THE ROMANCE OF EXCAVATION.
LTO THE EDITOR OP THZ "SPECTATOR.1
SIE,—I shared with all who are interested in art and history the pleasure of reading the article in the Spectator of August 25th entitled "The Romance of Excavation," but beg leave to ask for space in your columns to express my surprise at the ignorance of the writer (I will not say " omission ") of the fact that the proposition to excavate Herculaneum was first mooted by Dr. Charles Waldstein, of Cambridge, before the Royal Academy, Sir E. J. Poynter being in the chair. It is a singular fact that the writer's arguments, his discussion of the possibilities of the scheme and its great literary and artistic promise, are almost identical with those contained in the above- mentioned address. I remember that Dr. Waldstein (materially supported and sustained in his enthusiasm by his friend Mr. Leonard Shoobridge, now in Japan) travelled through the various countries of the Continent and to America in order to arouse interest in and evoke support for a scheme which demands such powerful collaboration and extensive financial support. It ought to have been in the remembrance of the writer how lively a controversy was excited in the Press at the time, and that Dr. Waldstein published several letters in the Times on the subject. There is, however, one important omission in the article which, in my estimation, deserves to be specially pointed out. The writer recommends that the requisite sum should be obtained from one or a few million- aires, and has not considered the difficulties which this pro- posal would encounter in Italy. Dr. Waldstein, on the other hand, lays particular stress upon the fact that the search for and discovery of the art and literary treasures on the spot might be a fitting occasion for the harmonious collaboration of all civilised nations in one immense and well-organised work of peace, over which one international and a number of national committees would preside, the collection of objects discovered remaining naturally the property of hospitable
[We publish our correspondent's letter, but we are anxious to avoid any revival of the heated controversy to which be alludes.—En. Spectator.1
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