162 
MIDLAND UNION OF NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETIES. 
Tamwortli; coins and pottery, discovered at Alvecote, near Tamworth; 
coins, temp. William I. II., some minted at Tamwortli, found near the 
fortifications of the town, 1876 ; ancient document and leaden case, found 
in south wall of Tamworth Church ; charters of Tamworth; town 
regalia; communion service, from disused chapel, Statfold; Egyptian and 
Icelandic curios; a collection of tokens and a large number of miscel¬ 
laneous exhibits. During the evening Mr. W. J. Harrison, F.G.S., 
delivered two lectures on astronomy and geology, each being illustrated 
with lantern slides. The proceedings were enlivened at intervals by 
music, and the large number of ladies and gentlemen who attended 
were loud in their expressions of appreciation and admiration of the 
result of the efforts of the local committee.” 
SECOND DAY.—WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13th. 
EXCUKSION TO HAKTSHILL. 
The Hartshill party, numbering about forty, were under the expert 
leadership of Mr. E. de Hamel, ably assisted by the Rev. H. Norris 
and Mr. Clarson. As full details respecting the history of the various 
poipts visited during the day are given in the presidential address, we 
shall here only glance at the main features of the route. Starting 
from Tamworth about ten a.m. on a lovely June morning, the first halt 
was made at Polesworth, where the party were escorted over the fine 
church by the vicar, the Rev. J. G. Trotter. From this point a pleasant 
drive along the famous Watling Street took the party to Merevale 
Park, where the ruined Abbey and grand church were inspected by the 
mass of the visitors, while the geological section, under the guidance 
of Mr. Harrison, plied their hammers in a neighbouring quarry. 
Following this came a delightful drive through Merevale Park and 
Bentley Wood, until the old British camp of Oldbury was reached, 
where the fine Hall was seen to stand in the very centre of the 
ancient entrenchment. Here C. R. Cox, Esq. most hospitably enter¬ 
tained the party to luncheon, acting as guide, too, in a visit to a large 
quarry not far off. Tripping pleasantly through another wood, Harts¬ 
hill Castle and tumulus were next examined. Here a local resident— 
Mr. Tippetts—exhibited some interesting Roman pottery, and a table 
at which Henry VII. is said to have dined the day preceding the 
battle of Bosworth. At Hartshill the geologists, already favoured 
with the company of Professor A. H. Green, received a strong re¬ 
inforcement in the persons of Mr. W. H. Hudleston and Professor 
Morris, who had come down from London to examine the recently 
discovered Cambrian rocks near Hartshill. Time was all too short for 
the work that had to be done, and a rapid drive from Hartshill 
through Mancetter landed the excursionists at Atherstone, where tea 
was provided at the “ Red Lion,” and where the leader received his 
well-earned meed of thanks. Reaching Tamworth at seven o’clock the 
party separated with mutual congratulations and renewed wishes for 
an equally pleasant and profitable day at the Union meeting of 1884, 
