ROMAN PAVEMENTS. 29 
then was that these formed a small part of a Roman villa, 
and that at no great distance some noble remains were still 
lying under the sod. In the ground plan presented, the 
position of these two pavements was pointed out. At no 
great distance, ina N. W. direction, was a mill-pond, from 
which a small canal (then a ditch) led towards the site 
mentioned, the bottom of which still retained flat paving 
stones, intended probably for the supply of water to the 
baths; a considerable number of tiles, some flat and others 
eurved, for conveying water, were lying mixed with the 
soil around. A small bronze cast of a left hand, finely 
modelled, was discovered near this spot, and was thought 
at first to be part of an entire human figure, probably still 
remaining there; but from the finish of its termination at 
the wrist, and from a socket therein, this little relic was 
evidently not a fragment, but an instrument, not uncommon 
among the Romans, called Scalptorium, or in plain English, 
a Scratch-back. It was then in the possession of Mr. R. 
Walter of Combe Head. Mr. Walter very properly suggested 
that previously to any researches being made, funds should 
be provided for erecting some kind of building for the 
security and preservation of any pavement that might be 
laid open; otherwise it would soon be destroyed by wanton 
depredations, by the action of frost, and by worms lifting 
from beneath, as many others had been ; but if judiciously 
preserved, those beautiful remains of Roman taste and skill 
might remain for ages to come. He was led to anticipate 
that at some future meeting of this Society, an excursion 
might be undertaken, for the purpose of exploring this 
interesting spot, which remained, with the exception of the 
above partial discoveries, still wrapped in the mysterious 
mantle of antiquity. 
E3 
