REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. CX1 
The Council appointed a Committee, consisting of Sir John Evans, 
Sir Edward Brabrook, Mr. Sidney Hartland, Sir Norman Lockyer, and 
Lord Balcarres, to report on the proposal, and have received the fol- 
lowing :—- 
Your Committee, in accordance with the terms of their appointment, have 
taken into consideration the terms of the Resolution presented to the Council 
from Section H, in which they fully concur. They learn that the subject has 
been under the consideration of the Congress of Archeological Societies, which 
has passed the Resolution of which a copy is annexed and of the terms of 
which your Committee entirely approve. 
They further understand that the question of the appointment of an 
Inspector, in accordance with the provisions of the Ancient Monuments 
Protection Act, is about to be considered by the Council of the Society of 
Antiquaries and, in all probability, of other learned Societies. They therefore 
recommend that the Council cf the Association should co-operate by all means 
in their power with these bodies in bringing the desirability of carrying out 
the provisions of the Act under the notice of His Majesty’s Government. It 
appears to your Committee that the present moment is well fitted for calling 
attention to the matter, inasmuch as tbe destruction of early megalithic 
monuments is daily going on, and several have been absolutely destroyed. 
In view of this destruction, your Committee are further of opinion that it 
should be an instruction to the Inspector of Ancient Monuments to prepare 
a list, as complete as possible, of all megalithic monuments, whether under 
public control or not, and that steps should be taken to secure their preservation 
in future. 
Furthermore, your Committee are of opinion that steps ought at once 
to be taken to prepare a list and secure the preservation, not only of mega- 
lithic monuments, but of all ancient monuments deemed worthy of the 
national care; and that this cannot be effectually done without recognising a 
property in such monuments on the part of the nation overriding all private 
ownership and custody, and conferring much larger powers on the inspector, 
so as to prevent injury to such monuments by any person whomsoever, 
This Report, having been approved by the Council, was sent with a 
covering letter to the Prime Minister on December 19, 1906. Further- 
more, the President attached his signature to the following Memorial, 
drawn up by the Council of the Society of Antiquaries :— 
To the Prime Minister, 
The Right Hon. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, G.C.B. 
We, the undersigned, representing the Societies named, beg leave respect- 
fully to represent to you that by the Act of 45 & 46 Victoria (c. 73), 1882, 
known as ‘The Ancient Monuments Protection Act,’ provision was made for 
the guardianship of Ancient Monuments, and a salary was assigned to an 
inspector who should take charge of such monuments. 
It was clearly intended that other monuments of national interest should 
be acquired under that Act and the amending Act of 1900, and in the 
judgment of your memorialists it was the intention of Parliament that the 
duties of the inspector should include, not only the care of the scheduled 
monuments, but that his experience and advice should be available for such 
owners of similar monuments as might be desirous of vesting their possessions 
in the hands of public bodies. 
It furthermore appears essential that such an inspector should be a man 
of independent position, able to give time to the duties of his office, and 
occupying such a status in the archeological world as to inspire the public 
with confidence. ; 
We beg to observe that the Government, on taking over a number of these 
monuments, virtually guaranteed that they should be placed under the care of 
such an inspector. Since the death of General Pitt-Rivers the office of 
inspector has been vacant, although the salary attached to the post is annually 
voted by Parliament. The terms of the Act are clear and explicit, directing 
not merely that an inspector shall be appointed, but actually contemplating 
