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THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
important examples of new varieties in illustration of the potter's craft, taken from
the remains of the Roman Pottery Kilns, discovered in 1877, prove that the art
was of considerable importance in the trades and local manufactures of Roman
Colchester. A valuable series of coins, ranging from the reign of Boadicea to
the close of the Roman occupation, may also be noticed."
Mr. Joslin stated that the average depth of the burials from the present surface
of the soil was 2 ft. 6in., and that most of the vessels had been found within a
radius of a quarter of a mile from his house in Beverly Road, Colchester.
At Mr. Joslin's request Dr. Laver described some of the more interesting objects
in the collection, stating that all the museums in England containing Roman
materials included great numbers of exhibits from Colchester, and that if the
Colchester specimens were taken out of the British Museum there would be a very
sorry collection indeed left behind. Mr. Laver explained that Mr. Joslin had been
working very hard for some years—literally, for he used the shovel with great skill
—and he had managed to get together a collection that was unique in its character,
and which was certainly one of the finest private collections in England.
Dr. Laver then indicated various articles of glass, bronze, glazed pottery, and
also the large variety of Roman earthenware pots containing bones, observing that
the ordinary household pots used for various purposes were employed by the
Romans for the burial of their dead. He called attention to the splendid
specimens of Samian (red glazed) pottery made on the Continent—in Spain, Italy,
and Germany—and also to some unsuccessful imitation of it, made in Britain and
elsewhere, which he described as "a miserable failure." Dr. Laver also pointed
out a vase containing the remains of a child, with the ring for rubbing its gums, its
milk feeding bottle, and its terra cotta toy, all of which had been buried together.
Dr. Laver mentioned that the Romans used candles as well as oil lamps for
the purpose of light, and he showed some of their candlesticks, in which the
candles had been allowed to burn down into the sockets and scorch the candle-
stick. Premising that the Romans lived chiefly on spoon food—thick soups, and
so on—Dr. Laver directed attention to a large number of mortaria, in which, with
the aid of little bits of quartz, inserted into the clay of the mortar before baking
in the kiln, the food was ground up into a porridge consistency.
Mr. Joslin was indefatigable in showing the treasures of the museum, and Mrs.
Joslin very kindly entertained the ladies at afternoon tea.
The President moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Joslin for his kindness, con-
gratulating him upon the excellent results of his years of labour in the cause of
local archaeology, and Mr. Chancellor (Mayor of Chelmsford) heartily concurred,
and said that it would be possible to write a history of the domestic life of the
Romans from the materials gathered together in the room. In reply Mr. Joslin
expressed the pleasure always given to him in showing his collections to those who
appreciated and understood them.
[It should be mentioned that Mr. Joslin has printed an excellent catalogue of his
museum, prepared by Mr. J. E. Price, F.S.A. (Colchester, 1888, pp. ii and 100),
which contains descriptions of the various articles, indications of the localities where
they were found, and their probable uses ; also a list of potters'-marks, and other
useful information. We can but reiterate in the strongest way possible, the remarks
made in the Essex Naturalist some time ago (vol. ii, pp. 118, 119) as to the
desirability of securing this collection for Colchester, which we understand is the
owner's wish. The many archaeologists and people of culture in Colchester should
bestir themselves vigorously to prevent the injury and discredit which would result
from this unique local collection finding a home in America—it would be a lasting