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REV. PREBENDARY H. E. FOX, M.A., ON 



After this it quickly loses its bold outline and can often only be*' 

 traced by mounds covered with grass, and broken piles of stones. 



Those who are interested in the subject Avill be well repaid by 

 reading Dr. Bruce's book on the Eoman Wall, or a small book, 

 written about 1913 by Miss Jean Terry, entitled " Northumberland : 

 Yesterday and To-day." 



Mr. Peter F. Wood writes : This paper on the Roman Wall is 

 a very interesting one and on a most fascinating subject, but it is 

 all too short ; it is an introduction, and after the manner of the old 

 divines, should be followed by firstly, secondly, thirdly and then 

 ended up with a summary or application ! The lecturer might then 

 follow it up with an addendum in the shape of a paper on the " Wall 

 of Antoninus in Scotland," also of surpassing interest to antiquarians » 



The lecturer (p. 257) puts down the wall as being commenced in 

 A.D. 199 ; but was it all built, at the same time ? Is it not possible 

 that some parts were built much earlier, especially the camps. 

 Taking the Wall Vallum Fosse, etc., as a whole, I think some have 

 thought it may have embraced a period of some 80 years. The 

 Roman rule lasted altogether some 350 years, it is said their final 

 retreat was in a.d. 436. 



Its probable cost is an interesting thing ; probably now the cost 

 would be millions. Major Ruch, R.E., estimated it at over IJ 

 millions sterHng, but that, I think, was many years ago. 



How many men would it take to man it ? I believe this has been 

 estimated at 10,000 or more. The Wall was about 73 miles long 

 with some 23 stations on it, about four miles apart, without counting, 

 mile castles, etc. 



The lecturer puts the southern fosse as usually about 24 feet from 

 the Wall. Many think that the Murus and Vallum were some 130 

 yards to half a mile apart. If this be so, would not 24 feet be too 

 little ? 



We are told that this wall, etc., constitutes one of the greatest 

 works of its kind made by the Romans in their whole Empire- 

 This Wall was taken for the most part straight along, uphill and 

 downhill, and some of the excavations for the ditch were through 

 solid rock. 



The Romans never failed at a difficulty : some of their roads 

 have lasted for two millenniums. They built for eternity. This 



