TRANSACTIONS OF THE HISTORIC SOCIETY OF LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE VOLUME VIII. SESSION 1855-56. LONDON: J. H. PARKER, U77, STBAND. 1858. LIVEBPOOt : T. BIUKK1.L, PRINTER, TOOK BTREET. This Volume, like all the preceding ones, has been edited by the Honorary Secretary, under the direction of the Council. The writers of Papers, however, are alone responsible for the facts and opinions contained in their respective communications. DIRECTIONS TO THE BINDER. TO FACE PAGE PLATE I. Liverpool, shewing the ground built over ..................... 23 II. Boteler's Free Grammar School, Warrington .................. 62 III. The Master's House attached to Do............................... 68 IV. Geometrical Diagrams ............................................... 80 V. Map of Babylon............ ............................................ 94 VI. Map of Walton-le-Dale and Neighbourhood .................. 127 VII. (Marked A) Eoman Eemains ....................................... 130 VIII. (Marked B) Eoman Pottery.......................................... 131 IX. (Marked C) Eoman Pottery ....................................... 132 X. Diseased Peart views of ............................................. 195 '- Tables, folded and in sheet, in their order, after page 216. XI. (Marked M) to follow Table II. XII. (Marked N) | between Table III, 1855, and Table III, Means XIII. (Marked O) j for 1852, '3, '4, '5. XIV. (Marked P) to face Tables IV and V. XV.^-(Marked Q) to face Table VIII. XVI. Enamelled Gold Watch............................................. 222 EXPLANATOBY NOTE. Of the Sixteen illustrations contained in this volume, only eight have been produced wholly at the cost of the Society. These are I, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X. Nos. II and III were presented complete, by Mr. Marsh, in illustration of his own paper. No. XVI was in like manner presented complete, by the Rev. John James Moss, M.A., in illustration of his own remarks on Watches. The use of the Plates XI, XII, XIII, XIV and XV was granted by the British Association for the Advancement of Science, through Professor Phillips. The use of the standing forms, for printing the Tables to which these plates refer, was granted in like manner by the British Association. (Seepage 212.) This portion of the printing was executed by Messrs. Taylor and Francis, London. COUNCIL AND OFFICERS FOR 1855-56. I ^rtaiftent. Major-General The Hon. Sir EDWARD CUST, K.C.H., D.C.L., F.H.S., Lea«one Ca»tle. Ex OFFICIIS. ELECTED. The MAYOR OF LIVERPOOL. The Eev. DAVID THOM, D.D., Ph.D. The HIGH SHERIFF OF LANCASHIRE. JOHN T. DANSON, F.S.S. The HIGH SHERIFF OF CHESHIRE. JOHN HARTNOP, F.E.A.S. Stcttonal jJWemiera * of Conned ARCH/EOLOGY. ; LITERATURE. SCIENCE. SAMUEL OATH, Esq. F. W. BLOXAM, Esq. HENRY DAWSON, Esq. EDWARD HIGOIN, Esq. JOSEPH BOULT, Esq. THOMAS GRAY, Esq. JOHN O. JACOB, Esq. DAVID BHXTOH, Esq. JOHN MATHER, Esq. P. MACINTYRE, M.D. JOHN F. MARSH, Esq. THOMAS NCTTALL, F.L.S. PETER B. McQoiE, Esq. JOHN POOLE, Esq. T. G. EYLANDS, Esq. THOMAS MOORE, Sen., Esq. Eev. A. RAMSAY, M.A. T. SANSOM, A.L.S., F.B.S.E. Eev. THOMAS MOOBE, M.A., 25, Newbie Terrace, Everton. Curator. JOSEPH MAYER, F.S.A., M.E.Asiat.9., F.E.S., Sec , 68, Lord Street, Liverpool. ffreastuer. THOMAS AVISON, F.S.A., 16, Cook Street, Liverpool. 1|on. Stcretatg. Eev. A. HUME, D.C.L., LL.D., F.S.A., 24, Clarence Street, Everton. assistant Sccretarij. THOMAS O. WEDGWOOD, Esq. * In accordance with Law xx, the Council added the following members from the Society to the Sectional Committees: ARCBJEOLOQY Messrs. W. Blackmore, J. N. Crosse F.S.S., Henry Johnson, and James Stonehouse. LITERATURE Messrs. II. A. Bright, William Burke, Alfred Hunt, and Alex. Macllveen. SCIENCE Messrs. William Bean, George M. Browne, Henry Canty, and William Milner. CONTENTS. [Papers marked thus * are illustrated. Those marked thus + have been abridged.] FAOB. On the State of the Western Portion of the Ancient Kingdom of North­ umberland, down to the period of the Norman conquest. By John Hodgson Hinde, Esq. ......................................................... 1 * Liverpool: Memoranda touching its Area and Population, during the first half of the Present Century. By J. T. Danson, Esq., Vice- President ........................................................................ 23 On the Saxon Element, in the Diction of English Poetry. By David Buxton, Esq...................................................................... 35 * On the Foundation and History of Boteler's Free Grammar School at Warrington. By John Fitchett Marsh, Esq. ........................... 51 * The Ancient Geometrical Analysis, illustrated from the Writings of the Lancashire Geometers. By Thomas T. Wilkinson, Esq......... 75 * On Bahylon; and on the Discovery of the Cuneiform Characters and the mode of Interpreting them. By Dr. Julius Oppert, Paris ...... 98 On the means of testing Marine Meteorological Instruments. By John Hartnup, Esq., Vice-President ............................................. 109 On the Character of Hamlet. By the Rev. Arthur Ramsay, M.A. ...... 115 * On the Roman remains recently discovered at Walton-le-Dale, Preston. By Charles Hardwick, Esq.................................................... 127 On the Ethnology of South Britain, at the Period of the Extinction of the Roman Government in the Island. By Thomas Wright, M.A., F.S.A. ............................................................. ............... 141 On the Lepidopterous Insects of the District around Liverpool. By Charles Stuart Gregson ...................................................... 153 On the Area and Population of the Manchester District. By J. T. Danson, Esq., Vice.President ................................................ 165 The English Poor Law System, viewed in relation to Education and Morals. By the Rev. Thomas Moore, M.A............................... 181 * On a Fungoid Disease affecting the Pear Tree. By Thomas Sansom, Esq................................................................................. 193 Vlll On the Rise of the Manufacturing Towns of Lancashire and Cheshire. By David Buxton, Esq. ...................................................... 109 * Results deduced from observations taken with the self registering Ane­ mometer and Rain Gauge, at the Liverpool Observatory. By John Hartnup, Esq., Vice-President ............................................. 212 List of Members ..................................................................... ix Proceedings, Eighth Session, 1855-56 .......................................... 217 Report of Annual General Meeting ............................................. ib. * Remarks on Watches. By Rev. John James Moss, M.A................... 222 t On the use of the Patent Abacus. By J. G. Jones, Esq. .................. 225 f A Day in Low Furness. By James Stonehouse, Esq. ..................... 228 f General Remarks on the Natural History of the Shores of the Mersey. By R. A. Tudor, Esq. ......................................................... 232 f Original Letters Relative to Dr. Franklin. By Percy M. Dove, Esq.... 235 On a supposed New Species of Prong-horned Antelope from North America. By Thomas J. Moore, Esq. .................................... 238 On the Horns of the Chiru, the so-called " Unicorn" of Thibet. By Thomas J. Moore, Esq......................................................... 239 f On the Advantages of the Study of Natural History, in our National or People's Schools. By Charles Stuart Gregsort......................... 241 [Table Talk of the Olden Time, or Liverpool a hundred years ago. By James Boardrnan, Esq.] ...................................................... 244 Monumental Brasses found at Preston. By William Dobson, Esq....... 247 f On Some of the Recorded Changes in the Liverpool Bay, previous to the year 1800. By Joseph Boult, Esq..................................... 263 Concluding Address. By J. T. Danson, Esq.................................. 254 Appendix Excursion to Preston ................................................ 256 Index..................................................................................... 257 LIST OF MEMBERS. SESSION 1855-6. The First List was dated 23rd November, 1848. All whose names appeared in it, are therefore Original Members. Those who have been enrolled as Mayors or Sheriffs have their year of office attached. The letter P. denotes that the Members in connection with whose names it occurs, have read Papers before the Society. Those whose names are printed in SMALL CAPITALS are Members of the Council; and in italics are Life Members. Those marked thus * are Resident. The post town Liverpool is usually omitted. 18th Oct., 1854. Abraham, Rev. Thomas Edward, M.A., Bickerstaffe, Ormskirk. 28rd Nov., 1848. Ainslie, Montagu*. Grizedale, Hawkshead, Lancashire. 23rd Nov., 1848. ^Alexander, William L., 4, Mount Vernon Green, and 2, Harrington Street. 6th Dec., 1855. Allcard, William, Bank House, Warrington. 18th Sept., 1854. *Allport, William, Merton Cottage, Bootle. 10th Feb., 1853. *Anderson, Robert WorralJ, 23, Falkner Square. 3rd May, 1849. *Anderson, Thomas Francis, Holly Lodge, Fail-field, and 3, Cable Street. 23rd Nov., 1848. Ansdell, Richard, 7, Victoria Road, Kensington, London. 15th Sept., 1854. Arrowsmith, P. R., The Ferns, Bolton. 14th Sept., 1854. #Arthure, Rev. Benedict, B.A., Tranmere. 11th May, 1854. Aspland, Rev. R. Brook, M.A., Dukinfield, Ashton- under-Lyne. 14th Dec., 1848. *Astley, John, 18, Salthouse Dock, and Rock Ferry, Cheshire. 4th April, 1850. Aston,