THE
Archaeological Journal.
DECEMBER, 1844.
SUGGESTIONS FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE BRITISH ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION.
Anticipating from the high auspices under which The British Archæological Association has commenced its career, that it will speedily establish for itself a very important and permanent position in regard to the literature and antiquities of the country, I have ventured to throw together a few suggestions upon its future destination and management.
Called into existence by the strong and general feeling that the objects about which it proposes to interest itself have been far too long and most injuriously neglected, it will not be sufficient to remedy the evil, so far as may yet be practicable, by redeeming these objects from oblivion, unless pains be taken, at the same time, to classify and preserve them. If British, Celtic, Roman, Saxon, Danish, Norman, and other remains, are only to be brought to partial light and scattered throughout a number of private collections and receptacles, we might almost as well refrain from our researches. Allotting to every one a few specimens and a mouthful of intelligence can never achieve a national undertaking; and if we intend our labours to be adequately useful, we must, from the very beginning, prepare, and lay the foundation for a Museum to concentrate and arrange the products of our investigations. Without this, written description would but poorly effect the ends we have in view, viz. the engendering and extending of a disposition to discover and take care of the relics left by our ancestors from the earliest dates, the recording and doing honour to those who unite with us in this pursuit, and the ample and judicious disposal of the memorials by means of which the manners and history of bygone ages are made known. When we consider the great pleasure with
