542 
of a like nature, though of a different plan, to the burial 
mounds. It would be well if some of them could be carefully 
dug round and under, and but for continued occupation in 
barrow-digging, I should have done this some time ago. In 
many cases a single standing stone is the last relic of a circle 
of such. I know of one in Northumberland now standing 
alone, but which I remember as forming part of a circle of 
six similar ones, its fellows having gone to make gate-posts 
and walls. 
I think I have now exhausted all the topics connected 
with our British forefathers, and I fear exhausted your 
patience, too. I have endeavoured to be as brief as possible, 
consistently with not passing by anything which might tend 
to throw light upon their history. I have adhered strictly 
to observed facts, and laid those before you as accurately as 
I am able, and I now leave you to raise upon them whatever 
theories your imagination prompts ; and in doing this I give 
you a most pleasant task, for what is more delightful than to 
theorize ? The worst is, that the tree is so prolific, and that, 
too often, its fruit is rotten before it is ripe. 
In conclusion, may I urge upon you all, and ask you to 
press upon those with whom you may converse upon this 
enchanting theme, the necessity to store up and to record all 
facts which come under your observation. Had the numerous 
burials and other discoveries which have occurred during the 
last fifty years been accurately recorded, we should have had 
such a mass of evidence that I think we might have arrived 
at very accurate conclusions upon many of the questions 
connected with the pre-Roman people, about which, at 
present, we know but little. And should any of you be so 
fortunate as to become possessed of anything belonging to 
these ancient people, such as their weapons, implements, or 
ornaments, you will do well to present them to your excellent 
Museum. 
