4 Stooiehenge and its Barrows. 



an attempt to bring together for the benefit of the members of the 

 Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society the more 

 important notices, which are descriptive of the structure and its 

 adjuncts, and of the views and theories which have been propounded 

 respecting it. To one who has made Stonehenge his study it 

 will possibly tell nothing with which he is not already familiar ; but 

 to others it may be convenient and useful to have in as concise a 

 form as possible, a resume of what the best authorities on this and 

 on similar structures have written respecting it. A series of 

 extracts, it is true, is not particularly pleasant reading ; but a man's 

 words are the dress of his thoughts, and no one can clothe the ideas 

 of another in so suitable a drapery as the author himself, if only those 

 ideas are clearly apprehended, and as clearly expressed. 



While the much larger and much older megalithic structure at 

 Abury has been in the shade, and comparatively disregarded, 

 Stonehenge has been, for the last 700 years, written about, talked 



service to Mm in the compilation of this paper. The subject in Dr. Thurnam's 

 hands, could not fail of receiving a complete and masterly treatment ; but it 

 was not to be his work. He just lived to complete his valuable coatribution to 

 the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries, viz : his exhaustive account of 

 " British Barrows, especially those of Wiltshire and the adjoining counties;" a 

 work, which must henceforth be the text-book on the subject, and which 

 exhibits in every line the scrupulous care and earnest striving after accuracy of 

 statement which characterise all that Dr. Thurnam wrote. The writer cannot 

 but think that the very great amount of research and close attention which 

 this work required and received must have contributed, in no slight degree, to 

 the sad and sudden termination of his valuable life. He told the writer 

 shortly before his decease, that he would never have put his hand to it, had he, 

 heen aware of the immense amount of labour which it would entail upon him. 

 By Dr. Thurnam's death, the writer lost a much-valued friend and corres- 

 pondent of many years standing ; who had given him important assistance in 

 the preparation of his paper on Abury ; and whose pleasant intercourse never 

 left aught but agreeable recollections behind it. The work above mentioned, 

 and his portion of the *' Crania Britannica," are valuable and important con- 

 tributions to archaeological literature ; while his scientific reports on the 

 treatment of his insane patients in Yorkshire and Wiltshire are highly esteemed 

 by his brethren of the medical profession. He will always live in the aftectionate 

 remembrance of the writer, who would fain place this stone upon the tomb of 

 his departed friend : 



" His saltem accmnalem donis, et fungar inani 

 Munere," 



