Prisiiiatic Structure, in Stones of Scottish Vitrified Forts. 259 



speculative, lie rather in the department of archcTology than 

 in the branches embraced by this Society. The object I have 

 chiefly in view is to direct attention to the phenomena of 

 prismatic structure, so definitely characteristic of many of 

 their stones. I bear in mind throughout that this is not the 

 first time the subject has been under the notice of the Society. 

 But it seems to me of some importance tlmt a fuller record 

 should be made of the phenomena there referred to, than the 

 note given in on that occasion, the more so that a somewhat 

 full suite of examples are now at hand to illustrate remarks. 

 In 1777, Mr John Williams, who describes himself as a 

 "mineral engineer," published a pamphlet entitled, "An 

 Account of some remarkable Ancient Ruins lately Discovered 

 in the Highlands of Scotland." Williams, while referring to 

 some forts of less importance, chiefly describes that of Knock- 

 farrel, Eoss-shire. "Wishing a name," he says, "to add 

 authority to his paper," he wrote to Henry Howe, Lord Karnes , 

 very quaintly : " My Lord, — Above a year ago, a copy of my 

 paper concerning vitrified forts was sent to London to be dis- 

 posed of to the booksellers, but they looked upon it as a fic- 

 tion. The subject is both singular and extraordinary. How- 

 ever, I have advanced nothing in my narrative but what is 

 strictly true, except such passages as are professedly conjec- 

 tural. I offer the public this brief specimen of the ruins of 

 the vitrified forts and drystone conical structures. . . . 

 As your lordship's name is so well known in the literary 

 world, a few lines from your pen will add authority to my 

 paper, and remove the discouragements to publication, which 

 arise from my being so little known." Lord Kames wrote the 

 next day : " Sir, — I think it is every man's duty to do justice 

 to merit, whether he have a name or not in the literary 

 world. And, as far as my evidence can go, I give you leave 

 to say to the world that I have long known you to be an 

 honest man, and that your veracity may be depended on. I 

 willingly add my opinion that your discovery of buildings 

 cemented by fire is a curious fact that ought to make a figure 

 in the history of art. The vitrified forts you mention must 

 have been erected before mortar was known in Scotland ; and 

 it is a notable instance of the extraordinary shifts people were 



