128
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
After thanks had been expressed to the Rector, the party continued'
its way in a raging snowstorm to "Harts," the estate formerly belonging
to Richard Warner, who lived here from 1722 until his death in 1775.
The house occupied by Warner was demolished early in the nineteenth
century, and the present structure erected by the then owner, Mr. Mellisii ;
but several features of the extensive grounds which were introduced by
Warner are still extant, and were inspected with considerable interest
by the visitors. Chief among these is the ornamental stone which he, in
1748, with filial piety, set up to the memory of his mother, who died in
1743 ; the inscription on which, still legible, reads :—
MATRI
OPTIME DE SE MERENTI
POSUIT
RICARDUS WARNER
FILIUS
MDCCXLVIII.
The thatched cottage in the grounds, which is believed to date from
Warner's time, bears a carved stone over the doorway with the inscription :
AUDE HOSPES
and the artificial ruin, that quaint conceit of eighteenth century pro-
prietors, which is lauded in a letter to the Gentleman's Magazine of 1789
as "so artfully contrived as to make the observer imagine it is in reality
what it artificially means," was also inspected with curious interest—and
comment. "Harts" is now in the occupation of the county borough of
East Ham, who purchased the estate in 1919, and use it as a sanatorium for
tuberculous patients. The resident medical superintendent, Dr. G. N.
Cheater, received the party on arrival, and accompanied the visitors on
their tour of the grounds, and to him cordial thanks were accorded for
his courtesy, on taking leave.
THE ANNUAL MEETING AND ORDINARY MEETING
(594TH AND 505TH MEETINGS).
SATURDAY, 28TH MARCH, 1925.
The above Meetings were held in the Physics Lecture Theatre of the
Municipal College, Romford Road, Stratford, at 3 o'clock on the above
afternoon, 54 Members being present.
The Hon. Secretary announced that the President had had the mis-
fortune to break his leg, and would necessarily be unable to attend the
meetings of the Club for some two or three months : the Council had
accordingly that day appointed Mr. Robert Paulson to act in his stead
during Sir Arthur's enforced absence. Mr. Paulson then took the Chair.
The Chairman thought it would be the wish of the Members that a
message of sincere sympathy be sent to the President ; the proposal was
warmly endorsed by the meeting.
The business of the Annual Meeting was then taken.