20 
NATURE NOTES 
and kindly extending the invitation to any member of the Selborne Society, a 
company of about fifty ladies and gentlemen took advantage of this opportunity on 
December 19. Brewers’ Hall, in Addle Street, Wood Street, proved to be a 
fine building, enriched with a quantity of old oak panelling and carved oak 
furniture. The Hall in comparison with its fellows is of comparatively modern 
date, viz., 1673, 'being erected on the site of an older building. Mr. Avenell 
gave some details of the “ Mystery” or Company of the Brewers, pointing out 
the portraits of the benefactors on the walls, the fine carved screen, with the 
musicians’ gallery, the curious iron brackets projecting from the walls for sus- 
pending lanterns, the Charter of Henry VI. to the Company, an old table brought 
frorti the Company’s Barge, and other items of interest. Mr. Plowman supple- 
mented Mr. Avenell’s remarks by giving a bill of fare of one of the Company’s 
dinners. At the Barber Surgeons’ Hall there was truly an embarras de ?-ichesse. 
The beautiful old plate, including three royal gifts — a gold cup from Henry VIII., 
a silver one from Charles I., and a soup tureen from Queen Anne, besides six or 
seven loving cups, tankards, salvers, the barge badge, mace heads, salt cellars and 
many other smaller objects, all of solid silver, the original Charter of 1308, with 
its seal, other Charters of Philip and Mary and other sovereigns, old parchments, one 
with Sir Thomas More’s signature as Chancellor, old account books, and illumin- 
ated records, were all spread out on the table round which the Selbornians were 
seated. Mr. Sidney Young, author of the Annals of the Barber Surgeons, was 
in the chair, and gave the company a most interesting and graphic resum€ of the 
history of his Company, with quotations from his book. After his remarks some 
time was spent in examining the old plate, the great leather and gilt embossed 
screen and the pictures, among which was the great Holbein of Henry VIIL, 
handing the Charter of the Company to its then Master, Mr. Vicary, and also 
other pictures by Vandyke, Lely and Gainsborough. Seldom has a more enjoyable 
Saturday afternoon been spent by the Selbornians, and hearty votes of thanks 
were given, both to Mr. Avenell for arranging the meeting, and to Mr. Young for 
his valuable and entertaining lecture. 
January 16. — Natural History Museum, S.W. (Geological Department). 
Meet Mrs. Percy Myles in the Central Hall, 2.15 to 2.30; Dr. A. Smith 
Woodward, F.R.S., keeper of the department, has kindly undertaken to give a 
demonstration on “ Fossil Reptiles.” 
January 30. — St. Paul’s Cathedral. Meet Mrs. Percy Myles at the west door 
(inside) at 2.15 p.m., sharp. The Rev. Canon Scott Holland has kindly con- 
sented to act as guide to the Selbornians. 
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