Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-07-27 00:00:00

churclrwindow.in painted glass, which they have recently
completed, and some other specimens of thi s diffienit art.
From the orchestra in the ball room hang th e silk banner
of the Historic Society, emblazoned with the hvraidic
devices of the two counties of Lancashire a ad Clacshire,
and on each side were suspended paintings am I architectu-
ral designs. - The tables is the drawing rooms were !_aden
with some magnificently illustrated volurcm ; bolo wing
to the Free Public Library. Some spiel Old r.peei.
mess of ferns and aloes were ranged in vases along the
staircase and corridors, and gave a refreshing as we LI as
picturesque appearance to the entrance: In t he mil )iser,
room refreshments were laid, including tea and c' lEee
fruits and confections of all kinds, wines, Su W 'hen
the company had assembled in this room, N Ir. J. T.
Damson was requested to preside, in the absen Te of Sir
Edward Cust, the president, and the Mayor, I he vi ce•
president of the Historic S-eciety, of Lancash ire a ad
Cheshire.

The Chairman, Mr. H. Danson, said—My Lord, ladh
and gentlemen-.I am told that, i❑ the absenco of o; it
excellent president, Sir Edward Cast, and in the a bsent ;e
also of his Worship. the Mayor, it devolves upon me f 03
senior vice-president of the Historic Society of Lane, ishir 'e
and Cheshire to bid you welcome to the Town hall of I 4ivei '-
pool. In taking .upon myself such., an office as tl tis,

should feel mere defidence tha❑ I do; were I not con_
scious that my personal is wholly lost in my represents ttive
character,—that I speak, not fen. myself,- but for the

Historic Society, and for oar chief magistrate, who, as one
of our vice-presidents, has kindly thrown open these rot oms
oor our receptien. Some reluctance toe, to the pe-rior ma; see
of this office, I might feel, did I not know that the welco.
I am deputed to offer is as hearty and sincere as ei er
welcome, was. 'mowing that, I have no hesitation in ush ig
the strongest terms of welcome 1 can command. But I
have also a toast to propose. Our guests to night are tt e
members of the Archaeological Institute of Great Britai
and Ireland, and we owe them sometting, more that
a welcome, however warm. It pleased their noblepresident
on a recent occasion at Chester, to speak of the labours o; i
the Historic Society in terms of high encomium, ; will he •
permit me to take this opportunity of thanking him and
the society over which he so ably presides for th 3
generous feeling implied in that compliment, and to assure
him that we know how to appreciate it ; that we receive
it rather as a kindly encouragement to future effort than
as a well-merited reward for anything we have yet done.
Nothing, indeed, could more strongly tend to promote the
labours of our society than encouragement from such a
quarter, more especially when hacked by the frank and
prompt acceptance with which they have met our invite_
tion to the present meeting. Permit, me then, ladies and
gentlemen, members of the Historic Society, to call upon
you to drink t‘ The health of Lord Talbot de Malahide, and
success to the Archaeological Institute of Great Britain.
and Ireland."
The toast was received with enthusiastic applause.

Lord Talbot de INlalahlde, who was loudly applauded.
said he haCI much pleasure, on behalf of the Arch:a3lo,;ical
Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, in tenlaring his
best thanks for the honour which had been done to that
body, by drinking its health, and for the kind manner in
which his friend opposite had expressed himself, in
reference to the exertions of the society In the cause of
archeology. He was happy to say that the visit the
members had paid to that part of the country would be
probably attended with the best effects. So far as the
members themselves were concerned, he could assure the
company that it had been attended with unmixed gratifica-

tion. They had visited many very interesting places, and
had obtained a great deal of valuable information. That
day they had had a most agreeable expedition, even the
weather seemed to have smiled upon their efforts-
(Hear, hear.) The visit they had paid to Speke Hall that
day was one of the most interesting he ever remembered.
The place itself was replete with old associations. It was
full of interest to the artist as well as to the antiquary,
and if anything could have enhanced its merits, it would
have been the princely reception they met with from the
owner. The scene that day as they marched through the
halls of Speke to the marquee, reminded one of the old
pageants so well pourtre-yed in the prints of Nash, which

certainly would appear to belong to another time. The
town of Liverpool, he need hardly assure the company.
was one with which he had had frequent opportunity of
becoming, acquainted. It was one in which he had long
felt an interest. He knew the high spirit of its inhabi.
tauts. He knew the enterprise and the liberality of its
merchants. He knew the feelings they entertained for
the progress of art and of science, and in connection with
both he thought ho might venture to claim their sympathy
for archte )logy. (Hear, hear.) He, did not knevx any
mode of defining more strictly the true purpose of arobve )_

logy, than to say that it was that which applied science to
the knowledge of art, coupled with a knowledge of the dc
tails of the social life of our ancestors. He felt sure that the
gentlemen connected with Liverpool must feel an interest
in such pursuits, and that the longer the subject was
brought before their notice, the more intense that feeling
of interest would be, and that the Historic Satiety of
Lancashire and :Cheshire would every day in Oil more
recruits and continually advance is the study of the
science. He telt that there was such a noble spirit pre-
vailing in Liverpool, that its.merchants would imitate the
glorious example by the great commercial cities of the
middle ages, by Venice, by Genoa, by Florence, which
were the great patrons of art, and from which originated
those chefs d'ceuvre of art which immortalised the Italian
republics. (Cheers.) In conclusion his lordship expressed
his thanks, and begged leave to propose the toast of
"Prosperity to the Town and Commerce of Liverpool,"
The toast was received with loud applause.

The Chairman expressed his regret that some ,of the
merchants of Liverpool, on whom he would have ea'Aled to
respond to the toast, did :notthappen at that moment. to
be in that part of the building. He therefore an a few-

words returned thanks for the toast.
Lord Talbot do Malahide then proposed the, " Historic
Society of Lancashire and Cheahire."
_ _ _

The toast was warmly applauded.
Dr. Hume begged to thank his loadship for the hands ome
manner in which he had referred to the 'society. It was
now a large society, and net without ite usea both in, this
town and the adjoining ccunties ; and, the members triet,,
to discharge their duties faithfully. On the, continent of
Europe, and the United States of Ap erica,. their laborers
had been spoken of favourably, yet it. was. very gratife,ing,
to hear such a graceful recognition of them by a sister
society at home. He wished that his worship, the Mayor,
had been present, to whom the acknowledgments were in
some measure due,, for such. friendly reception as they
had found themselves able to offer.
The company then returned. to the ante-roorn.
A band having been stationed in the orchestra, several
of the assembled guests took advantage of Ore opportunity,
and a dance was extenaporised in. the ball room.
Quadrillesepolkas, and waltzes, succeeded each other, and
appeared to be highly enjoyed, noteonly by, the dangers,
but by the spectators..
Shortly before ten o'clock an intei:esting ceremony took
place. According to the old usage ou such occasions, a
mazer bowl, tilled with claret, was presented, on behalf
of the Historic Society, to Lord Talbot de Malahide, as
the representative of the Arclemologioal Society of Great
Britain and Ireland. The ceremony took place in the
orchestra, in order that it might he fully seen by the
company below. In the; orchestra hung the guidon or
banner of the Historic F.,ociety, a beautiful dag presented
to the body by Mr. Gilbert Vrench, of Bolton.
Mr. Joseph Mayer said—My Lord, I have the pleasure
to :tender you, in the name of the Historic Society, tb,e
bowl I hold in me hand. It has hitherto been unused. I
hope you will live long to imbibe some pleasant recolee-
tions of the evenhsg you have spent in Liverpoo'e 7.
present it in the name of the Historic Society to yoet,
especially as the representative of a society which leas
hitherto done so much for the science of archmolog'f, a
science which is closely blended with the objects of our:
body. , But, moreover, to yourself personally, my lord,
present it with muoh pleasure, for having bestowed y, cur
time, your talents, and your energies, upon se great and
good, a work. (Cheers.) Permit me then, uly lore], :in
the, name of the Historic Sooiety, to present you, et; f.his
bowl.
The bowl was made of one of the oak timbr,r of the
house which Prince Rupert used as his guael,or s, while
engaged in the sieve of Liverpool. It wee,
'Paned with
silver, and had an appropriate inscription,
Lord Talbot de Malahide, having taken t. he bowl, said:
Mr. Mayer, and gentlemen of the Histoe ie 'Society of Lan-
cashire and Cheshire, I feel much tt:kt.t' !led by the kind