182 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
but such a variety or monstrosity does not seem to have been recorded or
described ; and Mr. Crouch therefore provisionally named it as L. palustris,
mons. aperta. Mr. Edgar Smith, F.L.S., of the British Museum, (Nat. Hist.)
to whom Mr. Crouch had submitted it, wrote "I have had a good hunt for any
notice of such a growth of L. palustris as you send, and cannot find either figure or
description. The peculiar form of the front part of the aperture calls to mind
L. reflexa, Say, of the United States, the name being suggested by the slightly
reflected appearance of the base of the aperture when viewed in profile. Of course
your shell is much more reflexed than the American species."
Mr. Edward Charlesworth, F.G.S., then delivered a short lecture on his obser-
vations on the formation of flints, illustrating his remarks by a fine series of
examples of flints from the chalk pits near Saffron Walden. We understand that
Mr. Charlesworth intends publishing a full account of his observations elsewhere,
so that we need only refer to the summary of the principal facts upon which he
relies already printed in the Essex Naturalist, (vol. iii. p. 225).
Prof. Meldola briefly discussed some of the points in Mr. Charlesworth's
address, and a vote of thanks to. the latter gentleman for his interesting exhibits
and remarks brought the meeting to a close. The main party of members left by
the Doncaster express train, which the authorities kindly stopped at Newport, but
some returned to Saffron Walden, and remained there until Monday.2
2 The veteran Essex antiquary, Mr. Joseph Clarke, F.S.A., who accompanied the party in
his carriage the major part of the day, had kindly prepared for the meeting the following extracts
from the scarce pamphlet "Poor Robin's Perambulation from Saffron Walden to London, per-
formed July 1678," which mentions in the best of doggerel, many of the places visited during the
excursion. Mr. Clarke says : "Robert Winstanley (' Poor Robin ') was the second son of Henry
Winstanley, a stationer of Safron Walden (who was a man of mark, master of the almshouse,
churchwarden, and was buried in the church); his eldest son Henry was the celebrated builder of
the first Eddystone lighthouse and was drowned in its fall. Robert was the author of several
works of facetious criticism and the originator of the almanac, the name of which is continued down
to the present day ; in his time it was a skit upon and ridicule of the prognostications of all his con-
temporaries. After a jolly carouse at the "Rose and Crown" with his friends he went to Audley
End (then a considerable village) and to the "Black Swan" (which he ridicules as no such
thing)l. After passing Hendell and Sparrows' End :—
To Newport-pond my course I next way
bent,
And in at the sign of the Black Bull * went;
Where in a room I had set down,
When in came my old friends kind Mr. Brown,
And Mr. Woomwell, two who love their friend,
With true and hearty love unto the end,
For though they in another Town do live,
They to their neighbour some kind visits give.
'Twas twelve o'clock, Dinner-time did approach,
When men whet knives on wheels of Cart or
Coach ;
The Cloth was laid, and by the scent o' th' meat
One might perceive there something was to eat,
And so it proved, for from the pot
Came forth a rump of Beef was piping hot ;
And from the spit was brought a Loyn of mut-
ton,
Would satisfy the stomack of a glutton ;
For like a Loyn of Beef it might been knighted ;
To which our Hostess kindly us invited ;
Which we accepted of, and to delight her,
Told her none could denv such an inviter ;
For she's a Widow of such excellent carriage,_
Would make a Man most happy in her Marri-
age,
Being young, fresh, fair, of a most pregnant
wit,
And for a kind good Husband sure most fit.
For having din'd and join'd a pint or two,
Then forwards on my journey I did go.
And first I came into at town call'd Rickling,
Where for to stay awhile I made no stickling,
But presently in at the King's Head fell,
Where of compounding Dick I first heard tell,
To whom if that it please you to resort ye,
He for a Hundred pound will mortgage forty—
Shillings a year, nor do you think I jest,
It's very true, indeed, probatum est.
Or lend him lesser sums, which if you do,
For twenty Shillings he will pay you two,
Not two and twenty Shillings, no such plenty,
I mean he'll pay you two Shillings for twenty ;
Pray heed him then, and this shall be your por-
tion
You shall not need fear being su'd for extortion.
From the King's Head I out of doors scarce
went.
But was in Quendon-street incontinent,
Of many a handsome Country-house the
station
It seems to be a little Corporation,
Yet are the houses not so neat as strong,
And doth most to one Gentleman belong.
For nothing on it can you look against,
Unless cause there is ne'er an Ale-house in't.
Good air, brave Woods, and fine rich Meadow-
ground,
* Cole in his MSS calls it the "Red Bull," with painted, glass in the windows Simply the animal may have
been altered in its paint. There is a token in tho S. Walden Museum, and several have been found, John
Runham a bull. Boyne ascribes it to Newport. Salop, hut it belongs to this village, as tho Runham's are known
to have lived there.