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The Woolhope ANaturalisty Sield Club, 
MEETING AT CAERLEON. 
Tuurspay, May 20, 1875. 
The Field Naturalists have, on the occasion of their first meeting this year, 
given a very liberal interpretation to their name, and have enlarged the area of 
their investigations, so as to include not only man, but also his works at all periods 
of history. 'Those members who joined in the excursion to Caerleon on Thursday, 
the 20th instant, are not likely to find fault with this divergence from the original 
scope of the Club, for it enabled them to make acquaintance with a district 
teeming with objects of antiquarian interest, and peculiarly rich in poetic and 
legendary associations. The day was unfortunately showery, and Isca, true to its 
etymology, gave its visitors a watery reception; but the unfavourable impression 
which was thus produced was speedily effaced by the warm welcome bestowed upon 
the Club by John Edward Lee, Esq.—the learned author of Isca Silurum, and 
the hospitable successor of S. Dubritius at the Priory. Under his guidance the 
contents of the museum were carefully examined by the Club, the members of 
which were thus prepared to listen with greater attention and appreciation to the 
subsequent address of their cicerone. The museum contains a vast number of 
Roman remains found either at Caerleon or at Caerwent (Venta Silurwm), and in 
the collection are included a series of monumental and other inscriptions, coins 
from the time of Otho down to that of Valens, fibule of curious workmanship, 
amulets, antefiza, enamels, Samian ware of foreign and domestic manufacture, 
stone coffins, amphor, flue bricks, tiles, and tesser, with other objects too nume- 
rous to mention. After an hour had been spent very pleasantly in viewing this 
curious collection (which has been brought together chiefly through the zeal and 
munificence of Mr. Lee), the Club proceeded to the grounds of Dr. Woollett, 
which enclose the site of a Roman villa and the scanty remains of a mediceval 
castle. The lofty mound at the end of Dr. Woollett’s garden was ascended, but it 
was impossible to ascertain whether it had once supported the “ gigantic tower” of 
