Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-05-12
Effudere loco, signum quod regia Juno
Monstrarat, coput acrts eout."

The heads of the Caesars upon these
metals are SO finely executed that they
might well be preserved as specimens Of
art. In their expressive features one may
almost read the truth Of historic tradition,
| Traian was virtuous, Tiberius unrelent.
ing, Caligula ferocious, Nero Cruel, and
Domitian inhuman.
have not yet been able to procure
any medals with Numidian or Punic le.
gends. Such, however, are found occa.
sonally in this country. Numidan in
scripllons are, to this day, perfectly uuin-
telligible to the Swans Of Europe. Per-
haps the writing of Jugurtha and Of Juba
will one day be deciphered by the iortu-
nate discovery of another bilinguai stone
of Rosetta. There is not the same diff.
Guilty with Punic or Pheniclan inscrip-
tons, as the language Of the Tyrians and
Of their colonists, the Carthaginian was
one oil the Scientific dialects, and coguate
to Syriac.
Inscriptions and medals constitute an
important material Of history, whilst they
are monuments Of the useful and of the
fine arts. They are enduring records Of
facts and events which illustrate the char
acter and institutions Of people. Some
Of these actions and events OF his time the
historian may omit to record as unimpor-
tant, or not necessary TO his purpose. Ii
is curious that tho present controversy
among the learned, as 10 the period of
construction. the famous aqueduct of
Carthage, rests upon some medals Of Sc
verus Ill. and of Caracalla. The Punic
construction is asserted, without one his
ioric proof, and the Roman is though. to
be- proved, by the type Of these medals.
Two thousand years hence will such a
controversy arise about the Croton Aque-
duct of New York-,hat noble monument
Of the enterprise of free people, which,
in grandeur Of conception and skiful exc
cuton, rivals all the works of antiquity.
The historian Of the " Decline and Fall
of the Roman Empire" remarks, that
" without the help Of medals aud inscrip-
tons, we should be ignorant of the fac" "
an important one in civil polity $50
honorable TO the memory Of Autonnus Pr
MS, that although he had two sons, he pre-
ferred the welfare Of Rome to the interest
of his family, by adopting, as his success
OF, Marcus Aurelus." The annals of
| Rome have not recorded the fact that An
tonius had two sons.
Numismatic science has contributed TO
defend the truth of our sacred history
In his Decline and FALL" Mr.. Gibbon
asserts that " Palestine was a territory
scarcely superior to Wales, either in fer
tility or extent" NJ. Guizot. the present
Minister for Foreign Affairs in France,
and the pious and phloscphic biographer
Of Washington. in his edition Of the +" De.
cline and FALL" makes upon this assertion
the following note This comparison is
exaggerated, with the intention, no doubt
Of attacking the authority of the Bible
which boasts of the fertility of Palestine.
Mr.. Gibbons only authority is Strabo
whose testimony is refuted by other an
cient authors, and by medals. Vespaciar
and Titus caused medals to be struck
with trophies, in which Palestine is repre-
scented by female under palm tree, Il
signify the richness Of the country, with
a legend-Judaa Capita. Other medals
also, indicate this fertility for instance
that of Herod holding bunch Of grapes
and Of the young Agrippa displaying
fruit"
1.-THE present humble contribution shoul,
DO acceptable to the National Institution
| shall have pleasure in enlarglng it, a
circumstances may allow. When the In
stitutlon shall be in possession Of suffi
Gent number Of medals for Numismati'
series, their description and classification
can readily be made upon the principle
of existing cabinets, and with the aid o
Bandur, Eckbel, and Monet.
With sentiments of great respect, sir
your obedient servant,
, WIN. B. HODGSON.
To FRAscIs MARKoE, Jr.. Esq,
Corresponding Secretary Of National Institutio,