Journal of Proceedings. cxlix
to her brother Samuel Gurney, who lived in Ham House, in Upton Park,
known since 1874 as West Ham Park. Here she lived the balance
of her days, not without sorrows, but still continuing her earnest works,
and known and esteemed world-widely. Here came, to do her honour,
statesmen and philanthropists, the noble and the royal; and here, in
1842, the King of Prussia came, whose parting words beneath this roof
we must all cordially echo—' May blessings continue to rest on this
house.' She died in October, 1845, at Ramsgate, and was buried at
Barking.
" I have the pleasure of exhibiting an excellent proof engraving of
Mrs. Fry, which has been kindly lent to me by an old friend for this
meeting. It was executed by Thomas Blood, a well-known man and
good engraver, who lived at Plaistow, and being thus connected with
the district we are in to-day, I have also borrowed a fine engraving of
himself, which is an excellent work of art, and enriched by his own
presentation autograph. I have also the pleasure of exhibiting a
selection of books, engravings, maps, drawings, &c., relating to the
places we have visited to day, some of which may be of interest to those
present."
A few supplementary remarks were made by Mr. Andrew Johnston
as to his reminiscences of the house, and subsequently votes of thanks
were accorded to Messrs. Crouch, Walker, Cole, and others who had
acted as conductors throughout the day.
Saturday, April 25th, 1885. Ordinary Meeting.
The fifty-eighth Ordinary Meeting was held in the Loughton Public
Hall at 6.30 p.m., the President in the chair.
The following were elected members : Messrs W. G. Beck, John
Bentley, 0. Golding, W. H. Wright, Dr. H. Power, and Miss H. M.
Rowdon, B.A.
Donations to the Library were announced, and thanks voted for the
same.
Mr. J. G. Goodchild, F.L.S., F.G.S., then delivered a lecture on
" Birds of Prey (Aetomorphae), with especial reference to those recorded
from Essex." The principal topics treated of were :—the zoological posi-
tion of the Aetomorphae; the leading characteristics of the birds of
prey of each of the great zoogeographical regions ; the natural history of
the Secretary Bird ; the American Vultures ; the Osprey ; the Owls ; the
Old-World Vultures ; the Eagles ; the Hawks, and the Falcons. The
Aetomorphae in relation to man, and sketch of the modes of capturing and
training Hawks for Falconry. The lecture was illustrated by a very
large number of coloured drawings, the work of Mr. Goodchild, many of
them being from life. Mr. Goodchild warmly denounced the folly of
destroying birds of prey for the supposed benefit of game preservers, and
advocated the preservation of most of the species in the real interests of
the farmer and sportsman.
At the close of the lecture considerable discussion took place on