15 AUGUST 1903, Page 17

THE PRESERVATION OF ANCIENT EARTHWORKS.

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] Sin,—Allow me, while thanking you for the appreciative notice of our work which appeared in the Spectator of August 1st, to explain that the " advance copy " of the scheme is not exactly as it will appear; there will be a few alterations of matter and in the constitution of the Committee, also in secretarial arrangements. By spreading the scheme broad- cast through the agency of the archaeological societies, we anticipate creating an increased interest in the defensive en- closures which remain from early days to the present time. Destruction is still terribly rampant in the land, but on the other hand we find Town Councils and Corporations beginning to acquire ancient castles and walls of stone or earth, and taking a pride in their possession. Perhaps the works most liable to destruction are hill-forts in quarrying districts and Roman stations in the valleys, the latter so often occupying sites of growing value. I ought to add that our Committee is but an offspring of the Congress of Archaeological Societies, of which Mr. Ralph Nevill, F.S.A., Guildford, is the hon. secretary. I shall be pleased to give information as to our work to any one interested in the subject.—I am, Sir, &c.,

I. CHALKLEY GOULD.

Royal Societies Club, St. Tames's Street, W.