By the Rev. Canon J. EF. Jackson, V.8.A. 157 
and imagination. But we dry archeologists must keep to matter 
of fact. Therefore, as there is absolutely nothing historically known 
about these venerable monuments, either when they were set up, by 
whom, or in memory of what, we need not waste our time in specu- 
lation. The one formerly near Swindon may have been the sepulchre 
of some Danish Sweyn, who gave his name to the down, and hence 
the name of Swindon; but, without fear of contradiction, it may 
have been for anybody or anything else. Nor do we know when 
it disappeared. Perhaps under the same circumstances as a similar 
monument in France lately did, according to a story I read in a 
French newspaper a short time ago. An enthusiastic archeologist, 
a worshipper of megaliths, had discovered a magnificent one of that 
kind which we eall the cromlech, but which the French call a dodmen 
—viz., three or four large stones standing in a close group with a 
larger slab overlying them. The proprietor’s leave having been 
obtained, our antiquary gave notice to all the brethren of his society 
to assemble on the spot, on a certain day and hour, for examination 
and discussion. The day arrived, the company was punctual, and a 
crowd of the curious attended them. The presiding gentleman 
pressed towards the spot radiant with joy and hope. Suddenly he 
stopped, turned pale, rubbed his eyes—rubbed them again. “The 
dolmen!” he called to the proprietor, “where’s the dolmen?” 
« What dolmen?” says the man. ‘ Why the one that stood there.” 
“Qh,” said the man, very composedly, “ you mean these big stones ? 
Oh, why you said there was a large company coming, and I thought 
you would have more room to circulate, so I had them broken up 
and hauled away to mend the road.” ‘ Wretch!” was all that the 
president could utter. The newspaper adds, “ This story is scarcely 
conceivable, but it is strictly true.” ! 
There is, about these old grey relics of former days that have 
stood out upon our downs so many hundred, perhaps thousand, 
years, something that entitles them to a certain respect : and one 
can only lament the carelessness and stupidity of those who have 
allowed so many to be destroyed. A stop, to a certain extent, is 
1 Absolument vraie quoique invraisemblable” [Courrier de l’ Europe, 27th 
September, 18841]. 
