COMMUNICATIONS 
TO THE 
MONTHLY MEETINGS, 
1866 . 
Jan. 2.— -Me. Davies read a paper on the u York Cap of Main¬ 
tenance.” The original Cap of Maintenance, given to the City by 
Bichard II., being worn out in the year 1445, the Corporation pur¬ 
chased a new one, which cost the sum of forty-two shillings. This 
appears to have lasted until 1579, when it became unfit for use, 
and the Corporation provided a new hat, made of felt, covered 
with crimson velvet and ornamented with a gold edge, a gold 
tassel, and a gold band. The existing Cap of Maintenance answers 
exactly to this description, and there can be no hesitation in as¬ 
cribing its date to the reign of Queen Elizabeth, or in pronouncing 
it to be the same hat which has been worn by the Lord Mayor’s 
sword-bearer upon any solemn occasion of state and ceremony for 
more than two hundred and eighty years. — In conclusion Mr. 
Davies referred to the general use of caps or hats of estate and other 
analogous adornments of the head as symbols of dignity, especially 
in the investiture of individuals with high offices. (Mr. Davies’ 
paper is printed in full in the Gentleman's Magazine for February, 
1866.) 
Dr. Peoctee read some “ Notes on New Minerals from Finland,” 
in connexion with a series presented by him to the Museum. The 
collection from which these specimens were derived was important, 
from its presenting several new forms of high technical interest to 
mineralogists and lithologists, and also because mineral specimens 
reach England from Finland but rarely, and it is not probable that 
any fresh importations will take place from the same source. The 
forms of graphite in the collection are numerous and particularly 
