_Kyrle's Tankard at Balliol._--A very beautiful silver tankard, bearing the
following inscription, with the arms of the donor engraved in the centre of
the body of the cup; the first two words above, the others beneath the
arms, was presented to Balliol College, Oxford, by that celebrated and
excellent man, John Kyrle, Esq., better known by his world-wide
appellation, "The Man of Ross." It will be perceived from the inscription
that he was a gentleman commoner of that society:
"Poculum Charitatis.
Ex dono Johannis Kyrle, de Rosse, in agro Herefordiens, et
hujus Collegii Socio Commensalis."
It weighed upwards of five pounds, and the cover was lifted up by his
crest, a hedgehog. It is said to have been always produced at table when a
native of Herefordshire favoured the society with his company. Can any of
your correspondents favour me with the following particulars:--Is the
tankard still in existence, and has it been ever engraved? If so, in what
work? Is there any record in the college books to show in what year, and
upon what occasion, it was presented?