THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 231
English costume from the early 18th century to modern times, a resume
of the postal service in this country, including a valuable series of dated
English postage stamps, and illustrations showing the evolution of road and
railway travel, are among the features of this important collection, to
which is added some 130 negative photographs used in illustration of the
compilation.
Mr. Thompson next exhibited a selection of photographs of old houses
in Wanstead and Stratford taken during the last summer in connection
with the Pictorial Survey work of the Stratford museum.
He further exhibited, on behalf of Miss G. Lister, a copy of Warner's
Plantis Woodfordienses, which had recently been given to her and which
had originally belonged, in 1773, to the Rev. Michael Tyson (1740-1780),
one time rector of Lambourne.
Thanks were voted to the various donors and exhibitors.
Professor J. W. Gregory's report as Club's delegate to the Con-
ference of Delegates at the British Association meeting at Southampton in
August-September, 1925, was read, in the author's absence, by the Hon.
Secretary. On the President's proposition, hearty thanks were accorded
to Professor Gregory for his report.
Mr. Percy Thompson read a paper on "The Willingales of Loughton:
to whom do we owe Epping Forest?" which he illustrated by lantern-
photographs and also by a living exhibit in the person of Mr. Alfred
Willingale, the sole survivor of the three men who were imprisoned in 1866
for asserting their right to lop trees in Epping Forest.
A short discussion followed the reading of the paper, and thanks were
passed to the author, following which the meeting adjourned.
VISIT TO THE MINERAL DEPARTMENT OF THE
BRITISH MUSEUM (NATURAL HISTORY) (605TH MEETING).
SATURDAY, 16TH JANUARY, 1926.
A visit to any portion of the Natural History Museum is always a joy,
and the present one, which, in response to a kind invitation from Dr. G. T.
Prior, M.A., D.Sc., F.R.S., the Keeper of the Department of Mineralogy,
had for object the inspection of the marvellous collection of beautiful
gemstones and other crystals in his care, was fully up to the usual pleasur-
able standard, if one may judge from the spontaneous expressions of
delight uttered by members of the party.
The severe weather was responsible for a somewhat poor attendance,
but in spite of thickly lying snow a party of twenty members mustered at
the Museum at shortly after 2 o'clock, and was received by Dr. Prior at
the entrance to the Mineral Gallery.
Dr. Prior began by giving an instructive account of crystal-structure,
with especial reference to the recent researches of Professor Sir William
Bragg and other workers on the actual spacing and arrangement of the
atoms in the crystal ; by passing X-rays through the crystal the contained
atoms themselves functioned as a diffraction-grating, and so rendered it
possible to determine the intimate structure.
A personally conducted tour through the Gallery followed, Dr. Prior
calling special attention to the many fine specimens of gemstones, as