T. Chambers, R.E., and Mr. J.T. Cook. 



* Black bulb in vacuo. 



THE HAMPSHIRE INDEPENDENT, November 30, it 



A FOOL'S TOMB. 



It is well-known that in the years gone over to the 

 past lords and others used to keep fools for merri- 

 ment. It is very few whose names are recorded for 

 the future. This is the only record I have ever seen. 

 Who knows of any other ? At Steepleton, where 

 the Lord Ri verses formerly lived, the last being 

 buried now, and " Pitt " being the name of the owners 

 of the estate, is a stone to a fool. It is dateless and 

 is flat, in good state, being of very hard material. 

 These are the lines, which I copied to-day : 



" Near this stone Jack Webber lies, 



Rich as Croesus, as Solomon wise. 



He was born a fool a fool he died. 



Happy for all who can live and die like him," 

 Steepleton is about four miles from Blandford, 

 Dorset, next door to Lord Wolverton's Iwerne. 

 Two miles distant is a well-wooded and pretty neigh- 

 bourhood. The little one-belled church is the tomb 

 of the Rivers family. Probably there are eight 

 houses in the village. 



GEO. PARKER. 



It would be interesting if some antiquary versed in 

 the old forms of letters could give the approximate 

 date of the above tombstone. Fools or jesters were 

 at one time kept by princes and by some members of 



