Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 5.djvu/319

 Description of the Roman Theatre at Verulam. By R. Grove Lowe, Esq. Published for the St. Alban's Architectural Society, G. Bell, Fleet Street. 1848. 8vo. It is gratifying to bear testimony to the increasing advantages which accrue from the establishment of Local Archajological Societies, in various parts of our country. The intelligent desire to comprehend and to pre- serve the structures and vestiges of ancient times has rapidly progressed, in late times : the investigation of forgotten sites daily brings to light abundant evidences, and we may hope, that ere long, the obscurity, in which the history of the earlier periods is involved, may be satisfactorily dispersed. The desire for Government interference, in the conservation of national monuments, has often been expressed; but, much as it might be wished that a salutary influence were exerted by the State, and encourage- ment freely afforded to the prosecution of research into British antiqui- ties, many are the cases in which an intelligent Local Association may prove far more effective than any system of legislative control. We see with satisfaction the readiness on the part of such Local Socie- ties, as shewn in the little work before us, not merely to investigate, but to record the results, for general benefit. It is rarely that so valuable a prize repays the quest of the archaeologist, as that which is due to the sagacity of Mr. Lowe. We are indebted to that gentleman both for the first discovery, and for an agreeable description, to which we would in- vite the attention of our readers. Various spots are known in England, adapted apparently for those public games, in which the Romans took so much delight ; we believe, however, that no site of any regular structure, resembling the remains found at Verulam, had been previously brought to light. These important vestiges of the grandeur of that ancient jMunici- jiium, detected casually by Mr. Lowe, have been fully investigated, by the permission of the earl of Verulam, and through the instrumentality of the St. Alban's Society, of which he is the President. This interesting work was duly appreciated by other Societies, engaged in the prosecution of antiquarian research, who readily offered their aid ; and a contribution of five pounds was voted by the Central Committee of the Institute to so good an object. The results of the subsequent discaveries have been recorded by Mr. Lowe, in this memoir, read at a meeting of the St. Alban's Society, in April last ; he has given a ground-plan and section of the building, with plans of ancient theatres, Greek and Roman, for the pur- pose of comparison. His remarks will be read with much interest : the detailed account of the peculiarities of construction shews the care and ability of the writer in the important task of watching the progress of an investigation, and preserving a faithful narration. We rejoice to perceive that a Society of such hopeful promise, and established under such gocd auspices, as the Architectural Society of St. Alban's, bids fair, by taking a more extended scope than ecclesiology alone afibrds, to acquire an archae- YOL. V ] i