Risingham does not appear to have been defended in this way. In company with the owner of the property, who had a little before thorough-drained the ground bordering on the south and east sides of the camp, I sought in vain for any traces of a fosse. The ruins of the interior would yield a rich harvest to the careful explorer. Recent excavations have revealed some chambers of great interest; but, with the exception of those near the south-east corner, they have been removed as soon as displayed. Some of the buildings were evident restorations of prior structures: a circumstance which confirms the conclusion deduced from other considerations, that the station was long occupied by the Romans. After being deserted, a portion of its north rampart has been carried away by the river. Until recently, the remains of the bridge by which Watling-street crossed the Rede, on the west side of the station, were distinctly visible. The soil which covers the camp is peculiarly rich, being replete with animal matter. Many important antiquarian treasures have been procured from this spot. The large slab, six feet long, which forms the ground-work of the initial letter at the beginning of this part, was found among the ruins of the south gateway. The inscription mentions the restoration of the gate with the walls of the station (PORTAM CUM MURIS VETUSTATE DILAPSIS). The upper part, which is lost, probably contained the name of Severus; in what remains, some of the titles of Caracalla appear. Geta’s name seems to have been erased. The stone is now at Newcastle. Another very fine slab found at this station, is at Cambridge. Some of the altars discovered here will be described in the last part. Horsley is naturally surprised that HABITANCUM is not named in the Antonine Itinerary. One conjecture in which he indulges, in order to account for this is, ‘that the station might be neglected before the reign of Caracalla,’ which is proved to be unfounded by the slab already referred to, and by the discovery last year of some large fragments of inscriptions, mentioning that emperor by his title Adiabenicus. A second supposition which he entertains may be the correct one. He says— Possibly Risingham might be looked on as too near to Rochester, to make it another mansion in this route. And though two places are sometimes set down in the same iter, which are at no greater distance, yet other circumstances might render this proper at one place, and not so at another. It is not improbable that the two stations may have been under one command. The exposed situation of BREMENIUM would render it highly desirable that the _exploratores_, after having battled for a season with the elements and the Caledonians, should be allowed a period of comparative relief in some more sheltered spot, such as HABITANCUM. [Sidenote: CORSTOPITUM.]