Minutes of meeting, 26 May 1791
Reference code
SAL/02/024/018
Title
Minutes of meeting, 26 May 1791
Date
26/5/1791
Level of description
Item
Scope and content
The following Fellows were elected: Thomas Hibbert and Rev. William Holcombe.
The following Fellows were admitted to the Society: Thomas Northmore, Charles Turner and Caleb Whitefoord.
Edmund Lodge presented his 3 volume “Illustrations of British History, Biography & Manners in the Reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary, Elizabeth and James I”, selected from letters of the Howard, Talbot and Cecil families.
A letter from Dom François-Philippe Gourdin to Edmund Turnor was presented.
Reading of the late Rev. George North’s account of the introduction of numeral figures resumed. He urged a study of the life of the misrepresented 10th century Gerbert, widely versed in ancient writings, who had a considerable library, his mathematical works still existing in Rome, and who built an innovative organ at Rheims. An account of his life would be a literary history of his time; his political acumen evidenced by speedy progress from monk to Archbishop to the Papacy.
Rev. North then considered the date of the chimney mantle-tree in Helmdon Parsonage, Northants, carved with figures variously read as years 1133 (Dr Wallis) and 1233 (Professor Ward), and key to understanding when Arabic numerals were first used in England. Other early examples in buildings, including their capacity for misinterpretation as numerals rather than letters, were discussed.
The use of figures and cyphers [e.g. Cistercian numerals] in books was considered, including the possibility of misinterpreting later amended Roman numeral letters; specific examples cited.
Rev. North credited Robert Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln, as fount of our knowledge on present cyphers and figures, reported by Matthew Paris and informed by John of Basingstoke, Archdeacon of Leicester, following his return from Athens ca. 1235-40. Mentioned Testament of the 12 Patriarchs, later translated into Latin by Grosseteste.
Rev. North ended by observing on a manuscript letter in the Tower of London, from Alfonso King of Spain [Alfonso X, King of Castile and León] to Edward I, with dates expressed in Roman numerals.
Letter read from Robert Riddell with drawing of 3 rings. The first, mixed metal gold-plated, found near Kenmure Castle, Galloway. The second, brass, found near Friary at Dumfries with English coins, none later than Edward IV. The third, a brass cramp ring from Lancashire.
Also a drawing and account of an ancient carved stone in a farmhouse wall at Dardarroch, Glencairn, Dumfriesshire. From a ruined fortalice at Birkshaw, former residence of Cunningham family, descendants of the Earls of Glencairn, the stone bore arms of Cunningham [Argent, a shakefork Sable] with a mullet or spur rowel, as cadency mark for a third son, and carved letters S C.
The following Fellows were admitted to the Society: Thomas Northmore, Charles Turner and Caleb Whitefoord.
Edmund Lodge presented his 3 volume “Illustrations of British History, Biography & Manners in the Reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary, Elizabeth and James I”, selected from letters of the Howard, Talbot and Cecil families.
A letter from Dom François-Philippe Gourdin to Edmund Turnor was presented.
Reading of the late Rev. George North’s account of the introduction of numeral figures resumed. He urged a study of the life of the misrepresented 10th century Gerbert, widely versed in ancient writings, who had a considerable library, his mathematical works still existing in Rome, and who built an innovative organ at Rheims. An account of his life would be a literary history of his time; his political acumen evidenced by speedy progress from monk to Archbishop to the Papacy.
Rev. North then considered the date of the chimney mantle-tree in Helmdon Parsonage, Northants, carved with figures variously read as years 1133 (Dr Wallis) and 1233 (Professor Ward), and key to understanding when Arabic numerals were first used in England. Other early examples in buildings, including their capacity for misinterpretation as numerals rather than letters, were discussed.
The use of figures and cyphers [e.g. Cistercian numerals] in books was considered, including the possibility of misinterpreting later amended Roman numeral letters; specific examples cited.
Rev. North credited Robert Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln, as fount of our knowledge on present cyphers and figures, reported by Matthew Paris and informed by John of Basingstoke, Archdeacon of Leicester, following his return from Athens ca. 1235-40. Mentioned Testament of the 12 Patriarchs, later translated into Latin by Grosseteste.
Rev. North ended by observing on a manuscript letter in the Tower of London, from Alfonso King of Spain [Alfonso X, King of Castile and León] to Edward I, with dates expressed in Roman numerals.
Letter read from Robert Riddell with drawing of 3 rings. The first, mixed metal gold-plated, found near Kenmure Castle, Galloway. The second, brass, found near Friary at Dumfries with English coins, none later than Edward IV. The third, a brass cramp ring from Lancashire.
Also a drawing and account of an ancient carved stone in a farmhouse wall at Dardarroch, Glencairn, Dumfriesshire. From a ruined fortalice at Birkshaw, former residence of Cunningham family, descendants of the Earls of Glencairn, the stone bore arms of Cunningham [Argent, a shakefork Sable] with a mullet or spur rowel, as cadency mark for a third son, and carved letters S C.
Creator
Society of Antiquaries of London
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