600 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1748^ 



a stone, then lately found at Silchester in Hampshire; by which it only appeared, 

 that this town was the ancient Vindomis, but also that it was situated within the 

 limits of the Segontiaci: as to both which circumstances our best antiquaries have 

 been at an uncertainty, and differed in their sentiments concerning them. He 

 took notice also, that the traces of the ancient town are yet often visible in the 

 summer; and that the ruins of an amphitheatre still remain without the wall. 

 But being since in that country, he had an opportunity of visiting the place him- 

 self, and getting a more perfect account of it than he expected, by the assistance 

 of two persons in the neighbourhood, the late Mr. John Wriglit, junior, and 

 Mr, John Stair, junior, who were both well acquainted with it, and accompa- 

 nied him thither. The former, who was an experienced surveyor, measured the 

 whole circuit of the wall, with the height of it in several places, as also the di- 

 mensions of the amphitheatre, while they were on the spot. And the other traced 

 out the several streets, and other parts of the town, to a considerable ex- 

 actness. 



The circuit of the wall on the outside, as given by the scale, contains near 

 one English mile and a half; and the several parcels of land contained within it, 

 amount together to 100 acres, or upwards. Indeed Leiand says, that the com- 

 pass of the wall is about 1 miles, and containeth 80 acres.* And Camden says 

 the same, except that he calls them Italian miles.-|- But neither of them ac- 

 quaint us, from whom they had their measurement. The wall consists of g 

 sides, but very unequal ; which might perhaps be occasioned by the different si- 

 tuation of the ground, which in some parts is uneven. 



The materials composing the wall, are large flints, and rough stones of dif- 

 ferent sorts, cemented together with very strong mortar. And as to the man- 

 ner of building it, the foundation is generally made of a row or two of stones 

 laid flatwise ; and over them 4 or 5 rows of flints ; then usually a double row of 

 stones, sometimes 3 rows, and at other times one only, laid in the same posi- 

 tion ; over these a like number of rows of flints, as before; and so alternately 

 upwards. And a little to the westward of the south gate are yet to be seen 7 of 

 these ranges of stone, with 6 of flint between them; where the height of the 

 wall measured on the outside is about 18 feet. And about 50 yards eastward of the 

 same gate are 6 ranges of stone, with 3 of flint between them ; where a small 

 part of the facing seems yet to be nearly entire. But there is no appearance 

 either of copings, or battlements, on any part of the wall. Though the ranges 

 of stone in the front of the wall are placed horizontally, yet those within it often 

 stand edgewise and somewhat obliquely, like the wall of Severus in the north of 



* Itinerary, vol. vi. p. 48, edit. 1744. — Orig. t Britann. p. 196, edit.l607. — Orig. 



