10 



he would only say that, where there was neither history nor rcm:iins, the best 

 that could be said was, to use the words of an old chronicler, that "it might 

 be so, or it might not " (laughter and applause). 



The Pkesident said that they had been greatly interested with Mr. Lees's 

 admirable lecture, and he felt sure that he was expressing the sentiment of all 

 when he said that he thought they ought not to wait for the usual time of 

 acknowledging the merits of that elegant address, viz., in the after-dinner pro- 

 ceedings (hear, hear). He would venture, then, to express the best thanks 

 of the members to Mr. Lees for his address (applause), 



Mr. Lees, in acknowledgiug the compliment, said that he was at all times 

 ready to render any assistance in his power to the members of the club, in the 

 prosecution of their studies and explorations. 



The members then walked round the camp, Mr. Lees pointing out the 

 single entrance, so narrow that only one man could pass at a time, to the 

 prretorium or citadel, and the long easy ascent on the west, leading up from 

 the Ridgeway, whereas on the east the only approach is up the steep face of the 

 hill and the outer embankment of the camp. The general opinion concurred 

 with Mr. Lees in the conclusion that the works were too great to have been 

 executed by a petty chieftain in the ante- Roman times, but that they indicated 

 rather the large resources of a powerful prince, reigning over a numerous and 

 somewhat wealthy peojile. 



The party then descended the hiU, and made their way along the beautiful 

 drive of the Ridgeway, a natural ridge of Wenlouk limestone, of which advantage 

 had been taken by the Britons to make a convenient approach to the hill. Here 

 the botanists were delighted with the many beautiful trees of arbutus, mespilus 

 (in full blossom), cedrus, pinus, and taxus, the last especially by their number, 

 luxuriance, and position beside the old British way, suggesting that they were 

 at least descendants of yews jilanted by the Druids along their via sacra. The 

 principal object of interest, however, was the Mistletoe Oak, one of the two 

 oak trees in Herefordshire, and one of only seven in all England, en which the 

 mistletoe grows. A real live mistletoe oak is indeed an object of much rarety 

 and deep interest. The feeling of all present seemed to culminate to a state of 

 semi-druidical heat and inspiration Any one would have supposed that some 

 form of Pagan ceremonial was in contemplation, as the whole party alighted 

 from their vehicles, and in various venerative attitudes clustered around the 

 'tree with uplifted eyes. Had it been the 29th instead of 28th, King Charles 

 the Second would not have failed to come to mind. 



A passing shower, however, soon drove every one to the carriages, which 

 drew up at the Feathers fTotel, at Ledbury, exactly at the time fixed for dinner, 

 viz., 4 p.m. The host had done his duty in this matter, and the Naturalists did 

 theirs in justice to his excellent i>rovision with much satisfaction. At these 

 meetings, however, very little time is allowed for social enjoyment, and 

 immediately after dinner. 



The President rose and aaid that it was a great satisfaction to him to see 



