A notice will be found in No. 126 of the _Journal_ referring to the
discovery, at Brigg in Lincolnshire, during the excavations for a new
gasholder, of a curious and ancient boat cut out of a solid piece
of oak, and measuring forty-eight feet in length, fifty-two inches
in width, and thirty-three inches in depth. The vessel is in a fine
state of preservation, and it is to be hoped that proper means will
be provided by the authorities for preserving this interesting relic.
The last news that we have of it, however, is that it has ‘got into
Chancery.’ A curious dispute seems to have arisen as to the ownership
of this relic; and probably, when the case comes to be argued before
the Court, some interesting legal points will be raised by the
gentlemen of the ‘long robe’ as to the main question at issue. Whatever
may be the result, one thing is certain, that so rare a prehistoric
relic as this should be preserved to the nation as public property, on
the spot, or in the town near to where it was found, as an object of
peculiar local interest. It would be a mistake to remove it to London,
as has been suggested; but to exhibit it for money is neither fair
nor proper, and the public will probably watch the proceedings before
the High Court of Chancery with interest. Boats found buried in the
earth and dating from remote antiquity are very rare in this country,
although several have been discovered of late years in Norway and
Denmark, they having been the tomb or grave of the original commander,
one of the brave and lawless vikings who roamed the seas and ravaged
the neighbouring coasts of Europe in search of conquest and plunder,
and when at last his restless life had closed, made his beloved ship at
once his monument and sepulchre.