as auditor to Henry, Duke of Norfolk, he was, through that connexion, introduced into Derbyshire, and spent the latter part of his life, which was devoted to music and mathematics, at Wingfield.  In the Appendix to Foster’s Mathematical Miscellanies are some of his pieces.  In the year 1676 he observed an eclipse of the sun at Wingfield, which was published in the Philosophical Transactions for that year.  The Manor was, in 1817, in the possession of Wingfield Halton, Esq., great grandson of the aforesaid Emanuel; but it was not then inhabited.  The last of the Halton family who resided at the Manor-House became its spoiler; for, desiring to build himself a house at the foot of the high hill upon which the mansion stands, he pulled down and unroofed part of the fine old structure—­so that the hall, with its proud emblazonry of the Shrewsbury arms and quarterings, became exposed to the decaying influences of the elements.[3] The mansion had been, however, previously much injured during the civil wars, in the reign of Charles I.; and there are a few singular incidents in its fate.  The house being possessed by the royal party, was besieged and taken by Lord Grey, of Groby, and Sir John Gall, of Hopton—­brave officers in the service of the parliament, who, according to Whitelock, voted them a letter of thanks for this and other services.  The assault was begun on the east side, with cannon planted on Pentridge Common, and a half-moon battery raised for its defence in this quarter was soon carried; but a breach being found impracticable, the cannon were removed to a wood on the opposite side.  They soon opened a considerable breach in the wall, and captured the place.  Colonel Dalby, who was the governor, was killed during the siege.  He had disguised himself in the dress of a common soldier, but being seen and known by a deserter, he was shot by him in the face as he walked in one of the stables.  The hole through which the assailant introduced his murderous musket might lately be seen, near the porter’s lodge.

    [3] The strange taste, or rather Vandalism, which despoiled
        the Manor House, had well nigh led the Halton family to
        consider the valuable MSS. and correspondence of their
        philosophical ancestor as so much waste paper.

* * * * *

POSTS FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF LETTERS.

Posts of some kind or other appear to have been in extensive use, and to have been held in high importance, by all civilized nations, from an early period of history to the times we live in.  Attempts were at first made to carry on correspondence by the means of pigeons and other birds, and though the attempt did not altogether fail, yet it was never carried into extensive practice, and in the progress of time was totally disused.  The first establishment of Posts can be traced to the times of the ancient Persians.