their talents into this channel, have been of the greatest service, in deciding abstruse historical disputes, and ascertaining facts which the lapse of ages has rendered dubious and uncertain. The numerous discoveries of coins, medals, &c. which have taken place during the last century, have materially facilitated the researches of the antiquary, and settled many uncertaia chronological and historical questions: and it is impassible to say how far future discoveries might simplify and elucidate the obscure transactions of distant periods, if the object, by which many of those have been guided who have devoted themselves to this study, were still kept in sight. But there is great reason to apprehend that these useful and rational views are seldom entertained, and that the study of antiquity, once confined to an intelligent few, has, by becoming general, lost its proper object and dwindled into a ridiculous and trifling amusement. The mania for exploring ruins and ascertaining Romon roads for decyphering antient inscriptions, and collecting rare and expensive coins, is not, unfortunately, in the present day confined to the well-informed and intelligent, but rages in the bosom of many who have little information to assist them, and little judgment to guide them. It is considered to be an employment which is level to all capacities, and consistent with all professions; and there is scarcely a village, however small, that cannot, in addition to its parish-clerk, its barber, and its blacksmith, boast its native antiquary. But the student in antiquity has more obstacles -to surmount and more difficulties to encounter than is generally imagined. He should be a patient, industrious, and learned character, capable of bringing to his aid, in difficult cases, a large body of information, and of considering his subject in all its bearings and tendencies. For this purpose, an intimate acquaintance with the classics, and a very extensive and correct knowledge of history and chronology, are indispensibly necessary, nor is a tolerable degree of information on all subjects of general literature of less importance. He should be able to apply his mind for days and weeks together to the same dry and uninteresting subject; and he ought not to hesi tate to undergo any exertion either corporeal or mental that is likely, in the least degree, to facilitate his studies. These are qualifications not generally possessed, and not easily acquired; and if they were universally considered essential to the antiquarian, his disorder would soon cease to be infectious. But it is argued by some, and perhaps justly, that in all circumstances and in every case, an inordinate and excessive attachment to the study of antiquity may be considered rather as originating in a disordered mind, than arising from a rational conviction of its utility; and they affirm that it is scarcely possible to prevent this pursuit, wherever it is indulged, from tak ing full possession of the mind, to the utter exclusion of all others. This indeed cannot be denied, and it is to be regretted, that its limits are seldom prescribed, and that consequently it often leads its admirers into extravagance and folly. When a spectator 's got the jaundice, The antiquarian may be compared to a blind man, groping his way in the dark. He is wandering through a labyrinth of uncertainty, and in his most difficult investigations has scarcely any thing to rest his theory upon. Sometimes he forms a very plausible hypothesis, and fancies he is building upon a solid and durable basis, where he is only raising an edifice on his own, imagination. A happy idea sometimes strikes him, and he unconsciously forces every thing into a proof of its correctness; he suffers not a doubt to dwell upon his mind, and not a shadow of uncertainty to perplex him; but unexpectedly the irresistible light of truth dawns upon his eyes, and, he is reluctantly compelled to acknowledge that he was mistaken. One of the most laughable occurrences of this nature which I recollect to have met with is Oldbuck's explanation of the inscription upon an ancient sacrificing vessel, found at the Kaim of Kinprunes. "A. D. L. L. "Agricola Dicavit Libens Lubens," says Oldbuck, with characteristic positivity. "Is not here the Decuman gate? And there, but for the ra- › vage of the horrid plough, as a learned friend calls it, would be the Prætorian gate. On the left hand you may see some slight vestiges of the portàs sinistra, and, on the right, one side of the porta dextra well nigh entire. Here, then, let us take our stand, on this tumulus, exhibiting the foundation of ruined buildings-the central point-the Prætorium, doubtless, of the camp. From this place, now scarce to be distinguished, but by its slight elevation, and its greener turf, from the rest of the fortification, we may suppose Agricola to have looked forth on the immense army of Caledonians, occupying the declivities of you opposite hill, the infantry rising rank over rank as the form of ground displayed their array to its utmost advantage; the cavalry and covinarii, by which I understand the charioteers, scouring the more level space below: See, then, level, see See that huge battle moving, from the mountains, Their gilt coats shining like dragon scales;—their march Like a rough tumbling storm.-See them, and view them, And then see Rome no more! "Yes, my dear friend, from this instance it is probable,-nay, it is nearly certain, that Julius Agricola beheld what our Beaumont has so admirably described!-From this very Prætorium." - "A voice from behind interrupted his ecstatic description. Prætorian here, Prætorian there, I mind the bigging o't.' "The devil you do.' Why, you old fool, it was here before you were born, and will be after you are hanged, man!" "Hanged or drowned, here or awa, dead or alive, I mine the bigging o't." 66 "You-you-" said the antiquary, stammering between confusion and anger, "you strolling vagabond, what the devil do you know about it ?” Why I ken this anent it, Monkbarns, and what profit have I for telling ye a lie.—I just ken this about it, that about twenty years syne, I, and a whin hallenshakers like mysel, and the mason-lads that built the lang 3 A VOL. II. dyke that gaes down the loaning, and twa or three herds may be, just set to wark, and built this bit thing here that ca' the-the-Prætorian, and a' just for a bield at auld Aiken Drum's bridal, and a bit blithe gae down we had in't, some sair rainy weather. Mair by token, Monkbarns; if ye howk up the bourock, as ye seem to have begun, ye'll find, if ye have not found it already, a stane that ane o' the mason callants cut a ladle on to have a bourd at the bridegroom, and he put four letters on't, that's A. D. L. L.— Aiken Drum's Lang Ladle-for Aiken was ane o' the kale-suppers o' Fife." "This," thought Oldbuck's companion, "is a famous counterpart to the story of Keep on this side; "He then ventured to steal a glance at our antiquary, but quickly withdrew it in sheer compassion. For; gentle reader, if thou hast ever beheld the visage of a damsel of sixteen, whose romance of true love has been blown up by an untimely discovery, or of a child of ten years, whose castle of cards has been blown down by a malicious companion, I can safely aver to you, that Jonathan Oldbuck of Monkbarns looked neither more wise nor less disconcerted."-THE ANTIQUARY, vol. i. Chap. iv. The story of "Keep on this side," alluded to in the above quotation, may be found in the Ann. Reg. 1772. vol. xiv. p. 9. A stone was said to have been discovered at L-n, a village in Northumberland, with the following curious inscription upon it : K. EE P. O. N. T H. I SS I. D. E These characters were a complete stumbling-block to the antiquarians who met with it, though each attempted to explain them in his own peculiar way. After considerable exertion they pronounced the following to be their respective opinions. 1. Clemens Pontifex hic jacet, sanctus servus Dei :-the second letter being evidently an L, and the F. D. E a transposition of DEI, from the ignorance of the sculptor. A stone erected to the memory of Clement, a dignified brother of the convent; EE being changed into LE. 2. K, often found in inscriptions for C, and C for Cœlius. Æ, Edilis, an officer whose business it was to see the roads kept in order. P. O. N. T, pantem. H, Hadriani, who built the wall to prevent the inroads of the Picts, thence called Hadrian's Wall. I SS I, jussu, the former U and the downstroke of the latter being obliterated; D. E, demolivit.-Cœlius aedilis Hadriani jussu pontem demotivit, when, by draining the morass, the bridge became unnecessary. 3. Cæsaris ex edicto per orbem nuntiatur templum hic instauratum sacrum sibi ipsi dicatum esse. An old grey-bearded schoolmaster of the village, when the affair became public, recollected that this inscription was neither more nor less than "Keep on this side;" an instance of the benevolence of some good-hearted cottager to warn the traveller of his danger, and prevent him from riding into the quagmire. Unfortunately, occurrences of this nature have been so common, as to have generally subjected the plodding harmless antiquary to the laugh of ridicule and the lash of satire. There is a very witty Tale" in Cawthorns poems on the subject. σε "Some antiquarians, grave and loyal, Last winter, on a Thursday night, were Some minor subjects being discussed, one of the party "From a purse of satin, Wrapp'd in a leaf of monkish Latin, To ev'ry corner of the brass They clapp'd a microscopic glass; And view'd in raptures o'er and o'er The ruins of the learned ore. The members angrily dispute on the subject, one affirming it to be a Ro man, another a Grecian, a third a Tyrian, and a fourth an Egyptian coin. "Bnt ah! what arts by fate are tried To vex and humble human pride !" The waiter was appealed to, to settle the dispute : “And tho' antiques he had no skil! in, · He knew a sixpence from a shilling ; [To be concluded in our next.] 364 Mathematical Repository, SOLUTIONS TO THE QUERIES. 1. By Mr. John Baines. Solve the equation 16x++16x3 +24x2+10x=50, by quadratics only. 59 = By division and transposition (16x4+24x2+9) +4x. (4x2+3)= +2x, or (4x2+3)2 +4π (4x2+3)=59+2x, a quadratic, which being solved gives (4x2+3)+2x= √/4x2+2x+59, or (4x2+2x) +3 = √4x2+2x+59; and squaring both sides and transposing, (4x2+2x)2+ 5 (4x2+2x) == 50, a quadratic which gives, when solved, 4x+2x=5, or-10; hence x2+ From which we obtain - , or +√39-1 10 = the four roots of the equation re 4 quired. 2. By the same Gentleman. The sum of n terms of the series 1, 2, 5, 9, 15, 25, 45, &c. is 2.2"+n? Required the proof. The given series is the sum of the two series 1+1+3+5+7+ &c. and 1+2+4+8+&c. The sum of the first to n terms is n2 + 1, and of the second 2. 221; hence the sum of both, or 1+ 2+ 5 + 9 + 15 + &c. is 2. 2"-1+n2+1 2.24n2. as was to be proved. = = NEW MATHEMATICAL QUESTIONS. 4. By Mr. W. Godward, Sheffield. = 1222, to find the least values of x, y, and z, in whole 2. By Mr. John Gillott. I was born in the year when the cycle of the sun was 16, cycle of the moon 14, and the Roman Indiction 2. Required my age this present year 1818. |