THE FIRST WINTt;R IStEETiNG. Xxvii. 



which perhaps originally cost but a few pence or shillings. These inscribed 

 fuddling cups seem very rare. 



Mr. Eichardsou also showed a tall earthenware puzzle pot of unusual form, 

 with handle, but no spout. The sides, he said, are decorated with festoons and 

 tassels with a rose between each, all raised, and the top also represents a rose. 

 The whole is composed of a red ware covered with a rich dark brown glaze, 

 highly iridescent. A pipe goes from the middle of the bottom to nearly the top 

 of the inside ; the handle is hollow, and has a hole and small spout near the top. 

 The tea or other liquid is poured in whilst the pot is held upside down, and is 

 then poured out through the hole in the handle. Teapots on a similar principle 

 were made by the Chinese, having a spout and handle and the pipe from the 

 bottom, and no lid. These have been imitated in England at Rockingham and 

 elsewhere. I possess one made in the 18th century, by Sijode, the founder of the 

 present firm of Copeland. It is difficult to suggest a date for the pot under 

 notice, but it might be early Jackfield ware, perhaps early 18th centuiy or even 

 earlier. Jackfield was a manufactory of earthenware in Shropshire in very early 

 times. The more ordinary puzzle jug with a perforated neck and several spouts 

 does not seem to have any connection with the present specimen in its origin, as 

 its action is on such a diftercnt principle. 



Ey Captain Aclaxd: 



A Portable Sun and Moon Dial Combined, " Horizontale Solis ct Lunoi." — 

 This little contrivance was purchased by the Rev. S. E. V. Filleul, Rector of All 

 Saints, in 1902, at Munich. It consists of a brass plate, nicely worked and 

 engraved, measuring Sin. by Sgin., and has a magnetic compass fixed in the 

 centre, by means of which the dial is placed in the correct position for use. The 

 figures for the hours of the sundial are inscribed in the usual manner on a 

 circular disc. A smaller circle, within the hour circle, is inscribed with figures 

 from 2 to 28, and is marked " I&t. Lunee," the age of the moon. Within this 

 second circle is another smaller cii'cle, inscribed with figures 1-12 twice over, and 

 is made to revolve, and has an index or pointer attached to it where the 

 figure 12 occurs. The shadow is cast by a piece of string or silk cord, fastened at 

 one end of the centre of the dial immediately over the centre of the compass, and 

 at the other end to a moveable flange, which (when the dial is to be used) is raised 

 to a vertical position close to the hour figure 12-0. The correct angle for the 

 cord, which is the gnomon, is obtained by varying the height of the cord on the 

 moveable flange higher or lower, according to the latitude of the place. When 

 used as a lunar dial, the inner row of figures is revolved until the index points to 

 the figure on the middle circle, which represents the age of the moon, and the 

 time is read off from the inner row of figures. It is, perhaps, almost unneces- 

 sary to remark that the results obtained are of a very uncertain character, 

 especially at night. In this country the moon was seldom bright enough ; and he 

 —Captain Acland— had had "to strike a match to tell time by the moon." 



