The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-23 00:00:00

British Archaeological Association.

DURHAM, Monday.
The 22d annual congress of the members of this asso-
ciation commenced here this morning, and the proceedings
will be continued until the end of the week. The pro-
gramme comprises a variety of interesting excursions
and places to be visited in Durham and neighbourhood.
To-day will bo occupied by the preliminary proceed-
ings, the introduction at the castle of the Duke of
Cleveland, the president for the ensuing year, by
Lord Houghton, and the addresses and speeches usual
on such occasions ; and a paper will be read by the
Rev. Mr. Ornsby "On the Castle." In the evening there
will be a public dinner, at which the Duke of Cleveland
will preside. Moreover, the excursions will include Lum-
ley Castle and Lanchester. On Wednesday part of the
morning is to be devoted to the cathedral and monastic
buildings of Durham, to be described by Mr. Gordon Hills
—afterwards Finchall Abbey, distant about three miles, will
be visited under the guidance of Mr. Edward Roberts. On
Thursday Barnard Castle and S tain drop Church will occupy
the attention of the members in the morning, and in the
afternoon they will be received by the Duke of Cleveland
at Raby Castle. Tynemouth priory, tho castle and museum
at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and other antiquities of that
neighbourhood, will be examined ; and on the last day,
Saturday, Brancepeth Castle, Bishop Auckland, and Dar-
lington Church will be visited, and there will be a con-
cluding soirée in the new Town-hall. It is arranged that
after each day's excursion there are to be either meetings
for the reading of papers or soirees in the castle.

DURHAM, Tuesday.
In this city, so rich in historical associations and anti-
quarian remains, the Archeological Association have
begun their 22nd annual congress. The opening meeting
was fixed for 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, and soon after
that hour Bishop eosin's Library, on the Palace-green,
was filled by a large gathering of associates and visitors,
who had come through the driving rain to witness
the formal opening of the Congress. The Venerable
Bishop of Exeter, now in residence here as Canon
of Durham, was among the company, but left
before the proceedings commenced. The Duke of
Cleveland, the Bishop of Durham, Lord Houghton, Mr.
Mowbray, M.P., Mr. Henderson, M.P., Archdeacon Bland,
Archdeacon Prest, the Mayor of Durham and the members
of the corporation, Col. Johnson, Col. White, Mr. Petti-
grew, Mr. J. R. Plancho, Mr. T. Wright, Mr. G. R. Wight,
the Curator and Librarian of the association, Mr. R. N.
Phillips, Mr. E. Robarts, one of the honorary general sec-
retaries, the Rev. J. C. Bruce, Mr. H. Fowler, one of the
local secretaries, and many other officers and members were
also present.
It was nearly 5 o'clock before Lord Houghton, an ex-pre-
sident of the association, took the chair and opened the
proceedings. Mr. Tomline, M.P. for Shrewsbury, who pre-
sided at the meeting of last year, was unable to attend, and
his place was therefore taken by Lord Houghton. In a few
appropriate words his lordship referred to the peculiar
studies which the association was designed to encourage,
and introduced the president elect, his grace the Duke of
Cleveland. "Every man," said Lord Houghton, "who has
sat long in the House of Commons gets to feel that the
great object of that assembly is, as Mr. Gladstone lately
expressed it, to bring Oxford into accord with Lancashire,
to reconcile the past and the future." Among the members
of the House of Commons there was a respect for ancient
traditions such as was to be found in no other assembly in
the world ; and this feeling, coupled with the wish to asso-
ciate ancient traditions with the more ardent and vivacious
tendencies of the present and the future, was one of the
chief causes of our national wellbeing. Trained in this
school of the past and the future, the Duke of Cleveland
would, no doubt, enter upon the perfcrmance of his duties
with a full perception of that which was the true object and
meaning of archeology—not a mere grubbing into the past,
but a study which enlarged our knowledge of the past and
brought it into harmony with the present and the future.
The chair was then taken by the Duke of Cleveland,
who delivered an interesting inaugural address. The pic-
turesque situation of the city, almost surrounded by the
windings of the Wear, the quaint streets along the river
banks, the magnificent cathedral and old castle, made famous
by its connection with a long line of Bishops Palatine, must,
he said, both satisfy the eye and furnish ample materials
for antiquarian researches and disquisitions. Regard being
had to its size, few counties offered a more ample field for
the antiquary. True, the development of industry, which
was due to the mineral wealth of the county, might have
tended in some degree to dim the recollections of the past ;
but though this was a prosperous, a commercial, and an in-
dustrial age, the records of past times were searched into
more carefully than at any former period. In the county of
Durham there were few remains of British origin ; nor was
there any such magnificent memorial of the Roman occu-
pation as that furnished by the great Roman wall in a neigh-
bouring county. But there were traces of the great road
which the Romans drove with such perfect straightness
through the kingdom ; and the period of our history suc-
ceeding to the Roman occupation was illustrated by some
remarkable architectural monuments. There were remains
of churches of the Saxon period. Still more imperishable
memorials were to be found of the Danish settlement,
especially in the neighbourhood of Raby and Barnardcastle,
in names and places bespeaking a Scandinavian origin. Sir
Walter Scott alluded to this in " Rokeby :"
" Beneath the shade the Northmen came,
"Fixed on each vale a Runic name."
In medieval remains the district was even richer.
Neville's Cross, although mutilated, still remained to show
where in 1346 an English army led by Lord Neville and Earl
Percy, by the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of Dur-

ham, overthrew in desperate conflict the Scotch under

David Bruce. In the hall of Raby Castle was held the as-
sembly of the Barons of the North, when, in Queen Eliza-
beth's reign, that great Catholic rebellion was resolved on
which ended so disastrously to those engaged in it. These

and other objects of interest would be pointed out during the
Congress. People who took a prosaic view of life asked
" What is the use of archa3ology ? Are we not superior to
our ancestors ? Have we not made immense strides in
material progress ? Have we not appliances which they
never dreamt of—steam, gas, electric telegraphs, and
inventions which diminish the necessity of labour, and
add to the comforts and enjoyments of life? " To such
arguments he would reply, " All honour to the age in
which we have the good fortune to live, and to which,
under the blessing of Providence, so much good has been
done for mankind. But our ancestors, too, were wise in
their generation. Accumulated knowledge is a good
foundation upon which to build, and upon which to base
our progress. Moreover, as the grown-up man—still more
the man advanced in life—looks with fond interest on the

scenes of his childhood, so our own generation gaze with an
affectionate inquisitiveness on remains which illustrate

the early history of this island and its people." Having
thus defended the study of archaeology, both on the ground
of its utility and of its interest, his Grace alluded to the
efforts of the local historians to rescue from oblivion the
antiquarian memorials 4f the county, and referred also
with feeling to the deaths during the past year of the Duke
of Northumberland, who took a deep interest in archae-
ology, and was a munificent patron of it, and of the Rev.
Mr. Hartshorne, a distinguished working member of the
association, who had undertaken to read at this meeting a
paper on the history of Raby Castle and of Barnardcastle.
Some formal business was then transacted, and the
Bishop of Durham moved, and Archdeacon Bland seconded,
a vote of thanks to the President for his address. After-
wards the Mayor of Durham, on behalf of the citizens, and

the Rev. Temple Chevallier, on behalf of the University,
welcomed the association to Durham, and assured the
members of a hospitable reception. Under the guarantee
of the Rev. G. Ornsby, the visitors then explored the
ancient castle, portions of which are ascribed to the reign
of William the Conqueror. The whole structure is now
in excellent preservation, and the union of " the past" with
the " present " is well maintained, for the old keep, which
commands beautiful views of the Wear and the outlying
country, is parcelled out into rooms, which are occupied
by the students of the University.
In the evening there was a dinner in the great hall of the
Castle, at which 200 guests were present. The walls aro
hung with old paintings, chiefly the portraits of bishops and
ecclesiastics connected with the see. At the lower end of
the hall, about half-way between the roof and the ground,
are two curious niches, at opposite sides, built for the min-
strels of the period, and from which they regaled the guests.
Altogether, from its size and proportions, though not rich
in ornament, it would be difficult to find a more noble
mediaeval hall, or one more suitable for a banquet to archaeo-
logists. The toasts were numerous, and the speeches long,
but the guests, of whom nearly one-half were ladies, lis-
tened patiently.

In replying to the toast of " The Bishop and Clergy of
the Diocese," the Bishop of Durham supported the objects
of the association, and praised the study of archaeology,
but good-humouredly warned his hearers not to overrate
old things simply because they were old, and not to ride
their hobby too far. When he was at Oxford he
once attended a dinner given by Dr. Buckland, who
in his enthusiasm for geology and fossil bones, had
a jolly made from the fossil bones of the megathe-
rium, or some " old-world mammoth." This jelly was
duly handed round, and Dr. Buckland evidently thought
it was the finest jelly that could be made. Now, this was
riding a hobby rather too hard, a'nd some archteologists
might, perhaps, do the same. Later in the evening, Mr.
Gordon M. Hills and Mr. E. Roberts, two of tho officers of
the association, replied to the remarks of the Bishop, and
made a very good defence of the study of archaeology and
of the efforts of the association to encourage and ex-
tend it, to rescue old monuments from being defaced
or destroyed, and to teach a just estimate of the value
of the old and the new. -Lord Houghton's health was
drunk as ex-President, but in replying he said an " ex-
President" was not one of the things which could have
much value among archaeologists. If, now, they could
but exhume him from a Roman tumulus along with some
Roman potter, or light upon his remains in some old tomb
as an ex-bishop of whom nothing could be found except his
episcopal ring and one thigh-bone, then no doubt the ar-
chreologists present would go into raptures. But the
guests, though they laughed, seemed to think that they
preferredhmorningL o lfeotu ge hit to n
early
ht he
ou
rfi etshh.
e
country excursions
began. It rained indefatigably all night, but a gleam or
two of sunshine brought out a strong party o
both sexes, who hoped for fine, but wisely prepared
tthees ofm-
them-
selves for rough, weather.

113- - ------ - - - Critnbr
_egLar----

The Queen's Visit to Germany.

Her Majesty is in excellent health, and is sur-
rounded by the youthful Princesses of the Royal
family at Rosenau, in the vicinity of Coburg.
His Royal Highness Prince Alfred is at Coburg ;
and his Royal Highness Prince Arthur' is expected
to join the Royal circle to-morrow.

Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess
of Wales and his Royal Highness the Duke of Cam-
bridge will arrive at Coburg on Friday.

----~-

Their Highnesses the Prince and Princess
Sehwarzenberg have arrived at Claridge's Hotel from
Vienna.

His Highness Prince Raspigliosi and family have
returned to Claridge's Hotel from Dublin.

His Excellency Count de Lavradio, Portuguese
Minister at this Court, has left town for Portugal on leave
of absence. The Chevalier dos Santos will act as charge
d'affaires during his absence.

The Duke of Newcastle has arrived at his house
in Piccadilly, in order to be present at the marriage of his
brother, Lord E. P. Clinton, and Miss Hartopp.
The Duchess de Gramont and family arrived
from Boulogne yesterday, on a visit to her father, at Acriso
Park, Canterbury, having left Vienna two days before.
The Marchioness of Salisbury and family are
expected to pass through town on Monday next, on their
way to Hatfield House, Herts, from Bournemouth. The
marquis, who is at Hatfield, intends to be present to-
morrow at the wedding of Miss Hope, eldest daughter of
Mr. Alexander Beresford and Lady Mildred Hope, with
the Hon. Hallyburton Campbell, son of the late Lord
Campbell.

The Earl and Countess Percy are staying at
Silder Castle, N. 8., for the shooting season.
The Earl of Bective, M.P., and family have left
Grafton-street, for the Lodge, Virginia, Ireland.
Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston have gone
to Brockett Hall, Herts, to pass a few days.
Lord and Lady Edward Cavendish have arrived
at Chatsworth from passing a few weeks at Chiswick.

The Emperor Napoleon's Visit to Switzer-

land.

BERNE, Aug. 21.
The following are the details of the Emperor's
visit :

"The Emperorreached the Castle of Arenenberg between
5 and 6 o'clock on Friday evening, accompanied by the
Empress and a suite of some 30 persons. A special train,
accompanied by the Baden Grand Marshal, brought the
travellers from Kehl to Constance, whence they drove, in
six or seven hired carriages, to Arenenberg. N otwithstanding
the rain the inhabitants, who still entertain a friendly re-
collection of the Emperor's residence in these parts, had
assembled in numbers along the road. At Ermalingen the
Emperor was received with a hastily-erected triumphal
arch, bearing the inscription ' From gratiiude,' and Salon-
stein greeted her old schoolmaster, who has risen so high,
with a salute of cannon. His Majesty, on the other hand, was
compelled to dispense with the accustomed cries of Viva
l'Empereur,' and to content himself with the mute but re-
spectful greeting proper to Republicans. At the entrance
of the park, where a still greater number of people had
assembled, the travellers quitted their carriages to traverse
the remainder of the distance to the Castle on foot, and the
Emperor greeted several of the bystanders whom he re-
cognised with a hearty shake of the hands. The first visit
paid by his Majesty with the Empress was to the castle
chapel, which contains the statue of his mother, Queen '
Hortense, in white marble.

" In the evening the singing club of Salenstein waited
upon the Emperor, who thanked them for their attention,
remarking that he was delighted to revisit the spot where
he had been so happy many years ago. In reply to a question
whether there were any among the citizens who could re-
collect his departure, the answer was given, ' Yes, your
Majesty. You then said, I leave with regret, but when
I come again it shall be in joy.'

" Members of the secret police were stationed in Con-
stance, Ermalingen, Salenstein, and Mannenbach, to watch
over the Emperor's safety, but their service is carried on
in a very quiet and unobtrusive way. The Emperor soon
revisited old walks in the vicinity of the castle, and was
especially gracious to all in Salenstein whom he had for-
merly known.

" A deputation from the Government of Thurgau waited
upon his Majesty in the forenoon of the 19th, and it is
reported here that Dr. Dubs and Councillor Neff hare been
despatched to Arenberg to salute the Imperial guests in
the name of the Federal Council."

ROYAL HORTICULTURAL GARDENS. —At the
floral meeting held yesterday, in their council room at
South Kensington, a very fine specimen of the Agalmyla
staminea was exhibited by Messrs. E. G. Henderson, of .
St. John's-wood; there were also fine collections of the
Odontoglossum grande from Mr. James Veitch, of Chelsea
and Exeter ; and of dahlias from Mr. Keynes, of Salisbury
Several new fellows were elected.

ANOTHER ATLANTIC CABLE.—" The failure of
the Great Eastern," says the Nord, " has not dis-
couraged either the shareholders of the Transatlantic
Cable Company or the new French company which has'
obtained permission to lay down a cable between France
and the United States. M. Alberto Bilestrini has under-
taken this enterprise at his own risk. But this time the
company does not intend to submerge a cable for any enor-
mous distance, as there will be intermediate stations. The

following is the track at present contemplated :—Prom
Paris to Lisbon, and thence to Cape St. Vincent, by land;
from this last place to the Canary Islands along the coast
of Morocco ; from the Canary Islands to Cape Verd,
along the African coast, with stations at St. Louis

(Senegal), and at Gorse ; from Cape Verd to Cape St_
Roque, on the coast of Brazil, a distance of less than'
one half that of the cable intended to be laid by the Great
Eastern, from Cape St. Roque to Cayenne, along the Ame-
rican coast, and from Cayenne to New Orleans by the
coast, or probably by cables connecting the principal West
India Islands. The enterprise is more easily practicable
than that conceived in England. The only difficulty will be
to secure the preservation of the line on the African coast,
and that security may be obtained by means of guard sta-
tions. The company will have a concession for 100 years,
and the French Government will abandon the right of
making any other concession during that time. A subven-
tion of four millions of francs, payable by instalments, will
be granted when the company shall have obtained the
authorisations from all the governments over whose terri-
tory the electric cable is to pass. The electric communi-
cation between Paris and the Canary Islands is to be com-
pleted within three years, and the whole line within five.'•
THE CASE OF CONSTANCE KENT.- Yesterday
morning, Mr. Dowding, the Governor of the Wilts County
Gaol, received an official communication from Mr. Chitty,
Clerk of Assize for the Western Circuit, announcing that
the sentence of death recently passed on Constance Emilio
Kent, for the murder of her half-brother, Francis Saville
Kent, at Road-hill-house in June, 1860, had been commuted
by her Majesty into one of penal servitude for life. In the
course of the day, the result was made known to the pri-
soner, who received the announcement with the same calm-
ness which has characterised her throughout. The state-
ment that she has written a history of her life while in pri-
son is without the slightest foundation.

WIFE MURDER AT ALNWICK. —On Monday
Charles Ashburn, a pensioner, was brought up, on
remand, before a special session of the county magistrates
at Alnwiek, charged with the wilful murder of his wife,
Elizabeth Ashburn, by burning, on Sunday, the 6th of
August. Ashburn and his wife were a drunken couple,
and on the day in question they had both been intoxi-
cated. They had quarrelled, as was their wont. He had
knocked her off a stool upon which she had been sitting,
and from the evidence he appears to have put burning
ashes under her petticoats and within her clothes and set
fire to her. He was subsequently seen to drag his wife
out of the house into the yard, and place her under the tap
and turn the water on her. The neighbours rescued her
from her husband, and she took shelter in the coalhouse,
from whence they took her to her room and put her to
bed. She was very badly burnt on the hips and thighs,
and she died on the 15th from exhaustion. The burns,
the medical witnesses stated, had been the cause of death.
The clothes found upon her showed that they had been
burnt from the inside. The prisoner was committed to
the Northumberland assizes to take his trial upon a
charge of wilful murder.

A VOICE FROM THE SEA.—On Sunday afternoon
a small bottle was picked up on the sands at Scarborough
by a boy who saw it thrown on the beach by the waves•
On being opened it was found to contain a slip of pink-
coloured note paper, slightly stained, on which was written
in lead pencil, perfectly distinct and legible, the following
sad report :—" Ship Sir George Seymore, foundered off
Cape Cod, U.S.A., October 22d, 1864, bound from Bristol
to New York. Cargo, iron and cloth. Lost 18, saved 22,
in two boats. We are balf-starved. John Thomson, 2d
mate. October 26th, 1864."
A WOMAN KILLED BY A BULL.—On Sunday
morning last the wife of a respectable farmer named
ll'Causland, living on the main road to Omagh, near Si%
Mile Cross, county Tyrone, went to a field adjoining the
house to look after some cattle. Unfortunately for the
poor woman, she wrapped herself up in some sort of covering
.which she was not in the habit of doing. Amongst the
cattle was a bull, who, not knowing the woman in the
strange dress, ran after and attacked her with fearful
violence, killing her before any one could render assist-
ance. She has left behind her a husband and nine young
Children.—Newry Telegraph.