108 
JOUlllSrAL OF TUE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
Passing on to the Eoman stage of Stoicism, the characters and 
writings of Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius pass under 
review. 
In glancing at the merits of Stoicism, the personal and practical 
character of the system is worthy of appreciation. It directed a 
man's thoughts to self-culture rather than to anxious desire for 
outward circumstances, as the source of joy and dignity. Its 
intense moral earnestness was of peculiar value in the age in which 
it flourished. 
The faults of Stoicism are numerous. 
In the first place its ideal was very faulty — it contemplated the 
crushing out of one part of our nature, and hence could only pre- 
sent as its ideal an imperfect humanity. But even this imperfect 
ideal it off'ered no help to reach : refusing to recognize human 
weakness and insufficiency, it failed to help men. 
The resemblances of the Ethics of Stoicism to those of Christi- 
anity were then stated and discussed. 
ON THE EXPLOEATION OF THE SETTLE CAYES, 
YOEKSHIRE. 
ABSTRACT OF MR. W. MORRISOn's PAPER. 
(Read on the 27th of October.) 
Many of the caves in the limestone district of Graven, in the "West 
Riding, have been from time to time partially examined, with a 
view to determine whether they have been used as habitations. 
The one which has hitherto produced the greatest number and 
variety of remains is the Yictoria Cave, situated two miles east of 
Settle, at an elevation of 1460 feet above the sea level. It was 
discovered by Mr. Jackson, of Settle, who is at present in charge 
of the excavation, in 1839, on the anniversa.y of the Queen's 
accession, whence its name. In the spring of 1870 a committee 
was formed for the purpose of carrying out the exploration 
systematically, Mr. Boyd Dawkins having the general direction of 
the work, and Mr. Jackson being the superintendent. "Work was 
commenced on March 21st, by driving a gallery into the cave at a 
point a few yards south of the old entrance, when a small amphi- 
