We cannot excavate to the depth of a few yards between the Tower and St. Paul's, without turning up abundant evidences of Roman occupation. Coins, tessellated pavements, pottery, remains of buildings, occasionally fragments of inscriptions, bronze swords and spearheads, and domestic implements of every description, together with works of ornament, fibulæ and rings, statuettes and engraved gems, all attest the existence of a large, opulent, and luxurious city. Nor indeed are these the earliest proofs of human possession. Specimens now soliciting your attention in our temporary museum carry us back to ages when no Roman legionary had yet set foot in Britain, and when the Phoenician trader was the only foreigner who landed on our shores. To illustrate this period there are some exquisite flint and bronze celts, the finest that I have ever had the good fortune to see, and to which I direct your special notice. There are also several examples of bronze armillæ, worn by the fair for personal adornment, and possibly accompanying a woad-dyed skin. Proceeding downward from the Roman æra, we find coins of our several monarchs, implements illustrating the daily life and manners of the people, and ecclesiastical antiquities in the shape of crucifixes, bullæ, pilgrim's signs, carved fragments of buildings, and encaustic tiles. So that among the results of a large excavation it does not need an eye more than ordinarily practised in such matters to detect the work of many centuries, ranging from ages previous to the performance of a vow, there added a monastery. The abbey shared the fate of other religious houses in 1539. Since which time, adds Newcourt, "the said monastery being by King Henry VIII. in the 34th year of his reign, granted to Sir Arthur Darcy, was clean pulled down; and of late time, in place thereof, is built a large storehouse for victuals; and convenient ovens are built there for baking of biskets for the Royal Navy; and it is the Victualling Office for the same to this day. The grounds adjoyning and belonging formerly to the said abby, have small tenements built thereon." (Newcourt, Repertorium, fol. Lond. 1708, vol. i. pp. 465, 466.) Though the abbey is frequently mentioned in the records, its architectural peculiarities were entirely unknown previous to our cognisance of this very interesting delineation, which exhibits the Decorated character of the edifice, and represents King Edward's building as continuing, with little or no alteration, till the era of the Dissolution. "Hogg Lane" is still remembered, and "Ratcliffe " is still the designation of a neighbouring locality.

Christian æra down to times but little anterior to those in which we live.

It is, however, a melancholy fact, and one which has its due weight in bringing this Society into existence, that day by day sees the wanton destruction of these and similar objects, which if lost are of course lost for ever. The unreasonable and senseless apathy with which many regard the memorials of by-gone times, so far from lifting a finger to ward off mutilation or to prevent decay, seems, unless summarily checked, destined in no great while to surrender every vestige of ancient occupation. Ruthless alterations are daily perpetrated, where the original features of that which is so sacrilegiously violated are entirely disregarded and beaten out. Excavations are daily made; and, when a pavement or other ancient work is perceived, it is forthwith dug up and broken to pieces. The specimen now in the room is the largest that could be found in a mass of fragments of what constituted a very fine tessellated pavement, discovered in Suffolk Lane so lately as last year. No doubt there are instances where the removal of ancient objects is strictly necessary in favour of public utility. Of such a kind, perhaps, was the removal of Gerard's Hall, most deeply indeed to be deplored, but, as I understand, imperatively called for by the circumstances of the case. The antiquary is not deaf to reason or blind to modern requirements. It is a libel on him to call him so. He knows that streets must be widened, and eminences levelled, and buildings removed, to meet the needs of our immensely increased population. He knows that a "sentiment," as some are pleased to style it, is not to be defended and to rule at the expense of advantages important and universal, but unattainable without a sacrifice. He has at least a right, however, to demand that alterations shall not be wanton mutilations, that people shall not be allowed to go out of their way to deface and ruin that to which other and greater men attach an unapproachable value; that due respect shall be paid to love of antiquity, and to what generally accompanies it, love of country; and that it shall not be quite so easy for Vandal brutality or utilitarian ignorance to deal with a nation's treasures as their shameless will inclines. If

sacred memorials of olden time are to be taken down, let it at least be shown that the removal is necessary. If ancient remains are discovered in the course of excavations, let them at least be examined by competent persons; and let any objects of antique handicraft which are brought to light be carefully collected and religiously preserved. All this the antiquary has a right to claim-though his claim is in London but too commonly ignored, if not scouted and derided.

To endeavour to save some few things from impending ruin, at least to examine them while they are still in being and our own, to record their peculiarities, and to furnish those who are to come after us with information which the lapse of day after day makes it more difficult to afford, to watch excavations and to chronicle discoveries, to rescue what we can from wanton destruction, and to prevent the dispersion of metropolitan antiquities in general, is the task to which we address ourselves. Daily we are losing precious treasures-we will try to save them. Daily we hear of needless aggressions-we will endeavour to prevent them. Daily we see evidences of apathetic carelessness in the preservation of ancient relics-we will do our best to defeat them. Daily are important fragments of information sinking down into the abyss of oblivion-we will endeavour to arrest them in their descent, and to make them available for future investigators. We are not bent upon making a museum of pretty trinkets and singular curiosities. We desire rather to study archæology in that spirit, truly philosophical, which values its acquisitions not simply as beautiful objects or examples of high art, but rather as materials for the elucidation of history and the illustration of the life of times long passed away. We would regard every object, how humble and rude soever, as teaching a lesson of equal, if not greater importance than that presented by one of the most exquisite workmanship and refined character. We know that truth is substantiated as well by humble as by splendid adjuncts; and our sole object is the exhibition and elucidation of truth. In our meetings we will endeavour to bring before our members at large many facts connected with the City and County as yet unrecorded; and to introduce to each other our several

contributions in strict connexion with the purpose for which we are instituted. In our publications we will hope and endeavour to do accurately and well what our pecuniary position may possibly compel to be little. Whatever treatment we receive from rivals (for rivals no doubt we shall have, as archæology in this country seems fated to bring out the antagonistic principle), we will give no real occasion of offence. We envy, I am sure, no society its field of operation; and we beg to be met in a similar spirit, and to be treated with similar courtesy. We believe that there is abundant room for all-that there is indeed more to be done than what, with our multitudinous avocations of other kinds, all of us can ever hope to accomplish—that anything gained by any one will be so much saved from certain destruction. And we are determined to have no squabbles—a decision imperatively taught us by the fate of other bodies which once promised well. We regard ourselves as occupied on too sacred, high, and important a work to allow ourselves to waste our time and energies on miserable discords, petty jealousies, and unworthy intrigues. Looking on our array of names, I may surely be allowed to add, that, be the issue of our Institution what it will, at the worst they who come after us shall say, "They were not unequal to their work; but they were among the first labourers in the field, and the times were against them." Whether, therefore, we succeed or fail, we will endeavour to show in the former case that at least by earnestness and archæological knowledge, by courteous bearing and upright conduct, we are not undeserving of our success, or in the latter, that lack of sense or lack of honesty and of good-temper was not the cause of our failure. And so, with consciousness of right motives, and a desire of doing good, prepared for any fortune, but hopeful of the better, we entrust our bark to the winds and waves, and steer for utility if not for fame.

ON SOME LATE DISCOVERIES IN ROMAN LONDON,

IN A LETTER FROM CHARLES ROACH SMITH, ESQ. TO THE

REV. THOMAS HUGO.

[Read at Crosby Hall, January 28, 1856.]

MY DEAR SIR, 5, Liverpool Street, City, January 26th, 1856. As particular engagements prevent my taking an active part (or at least a personal part) in the direction of your proceedings on Monday evening, I am compelled to forward you a few notes on some discoveries made during last year in the City. Many important additions will no doubt occur to you.

Among these later discoveries may be named the fine tessellated pavement found upon the site of the Excise Office, which formed part of the extensive villa indicated some years since when an opening was made in the cellar of Mr. Volkman in Bishopsgate Street. Westward to these may be noted the pavements found under the French Protestant Church in Threadneedle Street, preserved by the generosity of the late public-spirited Mr. Moxhay. Still further westward, pavements were cut into, of which we can only say that some were of superior workmanship. Taking these localities into consideration, with similar remains on the south side of Bishopsgate Street and Leadenhall Street, we ascertain one of the wealthier districts of Roman London.

A tessellated pavement, of great extent and good design, lay beneath Paternoster Row. All I can say of it is, that it belonged to the better class of such works, and exhibited busts (of deities?) in circular medallions. Opportunity was not afforded for making even the roughest sketch; and it was cut to pieces by excavators for the public sewer.

The remains discovered opposite Merchant Taylors' School indicated a villa of the better class. I have secured, by the aid of Mr. Waller, a drawing of a fragment of wall-painting, of a superior kind, found there.

* In the account of the more recent discovery published in the "Archæologia" (1855), the connection between these two pavements is not noticed.-ED.