94 ORNAMENT ON THE EARLY CROSSES OF CORNWALL. 



in other localities, as shewn by the many unique examples of its 

 detail; and (3), a charming quaintness, and appearance of age, 

 on many of the stones. This seems to give a special interest to 

 them, as if to compensate for the superior design and workman- 

 ship on other crosses far way, where the art was more fully 

 developed, and brought nearer to perfection. 



In making for a county a classification of the ancient 

 sculptured ornament, which, so far as I am aware, has never 

 been previously attempted, one is met with difficulties at the 

 outset. More especially is this so in a district like Cornwall, 

 where, as I have just remarked, the ornament in many cases is 

 so entirely different from that found in other places. New terms 

 have to be appplied to hitherto undescribed sculpture, and a partic- 

 ular system must be adopted in the arrangement of the analyses, 

 &c, for which there is no precedent. But though some parts of 

 this paper have been of necessity curtailed, the lists of the stones 

 and the analysis of each Part have been dealt with most fully, 

 and the details of the ornament, of however small and apparently 

 insignificant a nature, which occur on any of the 115 crosses, 

 &c. contained in my list, have all been carefully classified, for, 

 as the quality of the ornament can only be judged by the care 

 with which its detail has been designed and executed, and is 

 generally the only guide by which the antiquity of the work 

 can be safely inferred, it is evident that the importance of a 

 careful study of detail cannot be too strongly urged. 



There may possibly be other sculptured stones which have 

 escaped my notice, and have, thus been omitted. Should this be 

 the case, I shall be obliged if any of my readers, who know of 

 their existence, will communicate with me respecting them. 



With reference to the three analyses, there are a few points 

 which I wish to be thoroughly understood. (1), That in them is 

 included all that is known to me, on the stones which I have 

 seen and drawn. (2), That while in some instances there exists 

 only one known specimen of the example illustrated, it must be 

 borne in mind that there may be others, as these monuments are 

 still frequently found. In which case, the details of the 

 newly discovered stones can simply be added to their respective 

 sub-divisions and thus preserve a record of them all. (3), In 



