23 1 Archceologia. 



in one of the publications of the Smithsonian Institution, aud Mr. 

 Blackmore was well acquainted with their interest and value. This 

 collection formed the nucleus of Mr. Blackmore's gatherings in 

 archaeological science ; but as everything must have its limit, he 

 gave his attention chiefly to a certain class of antiquities, which is 

 now known by the not very good name of prehistoi'ic, but would, 

 perhaps, be better termed primeval. This was the term adopted at 

 its commencement by the British Archaeological Association for the 

 earliest division of the archaeological periods. It is hardly neces- 

 sary to add that Mr. Blackmore's museum has become one of the 

 most valuable collections of these primeval antiquities which are 

 known to exist, and every one who looks over the catalogue of its con- 

 tents will acknowledge that Mr. Blackmore pursued a wise judgment 

 in restricting himself to a period, or rather, to a class. Had it 

 been an indiscriminate collection of anything archaeological that 

 could be picked up, it would, perhaps, only have classed with the 

 now numerous local museums which are almost unknown to science, 

 but, as it is, it will be well-known to everybody that all who wish 

 thoroughly to study the primeval antiquities of the western world, 

 must go for their most valuable materials to the city of Salisbury. 

 With so noble a museum in his possession, Mr. Blackmore was 

 naturally anxious to prevent all chance of its being eventually dis- 

 persed by giving it some permanent habitation. Naturally, the 

 British Museum presented its claim first ; Liverpool, too, had many 

 claims on Mr. Blackmore's consideration ; but he resolved, we 

 think rightly, on giving the work of, we may, perhaps, say, his 

 affection, to the place of his birth. It is another example of that 

 fine old mediaeval feeling which has led so many great men to seek 

 to identify by their munificent foundations their name with the 

 town which gave them existence. We need only point to another 

 example of this spirit in Mr. Joseph Mayer, who, in this same year, 

 has transferred his own noble museum to the town of Liverpool. 

 Mr. Blackmore has not only placed his museum in his native city, 

 but he has built there a very handsome building, at his own ex- 

 penss, for its reception, and the conditions attached to the founda- 

 tion are, that it shall be opened to the public without charge. The 

 property is vested in three trustees, the founder, Mr. William 

 Blackmore, his brother, Dr. Blackmore, and his brother-in-law, Mr. 

 E. T. Stevens. One of the conditions of the trust is, that "should 

 it be found that the pcoplo of Salisbury are insensible to the value 

 of the museum, or indifferent to the means of study Avhich it affords 

 them, the trustees may, if they think fit, remove it to some place 

 where it would be better appreciated and move thoroughly studied/' 

 This is a case which wc think hardly likely to present itself. At 

 present the museum is open free of charge every day in the week, 

 except Saturday, from two to five o'clock P.M., and on Monday 

 evenings from seven to nine P.M. 



Some researches have recently been made on the site of the 

 Roman- lead-mining works, on the Mendip Hills, in Somersetshire. 

 It appears that the Roman miners had nearly exhausted the mines 

 in this district, and (hat modern mining has consisted chiefly in 



