The solitary extract, which I think conclusive in determining the book's identity, is found in the 7th book of the History of Great Britain, chap. 12, at p. 317 of the first edition, where reference is made in the margin to "a namelesse old MS, chap. 154." The passage in the text is as follows:

"Thus in an old manuscript we find it indited: Understand among you of Rome, that I am king Arthur of Britaine, and freely it hold, and shall hold; and at Rome hastily will I bee, not to give you truage, but to have truage of you: for Constantine, that was Helene's sonne, and other of mine ancestors conquered Rome, and thereof were Emperours; and that they had and held I shall have yourz [sic!] Goddis grace."

The original passage in the MS, which occurs, not at chap. 154, (which is clearly a mistake,) but towards the end of cap. lviij, I will now transcribe literally: "Understondeth among you of Rome yat I am kyng Artur of Britayne and frely it holde and shal holde and at Rome hastly will I be not to geve you truage but forto haue truage of you for Constantyn yat was helene's sone and oyr of myn auncestris conquerid Rome and yerof were emperours and yat thay hadde and held I shall haue yorouz goddis grace."

The word "yorouz" in the MS evidently puzzled Speed's printer: but happily the printer's darkness discloses to us, as it were, a star-to be our beacon to the only passage, which the historian appears to have extracted word for word.

There is yet another argument, by which this identity may be corroborated. The writer of that portion of Speed's History, which records the death of King John, mentions certain "nameless authors before ann. 1483," and refers in the margin to "Eng. Chronicles MS;" whilst it is observable of Mr. Davies's MS, that it ends somewhat abruptly with the close of the reign of king Henry vi; having the appearance of an unfinished work. So that, in all likelihood, the author of this Chronicle flourished in the succeeding reign (viz. that of Ed. iv.) which ended in the year referred to, (i.e. 1483.) It should perhaps be mentioned, that the MS commences by accounting for the name of Albion by the known fable of Albyne and her sisters; and that throughout it seems to contain the usual complement of romantic legends.

As Speed was a Chester mau, it seems highly probable, that the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, or some member, may be in possession of some facts or documents capable of throwing light upon this interesting volume. Should such be the case, not only would it be esteemed a favour by Mr. Davies, and by the writer of this notice, but it might also tend to remove an obscurity in one of the bye-paths of historic literature, if any information that may be possessed might be obligingly communicated.

A Paper was also read, of which the following is an abstract:—

ANALYSIS OF THE SUBSCRIBERS TO THE VARIOUS LIVERPOOL CHARITIES. By the Rev. A. Hume, D.C.L., LL.D.

This Analysis was made in imitation of a former one, dated 1852, the intention of which was to shew the subscribers to all the Church objects in town.

The subjects were arranged under four general heads.

1. Distant Missions: Including the Church Missionary Society, the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, and the Colonial Church Society.

2. Home Missions: Including the Pastoral Aid, the Curates' Aid, and Church of England Scripture Readers' Societies.

3 Religious Objects General: Church building, in connexion with three local societies; and the building of other local churches, in a period of three years.

4. Educational Objects General: Building of Church Schools in a period of three years, and permanent support of the Church of England School Society.

The names of all the subscribers were arranged in alphabetical order, and in columns opposite to each name marks were put, indicating the objects to which the individual subscribed.

The general result was the following:

(1) That there are only 122 gentlemen who subscribe to the majority of these objects, or to any considerable number of them. (2) That the entire strength of their sup porters—that is, of those who subscribe to any or to all of them-is 1243. (3) That

690 other persons subscribe to the Blue-coat Hospital, or to the schools connected with the various churches and districts of the town. Several of these last, including a large proportion of those who subscribe to the Blue-coat Hospital, are protestant dissenters. It is not necessary to discuss the question here, "what are charities?" Some include under the term all societies or institutions whose object is either to promote the glory of God or good will towards men; others apply the term to societies for the latter object merely; while others again, perhaps more logical and consistent than either of the foregoing, confine the term " charities" to such societies or institutions as minister to the relief of human suffering, from which others have nothing to fear. It is obvious that a fever hospital, a lunatic asylum, or a receptacle for persons with malformations, is not a charity, except in a very loose sense of the term. It is really an institution connected with moral and sanatory police, having in view prevention as much as cure, perhaps more.

Without adhering rigidly to this distinction, the institutions of which an analysis is given here are the following:

1. The Blue Coat Hospital.

2. The Northern Hospital.

3. The Southern Hospital.

4. The Liverpool Dispensaries, including St. Anne's Dispensary, and Eye

and Ear Institution.

5. The Royal Infirmary, Lunatic Asylum, and Lock Hospital.

6. The Eye and Ear Infirmary.

7. The District Provident Society.

8. The Sailors' Home.

9. The Asylum for Orphan Boys.

10. The Female Orphan Asylum.

11. The School for the Deaf and Dumb.

12. The School for the Blind.

Omitting all other sources of income, such as endowments, houses, invested property, donations, and church collections, let us look to the annual subscribers alone. We easily gather from the Reports the following general statement:

Average of
Sub'tions.

£ 8. d.

Blue Coat Hospital

Northern Hospital.

Southern Hospital

Thus, speaking in general terms, there are ten thousand annual subscriptions paid to the charities of Liverpool, independent of other sums; and these amount to £14,000. The subscriptions to the lufirmary are the largest, probably because it includes several objects; there are a good many of £5 5s. Those to the Asylum for Orphan Boys are the smallest, being usually a guinea or half a guinea.

Now, it must be apparent, that though there are 9760 subscriptions, there are not 9760 subscribers, but that the name of one individual occurs in several reports. If, therefore, we take the largest list as a basis, the roll of the Blue Coat Hospital, we may compare each of the others with it, and see what proportion of their subscribers is to be found in it. It is popularly said that the subscribers to the Blue Coat Hospital support

all the charities of the town; an analysis of this kind will test the accuracy of the

statement.

Of the 1753 subscribers to the Blue Coat Hospital, the following numbers and proportions are found in the several lists :

Proportion of the whole.

50 per cent.

Thus it appears that the subscribers to the Blue Coat Hospital pay from 50 to 70 per cent. of the subscriptions to the other charities mentioned here. Deducting 1733 subscriptions from the total, 9760, we have 8027 as the total subscriptions to the charities on this latter Table. The number 4568 gives an average of 57 per cent.; so that nearly three-fifths of the support to all the other charities is given by the subscribers to the Blue Coat Hospital.

The next point was to ascertain how many subscribe to only one object, and what that object is. For a variety of reasons, different individuals prefer different charities and patronise them only, while the sympathies of others are more widely extended. To ascertain this, it was necessary to throw the names of all the subscribers into alphabetical order, and to mark opposite to each in prepared columns, the objects to which he subscribed. The subscribers to only one object were then apparent, in the respective columns.

It thus appears that from 15 to 18 per cent. of all the subscriptions are given by persons who subscribe to "pet charities" only; while the remaining 84 per cent. are contributed by persons whose benevolence is of a more diffusive character. But what proportion do these 1527 single-charity subscribers bear to the whole? A careful summing give us 3448 as the entire number of the names; so that of those who subscribe to the Liverpool charities, 44 per cent. subscribe only to one object. There are, of course, 56 per cent. who subscribe to more objects than one.

It is still further desirable to show how many subscribe to two, three, four or more objects, and how many to the whole. With some trouble, the whole of these facts may be gleaned from the combined list; and they form important data for further deductions.

This table furnishes us with some very important results.

Looking primarily to the subscriptions, and only secondarily to the subscribers, the following curious results appear:

(1) If to those who subscribe to five or more objects we add 30 of those who subscribe to four, we have 689 individuals contributing 4776 annual subscriptions, while the remaining 2749 individuals contribute only 4773. In other words, half the support to the public charities of Liverpool is given by 689 individuals!

(2) Again, let us add together those who subscribe to four or more objects and 225 of those who subscribe to only three. The result is that 1173 individuals contribute 6367 subscriptions, while the remaining 2295 contribute only 3182. In other words,

two thirds of the support given to the public charities of the town is by 1173 individuals, while nearly twice the number of persons are required to supply the remaining onethird!

(3) We are now in a position to test the correctness of the popular statement that "about 1500 persons support all the charities of the town." Let us add 421 of those who subscribe to two objects to the 1527 who subscribe to only one object. The whole subscribers are then divided into two sets of 1948 and 1500 respectively. The former contribute only 2369 annual subscriptions, or less than 24 per cent. of the whole; the latter (1500 persons) contribute 7280 annual subscriptions, or more than 76 per cent. of the whole. The popular statement is therefore verified in its substance: 1500 individuals do actually contribute more than three-fourths of the support which our local charities receive.

.(4) Finally, if we add together the subscribers to more than one object, we have 1921 individuals contributing 8122 subscriptions (an average of 44 each), while 1527 others contribute only 1527 subscriptions.

The concluding part of the paper was occupied with suggestions for the amendment of this state of things.

Thus, there were in Liverpool, in 1853, 65,442 persons rated to the poor. Admitting that a good many of these are themselves poor, and the recipients of relief, there is still a large number who ought to subscribe, but actually give nothing for public purposes. If we omit those who are rated under £12 a year, 34,520, we have still 30,922 heads of families, each of whom ought to contribute something.

The plan of seeking for numerous subscriptions, even though they should be smaller than at present, was strongly recommended, on the ground that it would interest a much larger number of persons in those benevolent objects.

The publication also of a combined list, similar to that of the subscribers to Church objects, or to that from which the last two of these tables were compiled, would obviate numerous difficulties. It would show, (by the absence of their names,) all those who Deglect this part of their moral obligations; and these would be the persons to be canvassed, instead of those who give already. But even those whom such a list would show to be subscribers, might become more thoroughly so. Persons who now subscribe to only one object, might be induced to subscribe to two; those who subscribe to two,

might extend their aid to three or four; and so on. The chief advantage, however would be, the continual enrolling of new contributors through the exertions of canvassers, until nearly all who pay income tax would also pay a voluntary taxation to diminish those evils to which humanity is liable, and for which in this country there is no legal provision.

15th February, 1855. SCIENTIFIC SECTION.

THE REV. DR. THOм, V.P., in the Chair.

The Minutes of the last Meeting were read and confirmed.

The following Donations were laid upon the table :

From the Architectural, Archæological and Historic Society of Chester. Proceedings and Papers, part iii. January to December, 1852.

From the Author, James Stonehouse, Esq. A New and Complete Hand-book for the Stranger in Liverpool, 12mo. Lacey.

Dr. Hume exhibited and explained his Combined List of the Subscribers to all the Church objects in the town. It was arranged alphabetically with the addresses, and showed the particular Societies and Institutions to which each gentleman subscribed. It was on the same plan as the Combined List which he had recommended, of the Subscribers to the various Charities of the town.

Mr. Stonehouse exhibited a set of Wedgewood's Cameos, twenty-five in number, systematically arranged.

The following Paper was then read:

On the Manufacture of Cobalt, by Henry Atherton, Esq.

22nd February, 1855. MISCELLANEOUS MEETING.

THE REV. DR. THOM, V.P., in the Chair.

The Minutes of the last Meeting were read and confirmed.

The following Donations were laid upon the table :

From Edward Hindley, Esq. Chaucer's Works in black letter, with large coloured wood-cuts. Folio. London, 1562. Spencer's Faery Queene and other Poems, 4to. London, 1612.

From J. Norman Crosse, F.S.S.

The early Naval Ballads of England, by J.

O. Halliwell, F.R.S., (No. viii of the Tracts issued by the Percy Society of
London,) 1841.

Jack of Dover, his Quest of inquiry for the Veriest Fool in England, (No. xxvi of Ditto,) 1842.

Thirteen Psalms, and the first Chapter of Ecclesiastes, translated into English verse, by John Croke, Temp. Henry viii, (No. xl of Do.) 1844.

St. Brandan, a medieval Legend of the Sea; by Thomas Wright, M.A., F.S.A., (No. xlviii of Do.) 1844.

From the Author, Robert Rawlinson, Esq., Report of the General Board of Health, on a Preliminary Inquiry respecting Middleton in Lancashire, 1854. From the Editor, J. F. Marsh, Esq. Papers connected with Milton and his Family. Issued by the Chetham Society, 1851.

La Normandie Souterraine, by the Abbé Cochet, which had been procured for the Society, was laid upon the table for the inspection of the members.

Dr. Hume exhibited a section from a branch of the Phytolaca or "Ombro" of the Spaniards. It had been cut in the Botanic Garden of Liverpool in 1851, and exhibited