NOTES — ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. 69 



assured by an expert that the bones are those of a horse. Similar pits are by no 

 means uncommon, and have been noticed in several parts of the county. 



Proposed Purchase of Mr. Joslin's Museum of Romano-British 

 Antiquities. — We are very glad to see that an energetic effort is now being made 

 to acquire Mr. Joslin's collections for the Colchester Museum. In our reports 

 of visits of the Club to Colchester, we have repeatedly advocated the purchase of 

 the museum — in the opinion of experts it is one of great local value, and added 

 to the existing museum, would put Colchester in the front rank of those towns 

 possessing collections illustrating their ancient history. A representative Com- 

 mittee, headed by the Mayor, and with Dr. Laver and Mr. J. C. Shenstone as 

 Hon. Secretaries, has been formed ; and promises of very considerable sums 

 of money have already been obtained. On Wednesday, April I2th, a most 

 interesting meeting, convened by the Mayor (Mr. W. Gurney Benham, who 

 has shown in this matter a just appreciation of the duties of his high office 

 which should be an example to other Essex mayors) was held in Colchester for 

 the inspection of the collection, which was largely attended by many eminent 

 archceologists and others taking an interest in such matters. In the programme 

 of the meeting it was stated that " Many antiquarians are familiar with Mr. Geo. 

 Joslin's exceptionally valuable and interesting collection of Romano-British 

 Antiquities at Colchester. This collection, which has been gradually brought 

 together during the last quarter of a century by Mr. Joslin, is the result of careful 

 and costly research, and the Museum includes many objects which are unique 

 nnd of great historical interest. The}' are chiefly finds within about a quarter of 

 a mile of his residence, and entirely from those in the Colchester district : it is 

 therefore a Local Museum, illustrating the history of this town, principally 

 during the Roman occupation. It will be found richest in objects of a sepulchral 

 character, and from these we may see the various modes the Romans had of 

 disposing of their dead, and of the importance they attached to the rites of 

 burial. It may be noticed that many of the exhibits are arranged in groups ; 

 this means that the various vases, lamps, bottles, and so on, in this division were 

 derived fiom one burial, thus adding very materially to their value, especially so, 

 as they are arranged in the same position as found in the tomb or cist, wherever 

 possible. There are other groups in which this arrangement could not be 

 followed, as there was no cist, and these were the most frequent." 



At the luncheon many excellent speeches were made by the Mayor, Prof. 

 JNIcKenny Hughes, Mr. John Leighton, F.S.A., Mr. E. A. Fitch, Dr. Laver, 

 Captain Naylor-Lej'land, M.P., and others, strongly advocating the acquirement 

 of the Museum, and letters to the same purpose were read from the Lord Mayor 

 of London, Mr. Alma Tadema, R.A., Professor Meldola, F.R.S., Mr. George 

 Payne, F.S.A., Rev. E. L. Cutts, and many others. Dr. Laver, Mr. E. A. Fitch, 

 iNIr. Shenstone, Mr. W. Cole, and many other members of the Club were present 

 at the meeting, and we sincerely hope that all our members will aid the efforts of 

 the committee. To allow such a collection, so fully illustrative of a most interest- 

 ing period of our local and national history, to go to America would simply be a 

 la5ting disgrace to Essex. — En. 



Death of Mr. W. R. Sackett. — We notice with regret the announcement of 

 the death of .Mr. Walter Randall Sackett, eldest son of Mr. W. H. Sackett, of 

 Wmgfield House, Orsett, which occurred on April 12th at Vancouver, British 

 Columbia, where he had been living since the autumn of 1891. Mr. Sackett, 



