Institute at the last monthly Meeting held in London; and in obedience to the wishes of that Meeting, the Council of the Institute have forwarded to her Majesty's Government a memorial cordially supporting the prayer of the Society of Antiquaries and of the Dilettanti Society for the contribution of pecuniary aid for the continuation of those investigations at Ephesus, and which is now under the consideration of the Treasury.[1]
"Among the books relating to archæological pursuits which have been published during the past year, appear two works, the most important and suggestive probably that have been placed in the hands of antiquarian students since our researches assumed a precise and scientific character. These are the invaluable manual 'Flint Implements in the Drift,' by Mr. John Evans, F.S.A., and an old member of the Institute, that presents for the first time a complete illustrated classification of the relics of that description in all their remarkable variety; and the attractive dissertation on Megalithic Monuments, by another member of the Institute, Mr. Fergusson, entitled 'Rude Stone Monuments,' in which a new theory has been advanced by that accomplished author, who has sought to establish the date of all the striking monuments hitherto regarded as prehistoric, namely, cromlechs, circles of erect stones, alignments, and many others to which special attention has been in late years addressed, and to ascribe them to Post-Roman times, regarding all these vestiges of mysterious antiquity as having been suggested by Roman influence. Whatever may be our conclusions in regard to the grounds of the author's somewhat startling theories, which have not found acceptance with those archæologists most conversant with such subjects, we cannot fail to recognise and appreciate the admirable illustrations, and the stores of information from all countries, now first brought together for our instruction. If we hesitate to receive Mr. Fergusson's speculations on the mysteries of Stonehenge, of Abury, and Carnac, of Arthur's mighty stone in Gower, and many other vestiges of their class, we cannot fail to admire the novel daring of the author in these days of Prehistoric devotion, and to regret that Giants and Fairies, our respected friends, also the Druids, Celts, and early Britons, must forthwith yield to all-conquering Rome. The 'Rude Stones' of these islands, and also of India, Asia Minor, and Algeria, are henceforth to be viewed as satellites of the Imperial invaders from the Internal City, according to the theory advanced in the work to which we have drawn attention.
"It has been customary in each successive year to recall to the Society, with some suitable tribute of remembrance, the friendly co-operation and encouragement, in the course of our undertaking, that it has been our privilege to receive from those members whose loss we have had to lament during the year that has elapsed since our previous yearly gathering. The period that has passed since the dispersion of the members who shared at Cardiff the cordial welcome of our distinguished friends and fellow labourers in that pleasant field of antiquarian investigation, has been marked by more than ordinary occasions on which the institute has had to deplore the loss of those whose honoured names had for many years been foremost in our lists of the most zealous and valued
- ↑ In the course of the meeting a letter from the office of H.M. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whitehall, to the President of the Institute, was read, conveying the gratifying intelligence that H.M. Government hat voted £3000 in aid of the exploration at Ephesus.
