Kinly Wenly lis 11-23-38 Preface. THIS Essay has been developed from a Paper originally read to the young men of a Country Debating Society with the object of inciting them to the interesting study of antiquity. Afterwards it was submitted to F. Ross, Esq., F.R.Hist. S., who made valuable suggestions as to its improvement, which have been gratefully adopted. It was subsequently inserted-through the good offices of CORNELIUS WALFORD, Esq., F.S.S.-in the Antiquarian Magazine and Bibliographer, where it took an honourable place. Under the editorial hands of EDWARD WALFORD, Esq., M.A., it received considerable polishing. Several of the literary friends of the Author, whose opinions are highly esteemed, recommended its re-publication in pamphlet form. After duly considering the suggestion, and with some diffidence, the writer now ventures to send it forth to the world further revised and enlarged, and hopes thereby to do good to a cause he has so much at heart. JOHN BATTY. EAST ARDSLEY, NEAR WAKEFIELD, August, 1882, The Scope and Charm of Antiquarian Study. T has often been asked, unthinkingly I consider, "What is the use of bothering your head about the past? What profit will you gain thereby?" such questions being usually followed by the remark, "What concerns us is certainly the present, and possibly the future." To the former of these expressions of a purely utilitarian character, a short but forcible answer may be given. The present is founded on the past, and is inseparably connected with it; neither can it be properly understood nor fully appreciated, and certainly no idea of the progress of civilisation can be arrived at, unless there is an intimate acquaintance with the history of the past. Our present advantages and comparative ease and comfort, social, national, and religious, are the result and outcome of the doings and struggles of our forefathers. Their struggles were in turn the consequence of the wrong done to |