ROMAN LONDON.
It has been suggested that notices of some of the features of Roman London, together with the various works of ancient art which, within its limits, during the last few years have been brought to light, might prove interesting and perhaps useful to such of our correspondents as may be engaged in researches on the early antiquities of our country, especially if the publications, in which from time to time, detailed accounts of the discoveries appeared, should not have fallen under their observation, or be conveniently accessible.
It must be obvious to all who consider the present condition of the metropolis of England, that great difficulties would beset any attempt to carry on a systematic exploration of the wreck and ruins of the ancient town, buried beneath the accumulated soil of centuries and the crowded masses of modern buildings. 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.
In the course of the last fifteen or twenty years, excavations, ordered by the Court of Common Council, and placed under the management of Committees elected from their own body, have been made throughout the city, for sewerage, for approaches to the New London Bridge, for foundations of houses in the new streets and in those which have been widened, as well as on the sites of churches destroyed, and on that of the Royal Exchange. These excavations penetrated to depths varying from twelve to twenty feet and more, and it is from opportunities thus accidentally afforded that some faint glimmerings have been obtained of rich stores of subterranean antiquities. Had the work been conducted in an intelligent as well as mechanical spirit, important antiquarian results would have been effected. Thus when a rich tesselated pave-
