By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 



157 



But if it be objected that from their inferior size, the analogy of 

 the barrows is of little value, and so to argue from such premises 

 carries little weight, I reply in the first place that many of the 

 barrows which stud our downs are not at all despicable in bulk 

 even now, when the tendency of ages, especially where assisted by 

 the plough, has been materially to diminish their height, and 

 bring them down to the level of the plain : indeed those who have 

 attempted to excavate some of the larger ones will bear me out in 

 my statement, that they are extremely deceptive, and are really 

 very much larger than the casual observer would suppose. But 

 not to insist too strongly on this point, I pass on to the grand 

 climax of my argument, viz., the analogy of other tumuli of colossal 

 dimensions in other countries, which by recent excavations and 

 recent discoveries have been positively proved to be sepulchral. 

 And I would beg of the reader to observe as we pass on, in how 

 many cases the discovery of the interment was the result of pure 

 accident ; how in others their sepulchral character had been denied, 

 till proof positive set the question at rest for ever : and how in 

 several instances the interments were not found in the centre of 

 the mound, but at the side ; for these are all questions nearly 

 affecting the point now under examination, and may materially 

 help us in forming our conclusions on the probable object of 

 Silbury, when we shall have weighed all the evidence I can bring 

 to bear upon it. 



The first tumulus which I adduce is in the sister kingdom of 

 Ireland, and is generally known in that country as "J^ew Grange." 

 It is one of four great sepulchral mounds, situated on the banks of 

 the Boyne, between Drogheda and Slane, in the county of Meath, 

 and which have been not inaptly termed " the Pyramids of Ireland." 

 It is the only one of the four, whose interior has been exposed to 

 human curiosity, but there is every reason to believe that if 

 explored, the others would be found similar in nature to the one in 

 question. I extract the particulars of it from the second vol. of 

 Archaeologia, and the Dublin Journal of March 1833, corroborated 

 by the evidence of my father, who visited it, and made a personal 



Ancients discovered," p. 113; and Sir R.C . Hoare's Ancient Wilts, i. 250. 

 ii. 113. 



