NOTES—ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. 69
assured by an expert that the bones are those of a horse. Similar pits are by no
means uncommon, and have been noticed in several parts of the county.
Proposed Purchase of Mr. Joslin's Museum of Romano-British
Antiquities.—We are very glad to see that an energetic effort is now being made
to acquire Mr. Joslin's collections for the Colchester Museum. In our reports
of visits of the Club to Colchester, we have repeatedly advocated the purchase of
the museum—in the opinion of experts it is one of great local value, and added
to the existing museum, would put Colchester in the front rank of those towns
possessing collections illustrating their ancient history. A representative Com-
mittee, headed by the Mayor, and with Dr. Laver and Mr. J. C. Shenstone as
Hon. Secretaries, has been formed ; and promises of very considerable sums
of money have already been obtained. On Wednesday, April 12th, a most
interesting meeting, convened by the Mayor (Mr. W. Gurney Benham, who
has shown in this matter a just appreciation of the duties of his high office
which should be an example to other Essex mayors) was held in Colchester for
the inspection of the collection, which was largely attended by many eminent
archaeologists and others taking an interest in such matters. In the programme
of the meeting it was stated that "Many antiquarians are familiar with Mr. Geo.
Joslin's exceptionally valuable and interesting collection of Romano-British
Antiquities at Colchester. This collection, which has been gradually brought
together during the last quarter of a century by Mr. Joslin, is the result of careful
and costly research, and the Museum includes many objects which are unique
and of great historical interest. They are chiefly finds within about a quarter of
a mile of his residence, and entirely from those in the Colchester district : it is
therefore a Local Museum, illustrating the history of this town, principally
during the Roman occupation. It will be found richest in objects of a sepulchral
character, and from these we may see the various modes the Romans had of
disposing of their dead, and of the importance they attached to the rites of
burial. It may be noticed that many of the exhibits are arranged in groups;
this means that the various vases, lamps, bottles, and so on, in this division were
derived from one burial, thus adding very materially to their value, especially so,
as they are arranged in the same position as found in the tomb or cist, wherever
possible. There are other groups in which this arrangement could not be
followed, as there was no cist, and these were the most frequent."
At the luncheon many excellent speeches were made by the Mayor, Prof.
McKenny Hughes, Mr. John Leighton, F.S.A., Mr. E. A. Fitch, Dr. Laver,
Captain Naylor-Leyland, M.P., and others, strongly advocating the acquirement
of the Museum, and letters to the same purpose were read from the Lord Mayor
of London, Mr. Alma Tadema, R.A., Professor Meldola, F.R.S., Mr. George
Payne, F.S.A., Rev. E. L. Cutts, and many others. Dr. Laver, Mr. E. A. Fitch,
Mr. Shenstone, Mr. W. Cole, and many other members of the Club were present
at the meeting, and we sincerely hope that all our members will aid the efforts of
the committee. To allow such a collection, so fully illustrative of a most interest-
ing period of our local and national history, to go to America would simply be a
lasting disgrace to Essex.—Ed.
Death of Mr. W. R. Sackett.—We notice with regret the announcement of
the death of Mr. Walter Randall Sackett, eldest son of Mr. W. H. Sackett, of
Wingfield House, Orsett, which occurred on April 12th at Vancouver, British
Columbia, where he had been living since the autumn of 1891. Mr. Sackett,