The Sun.
London, England, 1824-01-31 00:00:00

LITERARY NOTICE.

ENCYCLOPEDIA of ANTIQUITIES, and ELEMENTS
of ARCILEOLOGY. By the Rev. T. D. FOSBROKE,
M.A. F.S.A., &c.
" Who in there, whom Antiquity does not influence, sealed
and attested as it is by the most famous monuments."
Cicero De Divinat. 1. i. c. xi.
In a former paper we noticed the publication
of some of the early numbers of this valuable
Encyclopedia of Antiquities, one volume of which
is now complete. The utility of suck a work is
beyond dispute; and Mr. FOSBROKE has exe-
cuted it with industry in acquiring, and ability in
discriminating his materials.
We have heard it complained, that Mr. Fos-
BROKE has written it in too dry a manner. We
admit that it may appear dry to those who usu-
ally revel among the lighter productions of the
day ; but a work fan use, for reference, and for
accuracy, needs not those glowing colours and
vivid touches which are necessary to ensure ap-
plause to those who paint the imaginations of the
mind. Even to such readers the work is not
devoid of much to amuse, and much to excite,
their risible faculties.
It is by such a work as this that we become
acquainted with the manners and customs of those
nations, who were the parents of arts and sciences;
and it is by such a work that we are enabled to
form comparisons of the state of civilization, in
the times of classical antiquity, and the present
day.
We shall say no more, but at once proceed to
make a few extracts:—
" Curie, Aftmeictae.—Froissart mentions a
person who, having had his chin cut off in a riot,
replaced it by one of silver, fastened by a silken
cord tied round his head."—P. 370.
We have heard several times of artificial Noses,
but never before of artificial chins.
" COBLERS' STALLS.—The streets of Rome
were blocked up by stalls, which were removed
by order of Domitian. The acts of St. Bertrand
say, ' whilst he was in his stall, as is the custom
of the shoe-making trade.' "—P. 372.
" DANCE OF DEATiL—This favourite subject
for sculpture and painting in ecclesiastical build-
ing, or church books, affords very fine specimens
of costume."—P. 378.
In the Hall of Whitgifes Hospital, Croydon,
is a copy of the Dance of Death, with coloured
drawings, much damaged.
" All the fingers of one hand, in
the form of a stork's beak, put behind a person
in mockery, Was the Roman Ciconia. 2. The
fingers were often cut off to avoid military ser-
vice..
3. When a Roman died in battle, or
abroad, his finger was sent home, and the same
honours were shewn to it as to the entire corpse.
4. In burning Perfumes to deities, it was sacred
to take
Pasta at the end of the fingers, and
throw it upon the burning altar. 5. Bidding at
auctions was made by one finger held up, and
the
mercy was thus solicited by conquered Gla-
diators.
signal for .avSensatpopibnrging a chamber-pot. 7. Upon
the fingers was the Roman
column, the Pretorian soldiers are
distinguished by the fore-finger and right arm
elevated, in token of obedience and fidelity.
8. Counting by the fingers, mentioned by Bede,
sze. 9. The Fig or Pigo, an amulet against fas-
cination, formed by thrusting out the thumb be-
tween the first and second fingers."—P. 392.
" HUE AND CRY.—This custom obtained from
the earliest Kings in France. In England, even
knights, and others, from fifteen years old and
upwards, were bound to it. *The method was
this : the party robbed came to the constable of
the next town, and desired him to raise the hue
and cry, i. e. make the matter known, and follow
the pursuit. The constable called upon the
parish for aid, and if he was not found there, he
gave notice to the next constable, and so on,
until the offender was apprehended, or at least
pursued to the sea-side. It was attended with
the sound of horns, to alarm the country. The
privilege was bought, at least in some instances."
—P. 404.
" NOTES TAXING.—This much offended Au-
gustus. We find, in the Middle Age, scholars
endeavouring to copy the lectures word for
word."—p. 431.
" Roucs.—The Route or purpurissus, used
by the Greek and Roman Ladies, was of a rose-
colour ; and made of a white chalk dissolved in a
strong purple liquid, twice precipitated. The
last precipitate was the rouge. They also used
a red Syrian root, called Rizium. The use of
both red and white paint was, in the time of Au-
gustus, confined to women of quality."—P. 449.
" SKAITING.—This was a great accomplish-
ment of Thin& in the Edda, and was usual
among the Northern and Celtic cations. Olaus
Magnus describes the strait as of polished iron,
or of the shank bone of a deer, or sheep, about a
foot long. Great attention was paid to greasing
them, " because they should not be stopped by
drops of water upon them." Besides skaits, they
had wooden shoes, with iron points, flexible cir-
cles with points sharpened every way into teeth,
triangular points of iron, &c. Our ancestors were
not only versed in sliding, but used the leg hones
of animals fastened to their shoes, and pushed
themselves on with stakes, headed with iron.—
The wooden skaits, shod with iron, are said to
have been invented in the Low Countries, and
certainly introduced here from Holland. We
had also a seat of ice, as large as a mill-stone,
and a person placed upon it was drawn along,
till it sometimes happened that, moving upon
slippery places, they all fell headlong. The
bone.skaiters fought with poles."—'P. 457.
In the last part of the " World in Miniature,"
entitled " Netherlands," is a very interesting

description of the Dutch modes of skaiting, and
of some of their extraordinary feats on the ice.
TINKER.-Very extraordinary feats are as..
cribed to our ancient tinkers, such as licking out
burning' ire-brands, drinkingid from the bottom
of a full poitle of ale, &c. A sowskin budget.
was part of their costume.; but the character of
Autolycus shews, their habits. The tinkers. of
Paris, to warn people of their approach, carried
and played upon a kind of psaltery or dulci-
mer, made of twelve-tubes of 467.
We have received so much amusement and in..
formation from the elaborate researches of this
Author, that we sincerely hope he will receive
so much encouragement from the admirers of
Antiquities as to induce him to prosecute his
valuable inquiries with the same zeal, assiduity
and success that so strikingly characterize the
volume before us.