By William Long, Hsq., U.A., F.S.A. 333 
The numbers here given confirm Stukeley exactly as to the outer 
circle, and Aubrey’s number, twenty-six, must, we think, be rejected 
in favor of the complete number of forty. As to the inner circle, 
there is less variation in the three accounts, Aubrey’s number being 
. fifteen ; sixteen the number in the “ Fool’s Bolt ;”” and Stukeley’s, 
eighteen ; between which it is impossible to decide, though we may 
fairly give the preference to Stukeley. With the proofs before us 
of Aubrey’s carelessness, it would be difficult to insist on the curious 
manner in which, in his sketch, the avenue on Overton Hill is 
narrowed and bent, as it approaches the circles of the sanctuary. 
Ditaripations Descripep By THE Rev. C. Lucas. 
- The Rev. Charles Lucas, Curate of Abury, and author of the poem 
_referred to at p. 3861 of Wilts Magazine, vol. iv., thus speaks of the 
 dilapidations in the two avenues, which had come under his notice 
before the publication of his book, in 1795. * “ The stones from the 
_ neck (of the serpent) were taken by a Mr. Nalder, by order of the 
landlord, Mr. Grubbe, to build the farm house, now Mr. Tanner’s ; 
and most of the [West] Kennet houses are built from that part of 
the avenue. In 1794 Mr. Tanner destroyed seven, eight, or nine, 
and the only regular part, six or eight pair, are on the new-ploughed 
lands (late downs) the property of Richard Jones, Esq., a minor. 
“The Beckhampton avenue was also visible, thorgh not so perfect 
as the other, in the memory of the late Mr. John Clements! (aged 
eighty-one at the time of his death), who could clearly point it out. 
This had been chiefly demolished by Farmer Griffin, and Richard 
Fowler. The two stones in the cove® are all that now remain, and 
with difficulty they were saved by applying from the farmer to the 
landlord. Mr. John Brown is now the owner of this estate.” 
and noticed by him in page 346, of vol. iv., Wilts Mag. Itis as follows: ‘* The 
first was also called Manton, near Marlburrow from a pettie Stonage there of 
eight huge stones, now called the broad stones, antiently standing, but now 
lying circularly in London way, testified to be a British trophie, by the frag- 
- ments of men’s bones found on the burrows on the fields adjoining.” 
1 John Clements was a grocer in Abury and born in 1714. The two hundred 
years, from John Aubrey’s early visits to the present time, are bridged over by 
the lives of three persons residing at or near Abury, viz., ‘‘ Parson Brunsdon,”’ 
John Clements, and the Rey. Charles Lucas. 
_ * The lesser and more northern of these stones did not belong to the cove. 
