THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 141
Magazine," writing in 1799, gives a list of aged persons buried at High Easter,
two of whom were 97 years old at the time of their decease. Under the heading
Danbury, a Mr. T.White, writing in 1789, describes the opening of a leaden coffin
under the north aisle of the church there in 1779. It was supposed to contain the
remains of a Knight Templar. The lead coffin enclosed an elm coffin, in which
was a shell. He adds :
" The lid of this shell being carefully taken off. we were presented with a view
of the body, lying in a liquor or pickle, somewhat resembling mushroom catchup,
but of a paler complexion, and somewhat thicker consistence. As I never pos-
sessed the sense of smelling, and was willing to ascertain the flavour of the
liquor, I tasted, and found it to be aromatic, though not very pungent, partaking
of the taste of catchup and of the pickle of Spanish olives."
It would be out of place to dwell, in The Essex Naturalist, on the purely
archaeological aspects of this investigation. But the unique form in which the
courage of this fearless explorer was shown, in the performance of a deed from
which most wearers of the Victoria Cross nowadays would probably shrink, makes
his act one which all members of the Essex Field Club will read of with interest
and wonder. T. V. HOLMES.
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
Annual Report of the Council for the Year ended December 31st,
1895.
[Read and adopted at the 16th Annual Meeting held at Stratford, March 28th, 1896.]
THE principal Club event of the past year was the establishment and opening
of the Epping Forest Museum, concerning the origin and progress of which,
as well as of the work at the Central Museum, separate Reports are presented.
(See pp. 145-46.) Other matters have gone on much as usual, and this, the 16th
Annual Report, need not be of a lengthy or elaborate character. As was the case
at the last two Annual Meetings, several important matters (such as the roll of
members and the state of the subscription list) are still in abeyance, but the Council
is now taking decided measures to put an end to the unsatisfactory state of the
finances of the Club, even at the risk of losing some old nominal members.
Financial.—The general income of the Club shows a falling off to the extent
of some £28, when compared with the previous year, due partly to the defection
of a number of the old Chelmsford Museum members, and partly to a diminished
yield from "arrears." The financial position, however, is stronger than it has
been for several years, owing to a substantial decrease of expenditure having been
effected in the face of considerable difficulties. One Life Composition of £10 10s.
has been received since last Report, and the two Museum Funds have been
practically exhausted.
Subsequent to the closing of the present Balance Sheet, a Sub-Committee of
the Council was appointed to deal with subscriptions in arrears. The Committee
is not yet in a position to" present a final report, but it is understood that, so far,
about £30 has been got in as the result of this special effort. The Council hopes
that by the end of the current year a material reduction will be apparent in the
adverse balance of £73 16s. 2d. which now exists on General Account, and that,