There was found near Toulouse a stall figure in bronze of Belenus or Apollo, the Solar Deity of the Gauis. Belenus, in the Celtic, may be construed blond, or Yellow, the surname of Apollo. In several parts of Greece the word Bela signifies light; and the relations of the Greeks and Gauls are well known. The Celtic language cannot be considered as absolutely lost; numerous traces are to be found of it still in the countries and mountains of various parts of the globe, where civilization has the least modified the language. In Brittany, the Pyrenees, the Jura, in Wales, and the Hebrides, it is still preserved, and the comparisons that have been made with it and the Oriental Languages, regarded at first as primitive, leave these latter only a secondary rank. In the formation of idioms, simple sounds at first designated objects, and words were elliptic phrases. Let us now examine the vestiges of the Buildings which surround the Mosaic of Estavaye; and we shall discover the nature of the edifice containing it. From a plan made with the greatest care by Messrs. Fleurs, the antient proprietors of the soil, we discover, in the first place, the traces of a Portico turned to the East, paved with slabs of white marble, and leading to a large hall or apartment paved with the same, on the side of which is a small room paved with Mosaic. From the Hall we enter a Corridor, dividing two ranges of apartments, three to the East and three to the West. Might not this be a Temple of the Sun built by the Romans, who found the worship established on their arrival in Gaul? The Altar of the God was, perhaps, placed in the large Hall, the Cabinet containing the Mosaic would serve for the commou apartment of the College of Priests, of which the six apartments already described were probably the private rooms or bedchambers. The Vase found at Estavaye, fig. 2, and the Sacrificator's Knife, fig. 3, support this conjecture. This square Vase, which was at first considered of alabaster, is of white marble, 22 inches (French) square, and three inches ten lines thick, in the thickest part, but only one inch in several parts. The four angles and the centre are ornamented with rosettes in a good taste; that in the centre is surrounded by a Gaudron in relief, terminated by a double border. When this Vase was discovered, it was placed as a Benitier, or Holy Water Bason, in the Church of Tourmont. M. De Caylus was of opinion that it was not destined to be carried about, on account of the slightness of the handles. The form and richness of its ornaments appear clearly to indicate that it served in the Temple of Estavaye, to contain the water necessary for the sacrifices. The Knife, of which the blade is 12 inches long and four inches broad, isnot, as Chevalier imagined, a gladius himniscus, nor the culter venatorius of Tacitus (Annal. III. 43, 3), but a kind of Secespita, which, according to Festus, served to slaughter the victims, and was commonly of iron, while the culter excoriatorius of the sacrificators was generally of brass. It remains to be considered at what æra was the Mosaic brought into use, and what is the date of that of Estavaye. We have no proof that the Greeks were acquainted with this species of decoration, which was in such high request amongst the Romans. The first essays only presented lines of various forins made of stones of different colours. In a short time glass, united to the most precious marbles, and to pastes susceptible of the finest polish, and capable of resisting the action of water, enabled the Artists to form complete landscapes, and men and animals, with the different shades that the accidents of light, and the passions, give to objects or animated beings. A Mosaic, described by Pliny, lib. 36, cap. 5, and recently discovered at Tivoli in the house of Adrian, represented a bason of water, and four pigeons on the brink, one stooping to drink; and its shadow reflected is of a most surprising effect. The high finish of the Mosaic of Estavaye, and its nature, incline us, more than the Medals of the Antonines and Tiberius found near the spot, to fix the date of the composition under the reign of one of those Emperors. If the supposition of a Temple of the Sun at Estavaye be rejected, in advancing that very frequently the Zodiacal Zodiacal Signs are not Astrononfical Monuments; we would observe, that this only happens when they are not complete. We find also another proof of the existence of such an edifice in the design of the Mosaic, composed evidently according to the custom of the Romans, to designate in Temples, and on various objects relative to worship, Astronomical Symbols. It would not be too much to imagine that the legions returned from Egypt, the soldiers of the Nile, milites Niliaci, according to the inscription of Moirans, who were employed under Tiberius to construct and repair in Gaul public roads and monuments, might ornament with our Mosaic a Temple of Belenus, become the Temple of Apollo. Having brought from the East the taste for allegory, so common in all ages with the nations of that part of the world, they might easily be supposed to multiply the indications of the destination of the edifice. To conclude: the Mosaic of Estavaye appears to us a complete Astronomical Table, executed in a Temple placed near Poligny, and dedicated to the Sun; and that it would be improper to regard it as a work of the middle ages or of modern times. The most rare Antient Marbles, such as were specially employed in edifices consecrated to religious worship, Roman tiles, Medals of the Antonines, of the Faustini, of Tiberius, a Macrinus in grand bronze, and traces of Roman Ways, have been found near this place, believed, with good reason, to be near Olinum. Tradition, History, and Autient Records, are silent on the cause of the destruction of the Temple of Estavaye; therefore there is not the slightest reason for attributing it to Charles the Bold, the Sarazens, or the Primitive Christians, as has beeu heretofore supposed. The reasonings of Chevalier are by no means consistent with those simple and precise allegories constantly used by the Antients. BRUAND. Mr. URBAN, Jan. 10. F all the numerous plans which calculated for permanent and real benefit, than enabling them to purchase those articles which are absolutely necessary, either for their subsistence or comfort, at the lowest rate. The public attention has been lately much called to the present high price of Coals, in great measure arising from the heavy duties peculiar to the Port of London. And as they are in this country strictly an article of the first necessity, and not to be dispensed with, I would propose, in lieu of the present Port Duties, that upon all houses of 201. per annum, there be laid a small tax, of so much in the pound, as would be equivalent to those duties. This would be so inconsiderable as to be no object to the class on whom it would fall, and the poor would be entirely relieved from the duty, whose situation is at present peculiarly hard, as they not only pay the heavy duties, in common with persons of opulence, but can only buy them in small parcels, and generally at a time when they are at the dearest. We, of the middling classes, who depend upon business, are certainly much indebted to those Members of the Corporation who took the lead in the abolition of the Property Tax; but it is to be remembered, that the labouring, and by far the most numerous class, were not at all benefited by it. And we think the same Gentlemen would be conferring immortal honour on themselves, if they would now step forward and propose such a measure, to which they seem more particularly called, as the City so largely participates with Government in the present enormous Port Duties. As a further motive for the adoption of some such plan, it is submitted, that it would be the means of much additional employment, which is universally admitted to be all that the poor want; for it appears evident, that coals being more accessible to them, by being so much cheaper, the demand would increase considerably, to meet which more coals would be brought to market; this would necessarily employ more shipping, and many additional bands in the conveyauce, besides the increase of labour that would be requisite, both at the O are suggested in times of distress pit and in delivery. like the prescut, to alleviate the sufferings of the labouring poor of this great Metropolis, none seem better The following observations, from the leading paper of the day, are so pertinent, that I beg to transcribe them. "What "What good reason can be urged why this tax should not at least be equalized? Any traveller would surely be astonished were he to hear that all the windows in the Metropolis were taxed twice as much as those looking on the Severn or the Tyne. And why should his surprise be less, that a double tax was paid for warming the rooms lighted by those windows? "It may be said, that this Duty forms part of the revenue of the City, a property, we confess, quite as sacred as that of any private individual; but this forms no objection to reasonable arrangement for benefiting the publick ; it formed no objection when a part of the Duty actually was private property under a Royal Grant; and it is but justice that private or municipal right should be bought up when it interferes with public utility. "This essential article of life, instead of coming as every means of comfort ought, almost free into the market, is loaded in London with rigorous and expensive impositions, as if a fire-side were an extravagant and even profligate luxury. "The demand for this kind of article is greatly on the decrease. This Duty operates as a tax of singular inequality, not where the article is cheap, but where it is dear. It is not laid on at the pit, where it may be had for the fetching away, but at the distant market, where it is loaded with all the charges of freight, insurance, loading, unloading, &c. Nay, its locality is still more narrowed. below Gravesend there is a large coal wharf, where the coals are landed to save duty; and of so much importance is this saving, that carts come from several miles above Gravesend, burthening an article with land-carriage, which might, but for this injudicious tax on river navigation, have been unloaded at their own doors." Yours, &c. BIBLIOMANIA. Φωνᾶντα συνετόισιν, ἐς Δὲ τὸ πᾶν ἑρμηνέων χατίζει Just CIVIS. PINDAR, Olymp. II. Ye' Lincolne Nosegay' wights, to you I speak; [Greek! To others, pshaw! 'tis English, Lutin, Mr. URBAN, WHEN HEN a very young Bibliomaniacal Nimrod of the chace, I had once the good luck to start, pursue, and safely bag, a leash of game articles of the STULTIferæ kind; and perhaps you, Sir, who appear a staunch brother of the sport, may be willing to allow me a peg in your Grand Hall of Curiosities, 97 on which to hang up and triumphantly display my "honours of the brush.'" Believe me, friend Sylvanus, it grieves me much that all the noted blackletter heroes should have missed so glorious a prey.-A correct reprint of Stultifera or rather Salutifera Navis, with plates, would sell at least as rapidly as that of Scroggins's Jests, or even that of The delectable and right pitiful History of Tibbe, our Cat. Revenons à nos moutons. I. SALUTIFERA NAVIS, a small quarto volume, with one hundred and nineteen plates of singular humour, is thus entitled in the frontispiece : Narragonicæ profectionis nunquam satis laudata NAVIS per Sebastianum Grant, vernaculo vulgarique sermone et rhythmo pro cunctorum mortalium fatuitatis semitas effugere cupientium di- ' rectione, speculo, commodoque et salute: proque inertis ignavæque stulticiæ perpetuâ infamiâ, execratione et confutatione, nuper fabricata: Atque jampridem per Jacobum Locher, cognomento Philomusum: Suevum in latinum traducta eloquium: et per Sebastianum Brant: denuo seduloque revisa: fœlici exorditur principio. At the end of this very old edition, and just before the Index Libri, or table of contents, occur the following words: Finis Narragonicæ NAVIS per Sebastianum Brant vulgari sermone theutonico quondam fabricatæ atque jampridem per Jacobum Locher, cognomento Philomusum, in latinum traducta: perque prætactum [Qu. prædictum ?] Sebastianum Brant denuo revisa: aptissimisque concordantiis et suppletionibus exornatæ : et novâ quâdam exactâque emendatione elimata. Atque superadditis quibusdam novis admirandisque fatuorum generibus suppleta. Impressum per Jacobum Zachoni de Romano. Anno Domini M.CCCC.LXXXVIII. die xxviii. mensis Junii. [Errore manifesto, mi amice, Sylvane Urbane, pro 1498; cùm fol. V. 76. Novi Orbis Inventio, quæ anno 1492 tantùm contigit, his versibus declaretur: "Hesperia Occiduæ rex Ferdinandus in alto quore nunc gentes repperit innumeras. Et ad finem epistolæ suæ notat Jacobus Locher: "Datum Friburgi, calendis Februariis, Anno Domini xc.VII. taire, Annal. Typogr. I. p. 357. hane editionem refert acceptam Joan. Bergman de Olpe, Basileæ; nec memorat Mait Jacob Jacob Zachoni, qui typographus est, aliorum verò operis promotorum.] The Index Libri, or as it is also called (with classical allusion to the general title) Registrum Stultiferæ Navis, occupies five whole pages. On the very last page of the book is a representation of somebody falling headlong from a lofty tree, with an empty nest in his left hand: seven callow birds appear upon the ground, of which three lie dead on their backs, and four flutter about in all the confusion of distress. Under the picture are the following quaint lines, in hexameter and penta Præcipitem effractus retulit ecce solo. Cura, fides, probitas,-fueris nisi præditus astu Etvafro ingenio,-parvi putata jacent. II.—STULTIFERA NAVIS, a remarkably small quarto volume, with one hundred and sixteen plates, executed in a superior manner, is thus entitled in the frontispiece : Stultifera Navis mortalium, in quâ fatui affectus, mores, conatus atque studia, quibus vita hæc nostra, in omni hominum genere, scatet, cunctis Sapientiæ cultoribus depinguntur, et velut in speculo ob oculos ponuntur. Liber salutaribus doctrinis et admonitionibus plenus. Olim' a clarissimo viro D. Sebastiano Brant jurisconsulto, Germanicis rhythmis conscriptus, et per Jacobum Locher, Suevum, Latinitati donatus : nune verò revisus, et elegantissimis figuris recens illustratus. Basileæ, cum gratiâ et privilegio Cæs. Majest. At the end of this Edition we find printed : Basileæ, Ex officinâ Sebastiani Henricpetri, Anno recuperatæ Salutis humanæ M.D.LXXII. Mense Martio. [Hanc editionem secutum constat amicum tuum emunctæ naris, D. Es. Es. Ss.] III. NEA. NAVIS STULTIFERE COLLECTAAb Jodoco Badio Ascensio vario carminum genere non sine eorundem familiari explanatione conflata. Venundantur Parisiis in vico Sancti Jacobi sub Pelicano; et in Edibus Ascensianis. This is, also, a quarto volume, with one hundred and fifteen plates, ad Et levibus præsens mentibus antidoNec quicquam obscœnum nec olenti fornice dignum Nec fidei invisum nostra carina tenet. Carmine sed vario mores induco venustos; Expellens casto turpia verba modo. At the end of the work, directly after Capitum totius operis Index, are printed the following lines : JODOCI BADII IN OPERIS HUJUS COMPOSITIONEM AC FINEM EPIGRAMMA EXTEMPORANEUM. Remigio fragili pelagus dum metior ingens Auriculas vellens inquit Apollo' meus: Collige vela, Badi: sat erat tibi sensa poetæ [sinus: Nosse: nec in tumidos carbasa ferre Pergere si mavis, tibi ne consortia desint. Stultiferam in classem fac comes in : silias. [novi Dixit et aspiciens instare pericula Et lasso ad portum remige flecto viam. At quisquis ridet faciles humilesque Camœnas, Ferto magis cultas, aut tolerato meas. Hæc habui, Lector candide, in STULTIFERAM NAVEM properanti calore afferenda, quæ si minus demorsos sapiunt ungues, nôris curando stulto cui fatua duntaxat sapiunt esse decocta. Vale. Ex officinâ nostrâ in Parrhsiorum Academiâ nobilissima. vi. Idus Maias Anno Salutis M.D.VII. I consider this curious book, of which I never before saw a copy,and we obscure andirregular poachers have great experience, per fas aut nefas,-as a complete and most important Commentary on that truly valuable production, Brant's SALUTIFERA, OF STULTIFERA NAVIS. Mr. Urban, if any of your Correspondents would condescend to favour me with an analysis of Barclay's "SHIP OF FOOLES," and describe the characteristic marks of every separate edition of that scarce work; and, also, if the fortunate possessor of a copy copy of "LA NEF DES Fous," an equally rare production from the French press; and, particularly, if some German gentleman of vertù commanding GRANT OF BRANT's original composition in the German language; would kindly do the same by their respective treasures: I doubt not, a mass of information might soon be collected concerning the unique lucubration thus casually brought into notice by Es. Es. Ss. sufficient to engage the erudite attention of all the true BIBLIOMANIACKS in the British Empire throughout best part of this new year 1817. The poignant satire from STULTITERA NAVIS, quoted by Es. Es. Ss. p. 420, is thus neatly abridged in my NAVIS STULTIFERE COLLECTANEA, in a Cento drawn up from good authors, with all the fire and spirit of a genuine original composition: Qui libros Tyriis vestit honoribus Et blattas abigit pulverulentulas Nec discens animum litterulis colit: Mercatur nimid Stultitiam stipe. QUID te, insane, juvat stipare Platóna Menandro theca parata Qualis Niliacis regibus ante fuit. Si Romana minùs, præstò est vernacula lingua, [putes." Quà tono: vix tantùm Stentora posse O Stolide, atque expers veri: Si fortè medelam [cape. Stultitiæ expectas, pharmaca nostra Ne te multarum disturbet copia rerum: Excole te paucis utilibusque libris. Commentarium. Quemadmodum Persius primam Satyram in vanos poetas composuit, ita Satyra nostra initium sumit a stultis librorum coacervatoribus, qui plurimos excolunt et se negligunt: quia libros neque legunt, neque si legerent intelligerent; qui non didicerunt litteras bonas, et quod detestabilius est discere nolunt. Placent enim sibi: atque vernaculæ suæ torrente præditi inter balbos et ineptulum vulgus famam sapientium assequuntur. Verùm qui sapiet emet paucos libros et eos utiles, diligenterque perdiscet. x. T. λ. Æs. Es. Ss. writes likes a person half in jest and half in earnest: I have, therefore, emulated his happy example. True it is, Sir, that there is not one of the three little Canter tragedians mentioned by your Corre Mr. URBAN, Coventry, Jan. 10. respondent wishes to know some mode of treatment for insane patients, and more particularly his unfortunate friend. It is certainly lamentable that no book has been published upon that subject, where any correct plan of treatment is pointed out. Of course so many unfortunate objects afflicted with derangement, confined in houses for their reception, can have no prospect of recovery except from their erroneous and very harsh method of severe restraint, when, perhaps, in incipient and recent affections, where the passions have predominated over the reason, a little controul might be favourable to such slight and trifling objects. The late Dr. Arnold has published some interesting quiries are such minutie as render matter upon the subject; but his inhis Work extremely confusing. I can certainly say, there can be certain methods adapted to many objects of that disease, and where hereditary taints and dispositions producing symptoms leading to such diseases, Insane persons, and those liable, may, by proper attention to their several causes, have those afflicting maladies kept completely under order. I P. Mr. URBAN, Dover-street, Jan. 21. HAVE in my possession two very fine three-quarter Paintings of Sir Daniel Harvey and his Lady, whose name was Elizabeth, and was the only daughter of Edward, second Lord Montagu of Boughton, and sister to the first Duke of Montagu. Can any of your numerous Readers inform me when they died, or where they were buried; or if Sir Daniel, who was at one time Ambassador at Constantinople, was related to Lieut.-gen. Daniel Harvey, who married Lady Anne, only daughter of Ralph Duke of Montagu, and who, with his Lady, is buried at Mitcham in Surrey? H. M. *Regina, sublimi flagello Tange - semel arrogantem. HOR. Carm. Lib. III. Ode xxvi. COM |