3SU PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS OF

Institute at the last moiitlily Meeting held in London; and in obedience to the wishes of that Meeting, the Council of the Institute have forvarde<l to her Majesty's (Joveninient a memorial cordially supportinji; the prayer of the Soeiety of Antiipiaries and of the Dilettanti Society for the con- trihutiou of peciuiiary aid for the continuation of those investigations at Kphtsus, and which is now under the consideration of the Treasury/ " Amonp; the books relating to arcluvological pursuits which have been published during the past year, ajipear two works, the nmst important and suggestive probal>ly that have been placed in the hands of antiipiarian studeutii since our researches assumed a precise and scientiKc character. These are the invalualde manual 'Flint Implements in the Drift,' by Mr. John Evans, F.S.A., and an old member of the Institute, that presents for the fii-st time a complete illustrated classification of the relics of that de- scription in all their remarkable variety; and the attractive dissertation on Megalithic Monuments, by another member of the Institute, Mr. Fer- gtisson, entitled ' Kude Stone Monuments,' in which a new theory has been advanced by that accomplished author, who has sought to establish the date of all the striking monuments hitherto regarded as prehistoric, namely, crondechs, circles of erect stones, alignments, and many others to which special attention has been in late years addresseil, and to ascribe them to Post-Roman times, regarding all these vestiges of mysterious anticpiity as having been suggested by Roman influence. Wliatever may be our conclusions in regard to the grounds of the author's somewhat startling theories, which have not found acceptance with those arclueologists most convei-sant with such sulijects, we cannot fail to recognise and appreciate the admiralde illustrations, and the stores of in- formation from all countries, now first brought together for our instruction. If we hesitate to receive Mr. Fergusson's8i)eculations on the mysteries of Stonelienge, of Abury, and Carnac, of Arthur's mighty stone in (Jower, and many other vestiges of their class, we cannot fail to admire the novel daring of the author in these days of IVehistoric devotion, and to regret tliat Giants and Fairies, our respected friends, also the Druids, Celts, and early Britons, must forthwitli yield to all-con(piering Rome. The 'Rude Stones' of these islands, and also of India, Asia Minor, and Algeria, are henceforth to be viewed as satellites of the Imperial invaders from the Internal City, according to the theory advanced iu the work t<j which we have drawn attention. "It lias been customary iu each successive year to recall to the Society, with some Huitabic tribute of rememi)rauce, the friendly co-opemtion and encouragement, in the course of our undertaking, that it haa been om* privilege to receive from those memliers wIkj.sc loss we have had to lament during the year that has elap.sed since our previous yearly gathering. The period that has pas.sed since the dispei-sion of the meml)ers who shared at Cardiif the cordial welcome of our distinguished friends and fellow labourers in that pleasant fu'ld of antiipiarian investi- gation, has l)een marked by more than ordinary occasions on which the institute has had to deplore the loss of th<ise whose lionoured names had fur many yeant been forumost in our lists of the most zealous and valued

• In tim counw of this meotinR a Itdtor Krntifyu'K ii>t«llij{i>nc« that M.M. Oovc'rn-

froin th<! «(ll<;«' of II.M. ChaiitvUor iif till) iiM-nt liml vnt^-.i x:{()iio in aid of the KxclHvjiicr, Whitehall, Ut tli« Prciiiiii'iil exi>lorntiiinM iit Kplu-HtiH. of thr lniititutf<. wn« rca<l, ctnivtiy'mg tlio