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1821; and later, Sir Richard Colt Hoare; Mr. William Long, 
_ whose account in vol. xv. of the “ Antiquarian Journal,” 1858, 
is very good ; and more local writers, Rev. Preb. Scarth, 1869; 
and Mr. C. E. Dymond, 1871, both of whose papers appear in 
the proceedings of the Somerset Archelogical Society. The 
latter’s is most minute and detailed as to the number of stones, 
the sizes thereof, and admeasurements of the distances between 
them respectively. Each writer almost, gives his own particular 
theory, and the numbers and positions of the stones ; but a good 
many differences occur between them. The old legend, that it is 
wicked to attempt to count them, appears to have been changed 
now into an idea that amongst the different accounts, oue finds 
oneself in almost a maze whilst endeavouring to reconcile one 
with another. Mr. Scarth suggests that the Somersetshire 
Society might, with advantage, have a careful survey made, but 
Mr. Dymond is so correct that he may be said to have 
supplied the needed want. It would be well that some care 
should be taken by archzlogists, that the stones be kept from 
injury. If this had been the desire of former owners and 
occupiers of the Stanton Drew property, the mystery attaching 
to one of the grandest monuments in the West of England might 
be more easily solved than at present. It is known that cart- 
loads of stone have been broken off for various purposes, 
including that of mending the roads, and one tenant is said to 
have buried some of the stones for the purpose of utilising the 
little space they stood upon. This, of course, renders the 
counting of the stones much more difficult, as it is impossible to 
tell where all are, although some can be distinctly traced, in hot 
summers, by the burnt appearance of the grass above them. 
With respect to the material of these stones, nearly all the 
authorities, including the eminent geologist, Mr. Chas. Moore, 
agree that the Conglomerate,of which the major part are composed, 
is similar to that found in the neighbourhood—some say at 
Chew Magna, others at Broadfield Down, about three miles from 
