26 



British period — from the earliest dawn of history down to 

 the present day — represents at each stage something, and 

 something worth telHng, like the history of Bath. 



But I am now going to confine myself to one particular set 

 of observations, and their leading idea may be found in 

 a page of Mr. Scarth's Aquce Solis. That gentleman 

 observes that the Roman pavements found outside were 

 better than those which have been found inside the city 

 walls ; and he accounted for this by the greater demolition 

 and reconstruction which took place within the inclosed 

 area, than on the outside. This seems a very simple ob- 

 servation, but it is one of very extensive application, and I 

 propose to apply it to other ages besides the Roman. 



But before quitting the Roman period one observation 

 must be made about Roman coins The instruction got 

 from such coins is not from contemplating them as objects, 

 but from the circumstances and associations of their excava- 

 tion. It is desirable to know in each case in what spot they 

 were found, at what depth from the surface : and to have a 

 complete catalogue of all coins found from first to last mthin 

 a definite circuit. It is only by these data that any useful 

 results can be summed up from coins discovered. I fear 

 that the coins found in past years in this locality have been 

 very imperfectly recorded, and the consequence is we do not 

 know the total of each reign found. This is one of the 

 most important difficulties in reconstructing the Roman 

 history of Bath ; but the fact that these records were badly 

 kept in past times, is one reason why those who have the 

 opportunity should see that they are better kept in future. 

 Excavations, as you know, are going on at the White Hart, 

 and several things have been found there. It is of the 

 greatest importance that these should be kept together and 

 catalogued, that we might know in each case at what depth 

 and in what stratum they are found. Mr. Irvine, who is 



