Genre:

Proceedings, Spoof

Relevant illustrations:

wdct. [10]

Subjects:

Archaeology, Comparative Philology

    A satire on the Society of Antiquaries. In these spoof proceedings, the society discusses the discovery of a bag of marbles in the ruins of a house pulled down in St Martin's Lane. The marbles are pronounced to be 'dyed with woad' and dating from the time of the Druids, Romans, Saxons, or King William IV. An 'angry discussion' suggests that these marbles equal their 'brethren of the Elgin epithet'. Two members argue over whether the 'various figures' on the surface indicate Chinese or Roman provenance. A 'young member', Simon Clearwitz insists that the marbles come from the 'juvenile days' of the proprietor of the house where they were found'.