In the former Communication which I had the pleasure to make to you respecting the repairs now in progress at Westminster Hall, I stated that on removing the surface of the masonry of the walls, many very manifest indications presented themselves of the original Norman work. The subsequent progress of the restoration continued to bring to light similar indications, sufficient indeed to render it no difficult task to form a pretty distinct conception of the appearance of the walls as built during the Norman period, and I hope in a short time to have the pleasure of putting into your hands a drawing of such an imaginary, but well founded, restoration, which, perhaps, you may think deserving the inspection of the Society.

Diodorus in his account of Gaul, speaking of the ore obtained from the streams, says, that “by this means accumulating abundance of Gold, not only the women, but the men, use it for ornament; for round their wrists and arms they wear bracelets; round their necks thick collars of pure gold, and rings of great value, and even golden breast-plates.” Polybius, particularly remarks this national custom, and it is the subject of frequent allusion among the Roman authors, as in the following passage from Virgil, relating to the host of Brennus:

Aurea csesaries ollis, atque aurea vestis:

Virgatis lucent sagulis: turn lactea colla

Auro innectuntur.

Mr. John Swaine, junior (specimens of whose drawings from sepulchral monuments and ancient stained glass I have, on one or two former occasions, had the pleasure of exhibiting to the Society of Antiquaries) has forwarded to my care, for the same purpose, copies which he has recently made of some paintings in stained glass, of an early date, remaining in the north window of the Jerusalem Chamber, within the precinct of the Abbey of Westminster, and which have not, that I am aware, been delineated in any publication descriptive of the antiquities of that place.

As information regarding any of our elder Poets is not without the sphere of inquiry by the Society of Antiquaries, I do not scruple to forward to you, for the inspection of that learned body, a few novel particulars respecting Sir Francis Bryan, one of the authors of the celebrated volume of “Songs and Sonnets,” first printed by Tottell in 1557, which went through several subsequent editions. Sir Francis Bryan, as you are well aware, was not less distinguished as a soldier and a politician than as a poet; but the intelligence we have hitherto procured relating to him has been, perhaps, more scanty than that which refers to any of his accomplished contemporaries. This fact must be my excuse for giving to what I now furnish an air of greater importance than it may really deserve. I feel so curious an interest in all matters, however trifling, connected with literary antiquities, that I am not a competent judge of the worth or worthlessness of a letter like the present. I therefore throw upon you the responsibility of deciding whether it ought to be read before the Society.