Untitled Article

heavy enough , without doubling them ; and the charge of five shillings a-day each for conveyance in an open wagon on springs , where twenty or twenty-five were packed closely , is a fine specimen of - the comfort and economy promised at this gathering of learned men from all parts of the kingdom . Llandilo Fwwr .

Notes And Queries

NOTES AND aUEEIES

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS * MONTHLY MAGAZINE . MUTILATION OF ANCIENT PLACES . Sir . —The Old Priory ruins , belonging to Jesus College , Oxford , at Carmarthen , have lately been pulled down by the person who has leased them , for the purpose of building a dozen cottages on the site . During the total demolition of the ruins , some freestone work , bearing the resemblance of a fire-place bricked up , was observed by the master of one of the free schools at Carmarthen , whose field

adjoins the Priory ruins , and forms part of Jesus College property . On search , he requested the frontispiece of freestone might be spared , as , instead of a fire-place , he had strong suspicion it was the niche in the wall of the building where the stone pulpit formerly stood ; but the crowbar , the pickaxe , and the shovel were at work , and time , as the men observed , was their bread ; consequently the brickwork was soon down , when Mr . Ribbans ' s conjectures stood unveiled as truths . The

place , about four-and-a-half feet wide , and as much deep , with about two-and-ahalf feet in the wall , bore evident marks of having been used for some service of the church , if not for a pulpit , since the roof was perfect , with stones dove-tailed together , resembling the fingers of both hands longitudinally clenched in each other , without the slightest aperture to denote a chimney . A sketch of the ruins has been preserved by Mr . Ribbans .

The Nuns-walk and boundary walls are left for the next " bid , " on similar terms , for the land around them . It appears that the person who has hired the present portion is to have the stones of the ruins for himself , and that he is employing labourers to separate them at two pence-halfpenny a rod J a price by which the workmen cannot earn a shilling a-day ; but as it is expected that this , part of the building maybe the N . E . corner ,

some valuable deposits may turn up , which were placed there at the building of the Priory , so the men work full of hope . The ground underneath appears to be hollow , probably vaults , as it was from this spot the magnificent tomb now to be seen within the communion rails of St . Peter ' s Church , at Carmarthen , was taken , and very little doubt exists of this Priory being at one time a very handsome and extensive structure .

At St . Peter ' s Church the work of demolition is going on , in the total destruction of one of the finest arches leading to the north chapel ; the span was beautiful , and by far the best in the building . This , it appears , has been done merely to expose the organ , which about four or five years ago was taken from the gallery , the most exposed part of the church , and placed in the north chapel , purposely out of sight , considered at that time the most eligible spot for it , to the utter exclusion of a bow window of stained glass , and some handsome tombs now conpletely concealed .

The destruction of the arch alluded to is regretted by all except those who ordered it to be done ; the re-pewing of the church is going on , whilst the old pews ( without a flaw ) are to be taken for the purpose of new-pewing the churches in the neighbourhood . This is economy—to the delight and derision of the various sects of religionists who have the ascendancy here .

The pulpit and sounding-board , of beautifully cut oak , without a blemish , it is said , are to be replaced by a modem rostrum , at the expense of a subscription , headed most liberally by Earl Cawdor , who surely knows nothing of the mutilation going on , since it is well certified that his lordship is an admirer and upholder of ancient relics , especially if we may judge from his wearing at times a very