The Eleventh General Meeting. 5 



have proposed anything destructive of such a monument of anti- 

 quity, and I allow at once that many a so-called restoration of 

 Stonehenge might more truly be called a destruction of it. The 

 only restoration however, that we proposed was to raise the trilithon 

 which had fallen in A.D. 1797, the exact postion of which is clearly 

 defined, not only by drawings, but by accurate measurements made 

 at the time it occupied its original position. And as no other 

 fallen stones have such a data as to warrant the accuracy of their 

 position, the restoration must have stopped here. The search under 

 the altar stone might have given us valuable information as to the 

 date of Stonehenge, and have set at rest the mooted question as to 

 whether it was a place of sepulture or of sacrifice. The stone itself 

 need never have been moved, but a tunnel and brick arch could 

 have been carried under it which would have always secured it in 

 its present position, and the earth underneath could have been 



, carefully examined and replaced. There was nothing ruthless in 

 our proposition. The work, if ever undertaken, must necessitate 

 the superintendence of proficient engineers, and the use of efficient 

 instruments. I have thought it right in my own defence, and that 



1 of our Society to go rather fully into this matter, and also in the 

 earnest wish that some day our proposal for the Congress, and for 

 the works referred to may be happily carried through. And now 

 without our Congress, and without our proposed visits to the pit 

 holes, or villages of our ancient people we find ourselves at Salis- 

 bury, with every prospect of a pleasant and instructive meeting. I 

 feel convinced that our reasons for coming here again will gain 

 the unanimous approval by our Society of the unanimous decision 

 of their President and Committee. And in the first place I would 

 refer to the present state of our Cathedral, at all times an object of 

 interest to Archaeologists. The Chapter House Restoration Com- 



, mittee have just finished their labours. Only last month they 

 handed back the Chapter House free of debt, and completely re- 

 stored, to the care of the Dean and Chapter. And I think we 



' may without fear point to the successful accomplishment of our 

 labours as a worthy memorial of that holy and able man, Bishop 

 Denison, who began the work of restoration by restoring so much 



