Archaeological Journal

“ The progressive advance of such a taste may be marked from year to year, not less in the formation of numerous local societies, and private collections, or in costly undertakings for the support or restoration of ancient public monuments, than in publications, by means of which the obscurities of the science of Antiquity have been rendered comprehensible and acceptable to the public. ”

“ Way observed, that the proposal of the Philological Society to collect such remains of our older language as are still preserved in the local dialects of the British islands, appears to be an object well deserving of the attention and concurrence of the Committee, and that essential aid might be afforded to the efforts of the Philological Society, by making the object known to the members of the Association, through the medium of the Archæological Journal. The Committee expressed their desire to give furtherance to so important an object. ”

“ We continually hear of finds of ancient coins made by peasants during the rainy season; but the author is careful to point out that what is now wanted is systematic exploration, like that of Mr. Petrie in Egypt. The present volume is based rather upon printed documents than upon original research, though it shows everywhere the traces of personal knowledge. Its object is to carry out the orders of the Government, by placing on record a catalogue of the existing monuments, classified according to their archæological importance, their state of repair, and their custody. ”

“ Those who have hitherto paid no attention to antiquarian pursuits, or may have treated with contempt what appeared to them the useless or speculative labours of the antiquary, may, it is hoped, be taught that his object is, in its way, of as high a reach as that of others who are allowed to be worthy labourers in the field of history. ”

“ I should state, in proof of this antiquity, that adjacent to each of these oratories may be seen the remains of the circular stone houses, which were the habitations of their founders; and, what is of more importance, that their graves are marked by upright pillar-stones, sometimes bearing inscriptions in the Ogham character, as found on monuments presumed to be pagan, and in other instances, as at the oratory of Gallerus, with an inscription in the Græco-Roman or Byzantine character of the fourth or fifth century, of which the annexed is an accurate copy. ”

“ The study of the habits which have belonged to different ages of social life, will induce the consideration of the idiosyncracy of race, and in this the philosopher and the antiquary will be usefully combined. Archaeology will then assume a still more dignified station among the objects of mind, and will justly be recognised as a necessary and most valuable auxiliary ill the elucidation of the interesting speculations that are now being developed in connection with ethnological inquiries. ”

“ The proceeding's of the general meeting were opened at half past three o'clock by an address from the President upon the objects of the Association, and the benefits it was calculated to realize. His lordship remarked that a disposition to cultivate intellectual pursuits was making rapid progress in this country, as well as on the continent, and this growing feeling was especially manifested with regard to archæology. Most men of cultivated minds were now beginning to take an interest in examining and pondering over the remains of past ages. ”

“ Something of this general feeling may have arisen, among other causes, from the vagueness of speculation often indulged in by collectors of objects of antiquity: something also from the impression some virtuosi have caused to be felt that the sole interest of Archaeology consists in accumulating scraps of antiquity—without selection, order, or application. ”

“ It becomes those, then, who are really interested in what are the legitimate objects of Archaeology, to take care that so truly an important subject of intellectual study should be properly understood; to show that the establishment of so many actively employed societies, comprising among their members persons of learning, intelligence, and influence, is a guarantee to the public that the pursuit is not one of mere dilettanteism without definite objects ”

“ Warmed with these sincere feelings of attachment and respect towards the objects and study of Archaeology, the Committee venture to hope that the body of curious and valuable information they may be enabled to lay before their readers in the present volume, will be received with favour and encouragement. It will be a proud reward if the exertions of the Institute to forward the good work may tend to enlist others who have not yet entered upon the important and instructive study of antiquity, to join in advancing the interests of science ”

“ The pursuits of the antiquary have higher objects than only to invite or please poetical fancy, bright and welcome as is the sunshine it throws over our ordinary worldly occupations. To give character and purpose to our studies, in whatever direction they may lie, to fulfil in fact that vocation to which all are called, and for which undoubtedly their different or various talents have been given them, it is essential to make them contribute to some greater end than mere personal and present gratification. ”

“ The form of a letter, the shape of a piece of armour, even the character of an ornament, whether occurring in a manuscript or on a fragment of sculpture, may, as they frequently have done, determine questions which but for such evidence might never be satisfactorily disposed of In such matters, among numerous other particulars which might easily be adduced, the intelligent antiquary is not only the careful preserver of curious objects and facts, but he may also be exercising a calling of honourable usefulness. ”

“ It now appears certain that it was adopted in England in the very beginning of the reign of Edward I., and was therefore contemporaneous with the erection of similar buildings in other parts of Europe. The same will frequently be found to be the case where opportunity is afforded to verify the dates; foreign antiquaries having been much in the habit of assigning earlier dates to buildings than they can verify. ”

“ That publication, edited by a sub-committee, is intended to serve as a medium of exciting interest and imparting information, of recording all facts and discoveries, brought under the notice of the Committee, even of a kind which at first sight may be deemed trifling, and of calling attention to cases when public monuments may be exposed to injury or desecration. On such occasions it is proposed, by courteous representation or remonstrance on the part of the Committee, to seek to excite a more just value for ancient objects of public interest ”

“ We find a similar style on parts of existing buildings which are evidently of a very early date, and which therefore, as it appears to me, we are justified in attributing to the same age as the manuscript, in the same way that we should ascribe an unknown effigy to the age in which its costume is found to prevail in similar illuminations. It remains for further examination to shew how far we ought to refer every example of this style to the same age. The dates of early buildings appear to have been often fixed too arbitrarily. I would merely cite, as an instance, the church of Waltham abbey. ”

“ Architecture of Ireland, &c., p. 102.
I regret to state that shortly after the discovery of the tumulus at Cuff- borough, some persons proceeded to excavate beneath the upright stones which formed the base of the chamber, in search of that much desired object, 'a crock of gold,' by which the entire structure was reduced to an undistinguishable mass of ruin; and the very stones are, I believe, now removed. ”

“ But it was the wish of the meeting that Mr. Dean's letter should be answered by the Secretary, assuring him of the interest the Association felt in the preservation of Little Malvern church, and expressing their regret that the state of their funds does not enable them to contribute to its support, but that they would call public attention to his communication in the Archæological Journal. ”

“ It gives us pleasure to notice the sixth volume of the Sussex Archæological Society's Collections, which fully maintains the reputation acquired by the others. None of the local societies have shown greater activity or have more distinguished themselves. Some have devoted more money and space to illustrations, while this has rendered its publications attractive by the variety and discursive character of the letter-press, and its volumes really are, what they profess to be. ”

“ To preserve from demolition or decay works of ancient times which still exist, is an object that should merit the attention of Government, not merely on account of their interest as specimens of art, but because respect for the great Institutions of the country, sacred and secular, and a lively interest in their maintenance, must, as it is apprehended, be increased in proportion to the advance of an intelligent appreciation of monuments, which are the tangible evidences of the gradual establishment of those Institutions. ”

“ Howlett, chief draftsman to the Board of Ordnance, gave a description of the various mechanical means which had been devised for facilitating the accurate delineation of buildings, landscapes, &c., and explained the objections to which each is liable, he wished to invite the attention of antiquaries to a method which he had devised, and used with advantage, well suited, as he believed, to assist those who are not adepts in the arts of design, or who might desire some aid in correctly producing representations of ancient buildings and objects of smaller dimensions. ”

“ Much more might be added upon the important inquiries to which a profound acquaintance with Archaeology must necessarily lead its professors, if the study, treated as a branch of inductive science, be carried out to the extent of which it is capable. ”

“ By M. Pulski.—A collection of beautiful drawings, representing ancient relics and objects of art, chiefly preserved in the Fejervary Cabinet, in Hungary, M. Pulski observed, that the inspection of the interesting exhibition of Ancient and Mediæval Art, formed during the previous season at the Adelphi, and to which the members of the Institute largely contributed, had induced him to lay before the Society a selection of drawings of objects of similar nature existing in foreign countries. ”

“ It needs only to be suggested that the accumulation of those facts which the accomplished antiquary alone can properly verify, and which, by his valuable assistance, bring us acquainted in detail and by tangible proof, as it were, with the usages of particular eras, must necessarily lead, if rightly considered, to a more enlarged field of intellectual exercise. ”

“ To persons living far from London or chief towns, an occasion is thus presented of readily obtaining practical suggestions on any point which might induce them to desire reference to such a Committee, either on the restoration of sacred or other ancient structures, and their appropriate decoration, or general information on any subject of research connected with Antiquity. ”

“ No provision appears to have been contemplated for the preservation of the monumental inscriptions, many of which in the city churches and churchyards are not only of much interest and value in genealogical and biographical researches, but of the first importance as legal evidence in support of rights to property and personal privileges. ”

“ Generally speaking, antiquaries are not open, in these days, to the imputation of withholding information, or concealing from the curious and worthy inquirer any objects they may possess, of which the publication or examination can answer a useful purpose. ”

“ Wellbeloved has illustrated the antiquities of which he had to treat with a great deal of sound, well-digested learning, and, arranging them under general heads, has prefaced the description of each class with an excellent introductory sketch of the branch of Archæology to which they belong. Sometimes perhaps he may have indulged a little too much in digression, but his researches are always valuable, and his remarks judicious. ”

“ Under the most favourable circumstances such a project would encounter objections almost insurmountable; but when undertaken by individual zeal on a partial and confined scale, at uncertain times and places, whenever the earth may be excavated for public works, without assistance or countenance from the directors, and usually in contention with obstructions and annoyances of all kinds, it is fortunate, in such a state of things, should any discoveries be rendered available to the topographer and antiquary. ”

“ To remedy these defects, and to afford to the less wealthy collector the information to be found only in many expensive volumes, is the object of the present undertaking, which has the additional advantage of being accompanied by most accurate engravings of every coin to which the editor can obtain access in the cabinets, both private and public, of England and the continent ”

“ The impulse seems to have been first given by the Oxford Architectural Society, who, in their prospectus, first issued in the autumn of 1838, observed that, "from the scarcity of records, existing monuments are the safest guides in the study of medieval architecture; but as they are widely separated, the labour of examination and comparison is so great, that, without some more systematic plan of operation than has hitherto been adopted, it can scarcely be expected that the task should be satisfactorily accomplished." ”