204 BURIAL OF THE REMAINS CHAP. IV. 



discovered. Mr. Joyce made careful coloured 

 sections, and measured the thickness of each 

 bed of rubbish, whilst the excavations were in 

 progress ; and he has had the kindness to 

 send me copies of several of them. When 

 my sons Francis and Horace visited these 

 ruins, he accompanied them, and added his 

 notes to theirs. 



Mr. Joyce estimates that the town was in- 

 habited by the Eomans for about three cen- 

 turies ; and no doubt much matter must have 

 accumulated within the walls during this long 

 period. It appears to have been destroyed 

 by fire, and most of the stones used in the 

 buildings have since been carried away. 

 These circumstances are unfavourable for as- 

 certaining the part which worms have played 

 in the burial of the ruins; but as careful 

 sections of the rubbish overlying an ancient 

 town have seldom or never before been made 

 in England, I will give copies of the most 

 characteristic portions of some of those made 

 by Mr. Joyce. They are of too great length 

 to be here introduced entire. 



An east and west section, 30 ft. in length, 

 was made across a room in the Basilica, now 



