Architecture And Archæology.

consulting those whom they represented , in full accordance with the law of the kingdom as now established . Without expanding the inquiry into the constitutional advancement that had been reached by the close of this reign , it is sufficient to have stated these fewimportant facts , as they will of themselves demonstrate the increased power of the Commons . The independence , as well as the augmented authority of this branch of the Legislature , were

completely asserted in the two lust Parliaments that remain to he examined . This is very apparent in the one held at Gloucester , in the second year of Richard II . ( 137 S ) , when we find amongst the petitions ( No . 20 ) , one from the Commons requesting the King to inform them , in what manner the large sums had been expended during the wars of the late reign ; and , though the petition was -answered in a manner that showed a disapproval of such kind of "inquiry—answering , but at the same time protesting against the

demand—yet the fact itself is very significant , and proves how completely the relative power of the highest and the lowest estates ¦ of the realm had become altered . There was , moreover , a difference -of opinion betwixt the Lords and the Commons as to the way in which the accustomed wages of members of Parliament ought to lie levied , the peers answering very firmly , that they ivould not depart from their ancient liberty and franchise . On this occasion , the Commons met in the Chapter House , in the Great Cloister in

the Abbey , at eight in the morning . The disjmte ivhich had thus ¦ commenced regarding the privileges and jurisdiction claimed by each House , was still further extended in the last Parliament that sat at Gloucester . When it met here in the 9 th of Henry IV ., 1407 . the Commons "besought the King to assign certain lords , whom they named , to commune with them on the business of the meeting—a request that had been made ancl granted on former occasions ; but in addition to this , the lords now evinced the desire

¦ of obtaining peculiar privileges , more particularly striving to control all the pecuniary grants to the Crown . The Lords being assembled in the royal presence , were desired to state what aid they deemed necessary for the public service , ancl having replied that it would

require a tenth and a half from the cities , and a fifteenth from other laymen , besides a subsidy of wool and other duties for two years , the King then sent this message to the Commons . The Commons , however , did not feel disposed on their part so readil y to entertain the Lords' proposition . Por the King having commanded them to send to lihnself and tlie Lords a certain number from their body , to hear ancl report what he should ordain , and the Commons having received the ¦ communicationthey were greatldisturbedand unanimously {

de-, y , clared the proceedings were to the great prejudice and derogation of their liberties . Thus distinctly claiming , as the representatives ofthe people , that all grants for aid must originate with their branch ofthe Legislature , ancl not with the Upper House . Whether this assumption of power was consistent with previous forms , whether it agreed with that clause in Magna Charta that decreed that no scutage or aid should be givenexcepting bthe Common Council of the

king-, y dom , ( the clause was omitted in the two subsequent confirmations . Pari . Hist . v . ii ., p . 110 . Stephen , v . i ., p . 136 ) , whether it was a departure from the provisions established at the Parliament of Oxford , 1258 , will now be matter of little consequence , as the authority of the Commons , either in making or in sanctioning pecuniary grants , was by this transaction henceforward fully established . This collision between the Lords ancl the Commons

also gave rise to the ordinance , that in all future Parliaments , the Lords should have full freedom of debate amongst themselves ; in an equal way , also , that the Commons should discuss all matters relating to the realm , without disclosing them to the King before they had arrived at a mutual decision , ancl that that should only be made known to the King through the voice of the Speaker . " He also says : — " A recent report on privileges hasafter a lapse of

, four centuries and a half" invested the last Parliament that sat for six weeks at Gloucester with fresh value . It has been appealed to as tlie chief authorit y for passing bills of supply , anil upon its practice have been founded a series of resolutions marked equally by their dignity and independence , which have asserted fche authority of the House of Commons to impose and remit taxation . "

At the same sitting , tile Earl Ducie gave an account of the discovery of a Eoman villa , afc Tortworfch . Dr . Guest then gave a learned and ingenious paper on " the English . Conquest ofthe Severn Valley . " In the afternoon , there was an agreeable excursion to Tewkesbury , where Mr . Petit pointed out the peculiarities and illustrations to which the attention of the members had been called b his in

y paper the morning . In tbe evening , the members visited Highnam Court , the seat of Mr . T . Gambler Parry . This ' was a source of great gratification to the members , who wero charmed with the , works of art that Mr . Parry possesses . On Thursday , excursions were mado fco Cirencester and Pairford . Afc the former place the ecclesiastical antiquities

were explained by the Eev . Canon . Powell , and a- supplementary elucidation was afforded by Sir . J . H . Parker . Prof . Buckman did the antiquarian honours of Lord Bathnrsfc ' s Museum of Eoman Antiquities . At the latter , the extensive series of painted glass windows found numerous admirers , and , indeed , a large number of the excursionists made their way in this direction . In tho evening , two papers of ver * y

great interest were read : —the ono , " On the Domestic Architecture of Gloucestershire , " by Mr . J . H . Parker ; and theother , by Dr . Guest , "On the Conquest of tho Severn-Valley in the Sixth Century . " The Eov . Lee Warner also communicated a paper " On a Copy of Covcrdale ' s Bible in the Cathedral Library . " Friday was the great clay of papers . Mr . Earle was first

in again devoting his knowledge to the illustration of "Some Historical Associations connected with tho county of Gloucester . " Then came Mr . Eichard Wcsfcmacofcfc ' s paper on tho Mediasval Sculpture , illustrated by examples in Gloucester Cathedral . The subject was treated with pure art-feeling and wifch strong love for the truth , which he maintained should bo the only source of art . He stated ,

and brought strong evidence to bear upon the argument , that it is not right to attribute to the reformation , tho decay of art in England . The Professor having ended , Mr . Parker rose to enter a protest against what he considered an attack on Gothicism . He remarked that domestic architecture of

the middle ages was of the same style as that loft by the ecclesiasfcics , ancl instanced as a proof , the Eefectory of the Blaekfriars as a sample of secular building . The president made some remarks , but failed to turn tho stream of popular opinion away from the professor , who was again greeted with cheers . ' The discussion gave way to Professor "Willis , who traced the history of the cathedral from its foundation , wifch a clearness and simplicity that left a most favourable impression on his hearers . The professor stated that he believed this cathedral and this district to havo been the

school of the perpendicular style , as 'it was here shown of a j more early date , from authenticrecords , than in any other spot . This day ' s pleasure terminated wifcJi a conversazione , given by the Mayor , Mr . Nix , at tbe Corn Exchange , where he provided most liberally for the entertainment of his guests . On Saturday the Members were courteously invited by Admiral Sir Maurice Berkeley , to Berkeley Castle , where

the numerous paintings , miniatures , and works of Art , in addition to the well-known historical associations and history of fche castle , afforded great gratification . The architectural features of the castle wero pointed out by Mr . J . II . Parker . He ruthlessly destroyed one tradition by saying , that the architecture of the room in which Edward II . is said to havo been murdered was of a later period than his reign . The

members of the Association then proceeded to Thornbury , wore they visited the church , that has boon restored under the direction of Mr . Townsend , whose kindness and attention could not be surpassed . Thornbury Castle was also visited and examined wifch groat interest , its beautiful chimney shafts being greatly admired . Monday the 23 rd was devoted , by invitations from Col .

Meyrick and Mr . J . C . Dent , to visiting Goodrich Court and Sudeley Castle , the beauties of which , combined wifch the charming landscapes , amply repaid a visit , notwithstanding fche weather was , as ifc had been on Saturday , most unpropitious for such visit . Tuesday concluded the meeting with business forms and arrangements ; bufc many of the members combined ivith

the Cotteswold Club in an excursion on Wednesday to Chepstow and Tintern Abbey , and on tho following day , a special party was formed to visit Wroxeter . At the general meeting , it was resolved to accept the invitation from Peterborough , for the ensuing year .

BUCKS AUCJIITECTUIUL AST ) ARCJU'OLOGICAL SOCIETY . TUB animal meeting of this Society was held at Ren-port Pagnell on tho 17 th ult . There was a crowded meeting , and sixty new members wero admitted . The chair was occupied by Mr . C . G . Du Pre , M . P . The business of the day havingbeen disposed of ) a paper , " On a double-faced Brass in Stowe Church , with a few general remarks on tho Desecration of Churches , " by Vice-Admiral Smyth , was read by the Eov . C . Lowndes . A variety of interesting information was