Mr. GEO. WILLIS,--Your Correspondent, under the head of "Antiquarian
Sacrilege," (_Current Notes for December, p. 91,_) seems not to be
aware that almost all Church Brasses, with very few exceptions, were
torn from their places by the sectarian soldiers in Cromwell's time,
who affected to consider such things idolatrous. They were for the
most part sold for old brass, and some authority (I forget who at
this moment), tells us that, in consequence of the number at one
time brought into the market, the price of brass was decreased in
proportion. There were very few Antiquaries in those days, consequently
a very small number of these desecrated Brasses have been preserved,
and for those we possess we are indebted to such men as Ashmole, Lilly,
and others of that class, who, though sufficiently fantastic and
visionary in their pursuits, were still men of some learning and taste.
Some, if not the whole of the lots alluded to by your Correspondent,
came into the possession of the late John Meyrick, Esq., through an
ancestor of his wife, whose name was "Rush," and the only sacrilege
committed by the late Mr. Meyrick seems to have been the preservation
of these things from destruction.
I have frequently heard the late Sir S. R. Meyrick mention these
Brasses, and regret they were not in his possession.