| 

The Eleventh General Meeting. 5 
have proposed anything destructive of such a monument of anti- 
quity, and I allow at once that many a so-called restoration of 
Stonehenge might more truly be called a destruction of it. The 
only restoration however, that we proposed was to raise the trilithon 
which had fallen in A.D. 1797, the exact postion of which is clearly 
defined, not only by drawings, but by accurate measurements made 
at the time it occupied its original position. And as no other 
fallen stones have such a data as to warrant the accuracy of their 
position, the restoration must have stopped here. The search under 
the altar stone might have given us valuable information as to the 
date of Stonehenge, and have set at rest the mooted question as to 
whether it was a place of sepulture or of sacrifice. The stone itself 
need never have been moved, but a tunnel and brick arch could 
have been carried under it which would have always secured it in 
its present position, and the earth underneath could have been 
carefully examined and replaced. There was nothing ruthless in 
our proposition. The work, if ever undertaken, must necessitate 
the superintendence of proficient engineers, and the use of efficient 
instruments. I have thought it right in my own defence, and that 
of our Society to go rather fully into this matter, and also in the 

earnest wish that some day our proposal for the Congress, and for 
the works referred to may be happily carried through. And now 
without our Congress, and without our proposed visits to the pit 
holes, or villages of our ancient people we find ourselves at Salis- 
bury, with every prospect of a pleasant and instructive meeting. I 
feel convinced that our reasons for coming here again will gain 
the unanimous approval by our Society of the unanimous decision 
of their President and Committee. And in the first place I would 
refer to the present state of our Cathedral, at all times an object of 
interest to Archeologists. The Chapter House Restoration Com- 
mittee have just finished their labours. Only last month they 
handed back the Chapter House free of debt, and completely re- 
stored, to the care of the Dean and Chapter. And I think we 
may without fear point to the successful accomplishment of our 
labours as a worthy memorial of that holy and able man, Bishop 
: ‘Denison, who began the work of restoration by restoring so much 
