LETTERS FROM 1866 TO 1872. 69 



legends, examine antiquities, measure this, 

 estimate that ; and a thousand other employ- 

 ments essential to a correct account take up 

 my time. The walking I can do is something 

 beyond belief. To give an instance. There 

 is a book published some twenty years ago 

 founded on a local legend. This I wanted, and 

 have actually been to ten different houses in 

 search of it ; that is, have had a good fifty 

 miles' walk, and as yet all in vain. However, 

 I think I am on the right scent now, and 

 believe I shall get it. 



" This neighbourhood is a mine for an anti- 

 quary. I was given to understand at school 

 that in ancient days Britain was a waste un- 

 inhabited, rude and savage. I find this is a 

 mistake. I see traces of former habitation, 

 and former generations, in all directions. 

 There, Eoman coins ; here, British arrowheads, 

 tumuli, camps in short, the country, if I may 

 use the expression, seems alive with the dead. 

 I am inclined to believe that this part of North 

 Wilts, at least, was as thickly inhabited of yore 

 as it is now, the difference being only in the 

 spots inhabited having been exchanged for 



