10 



The Seventeenth General Meeting . 



family after his escape by concealment in the oak tree, at Boscobel, 

 in 1651. In reference to this event a pension was granted, and is 

 still paid to the Penderell family, the pension descending in the 

 male line, and the ring passing down in the female line. Some of 

 the English jewellery shown was interesting from its having been 

 worn by the mother of Smollett, the historian. The collection of 

 chatelaines of French and English manufacture, of the 17th and 

 18th centuries, with the watches and other appendages attached, 

 was of a novel character. One of the watches possessed an additional 

 interest from its having belonged to James II. ; it had a revolving 

 dial, with figures of the sun and moon to indicate the time. A few 

 hanaps of German workmanship, and some early chalices, were 

 exhibited. 



THE SOCIETY'S DINNER. 



The Anniversary Dinner of the Society took place at the Pembroke 

 Arms Hotel, at six o'clock, and was presided over by Mr. Penrud- 

 docke. Most of the ladies and gentlemen who attended the general 

 meeting were present, the total number being about 125. Mr. 

 Motton catered with his usual liberality, but owing to the crowded 

 state of the room, the waiting was not so good as probably it would 

 otherwise have been. Lady Herbert sent a magnificent buck, and 

 also a large supply of game. The dessert, which was of the best, 

 was also the gift of her ladyship. 



In responding to one of the toasts, the Venerable Archdeacon 

 Stanton introduced the following anecdote relating to "Wilton : — 

 The story went that Sir Osborne GifFard placed his affections on a 

 nun, who thought proper to accompany him. Probably thinking 

 it, however, an act of gross impropriety, she took a companion with 

 her. The two were carried off by Sir Osborne Giffard, and the act 

 led to his excommunication. The punishment inflicted upon him 

 by the Archbishop of Canterbury was fourfold ; and probably they 

 would not approve of one or two portions of the sentence. The 

 first was that he should never set foot in a nunnery again — a very 

 safe measure, for he was evidently not a safe man to be there. The 

 next was that he was to fast a certain number of months — another 

 good measure, probably, for the health of his body. The next was 



