114
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
After a few words from the President, Prof. Coker referred to the way in
which the work had been done, and said how highly the Club appreciated the
public spirit of the Essex County Council in granting a sufficient sum of money
for the purpose. He understood that the action of the Council was almost a
precedent in a matter of this kind,
Mr. W. Cole called attention to the historical interest of these landmarks.
The President, on behalf of the Club, thanked Mr. Savidge for the attention
he had bestowed on the work, and for the very capable way in which it had been
carried through.
Alderman Glenny said that, when the County Council discussed the proposal,
the vote of £100 was passed unanimously. He and Mr. Roberts would now
certainly be able to report to the Council that the stones had been "well and
truly laid." They both were very pleased with the day's survey.
Professor Meldola communicated through the President the following note:
—"I have been asked by several people who have read my papers on the
Boundary Stones why the Act of 1641 authorises specifically the restoration of
the bounds to those recognised in the 20th year of James I.—why, in fact, this
particular date was selected. In view of the circumstance that no official perambula-
tion has been recorded for that date, the only suggestion I can offer is that, being
a period of about 20 years prior to the passing of the Act, this may have been
taken as covering an interval which the inhabitants of the afforested districts
might reasonably be supposed to remember—a kind of statutory limitation within
which the evidence of witnesses might be supposed to be trustworthy, but beyond
which it might have been considered unsafe to go in laying down boundaries of
which the positions could only be determined by the recollection of what they
formerly were within the memory of the inhabitants. No other explanation
occurs to me. Perhaps expert antiquarians can throw some light on this point.
The 20th year of the preceding reign was probably selected as the most convenient
whole number allowing of a sufficient interval for the purpose suggested."
The Rev. W. C. Howell and Mr. Miller Christy spoke also on this question.
The President warmly thanked Lady O'Hagan for her kind invitation and
reception that afternoon.
In responding, Lady O'Hagan said that she considered the existence of such
a body as the Essex Field Club was a great benefit to any district, and as a new
comer into Essex she hoped to learn more of its doings and of the natural and
archaeological features of a most interesting county. In the course of an eloquent
and interesting speech, she expressed the regret of Lord O'Hagan at not being
able to personally welcome the Club. He was with the Territorials at Lydd.
After a ramble through the grounds, the party was driven back in the calm
evening of a very pleasant day to Ilford, Wanstead, and Buckhurst Hill. It was
a source of great satisfaction to everyone concerned that the County Council had
taken an enlightened view of the proposal submitted to them, and thus aided in
preserving for many years, it is hoped, a sermon in stone concerning an episode
in one of the most stirring and eventful periods of our national history.
THE ANNUAL "FUNGUS FORAY,'' AND 276th ORDINARY
MEETING.
30th October 1909.
The annual "Fungus Foray" was held on this day, the Headquarters being
at Messrs. Spier's Rooms at High Beach, Epping Forest.