The Opening Meeting, 



107 



deputation desire to direct special notice to the three points named 

 above, as requiring immediate attention : but they cannot conclude 

 their report without advocating" with all their might the re-erection, 

 at the same time, of the great trilithon which fell in 1797, whose 

 exact position is undoubted, and whose replacement has been so 

 often urged by the most distinguished antiquarians, notably by the 

 Royal Archaeological Institute, when it met at Salisbury in 1849, 

 under the presidency of Mr. Sidney Herbert. Should the proper 

 appliances for readjusting the stones 6 and 7, and 25 and 1, mentioned 

 above, be procured (whether, by permission, from the Royal Dockyards 

 at Portsmouth, or elsewhere) it would seem an opportunity not to be 

 let slip, now, if ever, to re-erect the great trilithon, which, if re- 

 placed in position, would add so much to the grandeur and imposing 

 appearance of Stonehenge, and whose prostrate condition is lamented 

 by so many. 



"We would, in conclusion, disclaim any intention of interfering 

 beyond our province. Stonehenge is a national monument, of such 

 world-wide renown, and its well-being and protection from injury 

 are so intimately connected with the work of the Wiltshire Archae- 

 ological Society, that it appears to us a paramount duty on the part 

 of the Society to speak out boldly on this question, and we have 

 therefore not hesitated to express our decided opinions. 



W. Cunnington, formerly Ron. Sec. : now Fice- President. 

 H. Cunnington, Curator of Museum. 



The President then invited any other of the gentlemen who 

 formed the deputation, and all of whom were present, to make any 

 further remarks to what had been said in their report. 



Mr. Medlicott said they were called upon to make their investi- 

 gation of Stonehenge in consequence of letters appearing in the 

 papers, some of them from foreigners who cast reflection upon 

 England for not taking greater care of what belonged not only to 

 England } but to everyone everywhere who took an interest in 



A. C. Smith, 

 H. E. Medlicott. 



General Honorary Secretaries. 



