1825.

18. A Reply to the Second Postscript in the Supplement to Paleo-Romaica. By W. G. Broughton, M. A. Curate of Hartley Wespall in Hampshire. 8vo. pp. 84. ***

WE have had occasion before to show from Cicero, that Greek and Latin were languages used indifferently in the Roman empire; and that, according to Cicero, the Greek was more understood than the Latin in the greater part of that extensive dominion. It is admitted by Beausobre and L'Enfant, and we believe the Bishop of St. David's, that there were Latin versions of the New Testament older than any one of the existing Greek manuscripts. In our judgment the palpable Hellenisms of both versions sufficiently show the language of the original; nor are we alarmed at the use of Greek words in a sense not to be found in other authors (see pp. 8, 9), because we are sure that no man ever did live, or will live, who is capable of understanding the full meaning of numerous, Greek words. The style of the New Testament, whatever may be, the language, is evidently not Roman., It is, as Mr. Broughton observes (p.37), "Greek in the main, but tinged with Hebrew idioms." As to the remark, in p. 38, of St. Mark's using a Latin word in Greek characters, we have inscriptions existing where Greek is written in Latin characters, and vice versd. In short, as Antiquaries we affirm, that the author of Palæo-Romaica knows little or nothing of the use of the Greek and Latin languages in the ages to which his enquiry appertains. See a preceding Review, vol. xc. i. 531. P. It is deeply to be regretted that sound and able writers, like Mr. Broughton and others, should be obliged to waste their efforts in proving that white could never have

61

been black. But people will maintain things in print, which if they attempted in subjects relating to private life, would draw upon them imputations of insanity.

19. Testimonies in favour of Salt as a Manure, and a Condiment for Horse, Cow, and Sheep, with Testimonies of its vast Importance in the Arts, &c. By the Rev. B. Dacre, A.L.S. 8vo. pp. 288.

ACCORDING to Kirwan, in his Essay on Manure, the benefit of dung: in vegetation arises from its being soluble carbone, which, to have that property, must pass through the laboratory of an animal stomach. Dung we believe to be of universal benefit in every species of soil, but do not think that this can be said of any other manure whatever. Salt may be of eminent utility in some soils, especially with regard to grass lands, for it may give a flavour to the vegetation highly acceptable to cattle. To the testimo nies adduced by Mr. Dacre, we add the following. In Mr. Hughes's Travels in Albania (ii. 353), is_this_passage, "In our ramble [at Paxo] we observed some sheep and goats on the sea shore sipping the salt water.. We were informed that the few cows which are kept in this island do the same, and that the milk of these animals is particularly good." We there fore think that salt may be a valuable manure for meadows. Mr. Dacre says, p. 80, that salt will prevent the rot in sheep. We have a marshy meadow upon which we have fed sheep without damage, by the following prepara tory medicine. A tea-spoonful of turpentine, and a table-spoonful of common salt, given to each sheep at the time of turning in, and continued for' three weeks afterwards. It certainly did prevent rot.

manures

We consider Mr. Dacre to have. compiled a very useful book for agriculturists, because artificial n can never be raised in sufficient quantities, and every accession is of value. Concerning salt, Mr. Dacre has collected all the evidences existing.

stances, consequent upon the dispersion. -Read May 19th, 1824.

II. The second Paper read, was commonicated by the Rev. G. S. Faber, F. R.S. L." Respecting the Theology and the Origin of the Mexicans." Mr. Faber commences his observations with Some arguments in defence of the veracity of the Eccles as ical Writers of Spain, to whom we are indebted for the only existing records of this extinct theology. After adducing several proofs from the Mexican traditions, as narrated by them, be concludes his reasons for believing in the honesty of those writers, by staring that they themselves did not consider the traditions to have been handed down from the early ages, but as the remains of a supposed introduction of Christianity, previous to the known discovery of America.

From the similarity, in history and in attributes, of the Gods of Mexico to those of the Old World, and from the mutual resemblance of their rites, Mr. Faber infers, that the Eastern and Western Pagan Theulogies both sprang from the same source. The same inference he draws from the existence of various pyramidal edifices, called Teocallis (House of God), erected by the tribes which peopled Mexico, in imitation of that raised by the descendants of Noah, in the Plain of Shinar, to represent at once the Mount of Paradise, and the peak upon which the ark rested after the Deluge. These edifices are all immediately connected with holy lakes; which Mr. Faber regards as consecrated symbols of the Deluge, and the prototypes of which existed in the Old World. The paper concludes with various additional arguments, drawn from the traditions of the Mexicans, all tending to corroborate the opinion, that the ancestors of that nation were emigrants from Asia,probably a Japhetic people, under the government of an "Indo-Scythic, or Cuthie race of priests and nobles.' Read June 2nd, June 16th, and November 27th, 1824. **

III. The third Paper was "On the Introduction of Greek Literature into England, after the dark ages." By P. F. Tyler, Esq. Sec. R. S. E. and Hon. Assoc. R.S. L. Greek learning was revived in Italy, by Petrarch and Boccacio, about the middle, but more effectually under Chrysoloras, towards the close of the fourteenth century. The honour of its revival in this country, which did not take place until nearly the end of the succeeding century, is divided among several learned individuals; of whom, the most eminent are Linacre, Grogyn, Latimer, Lilye, Tunstal, Pace, Colet,

03

and Sir Thomas More. The present communication is chiefly devoted to a detail of the life, studies, and personal character, of the first of these scholars; whose master was the famous Politian, and who numbered among his pupils, Erasmus and Sir Thomas More.

Mr. Tytler has extracted testimonies to Linacre's taste and learning from Buchanan and Erasmus, and added a list of his works. Linacre died in 1524. -Read December 1st, 1824.

IV. This Paper was entitled " Observations, elucidatory and emendatory, on the Epistle of Horace to Torquatus." By Granville Penn, Esq. F. R. S. L. Mr. Penn explains or corrects four different passages in this little poem, and for each change and explanation suggested by him, he gives his arguments at length. -Read December 15th, 1824.

V. Another Paper, by the same writer, on the Ode of Horace, "Persicos odi, Puer, apparatus," &c. to which Mr. Penn gives the name of "Carmen Brundusinum" The appropriateness of this title he defends, by endeavouring to prove, from internal evidence, that this Ode was composed upon occasion of the festivities which took place at Brundasium, in the year of Rome 714, upon the ratification of the treaty between Octavius and Antony; and that the "Persici Apparatus'

" and "Simplex Myrtus,"

contrasted by the poet, are descriptive of the respective entertainments given by the Triumvirs; that of Octavius being distinguished, according to the Roman usages, by a martial simplicity, and that of Antony by the assumption of Oriental luxury and ostentation. -Read January 5th, 1825.

VI. The sixth Paper was communicated by the Rev. H. J. Todd, Royal Associate R. S. L. It contained an account of a manuscript belonging to the Dean and Chapter of York Cathedral, entitled, "A Collection of Passages of State under Queen Elizabeth and King James." No writer's name is prefixed; but, throughout, it is apparent, that the author of this manuscript is Sir John Harington. Mr. Todd's paper consists chiefly of quotations, viz. 1st. An analysis of the vol. by a later hand. 2d. A letter from the work itself, written by King James I. to Sir James Harington, in return for the present of his transla tion of Ariosto. 3d. A defence of Queen Elizabeth's reputation for chastity. 4th. A character of Lady Arabella Stuart. 5th. An apology for Queen Elizabeth's conduct towards the Queen of Scots. 6th. A statement of the imprisonment of the Author's father. 7th. An account of the zealous attachment of all parties

to

head to the inferior surface of the calcaneum was five feet, and seven tenths of an inch, and the principal dimensions of several parts correspond with those which are usually considered as giving rise to the utmost perfection of the female form in the European race; thus these dimensions are precisely those as signed by Camper and Winkelman to that celebrated statue the Medicean Venus; and no trait of Ethiopian cha-, racter was discernible in the form of the cranium; all which, Dr. Granville ob. served, supports Cuvier's opinion respecting the Circassian origin of the Egyptians.

Dr. Granville then proceeded to a brief summary of the present state of qur information respecting Egyptian Mummies, attributing its scantiness and imperfection to the rarity of perfect specimens, nearly all the mummies hitherto described presenting little else than imperfect skeletons, sometimes covered by the dry skin, enveloped in bandages.

In proceeding to examine and dissect the present specimen, which was effected in the presence of several medical and scientific friends of the author, the integuments and muscles of the abdomen were first removed, and the contents of that cavity carefully inspected: they consisted of a portion of the stomach, adhering to the diaphragm; the spleen, attached to the super-renal capsule of the left kidney; and the left kidney itself with the ureter descending into the bladder, which, with the uterus and its appendages were observed in situ, the latter exhibiting marks of disease. Fragments only of the intestinal canal were discoverable, and there were a few lumps of resin, and of a mixture of clay and bitumen, and a few pieces of myrrh. The right kidney, the liver, and the minor glands were missing; but the gallbladder was detected among the loose fragments of membranes and other soft parts, together with remains of its own ducts. The soft parts of the pelvis were then particularly examined, and the perfect condition of the muscles, membranes, and ligaments, particularly noted. The cavity of the thorax was next examined, by detaching the diaphragm, to which part of the pericardium adbered; and the heart in a very contracted state was afterwards found suspended by its vessels and attached to the lungs, which adhered to the ribs.

Upon the examination of the cranium, it was evident that the brain had been removed through the nostrils, from the lacerated condition of the inner nasal bones; the eyes appeared not to have GENT. MAG. July, 1825.

been disturbed, the tongue was entire, and the teeth were white and perfect.

Dr. Granville next proceeded to draw, some conclusions as to the age at which this mummied female died, and respect ing the disease which destroyed her. The. bones of the ilium exhibit that peculiar thinness of their osseous plates, which, shew the individual to have exceeded her fortieth year, and to have borne children; and as there are no charac-, ters of age or of decrepitude about the skeleton, the author considers her to have been about fifty. The ovarium and broad ligament of the right side were. enveloped in a mass of diseased structure, while the fallopian tube of the same side was sound, but the uterus itself was larger than natural, and the remains of a sac were found connected, with the leit ovarium, all which, in conjunction with the appearance of the abdominal integuments, leave no doubt of ovarian dropsy having been the disease under which the individual suffered.Judging from the excavation out of which the mummy was taken, and according to the best authorities of the present day, on Egyptian Antiquities, the period at which the woman lived must have been about three thousand years ago.

The auther concludes this communication with some observations respecting the method of embalming practised by the ancient Egyptians, and the nature of the substances employed in the process; from the details of which, in conjunction with the results of his own researches and experiments, as well synthetical as analytical, he draws the conclusions following:

That the abdominal viscera were more or less perfectly abstracted, either through an incision on one side of the abdomen, or, as in the present mummy, through the anus. The thoracic cavity

was not disturbed. That the contents of the cranium were removed, sometimes through the nostrils, and in others through one of the orbits. The body was then probably covered with quick lime to facilitate the removal of the cuticle, the scalp and nails being however. left untouched; after which it was im mersed in a melted mixture of bees'-, wax, resin, and bitumen, until thoroughly penetrated; and, ultimately, subjected to a tanning liquor, probably made with the saline water of the neighbouring natron lakes; the bandages were then applied, with the occasional interposition of melted resɛn, or wax and resin, the lumps of resin, myrrh, &c. baving been previously placed in the abdomen.