Xviii. IN MEMORIAM. 



with scrupulous accuracy and carefully kept in his possession. It 

 is indeed encouraging to see what one man, with little time at 

 command, but with the love of the subject at heart, and with 

 energy and perseverance, is able to achieve for the benefit of science. 

 We are thankful for this index of his treasures, as a most valuable 

 record of discoveries which might otherwise have been lost for the 

 use of the topographical historian, as well as the archaeologist of a 

 wider field. This unique collection is rich in Celtic and Roman 

 antiquities, many of them of surpassing excellence and rarity, and 

 the majority of them, be it especially noted, the produce of our 

 own beloved county, which alone greatly enhances their value in the 

 estimation of all Durotrigian antiquaries. Alas ! the lamented 

 death of Mr. Burden will place this collection in other hands ; nor 

 can I do otherwise than endorse the feeling expressed by the 

 Chairman at a recent Museum meeting at Dorchester, that it would 

 be a very great pity if the county allowed that valuable collection 

 to be taken away. He hoped that something could be done to keep 

 such a highly interesting and costly collection iD the county. It 

 is now known that it will be offered in its entirety for purchase 

 to the authorities of our National Museum ; and that in case of 

 failure, the offer will be renewed to the trustees of our County 

 Museum ; and that in the event of failure here, this grand collec- 

 tion will be dispersed by public auction. This would be indeed 

 a deplorable issue, which we trust may be yet averted.* 



In concluding this imperfect memento of an old and respected 

 friend, I may be excused perhaps if I briefly allude to the different 

 aspect which archaeology now presents in this county to that which 

 it bore within my remembrance at an earlier period. After the 

 completion of the second edition of Hutchins' Dorset in 1814, and 

 the catastrophe attending its publication, archaeology for some 

 years remained in this county at a low ebb. In 1824 a reflux to 

 some extent took place, subsequent to the excavation of the 

 Deverel Barrow, and the remarkable discoveries therein made by 



* Since this has been in type the collection has been purchased by the 

 Trustees of the British Museum. W. S. 



