334 The Fifty-Eighth General Meeting. 



The Kev. W. Symonds on the succeeding night explained the 

 circumstances under which similar cups were presented by Edmund 

 Estcourt, Esq., to nine out of the thirteen voters of Malmesbury 

 who voted at the election to the office of High Steward of Malmes- 

 bury in 1804, to commemorate "the triumph of \h& nine ap'ples 

 over the four crabs." In that year Mr, Edmund Estcourt, of 

 Lasborough Park, Solicitor to the Stamp Office, was elected in 

 succession to Dr. Wilkins, to the ofiPice of High Steward. There 

 were thirteen voters (the Alderman and twelve Capital Burgesses), 

 of whom four (crabs) voted for Lord Peterborough, and the other 

 nine (apples) for Mr. Estcourt. A similar cup is in the possession 

 of one of the Vice-Presidents of the Meeting. The effect of the 

 election was to put the borough into Mr. Estcourt's pocket, whose 

 two nominees, Messrs. Ladbrooke and Colbourn, retained their 

 seats in 1806 in spite of the famous Malmesbury Election Petition 

 of that year. {See Wilts Arch. Mag., xxxvi., 292.) 



Another interesting exhibit amongst the Church plate shown was 

 the chalice of St Mary's, Westport, Malmesbury. This is a good 

 example of the plain baluster stemmed straight sided, short bowled. 

 Commonwealth cup, of which there are but few specimens in the 

 county. It was unknown to the compilers of The Church Plate of 

 Wilts in 1891. It has the letters P. M. with E above them, 

 pounced on the side of the bowl just under the lip. It bears the 

 date letter for 1654 and the maker's mark E.S with mullet above 

 and below. It measures 5|in. in height, 3Jin. diameter at the top, 

 and 3f in, diameter at the base. The circumstances of its discovery 

 were remarkable. It was known to have existed but had dis- 

 appeared for over thirty years, until a few months ago, when the 

 sexton accidentally taking up an old pewter flagon kept in the 

 Church chest (and also undescribed in Church Plate of Wilts), and 

 turning it upside down, out fell the chalice. It is a notable ad- 

 dition to the Church plate of the county. 



THUESDAY, JULY 6th. 



The Excursion for this day was, except for the two places (Long 

 Newnton and Ashley), visited at the end of the day, wholly over 



