Minutes of meeting, 3 March 1791
Reference code
SAL/02/024/008
Title
Minutes of meeting, 3 March 1791
Date
3/3/1791
Level of description
Item
Scope and content
The following Fellow was recommended for election, elected and admitted to the Society: The Rt. Hon. Henry, Lord Middleton.
The following Fellow was recommended for election: John Baker.
It was reported that the Audit Committee of Charles Townshend, John Peachey and Christopher Hawkins, having examined the Treasurer’s Accounts for the year ending 31st December 1790, found them to be just and true. They confirmed the sums of income and expenditure had left the Treasurer a balance of £313-10s-5d in favour of the Society; there was consolidated stock of £5,500.
Sir Henry Charles Englefield, Bart., communicated a paper and three drawings relating to Roman antiquities lately discovered at Bath. He considered these to be remains of a Temple of the Corinthian Order dedicated to Apollo and Minerva, showing neither the elegance in design of the best Roman times nor corresponding workmanship. He described the measurement, estimation, analogy and calculation adopted to derive the conjectural front elevation of the Temple and overall dimensions. These were depicted in the drawings as were structural components and decoration. Sir Henry observed that execution of the whole was very indifferent, but the head was particularly bad, without taste or expression. He commended members’ attention to Mr Baldwin’s full and accurate description.
Letter from George Chalmers to John Topham containing a copy of a warrant of the Privy Council, as late as 1620, for using torture on a person suspected of Treason, was read. This warrant authorised the Lord Chief Justice of the King’s Bench, H.M. Solicitor General and the Lieutenant of the Tower, or any two of them, to examine a named person from time to time and use specified means of torture. Dated 19th February 1619. The Privy Councillors who directed that measure and signed the warrant were the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Privy Seal, and five others named. While one signatory subsequently opined that torture was prohibited, quoting the great Charter, Mr Chalmers feared that many such instances could be found if criminal proceedings from that period back to the Tudors were searched. Even Scottish law might have permitted torture in certain circumstances subsequent to the Revolution, though the Union of the Crowns had freed Scotland from that danger, and later Acts of Union brought an end by enacting that no person accused of any crime in Scotland should be liable to torture.
Owen Salusbury Brereton exhibited a collection of manuscripts relating to the King’s office and fees in the Courts at Westminster, in the Royal Household and others relating to military personnel in charge of castles and fortifications throughout the Realm. He also exhibited a brass seal ring excavated near the ancient castle at Bridgnorth, Shropshire.
The following Fellow was recommended for election: John Baker.
It was reported that the Audit Committee of Charles Townshend, John Peachey and Christopher Hawkins, having examined the Treasurer’s Accounts for the year ending 31st December 1790, found them to be just and true. They confirmed the sums of income and expenditure had left the Treasurer a balance of £313-10s-5d in favour of the Society; there was consolidated stock of £5,500.
Sir Henry Charles Englefield, Bart., communicated a paper and three drawings relating to Roman antiquities lately discovered at Bath. He considered these to be remains of a Temple of the Corinthian Order dedicated to Apollo and Minerva, showing neither the elegance in design of the best Roman times nor corresponding workmanship. He described the measurement, estimation, analogy and calculation adopted to derive the conjectural front elevation of the Temple and overall dimensions. These were depicted in the drawings as were structural components and decoration. Sir Henry observed that execution of the whole was very indifferent, but the head was particularly bad, without taste or expression. He commended members’ attention to Mr Baldwin’s full and accurate description.
Letter from George Chalmers to John Topham containing a copy of a warrant of the Privy Council, as late as 1620, for using torture on a person suspected of Treason, was read. This warrant authorised the Lord Chief Justice of the King’s Bench, H.M. Solicitor General and the Lieutenant of the Tower, or any two of them, to examine a named person from time to time and use specified means of torture. Dated 19th February 1619. The Privy Councillors who directed that measure and signed the warrant were the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Privy Seal, and five others named. While one signatory subsequently opined that torture was prohibited, quoting the great Charter, Mr Chalmers feared that many such instances could be found if criminal proceedings from that period back to the Tudors were searched. Even Scottish law might have permitted torture in certain circumstances subsequent to the Revolution, though the Union of the Crowns had freed Scotland from that danger, and later Acts of Union brought an end by enacting that no person accused of any crime in Scotland should be liable to torture.
Owen Salusbury Brereton exhibited a collection of manuscripts relating to the King’s office and fees in the Courts at Westminster, in the Royal Household and others relating to military personnel in charge of castles and fortifications throughout the Realm. He also exhibited a brass seal ring excavated near the ancient castle at Bridgnorth, Shropshire.
Creator
Society of Antiquaries of London
Archival history
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