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189 
The various Saxon words used as particles in the local nomenclature o 
England are not of the same date; and in many instances the later have 
been added at the end of a word compounded of the'earlier. This may be 
called stratification of names, to use a geological term. It is for a 
chronological reason that Wick is never found after Ham ; though there are ~ 
many Wickhams, and though there are Hamptons and even Wickhampton, 
Ton is always the last. Yet the words have much the same meaning, and 
are evidences of races speaking different dialects, having successively 
occupied the pieces of land or buildings thus described. This rule must not 
however be applied to words or names of Latin or French origin ; in these 
compound adjectives are often used, and they may, according to their 
intended force, be placed before or after the noun. After the Conquest 
many names of places received as additions the personal names of the new 
lords. The list is copiously supplied from all counties. Woctton-Bassett, 
Sutton-Courtney, Burgh-Walter (now known as Bridgwater), are examples. 
Of modern names there are very few likely to endure, they are usually 
fanciful and affected and no longer descriptive. They show that the work 
of naming is completed in England. Some through accidental circumstances 
are worth remembering ; Boscobel received its Italian name in the 
Renaissance time, and was descriptive ; our Belmonts and Belvideres of a 
century ago were meant to express in a romantic tongue the beauty of their 
situation. Englishmen had then begun to” travel; these names may be 
called peregrinatory names, 
The business of the evening did not allow time for the usual 
discussion. Mr. Moore, however, from the result of recent exca- 
vations, especially of those carried out on the site of the old White 
' Hart, corroborated Mr. Earle’s view of the total desertion of Bath ; 
in every instance he had remarked that the foundations of the 
Roman walls had been covered by a deposit, which indicated that 
a tranquil body of water had existed there for a considerable 
period. The Chairman, in thanking Mr. Earle for his terse 
and instructive communication, suggested the antithetic_relation 
between our two fords as the ford of Firs and the ford of 
Willows ; and then called on Captain Heriot to give the result of 
his analysis of the Batheaston Mineral Waters, which rise from a 
deep seated source in Mr. Broome’s field. (Vide p 171.) The 
excess of free ammonia present gave rise to some conversation 
