By the Rev. Canon J. E. Jackson, F.S.A. 157 



and imagination. But we dry archaeologists must keep to matter 

 of fact. Therefore, as there is absolutely nothing historically known 

 about these venerable monuments, either when they were set up, by 

 whom, or in memory of what, we need not waste our time in specu- 

 lation. The one formerly near Swindon may have been the sepulchre 

 of some Danish Sweyn, who gave his name to the down, and hence 

 the name of Swindon; but, without fear of contradiction, it may 

 have been for anybody or anything else. Nor do we know when 

 it disappeared. Perhaps under the same circumstances as a similar 

 monument in France lately did, according to a story I read in a 

 French newspaper a short time ago. An enthusiastic archaeologist, 

 a worshipper of megaliths, had discovered a magnificent one of that 

 kind which we call the cromlech, but which the French call a dolmen 

 — viz., three or four large stones standing in a close group with a 

 larger slab overlying them. The proprietor's leave having been 

 obtained, our antiquary gave notice to all the brethren of his society 

 to assemble on the spot, on a certain day and hour, for examination 

 ; and discussion. The day arrived, the company was punctual, and a 

 crowd of the curious attended them. The presiding gentleman 

 pressed towards the spot radiant with joy and hope. Suddenly he 

 stopped, turned pale, rubbed his eyes— rubbed them again. " The 

 dolmen !" he called to the proprietor, "where's the dolmen?" 

 " What dolmen ? " says the man. " Why the one that stood there." 

 " Oh," said the man, very composedly, " you mean these big stones? 

 Oh, why you said there was a large company coming, and I thought 

 • you would have more room to circulate, so I had them broken up 

 and hauled away to mend the road." " Wretch ! " was all that the 

 president could utter. The newspaper adds, " This story is scarcely 

 conceivable, but it is strictly true." 1 



There is, about these old grey relics of former days that have 

 stood out upon our downs so many hundred, perhaps thousand, 

 | years, something that entitles them to a certain respect : and one 

 j can only lament the carelessness and stupidity of those who have 

 1 allowed so many to be destroyed. A stop, to a certain extent, is 



1 " Absolument vraie quoique invraisemblable " [Courrier de 1' Europe, 27th 

 September, 1884], 



