INDEX. Bishop Burnett's History of his own 113 Birds (The) of Britain, systemati- Caterpillars, An Outline of British, 283 Chemistry, Observations on, 248 Comets, On the Influence of, 218 Critical Notices of New Publications: Ornithology, A Retrospect of the Painting and Sculpture, Cursory ob- servation on certain inconsiderate lysis of Mr. Taylor's lectures on Society, 309. Liverpool Literary, River Huallaga, Remarks on the 36. Scientific Miscellanea, 342 ERRATA.-Page 133, line 30, insert, after Professor Agassiz, "has been END OF THE THIRD VOLUME. BARLOW, PRINter, Bennett's-HILL, BIRMINGHAM. A QUARTERLY JOURNAL, OF SCIENCE, LITERATURE, NATURAL HISTORY, AND THE FINE ARTS. VOL. IV. London: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, & CO. CURRY, JUN. & CO., DUBLIN; BARLOW, BIRMINGHAM. 1836. THE ANALYST. HISTORICAL MEMORANDA OF WIGMORE CASTLE, HEREFORDSHIRE. BY SIR SAMUEL RUSH MEYRICK, K. H. THAT a place which has had for its owners persons of such importance in the history of this country as Wigmore, should never have engaged the pen of any antiquary, seems truly astonishing; especially as materials are not wanting, though scattered far and wide, for this purpose. Hoping that some one more competent will throw additional light on this interesting subject, I shall endeavour, through the medium of your useful periodical, to concentrate the glimmerings that are to be met with in ancient docu ments. Its original name we find to have been Wiginga-mere. Blount says, "This seems to be Saxon, in which language Wiggen, or Wiggend, signifies warrior, ga, or gen, to go, and mere, a pool, or great water; for it is supposed that rich ground below the town, now called Wigmore, was heretofore held to be undrainable." There is no necessity for such far-fetched etymology: Wicenga signifies inhabitants, especially," says Somner, "those of towns and villages," which renders it synonimous with its Domesday appellation, Marestune, i. e. the town near the marsh. The earliest information respecting it is, according to Camden, its being repaired by Edward the elder. This will be better com prehended by reflecting on the state of the country, which that king found on succeeding to the throne of his justly celebrated father • MSS. in British Museum. |