The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-30 00:00:00

THE ARCHEOLOGICAL IIVSTITUTE.

The Archteological Institute of Great Britain and Ire-
land commenced its annual meeting at Worcester on Tues-
day last. The proceedings began by a special reception by
the Mayor and corporation, at which Lord Talbot de Mala-
hide resigned the presidency of the institute into the hands
of Lord Lyttelton, the Lord-Lieutenant of the county, and
the town clerk read a formal address of welcome to the in-
stitute. The Guildhall was decorated with banners and
devices in flowers and laurels, with the words " Welcome
to Worcester" in the centre of a floral device. Lord Talbot
was accompanied by Lord Neaves, the Earl of Enniskillen,
Sir Stephen Glynne, Sir Jervoise Clarke-Jervoise, M.P.,
Sir C. Anderson, Sir R. Kirby, the Dean of Chichester,
Professor Willis, Mr. Octavius Morgan, M.P., and a con-
siderable body of the London members of the institute, in-
cluding many ladies. Lord Lyttelton was supported by the
Mayor of Worcester, Sir E. A. Lechmere (the High
Sheriff), Sir J. Pakington, Sir T. Winnington, Sir C.
Rouse Boughton, Sir C. Hastings, the Rev. Canon Wood,
and many other influential members of the county and city,
including Lady Pakington, Lady Emily Foley, and many
other ladies. The address of Lord Lyttelton, accepting the
office of president of the institute, was supported by speeches
from Sir E. Lechmere, Sir J. Pakington, the Rev. Canon
Wood, and Sir C. Hastings, welcoming the institute on behalf
of the city and county. After the public reception a peram-
bulation was made throughout the city, when the principal
objects of antiquity and interest were examined. In the
evening a meeting was hela at the rooms of the Natural
History Society, where various papers were read illustrative
of the objects of the meeting, including one upon Pershore
Abbey by Mr. E. A. Freeman, in anticipation of the next
day's excursion to that place. On Wednesday the proceed-
ings of the day were commenced by a breakfast in the Guild-
hall, given by the Mayor to the members and friends of the
institute. After this, papers upon various subjects were
read in the sections of History and Antiquities by Mr. Foss,
the Rev. W. Stubbs, Professor Earle, and Sir Charles An-
derson. A large party then made an excursion to Pershore.
The little church of Pinvin was first reached, when its pe-
culiarities were pointed out by Mr. Parker, and the so-called
Saxon architecture suggested to be better described as early
Norman. At Pershore Mr. Freeman pointed out the re-
markable features of the church. In the evening Mr. Par-
ker pointed out some of the points of interest to be seen in
the next excursion, and Mr. Freeman read a long and ela-
borate paper upon Simon de Montfort and his times. On
Thursday upwards of 100 ladies and gentlemen went by rail
to Evesham, thence to Buckland and Broadway, and round
to Campden, where a magnificent collation was presented
to them by Viscount Campden. In the evening the
museum was lighted up for a conversazione, when the
remarkable collection which the institute has succeeded in
getting together was visited by a large number of visitors.
The museum is certainly one of the best of the kind
that has ever been formed. The proceedings of Friday
began by the reading of historical papers by the Dean o
Chichester and others, succeeded by Professor Willis's dis-
course upon the cathedral, which was received with grea
enthusiasm by a crowded audience. A brief sketch was
given of the early history of the structure, and the develop-
ment of the various styles of architecture which it displays.
Then the different changes which it had undergone, from
accident or otherwise, were adverted to in a most clear and
lucid manner. The great damage the building had suffered
at the Reformation was pointed out, and the changes which
had been caused by their repair were indicated. The dis-
course was brought to a close by the profscsor's description
of the famous Guesten-hall, and the hopelessness of its
restoration except at an expense that could scarcely be jus-
tified. After the professor's lecture the company partook of
a sumptuous dejeuncr, presented by Sir E. A. Lechmere, in
the Guildhall. In the afternoon the party repaired to the
cathedral, where the professor illustrated the discourse ho
had given previous to the de)euner. All the great points of
interest were carefully examined, and the principle of the
extensive repairs in progress was explained and justified.
The crypt was well lighted up, and the narrow spaces be-
tween the columns were often impassable from obstructions
in the shape of dresses such as the builder could never
have dreamt of. More papers in the Historical Section
concluded a busy and most entertaining day. On Saturday
the Historical Section was again occupied with papers by
Mr. Bloxam and Mr. Parsons. After this a large party
visited Great and Little Malvern, and the various objects
of interest near. In the afternoon an excellent dinner was
provided at the Malvern Link Hotel,at which Lord Lyttel-
ton presided, and which was attended by Lord Talbot, Lord
Neaves, and the greater part of the company previously
named. Monday morning was occupied in the reading of
various papers in the Historical Section, including one upon
the chapter monuments and other Worcester records by Mr.
Bart. After thi ar
s a pty started for Tewkesbury and Dere-
hurst and returned at a late hour after a roost gratifying ex-
cursion. The proceedings of the congress, Which has been
most successful in every respect, were brought to a close
yesterday by meetings for business Purposes, and a visit to
Lord Dudley's seat at Witley and Sir Thomas Winning-
ton's at Stanford Court.

DUELLING IN PARIS IN 18
countrymen
in general were very pacific; but the most awkward cus •
tomer the French ever came across was my fellow-country-
man the late gallant Col. Sir Charles of the Engi •
neors, who was ready for them with anything—sword
pistols, sabre, or fists—be was good
at a ;
11 and though
never seeking a quarrel, ho would not put up with the
slightest insult. lie killed three Frenchmen in Paris, in
quarrels forced upon him. I remerubei, in October, 1815,
being asked by a friend to dine, at Beauvillier's, in the Rue
Richelieu, when Sir Charles s who
was well known
to us, occupied a table at the further end of the room.
About the middle of the dinner we heard a most extraordi-
g up perceived that it arose from
nary noise, and on lookin
S—'s table; he was engaged in beating the head of a
smartly-dressed gentleman with one of the leng French
loaves, so well known to all who have visited France.
Upon asking the reason of such rough treatment on the
part of our countryman, he said he would serve all French-
men in the same manner if they haulted him. The offence,
it seems, proceeded from the person who had just been
chastised in so summarya manner. lie had stared and
laughed at S— in a rude way for having ordered three
bottles of wine to be placed upon his table. The upshot of
all this was a duel, which took place next day at a place
near Vincennes, and in which
shot the unfortunate
jester. When Sir Charles returned to Valenciennes, where
he commanded the Engineers, he found on his arrival a
French officer waiting to avenge the death of his relative,
who had only been shot ten days before at Vincennes.
They ace" breakfast, dinoly fought before
t had time oven to
shave himself or eat his , he having only just ar-
rived in his coupe from Paris. The meeting took place in
the fosse of the fortress, and the first shot from S-------'s
pistol killed the French officer, who had actually travelled
in the diligence from Paris for the purpose, as he boasted to
his fellow-travellers, of killing an Englishman.—Gronows
.Reminiscences.