216 Excavations at Avebury. ~ x 
to attract the attention of local antiquaries to the subject, as it is 
mainly on them that the proof or disproof of these views must 
rest. Above all, it is in the hope that some diggings may, before 
long, be undertaken at Avebury. If I am not very much mis- 
taken, two of Arthur’s generals of division lie buried, one in each 
of the stone circles inside the inclosure: and that the ‘menu 
peuple’ who fell in the fray are laid beneath the so-called ‘ val- 
lum,’ which however is nothing but a long barrow of circular 
shape. There I feel convinced their remains, it may be only their 
ashes, will be found, whenever they are looked for.” 
Again in a subsequent letter, (Atheneum, January 27th, 1866) 
Mr. Fergusson writes, ‘‘ I hope the Members of the Wilts Archeo- 
logical Society and other local antiquaries will perceive that a 
distinct issue has been raiged, which may either wholly, or at least 
in part be settled by diggings at Avebury, by a survey of the 
ground round Silbury Hill, &c.;” and he adds, “In conclusion 
allow me to express a hope that these several explorations may be. 
undertaken before next winter comes on, and thus this much 
mooted question be finally set at rest: what the result must be I 
have the most perfect confidence.” 
In reply to this challenge, I need only add that what Mr. 
Fergusson here calls upon our Society to do, in digging at Avebury, 
it had, even when he wrote, though of course unknown to him, just 
accomplished, as detailed above: and the result was the exact 
opposite to that which he anticipated; while with regard to the theory 
that Silbury is post Roman, as situated on the Roman road, I will 
occupy no further space than by referring to my arguments on 
that subject, stated somewhat fully in my paper on Silbury in the 
7th Volume of the Magazine pp. 145—191: as well as to the 
corroborative testimony and additional reasons adduced by Sir 
John Lubbock (Atheneum Jan. 6th, 1866, et seq.) and Professor 
Tyndall. (Atheneum, Feb. 17th. 1866.) 
. ALFRED CHaARLEs SMITH. 
Yatesburu Rectory, Calne, , 
June, 1866. 


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