5. That Swain took an early opportunity of finishing the work, transported the granite block to Jællinge, saw to its proper carving and decoration with Christian ornaments, framed the inscription in a truthful and respectful manner, and used the expressions of the past,—‘bade' and 'that Harald who,'—thus plainly announcing that he merely had carried into effect his father's well-known plans and wishes. As to the place for the stone, I think it has always been where it now stands, quite close to the church. Harald, at his conversion to Christianity, doubtless raised on his paternal estate, for his own use and that of his family and courtiers, a Christian temple of wood, afterwards replaced by the present church of stone. But any removal of the stone, either to the top of the barrow or elsewhere, would be forbidden by the enormous size, terrible weight, and unwieldy shape of the monument. Any such removal would, to take the lowest argument, have exposed it to serious injury: for the same reason, no one would now think of moving it; the risk of damage would be too great, besides the uselessness and impropriety of any change. Thus about 860 years since was erected this magnificent Danish Rune-stone, the proudest, largest, and noblest Runic monument in all Scandinavia, and—with the single exception of the Old-English Rothwell-Bewcastle Runic Cross as it was—in all the North. May it long remain the pride and boast and ornament of Old Denmark, a lasting memorial for all the children of the gallant Northern races!—I am, &c. Cheapinghaven, Sept. 7, 1861. GEORGE STEPHENS. Postscript.-Since writing the above, I perceive that I have been anticipated in my idea that the stone was not raised by Harald. In his paper on the Danevirke Runestone, (Nordisk Universitets-Tidskrift, iv. 1, 1858, p. 84,) Professor Thorsen says:— "Without doubt it was first he [King Swain] who really erected the gigantic monument to Gorm and Thyre, which Harald Bluetooth had wished to raise. Certain it is that as this last king did not succeed in his plan,—and this is asserted by our historical records, and, what is still more important, by the inscription itself,-no one was more likely to have taken up and carried out his plan than his own son." Prof. Thorsen has not gone into any further details or arguments; but what he has said is sufficient. Sheltered by the authority of this great runologist, I now regard my view as entirely trustworthy. The stone was erected by Swain and not by Harald. BIRTH-PLACE OF WYCLIFFE. MR. URBAN, Nothing seems to be known for certain about the birth-place of Wycliffe. We were told not long ago by a writer in the "Guardian," that Leland's statement, that Wycliffe was born at Spreswell, had lately gained accept ance from the discovery that a village of that name, with its chapel, existed at the latter end of the last century, about a mile and a-half from Wycliffe. As I was walking through that neighbourhood in the early part of the summer, I met with an intelligent countryman at Ovington, who resided at Wycliffe, and was informed by him that a tradition was preserved in his family (which had been settled at the latter village for four gene rations) that Wycliffe was born in the W. B. CAPARN. instruments represented on gravestones of this kind would be curious and instructive.—I am, &c., J. O. WESTWOOD. VANDALISM AT ROCHESTER. MR. URBAN,-You no doubt have heard of the havoc that is being made with what remains of the city wall of Rochester, and that much irremediable mischief has been done; but there is one more barbarism, as yet only projected, which may possibly be prevented, if public attention is called to the matter. For the purpose of enlarging Williamson's Mathematical School, large portions of the town wall, near the former Eastgate, have been destroyed. They were of medieval origin, but the core of the Roman wall, denuded of its facing-stones, was also laid open, and it was so impervious that the engineers from Chatham were employed to blast it with gunpowder. Such destruction of antiquities has been seen before now in Rochester, particularly a few years ago, when, in making the railway through the heart of the town, the city wall was cut through, but it was reserved for the present day to outdo all former atrocities. The excavations have laid bare the lower part of a tower at the eastern angle of the city wall, the masonry of which is of two dates, and which is quite worthy of preservation. The civic authorities evidently think so, as they are having it cleared out and adapted to use. But this projected use you will hardly guess it is by them designed for a cesspool! That such a piece of Vandalism should be contemplated affords a proof that love for antiquity has not as yet been deve loped in the Rochester corporation by the archaeological gatherings that yearly take place in Kent, one of which was held not very long ago in their own city. body constituted as municipal corporations either were, or are, seems totally unfit to be entrusted with power over even the humblest monument of our national history. The former Conservative corpo A ration suffered the railway company to sweep away as much as they pleased of the city walls, but, to do them justice, they were not guilty of such a barbarous insult as the present Liberal destructives offer to all who have any regard for the past. The disgrace of its proposal must ever attach to them, and they are probably too obtuse to care much about that, but I trust that the voice of public indig nation will be heard, and will be effec tual in preventing the execution of their notable project.—I am, &c., "BIFORIETTA AND WITTA." MR. URBAN,-Allow me to express my surprise that so staid a personage as, after so many years' labour, you have become, should have admitted into your pages such an article as that with the above title, which appears in your last August number, p. 181. Surely it is no answer to Mr. Walcott that because in the nineteenth century half England pronounces "before-gate" before-yett, the word biforietta, used in the twelfth century for ante portam, should be the Latinized form of this "before-yett." What Mr. Freeman should have shewn is, that at this latter period the Anglo-Saxon words in use for "before-gate" were convertible into "biforietta." With regard to the tombstone of Witta, Mr. Freeman's pleasantry is equally misplaced. What has hitherto been affirmed is simply that a stone termed the Catstone, near Edinburgh, is inscribed, IN (H)OC T(V)MVLO JAC(E)T VETTA F(ILIVS) VICT... and that in the genealogy of Hengist and Horsa, in the Saxon Chronicle, their grandfather Witta is said to be the son of Wecta. The probability of the identity (indeed THE ROFFENSIS. even of the existence) of the personages recorded in these two documents, depends upon several circumstances. Any person in the least accustomed to lapidary inscriptions will admit that that of the Cat-stone is very close to the Roman period. That it is in Latin is only in accordance with the common custom of the period, as shewn in scores of contemporary British or Romano - British stones, with which Mr. Freeman is doubtless well acquainted. That two such unusual names should thus appear in conjunction as father and son in two independent documents, is strong cor. roboration of their existence and identity. The matter however is in good hands, and Mr. Freeman will doubtless in due time be enlightened upon the other diffi. culties which he has stumbled over. In the meantime, as he seems fond of at tempting derivations, perhaps he will en deavour to discover who were the Vecturiones, and whence their name was derived. This will perhaps help to clear off a little of the mist in which he is involved.-I am, &c., J. O. WESTWOOD. CANDITCH. MR. URBAN,-In Mr. Parker's paper on the Walls and Fortifications of Oxford, contained in the August number of your Magazine, (p. 113,) mention is made of the "Canditch" as partly surrounding the castle. I should be glad if you, or any of your readers, would inform me what is the meaning and derivation of that word, which I believe is not peculiar to the Oxford ditch.-I am, &c., J. S. The Note-book of Sylvanus Urban. [Under this title are collected brief notes of matters of current antiquarian interest which do not appear to demand more formal treatment. SYLVANUS URBAN invites the kind co-operation of his Friends, who may thus preserve a record of many things that would otherwise pass away.] MR. ROBERT COLE'S COLLECTION OF AUTOGRAPHS AND MSS.-The first portion of this very remarkable collection was dispersed by Messrs. Puttick and Simpson, in August last. The following may be noted as among the most interesting articles : "Afton Braes," song, in the autograph of Robert Burns-37. 68. Several Tradesmen's Accounts, incurred by Burns-57. 58. Autograph Letters and Papers, relating to Caroline, Queen Consort of George the Fourth, in nine vols.-517. These papers form a secret history of this cause célèbre. Sir Francis Chantrey's Ledger-book of the busts, monuments, and statues executed by him—37. 58. A volume of Autograph Letters and other papers illustrative of the biography of celebrated criminals-117. 10s. This volume contained a receipt signed by Francis Blackbeard, Jonathan Wild, and other rascals, for blood-money, received of the sheriffs for the conviction of Thomas Draper and Samuel Davis, 1718; also a document in the hand-writing of Eugene Aram. A Deed signed by Daniel De Foe and his daughter-47. 10s. A Letter of Dr. Donne, Dean of St. Paul's-87. 58. A short Letter of Oliver Cromwell while captain-67. 10s. A Letter of Gibbon, the historian-57. 2s. 6d. A Document bearing the signatures of Nell Gwynn and Otway the poet-57. 158. An Indenture signed by Handel, being an indenture engaging to return in as good order as when received by him from the Tower, the large kettle-drums lent to him by order of the Board of Ordnance, for the use of the oratorios at the King's Theatre, in the Haymarket, January 18, 1738-9-47. 4s. A Letter of Handel to the Ordnance Office Keeper, Tower, dated ten years later, again soliciting the loan of the drums-107. 158. These documents are curious as shewing the mean resources of the opera orchestra in those days. A Letter of David Hume, containing particulars of the incoherent conduct of the insane Marquis of Annandale, who was then under Hume's care-71. 2s. 6d. Three Letters of Dr. Samuel Johnson, addressed to Lewis Paul, inventor of the spinning-machine-217. 168. A Letter of Flora Macdonald, who aided the escape of Prince Charles Edward, with some other papers, all relating to the subscription set on foot for her benefit -157. 58. A Letter of Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough-31. 88. The Correspondence, Letters, and Papers of Lewis Paul, originally of Birmingham, the inventor and patentee of the machine for spinning cotton and wool by means of rollers-687. 58. Original Letters and Correspondence of Sir Michael Stanhope, whilst LieutenantGENT. MAG. VOL. CCXI. 3 F Governor of Hull, temp. Henry the Eighth, three vols., folic-1407. This collec tion contained several autographs of Archbishop Cranmer, Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, Cuthbert Tunstall, Bishop of Winchester, and other celebrities of the period. A Letter of William Warham, Archbishop of Canterbury, written in a most amiable spirit-81. The sale was well attended throughout by amateurs and the representatives of the principal collectors and museums, English and foreign.—Athenæum. THE LATEST EXCAVATIONS AT POMPEII.-A recent letter from Naples says that the operations now going on have led to several important discoveries. "These have been made nearly opposite to the new Therma, and have revealed a house consisting of sixteen rooms, besides kitchen, offices, and two shops on each side of the entrance. The peristyle, irregular in form, consists of fourteen yellow and white columns, which offer the peculiarity of having leaden pipes inserted into them, which, at about three feet from the pavement, threw jets of water towards the tank in the centre of the atrium, which was also adorned with a fountain and statue of Cupid, a base representing the rape of Europa. In this atrium was found an iron brazier, with coals still in it. No other moveable objects were found in the house, but the decorations on the walls were in good style and excellent preservation, especially in the gynæcium, or women's apartments. Among the most striking subjects, I noted down 'Apollo and Daphne;' 'Ulysses discovering Achilles disguised in female apparel;' 'The Judgment of Paris,' a composition which I found extremely curious for the costume of that classic personage. The painter had represented him in a Phrygian cap, a green tunic tied with a yellow sash, and a crimson mantle over it, yellow stockings, and white shoes, with red soles and heels, and red ribbons. The two elder goddesses were also fantastically draped, but Venus revealed her naked charms to the arbiter of celestial beauty. Another remarkable painting represented a Satyr uncovering a beautiful sleeping figure of Ariadne, towards whom Bacchus was approaching with a triumphant air, followed by a joyous troop of nymphs and bacchantes. "In the house next to the one I have just mentioned the decorations on the walls are inferior, but the objects found are of great value and interest. In the atrium appears a marble table, supported by two legs finely carved in the form of winged lions. There is also on a pedestal a well-executed bust, probably that of the proprietor, with the name-C. Cornelius Rufus. The moveable treasures discovered consist of two bronze busts, evidently likenesses, presenting the peculiarity of glass and amber eyes, these are now in the National (formerly Borbonico) Museum,-a large fragment of a bronze cabinet, with six knobs, elegantly worked into busts of bacchantes and fauns. The bottom of the inside of this cabinet was of gold, and it contained two buttons or medallions of gold, representing the head of Penelope on an enamelled ground. There was also a large gold ring, with a cornelian intaglio of Hercules, of Greek chisel, and the name of ⚫ the engraver, an addition which always enhances the value of such works. Several o'her rings were found, and about sixty silver coins. As a continuance of the fresco decorations in their uncovered exposure to the atmosphere would infallibly lead to their destruction in a very short time, it has been resolved to remove the best of them to the museum; and this will be effected, not by sawing out a piece of the wall, as heretofore, but by transferring the picture to cloth according to the method now in practice at Rome, whence two skilful artists in that delicate process have lately arrived to undertake the operation."-Morning Post. |