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biography by him upon Yarrell, the Ornithologist ; and I think 

 there is another great name in natural history, one whom he has 

 this afternoon mentioned, of whom he could give a sketch, 

 as well as, or perhaps better than any other man living, I mean 

 the great Naturalist Darwin. All the best and chiefest traces 

 that I possess of the life and character of Darwin I owe to 

 conversation with my valued friend, Mr. Blomefield. It is among 

 the treasures of my memory that I have had the pleasure of Mr. 

 Blomefield's acquaintance. When I first came here in the year 

 1857, Mr. Blomefield was residing at Swainswick, and from that 

 time to this I have always been able to feel that I had in him a 

 friend. But if I were to go on as far as my feelings would let 

 me upon this subject I should never come to the " traces of the 

 Saxon period," and I hope I have not said more than is right on 

 an occasion which might be allowed, I suppose, to stir up one's 

 feelings a little in the pilgrimage of this life. 



The subject of the " traces of the Saxon period in Bath 

 and the neighbouring," I fear, may seem a very distant subject. 

 One might say it is eight hundred years ago, speaking roundly • 

 yes, it is more than eight hundred years ago since the Saxon j)eriod 

 was brought, or supposed to have been brought to a close by the 

 Conquest ; and then from the time of its close till it began, we 

 must reckon back a period of 500 years. From the middle of the 

 sixth to the middle of the eleventh century is what we call the 

 Saxon period. It seems a long time ago, but it really is so 

 only in the arithmetical way of calculation in the sound of 

 figures ; it is not long ago for anyone who has cultivated a 

 consciousness of his relationship to the national life. We have 

 had, as I may say, but three stages in our life. We have had the 

 first Colonists' stage, when we laid out the country and occupied 

 the fields, and built farm houses and fenced lands, and instituted 

 agriculture, and had one more struggle in repelling the Danes, 

 when to a very great extent we received them as additional 

 Colonists to our country. 



