THE PRESERVATION OF ANCIENT MONUMENTS.
(TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—It was the intention of the Legislature, in passing the Act introduced by Sir John Lubbock in 1882, called " The Ancient Monuments Protection Act," that all monuments tabulated under the Act should be preserved from further injury, and restored, if necessary, in accordance with the original plan. Complaints have been made from time to time by antiquarians as to the practical working of the Act, and that sufficient care is not always exercised in entrusting such works to properly qualified men. Complaints are not confined to any part of the United Kingdom.
One of the most recent cases of this kind came under the notice of the Royal Society of Antiquaries, Ireland, during their visit in September last to County Donegal. In the district of Malinmore and Glencolumkill, in that county, there is the second finest collection of ancient Pagan monu- ments in the United Kingdom, being only surpassed by that of Canowmore, in County Sligo. There are more than twenty cromleachs, besides pillar-stones, souterraines, and giants' graves, together with ancient incised crosses dating from the earliest Christian period. These were all vested in the Govern-
ment by the proprietors of the soil under the Act of 1882'. Amongst them is a monument of rare type called " Cloch- an-More."
This monument was very much dilapidated, great quantities of stones that formerly belonged to it lying scattered about in all directions. The Board of Works, who are supposed to carry out the provisions of the Act in Ireland, some time ago set about to restore it, and at the time our Society visited it the work had been completed. As far as could be ascertained, the Inspector of the Board had not personally visited the place, the restoration having been entrusted to a local stone- mason, with the result which came under our notice. The following brief description will give a general idea of the structure. There are two concentric circles of standing stones, some ten or twelve feet apart, the diameter of the interior one being some thirtyfeet. On the eastern side is an entrance, where a trilithon formerly stood, but the stones which formed it now lie across the opening. At the western side of the interior circle, or rather ellipse, there are two trilithons in situ leading to covered chambers. Two of the stones of the interior circle are carved with those curious spirals, volutes, &c., only found on our oldest monuments, as at New Grange and Dowth. One other monument in Ireland has trilithons, and one in England,—viz., Stonehenge. Previous to the so-called restoration, an enormous quantity of small stones lay scattered about both inside and outside the circles : these probably formed a cairn or monumental heap, the base of which may still be observed at the western end.
The instincts of the mason led him to build a wall with the small stones, as the best mode of utilising them. It was built between the two circles some ten or twelve feet in thickness, filling up the entire space between, and also rising above the circles, the inside face of the interior and the outside face of the exterior circle being only now recognisable. The plan of this ancient and unique monument has in consequence been altered, and it now looks like a stone fort or castle, instead of a sepulchral structure, which it undoubtedly was. Perhaps the publicity given to this may lead to the removal of the small stones from the circles to their proper place, leaving the latter entirely clear.—I am, Sir, &c., SEATON F. MILLIGAN, Hon. Sec. for Ulster Royal Society of Antiquaries (Ireland).
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