Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/151

Rh NOTICES OF ARCIIAEOLOOICAL rmiJCATIONS. 1 1 I cnstlc Miisouiii ; but this is extremely qiiestii)iial)le. A fragment of " Samian," fouiul at Cataractonium, ami in Sir William Lawson's posses- sion, has been given in the Journal as a solitary relic apparently ornamented with the Christian symbol.^ We must now take leave of this interesting subject, cordially commending to the attention of our readers the attractive volume presented to them by Mr. Bruce, Many points, obscure and open to discussion, may be found, which will provoke a variance of opinion regarding conclusions here advanced. Such questions may be deferred for discussion on some future occasion. We are content now to accept gratefully the guidance proffered in these pages, desiring to seize an impulse from the enthusiasm with which their author has prosecuted his labours, and hoping that the fresh interest thus aroused in the earlier history of our country may encourage the anticipation that the archaeologists of tlic Northern Marches will achieve that much-desired work, which they are best prepared to carry out, the production of an extended "Britannia Romana." THE GEOLOGY AND FOSSILS OF THE TERTIARY AND CRETACEOUS FORMATIONS UF SUSSEX. By Fkeukiuc Dixon, Esq., F.G.S. London, 1850. 4to. It may doubtless strike the readers of an Archaeological Journal with surprise to find in its pages a notice of a publication devoted apparently to the illustration of natural science. There is much, indeed, that might be regarded as partaking of a kindred feeling in the pursuits of the geologist and the antiquary : one addresses himself to wluit may truly be designated as primeval antiquity ; he seeks to comprehend the structure of the earth, and the manifold orders of animal creation by which it has been filled ; — the other carries the investigations onwards into historic times, collecting, in scientific order, all those vestiges which distinguish the periods of busy life, amongst a higher order of beings, by whom that earth has been successively occupied. In bringing, however, before our readers a work seemingly unconnected with their ordinary tastes and pursuits, the excuse might be pleaded that it were no intrusion to commend the labours of one, now no more, once known to us not less by his keen appreciation of archaeological researches than by his high attainments in natural science. All who have participated in the agreeable assemblies of the archaeologists of Sussex during the last four years, or perused the Transactions which have recorded their results, know well that the lamented author of the volume under consideration ranked amongst the foremost in promoting an intelligent estimation of ancient vestiges of every class. These notices may fall into the hands of some whose love of antiquity, like the lute Mr. Dixon's, takes a wide range, into periods far beyond the pale of history ; and to them the mention of so valuable a monograph of the organic remains of an interesting locality, and of the admirable illustrations by which ^ Archatol. Jouni., vol. vi. p. 81.