351 



The Temple Cloud near Camerton appeared perfectly consistent 

 with the Templum Claudii, which was said to be close to Camulo- 

 dunum, and this temple was supported by the revenue previously 

 given to the British priests, who might well have been those at 

 Stanton Drew, where there was a Druidical temple, the priests of 

 which might have stirred up the people to resist payment. On a 

 consideration of the whole of the concurrent evidence, he could not 

 resist the conclusion that Mr. Skinner had made out a very good 

 case for Camerton being the ancient Camulodunum. 



The Rev. J. Earle expressed his thanks to Dr. Hunter for the 

 very interesting paper he had read, and for the very felicitous and 

 incisive way in which he had laid his views before them. He could 

 not help thinking that he had something of the peculiar manner of 

 that author who had been so frequently mentioned — the inimitable 

 Tacitiis. Dr. Hunter had given, in a slight tone of incredulity and 

 sarcasm, ]Mr. Skinner's idea of the identity of Templum Claudi 

 with Temple Cloud, but he must say that before altogether 

 discarding that idea he should like some other explanation of what 

 the name did mean. It was a name " singularly singular," and he 

 knew nothing like it anywhere. It certainly struck him as being a 

 hitch in any view that would throw Mr. Skinner overboard, if any- 

 thing like another reasonable explanation of the word could not be 

 given. In answer to Dr. Hunter, Mr. Earle said that the theory 

 about Canobelin being etymologically equivalent to " King of the 

 Belgse," struck him as being simply preposterous, inasmuch as it 

 implies that a Saxon word which was not known till some centuries 

 later in this island had been embodied in a British name. 



Dr. Barrett and Mr. Stephen Mitchell also took part in the 

 discussion, which elicited an exhibition of the remarkable jealousy 

 with which Western antiquaries argued against the honour of the 

 site of Camidodunum being given to the Eastern coasts, and Dr. 

 Hunter, after replying to certain i-emarks, again mentioned the 

 bequest of Mr. Skinner for the editing of his book. There might 

 be some in this city seventeen years hence who would be com- 

 petent to edit the work, and he hoped that the £1000 left for the 

 purpose would not go to a metropolitan man, but to some citizen, 

 to whom it would be more due. 



