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place mentioned is our Wick-with-Abson, or any other Wick ; but 
then this entry in the Chronicle stands by itself, and bears no 
relation to any subsequent mention of Wick, there is no con- 
tinuous history, and therefore Topography cannot here make her 
beginning even if she is persuaded of the identity of the site. 
We may guess that as a part of the lands of Glastonbury Wick 
is the more likely to gain notice in the Chronicle, but we do 
not know where stands this Wick of the Chronicle, we do not 
even know where Ethandune stands, disguised as it is to us in its 
early English spelling. It is not given to every hamlet to enjoy 
the lucky confirmation of its historical claims which the finding 
of King Alfred’s jewel gave to Athelney farm, the cradle of that 
inspired system of law and language which now rules a fourth of 
the globe. The club topographer must exorcise such Wills 0’ 
the wisp, he must be content to begin with the Confessor, and 
consign to a foot note, or better to a waste basket, all such 
speculations, while as to the Wansdyke, Avebury or Stonehenge, 
topographical facts as they undoubtedly are, they have long 
been the subject almost of a separate science, and so he had 
best leave them. 
As years pass on affairs in English Britain settle down, 
historians increase in number and perhaps in merit, charters to 
religious houses are made, and being preserved or quoted some 
true topographical information turns up early here and there. 
The parishes had grown up in number, nearly every hamlet had 
received a name, and the land seemed ready for the exact 
description or survey which was made in the eleventh century. 
This wonderful work, so well known as Domesday Book, is the 
very beginning of ewistence to nearly all the English manors and of 
history to the parishes. Here begins Topography, and from the 
account of the land given in Domesday is in most instances 
deducible a more or less complete local history to the present day. 
This noble record is now a common printed book. The five 
western counties have, in addition, the special advantage of the 
