Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 4.djvu/108

96 looking into the composition of the mortar of ancient walls to determine their date? Who could have supposed that a small deviation in the lines of a moulding might lead to the discovery of the age of a building, when all direct and documentary evidence had failed? It is only by the conglomeration of accurate details that the great mass of antiquarian knowledge is made up; and we therefore recommend our readers never to consider their labour badly bestowed in minutely recording whatever comes under their notice.

"As a preliminary step to the compilation of documents of this nature, we will state what we conceive ought to be the object of any body of antiquarians, when professing to examine thoroughly into the mediæval remains of any district. We are of opinion, then, that the following collections ought to be, if possible, formed for every county of Wales:

"I. A ; including complete and accurate surveys, measurements, delineations, &c., of all monastic remains; whether buildings, tombs, inscriptions, utensils, seals, &c.

"II. An ; including complete and accurate surveys, the same as in the above division, of all parochial churches, chapels, &c., and of all objects such as tombs, crosses, &c., connected with them.

"III. A ; including the same operations for all castellated remains.

"IV. A ; applying, as above, to all ancient houses of a certain degree of importance, and to their connected remains.

"V. A and ; applying to all buildings, and other remains, of towns, villages, parishes, &c.; including all public, civil buildings, &c.

"VI. A ; including as complete an account as possible of all ancient documents, of what kind soever, relating to the five preceding classes."

That the efforts of the editors and their contributors to carry out the system thus laid down have been fully appreciated by Welsh and also by English antiquaries, is proved, we think, by the recent organization of the Cambrian Archæological Association, the idea of which originated in the present work. Among the members of that Society are many whose names must command respect, and ensure to the subscribers the best prospect of attaining those objects which are contemplated by the Committee. To the members of the Archæological Institute it will doubtless be gratifying to observe that the laws and regulations passed for the government of that body have been adopted by the Cambrian Society; with this variation, however, that no subscription is required on the part of its members, the founders believing that "it may be made a perfectly efficient body, without any call of this kind upon the purses of its constituents." The Association proposes to hold an annual meeting at one or other of the chief towns of the principality, and the four bordering counties. We need hardly say that the project has our best wishes for its success.