Plan of the Lecture, pp. 1-3.
Archæology defined, and the principal kinds of archæological monuments specified, pp. 3-6.
Nature of the Disney Professorship of Archæology explained; its comprehensive character; the advantages of this, pp. 6-13.
Sketch of the existing remains of Antiquity among different nations, beginning with primeval man, pp. 13-21. The Egyptians, pp. 21-26. The Babylonians, pp. 26, 27. The Assyrians, pp. 27, 28. The Persians, pp. 28, 29. The Jews, pp. 29-31. The Phœnicians, pp. 31, 32. The Lycians, pp. 32, 33. The Greeks, pp. 33-41. The Etruscans, p. 41. The Romans, pp. 42-46. The Celts, pp. 43, 44. The Byzantine empire and the European nations during the middle ages, pp. 46-61. Recapitulation, pp. 61, 62.
Qualifications necessary for an archæologist. He must be a collector of facts and objects, and be able to reason on them. He must also be a man of learning. Exact scholarship, an appreciation of art, and a knowledge of natural history often useful or necessary for the archæologist, pp. 63-68.
Pleasures and advantages which result from archæology. It illustrates and is illustrated by ancient literature. Modern art aided by archæology. Archæology deserving of cultivation for its own sake, as an ennobling and delightful pursuit, pp. 68-74.
INTRODUCTORY LECTURE
ON
ARCHÆOLOGY.
Following the example of my distinguished predecessor in the Disney Professorship of Archæology, I open my first Course of Lectures with an introductory Lecture on Archæology itself, so far as the very limited time for preparation has allowed me to attempt one.
I cannot indeed conceal from myself, and still less can I conceal from you, that no introductory Lecture which I could give, even if I were to take my own time in writing it, would bear any comparison with the compositions of his elegant and learned pen. It certainly does not proceed from flattery, and I hope not from an undue partiality of friendship to say of him, that in his power of grasping a complicated subject, of presenting it in a clear light, of illustrating it with varied learning, and of expressing himself in relation thereto in appropriate language, I have rarely seen his equal. To how great a disadvantage then must I necessarily appear, when I have had only six weeks’ time in which to get ready this as well as five other Lectures, and have been moreover compelled to devote a considerable part even of that short time to other and not less important duties. A great unwillingness however that the Academical year should pass over without any Archæological Lectures being delivered by the Disney Professor, has induced me to make the attempt more quickly than would under other circumstances have been desirable or even justifiable; and I venture to hope that when allowance is made for the exigency of the case, I shall find in you, who have honoured this Lecture by your presence, a clement and even an indulgent audience.