38 REPORT— 1873. 



fraught with immense benefit to science, commerce, and civilization, and philo- 

 sophical and scientific bodies of all nations have given their adhesion to it ; the 

 commercial classes look to such unification as an essential element in the eco- 

 nomy of time and the performance of international works, and travellers all over 

 the world regard it as the greatest boon that could be conferred. Towards 

 the attainment of this important object, the Metric Committee of the British 

 Association for the Advancement of Science have exercised an important in- 

 fluence ; and they trust that if they are allowed to continue their action for a 

 few years longer, they will be able 'to report the recognition all over the world 

 of the princijjle for the promotion of which they were appointed. 

 In conclusion, your Committee recommend their reappointment. 



Eighth Report of the Committee for Exploring Kent's Cavern, Devon- 

 shire, the Committee consisting of Sir Charles Lyell, Bart., 

 F.R.S., Professor Phillips, F.R.S., Sir John Lubbock^ Bart., 

 F.R.S., John Evans, F.R.S., Edward Vivian, M.A., George 

 Busk, F.R.S., William Boyd Dawkins, F.R.S., William Aysh- 

 FORD Sanford, F.G.S., a?i6? William Pengelly, F.R.S. {Reporter). 



In commencing this, their Eighth Report, the Committee have to state that 

 since their last Report was sent in (Edinburgh, 1871) the excavations have 

 been carried on by the same workmen, without interruption, and in all 

 respects in the same manner as in former years. 



The visitors to the Cavern have continued to be very numerous. Amongst 

 those accompanied by the Superintendents, the following may be mentioned : — 

 The Emperor Napoleon III., the Prince Murat, the Prince and Princess of 

 Oldenberg, Sir W. Jardine, Bart., Sir W. Topham, Rev. M. Brown, Rev. G. 

 Buckle, Rev. Mr. Drewe, Rev. Dr. MacGrcgor, Rev. F. A. Saville, Rev. W. 

 Thompson, Rev. H. H. Winwood, A. D. W. R. B. Cochrane, M.P.,W. H. Smith, 

 M.P., General Freeze, C.B., R.A., Colonel Naylor, Colonel W. Pinuey, Captain 

 S. P. Oliver, R.A., Professor F. Roemer, of Breslau, Professor A. Newton, 

 Dr. Bond, Dr. Hounsell, Dr. Schmidt, of Essen, Rhenish Prussia, and Messrs. 

 Bosanquet, H. H. Bothamley, W. R. A. Boylo, — Chaplin, B. J. M. Donne, 

 W. Fenner, R. Gwatkin, J. Holdsworth, J. H. Parsons, E. C. Robson, 

 — Stewart, J. StUweU, G. C. Swayne, E. B. Tawney, B. Tower, — "Waldegrave, 

 W. Vicary, I. Whitwell, and A. "W. Wills. The Cavern has also been visited 

 bj^ the Exeter Naturalists' Club, and by a large party of Members of the 

 British Medical Association, at the close of the Annual Meeting at Plymouth 

 in August 1871, including Rev. Professor Haughton, Professor Lister, Dr. 

 Crossby, of Nice, Dr. A. Godson, Dr. Lang, Dr. Macnamara, Dr. Murphy, 

 Dr. W. Roberts, and Mr. Wilde. 



Visitors of a much less welcome character have also been numerous during 

 the year. In February last the workmen somewhat frequently observed 

 several large rats running about the Cavern, but for some time failed in all 

 their efforts to capture them. One morning one of the men, on commencing 

 his work, wrapped his dinner-bag in the coat he had just taken off, and put 

 the whole carefully aside. At dinner-time the coat was found to be eaten 

 through, and the bag with its contents was gone. A few days after, the other 

 man, having taken his dinner, placed his bag, containing a piece of bread, in a 

 basket, and fastened the cover. On leaving work, he found a hole had been 



