SELBORNE SOCIETY NOTICES 59 
■now governed and exercises jurisdiction over Billingsgate Market by its officers, 
called “ Fishmeters,” whose duty it is to seize and condemn unsound fish. 
Many members of this Company have served the City as Lord Mayors, among 
whom may be noticed Sir William Walworth, who stabbed the Kentish rebel, 
Wat Tyler, at Smithfield, in 1383, and Sir Isaac Pennington, a staunch Puritan, 
who held office in 1642. This Pennington sat in both the Short and Long 
Parliaments, and as Lieutenant of the Tower conducted Laud to the scaffold. 
His son was the famous Quaker, whose stepdaughter married William Penn. 
Displayed in a room on the first floor was the Fishmongers’ magnificent plate, 
many choice pieces of which date from the seventeenth century- The Company’s 
pictures are particularly fine, and include two Romneys. There were also shown an 
interesting old funeral pall, and a chair made out of the piles of old London Bridge. 
The Hall of the Company has suffered the usual vicissitudes of these unfor- 
tunate buildings and was destroyed in the Great Fire, and the edifice which 
replaced it had to be pulled down to make room for the present London Bridge, 
so that the existing building only dates from the thirties of the last century. 
With the usual hospitality of this Company tea was served in the great Hall 
for the numerous visitors ; and the proceedings terminated with votes of thanks 
to the Master and Wardens, and to Mr. Towse fur his valuable paper and 
services. 
NEWS FROM THE BRANCHES AND AFFILIATED 
SOCIETIES 
Birmingham and Midland. — The Annual Meeting was held on January 
30. The Archdeacon of Birmingham presided. The Hon. Secretary read the 
Committee’s Report, in which it was stated that several lectures had been given 
during the year, and many hundreds of leaflets distributed. There had been a 
slight addition to the membership. The financial statement showed a balance 
of £j 5s. id., which was considered very satisfactory, when the expenses of the 
lectures were taken into account. 
A lecture was given in the Town Hall, Birmingham, on February 6, by 
Professor W. B. Bottomley, M. A., F.L.S., entitled, “Some Shifts for a Living 
amongst Animals.” The lecture dealt with the question of “Colour Protection,” 
and also “ Mimicry,” and was illustrated by a series of lantern slides ; it was 
listened to with great interest by the large audience, consisting chiefly of members 
of the Early Morning Adult Schools, and at the close a hearty vote of thanks 
was accorded to Professor Bottomley, which was carried by acclamation. 
Hampstead. — The Committee of the Hampstead Branch has pleasure in 
acknowledging subscriptions of greater value than 5s. from the following 
members: Arthur T. Cummings, Esq., £1 is.; H. Wilkins, Esq.. 10s. ; Mrs. 
Wilkins, 10s. 
North Wilts Field and Camera Club. The Annual Conversazione of 
the North Wilts Field and Camera Club was held on [anuary 27, 1906. 
The evening was marked by a very pleasant incident, the presentation to the 
Honorary Secretary, Mr. T. C. Davison, of an oak roll top writing desk, as a 
slight recognition on the part of the members of the Club of the valuable 
services rendered by him since the formation of the Club, eight years ago. 
Mr. G. Avenell, Vice-President, in making the presentation, spoke in the 
warmest terms of Mr. Davison’s enthusiastic work. In acknowledging the 
gift, Mr. Davison thanked the members for the ready response he had always 
received from them, which had lightened his labours and tended to the success 
of the Club. 
FORTHCOMING EVENTS. 
Winter Meetings of the Society. 
Saturday, March 3. — Visit to an Ivory, Mother-of-Pearl and Tortoiseshell 
Warehouse. Meet at Mr. M. Myers’ Warehouse, 1, George Street, Tower Hill 
(close to Mark Lane Station), at 2.30 p.m. 
Saturday, March 17. — -Visit to Ironmongers’ Hall, Fenchurch Street, E.C. 
Assemble punctually at 3 p.m. Guide, Edward H. Nicholl, Esq., Hon. 
Librarian to the Ironmongers’ Company. 
N.B. — Members are requested to abstain from bringing friends on this 
occasion. 
