shoulders, and the attitude elegant. It is engraved in the annexed plate (fig. 1). Au altar, or pedestal, (height 3 feet 10 inches, width 2 feet 6 inches) fig. 2. of hexagonal form, with a plinth with mouldings of two fillets, and an ogee. The cornice has three fillets, two hollows, and a plat-band. The top of the design takes a large nollow uniting with a torus; and on that side where the inscription is presented, the torus is enriched with scrawls and flowers. The following is the inscription: D. M. CL. MARTN NAE. AN. XI ANENCLE TVS PROVINC. CONIVGI PIENTISSIME This was read by Mr. Gough as follows: Diis Manibus ; Claudia Martina; Annorum xi, Anencletus Provincialis Conjugi Pientissimæ hoc Sepulchrum, or hanc Statuam, erexit. By the term Provinciales, as appears from various inscriptions in Grævius, is to be understood men raised in the province where the Romans were stationed.* At the same time and place, the head of a female, large as life: the upper portion is destroyed. (fig. 3.)† In December, 1808, a coin of the emperor Titus Vespasian was found in digging in Leadenhall-street. In 1818, in digging the foundations for the New Post-office, in St. Martin's-le-Grand, a Roman tile (engraved in the annexed plate, fig. 4,) and coin was discovered; and in 1826, various sepulchral remains were discovered in excavating the site of the New Hall of Christ's Hospital; they consisted of burnt bones, vases, a few coins, and broken pottery. During the progress of making the foundations for the piers of new London-bridge, numerous curiosities have been discovered. In the early part of 1825, a beautiful little statue, supposed to represent Harpocrates, was found in digging the southern abutment foundation. It is of silver, about three inches high, the attitude elegant; around it is a neat chain of gold attached to a ring, and near its feet are apparently the figures of a dog, tortoise, and a bird: the whole is executed in a chaste and finished manner. It came into the possession of Messrs. Rundell and Bridge, goldsmiths, of Ludgate-hill, who presented it to the British Museum. It is engraved in the annexed plate. (fig. 6.) • Brayley's London, i. 39 Gent. Mag. vol. ixavi. p 2.—782 In the month of July, 1827, a figure of a horse in lead, and numerous Roman brass and silver coins were discovered; among them was one with the inscription PLON, which antiquaries read Pecunia Londini. At the same time and place, various antiques of a later age were discovered; they principally consisted of crucifixes,* coins of Elizabeth, Richards I. and II., swords, &c. Some have been presented to the civic museum forming in Guildhall. Fig. 5. in the plate before referred to, is a figure of Diana found beneath St. Paul's by Dr. Woodward.† A Roman specula, or watch-tower, is stated to have stood without the walls, beyond Cripplegate, near to the street called Barbican. Stow says on the north side thereof. We will now notice the most curious relic of the Roman era in the metropolis, This ancient monument, which is now reduced to a fragment, encased in free-stone, stands against the south wall of St. Swithin's church, in Cannon-street. Antiquaries generally concur in considering this stone as a Roman milliary, or, more properly, as the Milliarum Aureum of Britain, from which the Romans began the admeasurement of their roads as from a centre. This is stated to be confirmed by the exact coincidence which its A curious chapel was erected on this bridge; a notice and engravings of which will appear hereafter. + Noticed at p. 22, ante. 1 Milliarum Aureum fuit columna VOL. I D in capite fori Romani, sub Saturni æde, prope arcum Septimii, in quæ omnes Italiæ viæ incisa finerunt, et a qua ad singulas portas mensuræ regionum currerunt.-Plin. lib. iii. c. 5. distance bears with the neighbouring stations mentioned in Antonine's Itinerary;' yet Sir Christopher Wren was of opinion, that, 'by reason of its large foundation, it was rather some more considerable monument in the Forum; for, in the adjoining ground to the south, upon digging for cellars after the great fire, were discovered some tessellated pavements, and other extensive remains of Roman workmanship and buildings." "* The earliest known record relating to it is at the end of a fayre written Gospell booke given to Christes Church in Canterburie, by Ethelstane, King of the West Saxons,' where a parcel of land belonging to that church is described to ly neare unto London Stone. It is again noticed in a record of a fire, which, in the first of King Stephen, 1135, 'began in the house of one Ailwarde, neare unto London Stone.'t 6 London Stone is also noticed by Holinshed, who, in his acconnt of the insurrection headed by Jack Cade, says, that when that rebellious chieftain had forced his way into the city, he struck his sword upon the Stone, and exclaimed, Now is Mortimer Lord of this city; as if, Mr. Pennant remarks on this passage, that had been a customary way of taking possession.' Cade was, probably, not unaware of its emblematic character; and there may have been a popular tradition among the English on the subject, similar to that which the Scots have with respect to the marble chair, on which their kings were crowned. Ni fallat fatum, Scoti quocunque locatum Stow's description of London Stone is as follows: speaking of Wallbrook, he 66 says, on the south side of this high street, neere unto the channell, is pitched upright a great stone, called London Stone, fixed in the ground very deep, fastened with bars of iron, and otherwise so stronglie set, that if cartes do runne against it through negligence, the wheeles be broken, and the stone itselfe unshaken. The cause why this stone was there set, the verie time when, or other memory hereof, is there none; but that the same hath long continued there is manifest, namely, since, or rather before the time of the Conquest.-Some have saide this stone to have beene set as a marke in the middle of the cittie within the walles; but, in truth, it standeth farre nearer unto the river of Thames than to the wall of the city. Some others have aide the same to bee set for the tendering and making of paymentes by debtors to their creditors at their appointed daies and times, till of later time, paymentes were more usually made at the font in Pontes Church, and nowe most commonly at the Royall Exchange. Some againe have imagined the same to bee ✦ Stow's Survay of London, p. 177 Parentalia p. 265. |