Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/263

 THE SUUTII-WESTERX POUTIOX OF ENGLAND. 21o couiilrv, lias no really good liistoi-ian. When we remember that the count}' lias within its limits the ancient city of Wincliester, the Caer Gwent, or White Cit}^ of the Britons, founded (if wc may believe traditions preserved among its muniments) 892 IJ.C., the Venta Bclgarum of the Romans, the Wintau Coaster of the Saxons (whence its present name), the cajiital city of the kingdom of Wessex, and destined under Egbert to become the chief city of the whole Saxon Heptarchy, where Ethelwolf convened the whole council of the nation, and placed upon its cathedral altar the grant of endowment, by which that church still holds its possessions ; where Alfred reigned, where all his enlightened policy was framed and enacted, and where his bones were laid to rest under the shadow of Hyde Abbey — a city which long retained under the Normans its former rank and standing, even when London was but rising into power — remembering all this, I say, it must be a matter of surprise and regret as much to you as to myself, that there is really no chronicle worthy of such a subject, certainly none equal to those which other counties, such as Gloucestershire, Somersetshire, or Warwickshire, possess. I am therefore ])laced ill a considerable difficulty, as I can neither refer for my own information, nor recommend to the iMembers of this Institute, a work which is really worthy of the name of a good County History. We are of course much indebted to Warner for his sketches of the south-western part of Hampshire, and also for his collection for the history which he was not able to complete. The defect was sought to be remedied by the Queen's late librarian. Woodward, but his removal from Winchester to Windsor, and his subsequent death, prevented the completion of this work. His work has been supplementeel by Lockharc and others, and published in three volumes, and contains most accurate accounts of Winchester and other laro-e and important towns. Still it has not wholly filled the vacuum. Another great want exists in Hants — there has never been formed a County Archccological Society, such as those of Yorkshiie, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Somerset, Sussex and Kent, which by their publications have thrown so much light ujion the antiquities, manners and customs of each of the above-named counties — not that the meetings of a county society shouM supersede those of the centrtal