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ments I was then personally acquainted with (more than 100 in 

 number), I had only found such and such indications of bronze, 

 I tried to contend with Greenwell and others for an earlier date 

 for some, at least, of these barrows. But I hadn't a leg to stand 

 upon, and gave in aa reasonable men do when they have proof 

 that they are wrong, or even not right ; and every year's experi- 

 ence has but served to prove more emphatically how absurd any 

 other supposition is. . . I have been asked a hundred times, 

 and a hundred times to that I dare say, what date I assigned as 

 possible or probable to our Cleveland Barrows, and the answer I 

 have given — and given to a score or two of enquirers within the 

 last few weeks, in connection with the houe in Skutterskelf 

 Park — has been, ' say 25 centuries ago,' with the accompanying 

 remark, usually, that all attempts to answer such a question 

 must necessarily be vague. . . I remember once, when much 

 pressed for a more definite answer, if it was possible to give one, 

 giving such an answer. The enquirer was the late Bishop of 

 Lincoln, who came here to pay me a visit. He had been inspect- 

 ing, and was still busy with interest in, my somewhat consider- 

 able as well as interesting and valuable series of urns and other 

 matters derived from the Cleveland grave-mounds. He asked 

 the usual question just noted, and I answered in my usual man- 

 ner. He was barely content, and pressed me by repeated ques- 

 tions, and at last I said I ventured, as my own view only, and as 

 the result of speculation almost more than legitimate induction, 

 to assign a possible age of 28 or 80 centuries, and I concluded 

 with, ' But you know, my loi'd. this is only my private notion of 

 what may be possible.' His reply was, 'I had rather have your 

 theories than most other men's arguments. You have evidently 

 ^iven your mind as well as your interest to the pereonal enquiry, 

 and I see you have a reason for everything you advance. You 

 have told me just what I wanted to know, namely, your own 

 personal impressions.' But, observe, I would not advance any 

 such surmise as a thing to be accepted whether or not. For 

 there is no evidence to make it good. In my own thoughts it is 

 possible, and that is the utmost I can say." 



Greenwell and Atkinson once made arrangements to open 

 ■one or two barrows on the Ingleby Moor. Permission was 

 ■obtained to do this, but something cccurred to prevent its 

 being done. Dr. Atkinson thought one or two of the mounds 

 might repay examination, but he was not very sanguine. 



Atkinson had a very keen scent in antiquarian matters, and 

 wherever he went he was sure to find something which kindled 

 a, new interest or re-kindled an old one. On June 15th, 1891, 



