Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/446

370 the chief points of interest in the county, and its early historical associations.

Dr., Principal of the Hartley Institution, on behalf of societies of a kindred nature, had the greatest pleasure in welcoming the Institute among them. He assured them that they would look upon the Institute as missionaries, come to revive the drooping condition of archæological study among them, a revival of which they stood very much in need. They welcomed the Institute with great cordiality, and trusted that their visit would be the occasion of the establishment of a society specially devoted to archæological researches.

The thanked Dr. Bond for his gratifying remarks on behalf of the local societies, which he was sure would be cordially received by the Institute, and sympathised in the wish that an Archæological society should be formed in Southampton. He regretted much that his stay with the meeting would be short, as he was very sure that they had a very instructive and interesting bill of fare before them. He might mention a subject he thought would interest them—that he had seen the draft of a bill drawn by Sir John Lubbock, having for its object the preservation of our national monuments, which would, he thought, be of great value to all archæologists, and which would be introduced in the next session of Parliament.

Mr. hoped he should have the pleasure of showing the remains of the Roman station at Clausentum (now Bitterne) to the Institute. He should be glad to see all who could come at the conclusion of the perambulation of the town that day, or at any period during the meeting.

Mr. then announced the further proceedings of the day, and the meeting terminated.

At three o'clock a large party assembled at the Bargate of the town, and under the guidance of Mr. J. H. Parker, C.B., made a perambulation of the remains of the walls and ancient defences of the town. These enclose a roughly rectangular space averaging about 370 yards East and West, by 770 yards North and South. This area is divided longitudinally by the main street, but the Western part is the larger moiety containing the castle. There was an East and a West gate, but not at all opposite to each other, nor were the roads cruciform. There is no reason for attributing to this rectangular plan a Roman origin; it was probably dictated by the figure of the ground.

The earthworks of the castle were considerable. The naturally high ground was scarped and pared and somewhat raised, and near the centre of the area the highest point was surrounded by a circular ditch, the contents of which being thrown inward converted the raised platform into an artificial mound. This was doubtless the Saxon fortress. The later rectangular area was also well defended. It had the sea for its ditch nearly at the foot of the wall along the West and South fronts. Along the East a broad and deep ditch, wholly artificial, and in part at least admitting the sea, ran along the front of the wall, and divided the